Network system comprising customer replaceable unit

A network system including a customer replaceable unit (CRU) having an excellent security function for operation information which system can realize improvement of the use efficiency of operation information for making the CRU operate, and reduction in costs, is provided. An apparatus main body of a multifunction printer, a server, a personal computer, etc. are connected to a network of a network system, and a CRU is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be detachable. Operation information necessary for making the CRU operate is stored in the server. The apparatus main body obtains operation information of the CRU from the server via the network and stores the obtained operation information into a buffer memory, and causes the CRU to operate based on the operation information. The operation information stored in the buffer memory is erased when communication between the apparatus main body and the CRU ends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a network system comprising a customer replaceable unit.

2. Description of the Related Art

In industrial equipment, office equipment and the like, as uptime accumulates, consumable articles decrease and components deteriorate. Therefore, the operator and the user sometimes need to replace the consumable articles and the components. Such replacement articles include not only a simple consumable article but also a replacement article that is replaced as a unit forming a group composed of a plurality of components or a plurality of components and consumable articles. Such a unit is called a customer replaceable unit (CRU).

For example, in an image forming apparatus that is one of the office equipment, a process cartridge, a toner cartridge, a transfer unit, a fixing unit and so on are formed as CRUs. Such a CRU is provided with a memory that is storing means (the memory provided in the CRU may be referred to as a CRUM). In the CRUM, an identification code for identifying the unit itself, a threshold value indicating a use condition, and operation information such as an operation program are stored, and moreover, operation performance of the CRU is stored after the CRU starts operation. When attached to an apparatus main body, the CRU operates based on the operation information stored in the CRUM, and stores the operation performance thereof into the CRUM.

FIG. 5is a simplified system view illustrating the configuration of a network system1comprising the conventional CRU. The network system1illustrated inFIG. 5has a configuration that, for example, a server3is connected to an in-house local area network (LAN)2, and that a plurality of multifunction printers (MFPs)4a,4b,4c. . . are further connected to the server3. Here, the MFP is an image forming apparatus having a composite function of a copier, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine and so on. The MFP4(expressed without the alphabetical letters in the case of naming the MFPs generically) executes an image forming operation via the server3based on an operation command of an operating terminal such as a personal computer, connected to the LAN2(not shown).

FIG. 5illustrates an example in which a toner cartridge is attached as a CRU6to an apparatus main body5of the MFP4. Although the apparatus main body5includes an image processing portion, an image forming portion, a transfer portion, a fixing portion, a paper feeding portion and so on, only a controller7and a main-body central processing unit (CPU)8are illustrated for simplification.

In this example, the CRU6is a toner cartridge including, for example, a toner supply container that holds toner, a toner supply roller that is supported on the toner supply container so as to freely rotate, and so on. Moreover, the toner supply container is provided with an IC chip9forming a CRUM, a CPU10that is a processing circuit, and a connector11that is an electrical connection terminal with the apparatus main body5. In the IC chip9provided in the CRU6, an identification code for identifying the toner cartridge and the operation information are stored.

When attached to the apparatus main body5, the CRU6is electrically connected to the apparatus main body5by the connector11, whereby communication of information with the apparatus main body5becomes possible. When an image forming operation command is outputted from the operation terminal connected to the LAN2, the image forming operation command is given to the controller7of the apparatus main body5via the LAN2and the server3. In accordance with the image forming operation command, the main-body CPU8controls image forming operations of the whole MFP4. Based on an operation command from the main-body CPU8, the CPU10of the CRU6reads out the operation information of the toner cartridge from the IC chip9, controls the operation of the toner cartridge that is the CRU6based on the operation information, and causes a developing portion provided in the image forming portion of the apparatus main body5to execute an operation of supplying toner. As the operation is executed, operation performance of the toner cartridge that is the CRU6, for example, the number of rotations of the toner supply roller, which is information on the amount of remaining toner in the toner supply container, is stored in the CRUM.

In a CRU provided with a CRUM, various improvements have been proposed in order to increase convenience. For example, there is a proposal to store information on ordering into a CRUM in advance and, when a CRU reaches the limits of use through operation, provide the order information in the form of printed matter by a printing machine to make the user recognize the order information in an early stage, thereby giving the user enough time to place an order for a replacement article (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 2002-304279). Moreover, there is a proposal to store a software code upgrade into a CRUM in advance so that the operator can update a software code without the need for calling a field engineer or the like (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 2004-1512).

However, in the case of related arts, important information such as the operation information, the order information and the software code upgrade, that is, information necessary for manufacturing a CRU is all stored in a CRUM. Therefore, when it is possible to obtain the CRU provided with the CRUM, it is possible to analyze and reproduce the information stored in the CRUM, so that there is a problem that an imitation product is easily manufactured. Moreover, there is a need to store plenty of information into the CRUM, so that there is a problem that a memory having a relatively large capacity must be disposed to each CRU, which becomes a factor in increase of the costs of the CRU.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provided a network system comprising a customer replaceable unit having an excellent security function for operation information which system can realize improvement of the use efficiency of operation information for making a customer replaceable unit operate, and reduction in costs.

The invention provides a network system comprising:

an apparatus main body having a main-body storing portion and a control portion;

a customer replaceable unit, disposed so as to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body;

a server for storing operation information of the customer replaceable unit, and

a communications network to which the apparatus main body and the server are connected,

wherein the apparatus main body obtains the operation information of the customer replaceable unit from the server via the communications network and stores the obtained operation information into the main-body storing portion, and the control portion of the apparatus main body causes the customer replaceable unit to operate based on the operation information stored in the main-body storing portion.

According to the invention, in the network system comprising the customer replaceable unit, the apparatus main body obtains operation information of the customer replaceable unit from the server via the communications network and stores the obtained operation information into the main-body storing portion, and the control portion of the apparatus main body causes the customer replaceable unit to operate based on the operation information stored in the main-body storing portion. Consequently, the need for providing each customer replaceable unit with the operation information such as an operation program and an operation condition is eliminated, with the result that it is possible to reduce the capacity of a unit storing portion disposed to the customer replaceable unit, and it is possible to contribute to reduction in costs. Moreover, since important operation information is not stored in the customer replaceable unit, it is impossible to elicit the operation information from the customer replaceable unit, and it is possible to prevent manufacture of an imitation product using the operation information.

Further, in the invention, it is preferable that the apparatus main body further includes information erasing means for erasing the information stored in the main-body storing portion, a main-body communicating portion that communicates with the customer replaceable unit, and a communication end detecting portion that detects an end of communication between the main-body communicating portion and the customer replaceable unit,

the customer replaceable unit includes a unit communicating portion that communicates with the apparatus main body; and

in response to a detection result of the end of communication between the main-body communicating portion and the unit communicating portion by the communication end detecting portion, the operation information of the customer replaceable unit stored in the main-body storing portion is erased by the information erasing means.

According to the invention, in response to the detection result of the end of communication between the main-body communicating portion and the unit communicating portion by the communication end detecting portion, that is, when an operation of the apparatus main body and the customer replaceable unit based on information communication ends, the operation information of the customer replaceable unit stored in the main-body storing portion is erased by the information erasing means. Consequently, the operation information necessary for the operation of the customer replaceable unit does not remain in either the apparatus main body or the customer replaceable unit, but remains only in the server. Therefore, it is possible to prevent information leakage, and exhibit a high security function.

Furthermore, in the invention, it is preferable that communication between the main-body communicating portion of the apparatus main body and the unit communicating portion of the customer replaceable unit is executed by wireless.

According to the invention, communication between the main-body communicating portion of the apparatus main body and the unit communicating portion of the customer replaceable unit is executed by wireless. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare wiring installation, and it is possible to simplify the configuration of the apparatus.

Still further, in the invention, it is preferable that a plurality of apparatus main bodies are connected to the communications network,

the operation information of the customer replaceable unit stored in the server is transmitted to the plurality of apparatus main bodies from the server via the communications network, and

operation performance information of the customer replaceable unit operated in accordance with the operation information stored in the main-body storing portion of each of the apparatus main bodies is transmitted to the server via the apparatus main body and the communications network, and accumulated.

According to the invention, a plurality of apparatus main bodies are connected to the communications network, the operation information of the customer replaceable unit stored in the server is transmitted to the plurality of apparatus main bodies from the server via the communications network, and the customer replaceable units attached to the plurality of apparatuses and apparatus main bodies can operate in accordance with the same operation information. Moreover, operation performance information of the customer replaceable unit operated in accordance with the operation information stored in the main-body storing portion of each of the apparatus main bodies is transmitted to the server via the apparatus main body and the communications network, and accumulated. Therefore, it is possible to accurately grasp the respective use conditions of the customer replaceable units.

Still further, in the invention, it is preferable that a communication terminal of a dealer of the customer replaceable unit is connected to the communications network and, based on the operation performance information of the customer replaceable unit accumulated in the server, at least order information of the customer replaceable unit can be transmitted to the communication terminal of the dealer via the communications network.

According to the invention, the communication terminal of the dealer of the customer replaceable unit is connected to the communications network. For example, when the customer replaceable unit reaches the end of a use life thereof, based on the operation performance information of the customer replaceable unit accumulated in the server, order information of the customer replaceable unit is automatically transmitted from the server to the communication terminal of the dealer via the communications network. Consequently, the user of the apparatus does not need to place an order for a replacement article of the customer replaceable unit by himself/herself, with the result that it is possible to omit a troublesome ordering operation.

Still further, in the invention, it is preferable that at least the order information of the customer replaceable unit is displayed on a display portion of the apparatus main body and/or a display portion of the communication terminal connected to the communications network.

According to the invention, at least the order information of the customer replaceable unit is displayed on the display portion of the apparatus main body and/or the display portion of the communication terminal connected to the communications network. Therefore, the user of the apparatus can easily know that an order for a replacement article of the customer replaceable unit has been placed.

Still further, in the invention, it is preferable that the apparatus main body is a main body of an image forming apparatus.

According to the invention, the apparatus main body is a main body of an image forming apparatus. Therefore, as the customer replaceable unit disposed so as to be attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus, there are a variety of units such as a process cartridge, a toner cartridge, a transfer unit and a fixing unit, and it is possible to prevent leakage of the operation information useful for manufacture of such units and prevent manufacture of imitation products of the units.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a system view illustrating the configuration of a network system comprising a customer replaceable unit27according to an embodiment of the invention. The embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1provides a configuration that a multifunction printer (MFP)25in which the customer replaceable unit (CRU)27is attached to an apparatus main body26and used, is connected to a server22and a personal computer (PC)23serving as a communication terminal via, for example, in-office LAN, and that the LAN is further connected to a network21that is a wide area network such as the Internet.

A network system20comprising a customer replaceable unit (simply referred to as the network system20hereafter) comprises the apparatus main body26of the MFP25, the apparatus main body having a main-body storing portion31that is information storing means and a control portion32that is operation controlling means; the CRU27disposed so as to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body26; the network21connected to the apparatus main body26; the server22that is connected to the network21and stores operation information of the CRU27; and the PC23and a communication terminal24of a dealer of the CRU27, which are connected to the network21. An apparatus illustrated here is the multifunction printer (MFP)25that serves as a copier, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine and so on as described before. The apparatus main body26of the MFP25is provided with not only the main-body storing portion31and the control portion32but also an operating portion33, an image reading portion34, a main-body communicating portion35, an image forming portion36and so on.

The operating portion33includes an input portion41and a display portion42. The input portion41is a portion for inputting an operation command in the case of operating the MFP25from the apparatus main body26. For example, it is possible to input an operation command by operating various kinds of keys. The display portion42is, for example, a display panel realized by a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and can display an operation command input from the input portion41, an operation command by the control portion42and the like so that the operator can recognize.

The image reading portion34is a portion that reads image information of a document used in a case where the MFP25operates as a copier, a facsimile machine or the like. In the present embodiment, the image reading portion is provided with a CCD image sensor43as image reading means (here, CCD is the abbreviation of “charge coupled device”). Image information read by the image reading portion34is stored into a buffer memory49used for temporary storage of information, of the main-body storing portion31.

The main-body communicating portion35is a portion that executes transfer of signals with the network21and a unit communicating portion51of the CRU27described later. The main-body communicating portion35may be configured so as to communicate by wireless, or may be configured so as to communicate through wire. In the present embodiment, the main-body communicating portion is configured so as to communicate by wireless, and configured so as to include a receiving/transmitting portion and an antenna. In a case where the MFP25functions as a printer, for example, image information created and transmitted by the PC23connected to the network21is received by the main-body communicating portion35via the network21, and stored into the buffer memory49of the main-body storing portion31by an apparatus control portion44.

The control portion32is a processing circuit having a central processing unit (CPU) and, in the present embodiment, includes the apparatus control portion44, a processing portion45and a timer46. The apparatus control portion44is a processing circuit that executes total control of image formation operations of the MFP25. Moreover, when a main switch of the MFP25is turns on, the apparatus control portion obtains the operation information of the CRU27stored in the server22, via the network21. Furthermore, timing to obtain the operation information is not limited to the operation of the main switch of the apparatus main body26, and may be set to each reception of an operation command to execute image formation by the apparatus main body26in the standby state.

The processing portion45forms the information erasing means for erasing the operation information of the CRU27stored in the buffer memory49of the main-body storing portion31when the end of communication between the main-body communicating portion35and the unit communicating portion51of the CRU27is received. When the apparatus control portion44detects a halt of communication between the main-body communicating portion35and the unit communicating portion51of the CRU27, for example, detects a signal indicating that a series of image forming operations end and the main switch of the apparatus main body26is off, the processing portion45serving as the information erasing means erases the operation information stored in the buffer memory49based on an operation command from the apparatus control portion44. Accordingly, the apparatus control portion44also operates as the communication end detecting portion.

Detection of a halt of communication between the main-body communicating portion35and the unit communicating portion51of the CRU27is not limited to detection that the main switch of the apparatus main body26is off, and may be detection by the apparatus control portion44that the MFP25is brought into the standby state. In this case, however, the operation information of the CRU27is obtained from the server22in response to the next command to execute an image forming operation input in the aforementioned standby state.

The timer46is timing means. The timer can start and stop timing in response to an operation designated by the apparatus control portion44, and can reset the result of timing.

The main-body storing portion31of the present embodiment includes a hard disk drive (HD)47that stores, for example, a total operation program of the MFP25, a random access memory (RAM)48, and the buffer memory49that is a memory for temporarily storing information. When image formation is executed by the image forming portion36, obtained image information is stored into the buffer memory49one after another, the apparatus control portion44reads out the image information stored in the buffer memory49one after another, and outputs an operation command to the image forming portion36, whereby image formation is executed.

Although the image forming portion36is represented by a printing portion50, the image forming portion includes an electrophotographic photoconductor, a charger, an exposing device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, a fixing device and so on. The present embodiment illustrates an example that the CRU27is a unit attached to the developing device so as to be freely attached and detached and is a toner cartridge for supplying toner that is a developer component to a developing portion of the developing device in a like manner as illustrated inFIG. 5mentioned before.

FIG. 2is a view illustrating the outline of communication between the CRU27and the apparatus main body26. The CRU27comprises the unit communicating portion51that communicates with the main-body communicating portion35of the apparatus main body26. In the present embodiment, the unit communicating portion51of the CRU27is formed by an IC tag. The IC tag51that is the unit communicating portion has a chip portion51aand an antenna portion51b. The chip portion51aforms a CRUM capable of storing information. In the invention, information stored in the chip portion51ain advance is limited to an identification code for identifying a toner cartridge that is the CRU27, for example, a product number or the like, and operation information such as an operation program and a threshold value relating to an operation condition are not contained. However, operation performance of the CRU27, for example, operation performance such as the number of rotations of a toner supply roller, which is information making it possible to calculate the amount of remaining toner held in a toner supply container of the toner cartridge can be stored in the chip portion51a. Such operation performance information stored in the chip portion51ais transferred by wireless communication between the CRU and the apparatus main body26via the antenna51bof the IC tag51and an antenna35aof the main-body communicating portion35.

In the network system20of the invention, the operation information of the CRU27is not stored in the chip portion51aforming the CRUM, but stored in the server22connected to the network21. For example, when the main switch is turned on, in accordance with the total operation program, the apparatus control portion44of the apparatus main body26obtains the operation information of the CRU27from the server22via the network21, and stores into the buffer memory49of the main-body storing portion31. Based on the operation information of the CRU27stored in the buffer memory49, the apparatus control portion44transmits an operation command by wireless communication between the main-body communicating portion35and the unit communicating portion51of the CRU27, and causes the toner cartridge that is the CRU27to execute a toner supply operation. Wireless communication between the main-body communicating portion35and the unit communicating portion51is not limited to use of the IC tag51. Infrared communication may be used, or a μ-Chip ® may be used.

Toner is supplied by the rotation of the toner supply roller provided in the toner supply container. Since an amount of toner supplied during one rotation of the toner supply roller is determined depending on the toner supply roller, it is possible to calculate an amount of remaining toner in the toner cartridge from the initial amount of toner held in the toner cartridge and the number of rotations of the toner supply roller after the toner cartridge is newly attached to the apparatus main body26.

The number of rotations of the toner supply roller is stored as the operation performance of the CRU27into the chip portion51aof the IC tag51, and then sent from the antenna51bto the main-body communicating portion35. The operation performance received by the main-body communicating portion35is sent to the server22via the network21in accordance with an operation command of the apparatus control portion44.

