| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that makes it possible to provide a waste-toner box replacement service before the apparatus stops, by detecting as an alarm a sign of an amount beyond the permissible amount of a waste-toner box before the waste-toner box becomes full and the use of the image forming apparatus is inhibited. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus includes a communication part that transmits/receives data to/from an external part, a storage vessel for storing waste toner scraped from a photoreceptor, and a counter 1 which counts sheets subjected to image formation. The apparatus also includes a waste-toner replacement error detection means which, when the counter reaches a specified value 2, determines that the waste toner vessel needs to be replaced, and outputs an error signal, thereby inhibiting an image forming operation after the output of the error signal. The apparatus further includes a waste-toner replacement alarm detection means which, when the counter 1 reaches a specified value 1, determines that time to replace the waste-toner vessel is close in time, and outputs an alarm signal, thereby continuing the image forming operation after the output of the alarm signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO |
