Updating apparatus that updates information stored in storage device, and image forming apparatus

1 . An updating apparatus that updates information stored in a storage device provided in a replacement unit of an image forming apparatus, the updating apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices storing a program that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

read out, when initialization processing is started, usage information stored in a first region of the storage device and indicating a usage state of the replacement unit,

perform backup processing of storing backup information based on the usage information in a target region within a plurality of second regions of the storage device different from the first region, and

perform update processing of updating the usage information stored in the first region to a first default value,

wherein the one or more processors store count information based on a number of times the update processing has been performed in a third region different from the first region and the plurality of second regions, and

the one or more processors determine the target region from among the plurality of second regions based on the count information.

2 . The updating apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the usage information is information having a first bit length,

the backup information is information having a second bit length shorter than the first bit length, and

in the backup processing, the one or more processors convert the usage information of the first bit length into the backup information of the second bit length, and store the backup information in the target region.

3 . The updating apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the count information indicates a number of 0 to N, where N is an integer of 2 or more, and

the plurality of second regions are N second regions corresponding to the number indicated by the count information.

4 . The updating apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the count information is N-bit information, and

the third region includes N regions that store 1-bit information and for which information can be updated only once.

5 . The updating apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein when the count information indicates N, the one or more processors perform the backup processing and the update processing, but skip updating the count information.

6 . The updating apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein when the count information does not indicate N, and a second default value of the target region is not stored in the target region determined based on the number indicated by the count information, the one or more processors skip performing the backup processing and the update processing, and skip updating the count information.

7 . The updating apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein when the count information does not indicate 0, and a second default value of the target region is stored in the target region determined based on a number 1 less than the number indicated by the count information, the one or more processors skip performing the backup processing and the update processing, and skip updating the count information.

8 . The updating apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein when the first default value is stored in the first region, the one or more processors skip performing the backup processing, and skip updating the count information.

9 . The updating apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more processors start the initialization processing in response to a user input instructing the initialization processing to be executed.

10 . The updating apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the image forming apparatus and the updating apparatus are different apparatuses.

11 . The updating apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the image forming apparatus and the updating apparatus are a same apparatus.

12 . An image forming apparatus that performs image formation by using a replacement unit comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices storing a program that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

read out, when initialization processing is started, usage information stored in a first region of a storage device of the replacement unit and indicating a usage state of the replacement unit,

perform backup processing of storing backup information based on the usage information in a target region within a plurality of second regions of the storage device different from the first region, and

perform update processing of updating the usage information stored in the first region to a first default value,

wherein the one or more processors store count information based on a number of times the update processing has been performed in a third region different from the first region and the plurality of second regions, and

the one or more processors determine the target region from among the plurality of second regions based on the count information.

13 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 ,

wherein the one or more processors update the usage information stored in the first region in accordance with the image formation.

14 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 ,

wherein the one or more processors control the image formation based on the usage information stored in the first region.

15 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 ,

wherein the replacement unit holds toner,

out-of-toner information indicating a number of times a remaining amount of the toner has dropped below a predetermined value is stored in the storage device by the one or more processors, and

the one or more processors start the initialization processing based on the remaining amount of the toner in the replacement unit, the count information, and the out-of-toner information.