The operation performance sent to the server22is accumulated in the server22. Moreover, in the server22, two threshold values including first and second threshold values are stored as the operation information of the cartridge that is the CRU27, by models of toner cartridges. In the server22, the amount of remaining toner held in the toner supply container is calculated from the accumulated operation performance, namely, the number of rotations of the toner supply roller, and it is determined whether the operation performance has reached the first and second threshold values or not.

The first threshold value is set to an amount that there remains enough toner to be supplied to the developing portion of the developing device but it is desirable that a replacement article of the toner cartridge is prepared, and the first threshold value is referred to as a toner near end. Moreover, at the second threshold value, the toner in the toner supply container is exhausted, and it is impossible to supply toner to the developing portion. The second threshold value is referred to as a toner end.

When calculating the amount of remaining toner held in the toner supply container from the accumulated operation performance and determining that the operation performance reaches the first threshold value (the toner near end), the server22sends order information to the communication terminal24of the dealer via the network21. The order information contains the model of the toner cartridge, order quantity, a desired deadline for delivery and a delivery place. Moreover, the server22sends the order information to the apparatus main body26and/or the PC23via the network21, as well as to the communication terminal24of the dealer. The apparatus control portion44of the apparatus main body26having received the order information outputs an operation command to the display portion42, thereby causing the display portion to display the order information. The PC23having received the order information causes a display portion thereof to display the order information.

When a series of image forming operations in the MFP25end and the apparatus control portion44serving as the communication end detecting portion detects the end of communication between the main-body communicating portion35and the unit communicating portion51, the processing portion45serving as the information erasing means erases the operation information of the CRU27stored in the buffer memory49, in accordance with the detection result. Thus, it is possible to obtain the operation information from the server22and store into the buffer memory49only when causing the CRU27to operate, and erase the operation information from the buffer memory49so that the operation information does not remain in either the CRU27or the apparatus main body26when the CRU ends operation. Therefore, it is impossible to elicit the operation information from the CRU27, and it is possible to prevent manufacture of an imitation product using the operation information.

Although one MFP25(25a) connected to the network21is described in the above embodiment, the number of the apparatus main bodies26of the MFPs25connected to the network21is not limited to one, and may be plural. For example, two MFPs25aand25bmay be connected to the network21in the network system20illustrated inFIG. 1.

The operation information of the CRU27stored in the server22is transmitted from the server22to the apparatus main bodies26of the two MFPs25aand25bvia the network21. The operation information transmitted to each of the apparatus main bodies26is stored into the buffer memory49, and the CRU27attached to each of the MFPs25aand25boperates based on the operation information. Moreover, the operation performance information of each of the CRUs27is transmitted to the server22via the apparatus main body26and the network21, and accumulated. Thus, the CRUs27attached to the apparatus main bodies26of a plurality of (in the present embodiment, two) MFPs can operate in accordance with one operation information. Moreover, since the operation performance information of each of the CRUs27operated in accordance with the operation information stored in the buffer memory49of each of the apparatus main bodies26is transmitted to the server22via the apparatus main body26and the network21, and accumulated, it is possible to accurately grasp the respective use conditions of the CRUs27.

FIG. 3is a flowchart describing the operation of the apparatus main body26of the MFP25in the network system20. With reference toFIG. 3, the operation of the apparatus main body26of the MFP25will be described.

At the start at step a0, the main switch of the apparatus main body26has been turned on, and initialization of the MFP25has been executed. At step a1, the operation information of the CRU27is obtained from the server22via the network21by an operation command of the apparatus control portion44of the apparatus main body26.

At step a2, image information is received. The image information may be, for example, image information read from a document by the image reading portion34, or image information created by the PC23serving as a communication terminal and sent from the PC23to the MFP25via the network21by a printing command of the PC23. At step a3, a recording image is formed on a recording medium, for example, recording paper in the image forming portion36. At step a4, the recording paper with the formed recording image is ejected to a paper ejecting tray or the like. At step a5, the apparatus main body26obtains (receives) the operation performance of the CRU27from the IC tag51that is the unit communicating portion of the CRU27. At step a6, the apparatus main body sends the obtained operation performance of the CRU27to the server22via the network21.

