| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus connected to a network such as the Internet, in which speedy maintenance matching the condition of the apparatus is performed by foreseeing, in particular, a malfunction of the image forming apparatus in advance and by setting a period for which a service is provided or a service schedule. <P>SOLUTION: A control signal is transmitted to a high voltage unit 36 from a printer controller 32. A voltage for an electrifier is set to a high voltage that makes it easy for soil to appear. Before trouble occurs, the degree of the soil of the electrifier is checked. When it is determined that trouble such as an image fault is likely to occur in near future, a service call is made to provide maintenance in advance. In addition, the image forming apparatus is connected to the network line such as the Internet. Information is transmitted to a server via the network line. The possibility of failure is judged by the server, and the maintenance of the image forming apparatus is performed in advance when necessary. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI |
