JP2007019727A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system capable of grasping a toner usage status for an image formation job performed from now on before a user performs the image formation job, based on the amount of toner used in the image formation job set in the past. <P>SOLUTION: According to the image forming system when setting of an image formation job is performed at an image forming apparatus and the job is performed, an image ratio and a toner usage ratio in the image formation job are computed, and job setting information and job information including the image ratio and the toner usage ratio are transmitted to a server 2 for storing at a job information storage means. When reading out the past job information is directed by an operating means at an image forming apparatus, a sending request for the job information for the past image formation job stored at the job information storage means is transmitted to the server, and the job information transmitted from the server is displayed on a display means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system that form and output an image on a transfer sheet based on input image data.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process, a technique for grasping a cumulative result of toner consumption used for each user has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). Further, an image forming system has been proposed in which job settings registered in the past by each user are read from a server and the same job settings can be made (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 7-329404 A JP 2003-303061 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, only the cumulative result of each user's toner consumption can be grasped, and the user cannot grasp the tendency of the toner consumption before executing the image forming job. According to the amount of toner used in the image forming job, the user cannot save the toner. In Patent Document 2, even if the same job setting as that registered in the past is performed, there is a high possibility that the past toner remaining amount and the current toner remaining amount are different. In some cases, it was noticed that the image was lightened due to lack of toner after the end of the image forming job.

  An object of the present invention is to enable the user to grasp the toner usage status of an image forming job to be executed based on the toner usage amount of the image forming job set in the past before the user executes the image forming job. It is to do.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1
In an image forming apparatus that forms and outputs an image on a transfer sheet based on input image data,
Display means for displaying a display screen;
Job setting means for setting image forming conditions in an image forming job;
An image rate calculating unit that calculates an image rate of an image formed by the image forming job based on setting contents from the job setting unit;
A toner usage amount calculating unit that calculates a toner usage amount in the image forming job based on the image rate calculated by the image rate calculating unit;
Job information storage means for storing job setting information set for the image forming job, job information including the calculated image rate and the calculated toner usage;
When setting image forming conditions for a new image forming job, job information for the past image forming job is read from the job information storage unit, and includes job setting information, an image rate, and a toner usage amount for the past image forming job. Control means for displaying job information on the display means;
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1,
A name setting means for setting an arbitrary name in the job information is provided.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2,
Toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the current toner remaining amount;
Selecting means for selecting job information including job setting information to be applied to the current image forming job from job information for past image forming jobs displayed on the display means;
The amount of toner used included in the job information selected by the selection unit is compared with the remaining amount of toner detected by the remaining toner amount detection unit. When the remaining toner amount is low, the remaining toner amount is insufficient. Warning means to warn
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 4
In an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus that forms and outputs an image on a transfer sheet based on input image data and a server are connected to be able to transmit and receive data via a communication network.
The image forming apparatus includes: a display unit for displaying a display screen; a job setting unit for setting image forming conditions in an image forming job; and image formation by the image forming job based on setting contents from the job setting unit. Image rate calculation means for calculating the image rate of the image that has been obtained, and toner use amount calculation means for calculating the toner use amount in the image forming job based on the image rate calculated by the image rate calculation means, Sending job information including job setting information set for the image forming job, the calculated image rate and the calculated toner usage to the server via the communication network;
The server includes job information storage means for storing job information. When job information is received from the image forming apparatus via the communication network, the received job information is stored in the job information storage means. ,
The image forming apparatus requests the server to transmit job information for past image forming jobs stored in the job information storage unit when setting image forming conditions for a new image forming job. Job information including job setting information, an image rate, and a toner usage amount for the past image forming job transmitted from is displayed on the display means.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4,
The image forming apparatus includes a name setting unit that sets an arbitrary name in the job information.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5,
The image forming apparatus includes: a toner remaining amount detecting unit that detects a current toner remaining amount; and job setting information that is applied to the current image forming job from job information for past image forming jobs displayed on the display unit. Comparing the toner usage amount included in the job information selected by the selection means with the remaining toner amount detected by the remaining toner amount detecting means, and selecting the remaining toner amount. And a warning means for warning that the remaining amount of toner is insufficient when the amount is small.

  According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, when a new image processing condition is set before the user executes the image forming job, based on the amount of toner used in the image forming job set in the past, It is possible to grasp the toner usage status of the image forming job to be executed.

  According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, the user can set an arbitrary name for the job information.

  According to the third and sixth aspects of the present invention, the user can predict in advance whether or not toner shortage will occur when an image forming job is executed with the content of the selected job information. There is no longer any notice that the desired finish has not been achieved due to lack of toner after the formation job is executed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an image forming system 100 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in an image forming system 100, an image forming apparatus 1 and a server 2 are connected so that data can be transmitted and received via a communication network NT such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the Internet. Has been configured. The number of image forming apparatuses 1 is not particularly limited.

  As the image forming apparatus 1, a copying machine, a printer, a FAX, a multifunction machine, or the like can be applied. In the present embodiment, a case where a multifunction machine using an electrophotographic process is applied will be described as an example.

  FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration example of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration example inside the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 101, a printing unit 102, an operation unit 103, a display unit 104, a communication unit 105, a CPU 106, a storage unit 107, a RAM 108, a PWM signal level count unit 109, an image rate. A calculation unit 110, a toner usage rate calculation unit 111, a toner remaining amount calculation unit 112, and the like are included, and each unit is connected via a bus 113.

  The scanner unit 101 includes an automatic document feeder a, a document table b, a document reader c and the like shown in FIG. The automatic document feeder a automatically feeds documents placed on the document tray t one by one onto a document table b made of platen glass or the like. The document reading means c includes a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a light source, and an A / D converter, and forms an image of reflected light of the light scanned from the light source to the document by the CCD and photoelectrically converts the light. The analog image signal thus read is A / D converted and output to the printing means 102.

The printing unit 102 includes a writing unit d, a sheet feeding unit e, a cleaning unit f, a charging unit g, a developing unit h, a photosensitive drum i, a transfer unit j, a fixing unit k, a sheet discharging unit l and the like shown in FIG. Based on the image data input from the document reading unit c, an image is formed on a transfer sheet by an electrophotographic method and output.
In the printing unit 102, when image data is input from the document reading unit c, the writing unit d performs image processing on the input image data, and generates a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal based on the image processed image data. The electrostatic latent image is written by irradiating the surface of the photosensitive drum i charged by the charging means g with laser light based on the generated and inputted PWM signal. When the electrostatic latent image is written on the surface of the photosensitive drum i, the developing unit h attaches toner to an area including the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum i, and transfers the toner onto the transfer paper conveyed from the paper feeding unit e. On the other hand, the transfer unit j transfers the toner to form an image. The transfer sheet on which the image is formed is conveyed to the fixing unit k, and after the toner image on the transfer sheet is fixed by the fixing unit k, the transfer sheet is discharged from the discharge unit l. The toner that has not been transferred onto the photosensitive drum i is removed by the cleaning means f.

The operation unit 103 includes a numeric keypad for inputting various settings and operation instructions to the image forming apparatus 1, various operation buttons including a copy start button, a touch panel configured on the display screen of the display unit 104, and the like. An operation signal of the pressed button or a position signal on the display screen is output to the CPU 106.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 103 includes a personal authentication information input unit m, a mode selection button n, a frequency button o, a history button p, a job setting button q, and a name setting button r. Yes.
The personal authentication information input means m inputs user authentication information. In the present embodiment, the personal authentication information input means m is a fingerprint sensor for inputting fingerprint information, but is not limited to this, and biometric information other than fingerprints, for example, information such as irises is received. You may use the biometric information input means to input. Further, the personal authentication information input means m may input a user ID and a password, or may be an IC card reader that reads information on an IC card (for example, an IC card in which personal information of the user is recorded). Good.
The mode selection button n is a button for setting a mode for reading job information (details will be described later) stored for each user stored in the server 2.
The frequency button o is a button for setting the order in which the job information stored in the server 2 is displayed in order of frequency.
The history button p is a button for setting the order in which the job information stored in the server 2 is displayed in order of history.
The job setting button q is a button for selecting and setting desired job information from the job information displayed on the display unit 104.
The name setting button r is a button for instructing to set an arbitrary name in the job information.

The operation means 103 has a transparent touch panel that covers the display screen of the display means 104, and detects the coordinate information of the pressed position of the transparent touch panel corresponding to the operation key displayed on the display screen. Detect input. This touch panel enables you to set image processing conditions (including post-processing conditions) (job settings) such as transfer paper size, number of copies, single-sided / double-sided printing, magnification, density, and staples for the job to be executed, and names set in job information Etc. can be input.
That is, the operation unit 103 functions as a job setting unit, a name setting unit, and a selection unit.

  Here, a job (image forming job) refers to a series of operations relating to image formation. For example, when copying a plurality of originals, a series of operations relating to a plurality of copies is one job, and a plurality of copies. In the case of copying, a series of operations related to copying for a plurality of copies is one job. The job information is information related to each executed job. The job setting information set via the operation unit 103 at the time of job execution, the image rate information calculated by the image rate calculation unit 110, and the toner usage rate calculation unit. Information on the toner usage rate calculated by 111 is included. The job setting information is information on image forming conditions (including post-processing conditions) set for each job, such as transfer paper size, number of output copies, single-sided / double-sided printing, magnification, density, and staples. The image rate indicates the ratio of the image formed on the transfer paper. When a black (highest density) image is formed on the entire surface of the transfer paper, the image rate is 100%. The toner usage rate indicates the ratio of the amount of toner used to the amount of toner (toner amount per toner bottle loaded in the image forming apparatus 1) when the image forming apparatus 1 is 100% replenished with toner. Is.

  The display unit 104 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays various setting screens and the status display of the image forming apparatus 1 on the display screen in accordance with an instruction of a display signal input from the CPU 106.

  The communication unit 105 includes a LAN adapter, a router, and the like, and performs data transmission / reception with each device including the server 2 connected to the communication network NT.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 106 reads out various processing programs such as a system program and a job control processing program stored in the storage means 107 by operating the operation means 103, expands them in the RAM, and expands the programs. Accordingly, the operation of each part of the image forming apparatus 1 is centrally controlled.

The storage unit 107 is configured by a non-volatile semiconductor memory or the like, and stores various processing programs including a system program corresponding to the image forming apparatus 1 and a job control program executable on the system program. The program is stored in the form of computer-readable program code, and the CPU 106 sequentially executes operations according to the program code.
In addition, the storage unit 107 stores a user authentication information file that stores a user ID for uniquely identifying each user of the image forming apparatus 1 and fingerprint information in association with each other.

  The RAM 108 is a temporary storage area for programs, input, or output data and parameters read from the storage means 107 in various processes controlled by the CPU 106.

  The PWM signal level counting means 109 counts the H level signal of the PWM signal used for image formation. Here, when the PWM signal is at the L level, the laser of the writing unit d is turned on and no image is formed. When the PWM signal is at the H level, the laser of the writing unit d is not turned on and an image is formed. The rate at which an image is formed on one page of transfer paper, that is, the image rate per page, counts the H level of the PWM signal when forming an image for one page, and this count is the total of the PWM signals for one page. It can be obtained by dividing by the count number. For example, when an image is formed with 64 gradations per pixel, the H level of the PWM signal per pixel has a width of 64 steps. The H-level width of the PWM signal per pixel is sampled and counted with a high-frequency clock, and this is added to all the pixels for one page, whereby the PWM signal H-level count number per page is increased. Desired. The PWM signal level count unit 109 counts the H level of the PWM signal for each page and outputs it to the image rate calculation unit 110 during job execution.

The image rate calculation means 110 is based on the H level count number of the PWM signal of each page input from the PWM signal level count means 109, and the image ratio and execution of each page formed on the transfer paper in the executed job. The image ratio of the entire job (for all pages of the job) is calculated.
Specifically, the image rate calculation unit 110 holds the total count of PWM signals per page for each transfer paper size. For example, in the case of A4 size and the total number of pixels is 7000 pixels × 4900 lines = 34300000 pixels, since the PWM signal has 64 stages per pixel, the total PWM signal count per A41 page is 34.300000 pixels × 64 = 22195200000. It becomes. The image rate calculation means 110 calculates the image of each page according to the following formula based on the count of the input H level signal of the PWM signal of each page and the PWM signal total count of the transfer paper size used in advance. Rate, and the image rate of the entire job.
[Image ratio of each page]
(H-level count of PWM signal in the corresponding page) / (Total count of PWM signal per page in the used transfer paper size) × 100
[Image ratio of entire job]
(Total number of H-level counts of PWM signals in each page) / (Total count of PWM signals per page in the used transfer paper size × Number of pages) × 100

The toner usage rate calculation unit 111 calculates the toner usage rate for the entire job based on the image rate of each page at the time of job execution calculated by the image rate calculation unit 110.
Specifically, the toner usage rate calculation unit 111 holds a toner usage coefficient α per page for each transfer paper size. The toner usage coefficient α is a toner usage rate when one image having an image rate of 100% is formed. Toner usage rate calculation means 111
N = toner coefficient α × N is calculated for each page as an image rate for one page, and the toner usage rate of the entire job is calculated by obtaining the total sum of N for each page.

  The toner usage rate calculation unit 111 described above corresponds to a toner usage amount calculation unit. In this embodiment, in order to make it easy for the user to grasp the toner usage amount, the toner usage amount is calculated as the toner usage rate, and is displayed as the toner usage rate when the toner usage amount is displayed on the display unit 104. However, the toner usage amount itself may be calculated and displayed.