At step a7, it is determined whether the end of communication between the apparatus main body26and the CRU27is detected or not. In this operation flow, it is regarded as the end of the communication that a series of image forming operations end and the main switch of the apparatus main body26is turned off. When the end of the communication is not detected, for example, when the next image forming command is received, the operation returns to step a2to execute the following steps. On the other hand, when the end of the communication is detected, the operation goes to step a8. At step a8, the processing portion45erases the operation information of the CRU27stored in the buffer memory49of the main-body storing portion31, whereby the image forming operations end. The erasing operation of the processing portion45after it is detected that the main switch of the apparatus main body26is off, can be executed with electric power of, for example, a secondary battery provided in the apparatus main body26.

FIG. 4is a flowchart describing the operation of the server22having received the operation performance of the CRU27. With reference toFIG. 4, the operation of the server22having received the operation performance of the CRU27will be described below.

At the start at step b0, the operation performance of the CRU27has been sent to the server22from the MFP25via the network21at step a6illustrated inFIG. 3. At step b1, the server22receives the operation performance of the CRU27. Here, the CRU27is a toner cartridge, and the operation performance is, for example, the number of rotations of a toner supply roller from which the amount of remaining toner in a toner supply container can be obtained. At step b2, the operation performance of the CRU27is accumulated.

At step b3, it is determined whether the operation performance has reached the second threshold value or not. Here, reaching the second threshold value of the operation performance means that the toner held in the toner supply container of the toner cartridge is exhausted, that is, the toner cartridge has reached the toner end. The operation goes to step b4when the toner cartridge has not reached the toner end yet, whereas the operation goes to step b8when the toner cartridge has reached the toner end.

At first, a flow from step b4where the toner cartridge has not reached the toner end yet will be described. At step b4, it is determined whether the operation performance has reached the first threshold value or not. Here, reaching the first threshold value of the operation performance means that the toner held in the toner supply container of the toner cartridge is running short, that is, the toner cartridge has reached the toner near end.

When the toner cartridge has not reached the toner near end, it is possible to continue to supply a sufficient amount of toner, that is, continue to execute image information without hindrance. Therefore, any operation command signal is not sent from the server22to the MFP25, and the operation goes from step a6to step a7in the flowchart of the image forming operations of the MFP25illustrated inFIG. 3.

On the other hand, when the toner cartridge has reached the toner near end, the operation goes to step b5. At step b5, based on the toner near end state, it is determined whether or not the order information of the toner cartridge that is the CRU27has been sent to the communication terminal24of the dealer and the MFP25. The operation goes to step b7when the order information has been sent, whereas the operation goes to step b6when the order information has not been sent. At step b6, the order information is sent to the communication terminal24of the dealer and the MFP25via the network21.

Since the order information is sent to the MFP25as well, the apparatus main body26having received the order information causes the display portion42to display the order information at step b7. Since the operator of the MFP25can know by the display of the order information on the display portion42that a replacement article of the CRU27has been ordered, duplicate order is prevented, and it is possible to continue the operation of image formation. Moreover, the dealer having received the order information by the communication terminal24will deliver a replacement article of the CRU27by a designated delivery deadline, to a designated place. The order information of the CRU27may also be sent to the PC23giving an image forming operation command to the MFP25, via the network21, and displayed on a display screen of the PC23.

When the operation performance has reached the second threshold value at step b3described before and the operation goes to step b8, information that the operation performance has reached the second threshold value, that is, the toner cartridge has reached the toner end, is sent to the MFP25at step b8. When the toner cartridge that is the CRU27has reached the toner end, there is no toner to be supplied to the developing portion of the developing device, with the result that a developed image may be lack of density. Therefore, when the information of the toner end is sent from the server22to the MFP25, the MFP25temporarily stops advancement from step a6to step a7in the flowchart illustrated inFIG. 3described before, and executes operations from step b9illustrated inFIG. 4. At step b9, the apparatus main body26having received the toner end information causes the display portion42to display the information of the toner end, that is, the end of life of the CRU27, and the operation goes to step b10, where the image forming operations of the apparatus main body26is stopped.

After the operator recognizes the display of the toner end, and replaces the toner cartridge that is the CRU27with a replacement article, the apparatus main body can execute the operations from step a7in the image forming operation illustrated in the flowchart ofFIG. 3.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the apparatus is an image forming apparatus. However, the apparatus is not limited to the above one, and may be another one as far as the apparatus is equipped with a customer replaceable unit (CRU). Moreover, the apparatus is an image forming apparatus, and the CRU is a toner cartridge. However, the CRU is not limited to the above one, and may be a process cartridge, a transfer unit, a fixing unit or the like.