  The toner remaining amount detecting unit 112 accumulates the toner usage rate after the toner bottle is replaced with a new one, that is, after the image forming apparatus 1 is replenished with 100% toner. The remaining amount of toner is detected by subtracting the rate. In the present embodiment, the remaining amount of toner is detected as a ratio of the remaining amount of toner (toner remaining rate) with respect to a state in which 100% toner is replenished in the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image rate calculating unit 110, the toner usage rate calculating unit 111, and the toner remaining amount detecting unit 112 may be realized by software processing in cooperation with the CPU 106 and a program stored in the storage unit 107, or dedicated. It may be realized by hardware.

  The server 2 is a PC (Personal Computer) provided with communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication network NT, and job information storage means constituted by an HDD (Hard Disk) or the like. The job information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in the job information storage unit in association with the user ID. When a user ID and job information transmission request is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1, the job information corresponding to the transmitted user ID is read from the job information storage unit, and the transmission request is made by rearranging the specified order. Sent to the image forming apparatus 1.

Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 5 shows job control processing executed by the CPU 106. This process is a process realized by software processing in cooperation with the CPU 106 and the job control processing program stored in the storage unit 107, and the control unit is realized by executing this process. Hereinafter, the job control process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, when fingerprint information is input from the user authentication information input means m, user authentication processing is executed, and the input fingerprint information is collated with each fingerprint information of the user authentication information file stored in the storage means 107, The user ID corresponding to the fingerprint information that matches the input fingerprint information is read and stored in the RAM 108 (step S1). If there is no fingerprint information that matches the fingerprint information input in the personal authentication information file, an error message is displayed on the display means 104.

  After the user authentication, when the mode selection button n is pressed and an instruction to read the job information stored in the server 2 is given (step S2; YES), a reception screen for the frequency button o or the history button p is displayed, and the frequency When the order of job information is set by pressing the button o or the history button p (step S3), job information corresponding to an authenticated user is acquired through communication with the server 2 via the communication unit 105. (Step S4). Specifically, the job information transmission request is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 to the server 2 together with the user ID and the arrangement order stored in the RAM 108. In the server 2, when the job information transmission request is received, the past job information of the specified user ID is searched from the job information storage means, and the searched job information is rearranged in the specified order. It is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 that has requested the job information transmission.

  When the past job information of the authenticated user, that is, the user who is currently performing the operation is acquired from the server 2, the acquired job information is displayed on the display screen (step S5).

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a job information display screen displayed on the display screen of the display means 104 in step S5. FIG. 6 shows a job information display screen that is displayed when the history order is set in step S3. In the history order, the job information used recently is displayed in order. As shown in FIG. 6, on the job information display screen, for each job performed in the past, the “date” when the job was performed, the “name” registered for the job setting, the “setting contents ( Job setting information), “image rate” when the job is executed, and “toner usage rate” when the job is executed.

“Name” is a name set by the user for the job information when the job is set. By setting a name representing the content of the original, the displayed job information is for what kind of original. The user can discriminate whether the setting contents, the image rate, and the toner usage rate of the job performed in this way. This is convenient when the job settings are the same and the originals are different, because the image rate and toner usage rate change. For example, the history NO. If the name “weekly report” is set as shown in FIG. 2, the user can easily grasp the job settings, the image rate, and the toner usage rate when the weekly report is imaged. In addition, when a manuscript with a black background is copied, the history NO. If the name “background black” is set as shown in FIG. 3, the user can determine why the image rate and toner usage rate are high.
As described above, the “image ratio” indicates the ratio of the image formed on the transfer paper. When a black (highest density) image is formed on the entire surface of the transfer paper, The rate is 100%.
As described above, the “toner usage rate” indicates the ratio of the used toner amount to the toner amount that is 100% replenished.

  In this way, by displaying the actual image rate and toner usage rate for each job set and registered by each user in the past, before the user executes the job, how much toner is set in the job setting to be set this time It is possible to grasp whether it is used. Thereby, for example, if the toner usage rate is high, the user can save toner by changing the density setting to suppress the toner usage amount.

  When the user selects and selects job information including desired job settings from the job information display screen and presses the job setting button p as a selection unit, job information including job setting contents to be applied to the current job is displayed. When selected (step S6), the current toner remaining rate is acquired from the toner remaining amount detecting means 111, and the toner usage rate of the selected job information is compared with the current toner remaining rate (step S6). S7). As a result of the comparison, if the toner remaining rate is low (step S8; YES), a warning is displayed on the display means 104 that a shortage of toner is expected (step S9; warning means). This warning display may be performed, for example, by pop-up displaying that the toner remaining shortage is expected on the job information display screen, or by flashing the toner usage rate column on the job information display screen. May be. Alternatively, the user may be warned of toner shortage by blinking an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or outputting a warning buzzer. It is preferable that the user can set a warning method for toner shortage.

  After the job information is selected, a setting change from the job setting contents of the job information is accepted (step S10). For example, when an item content whose setting content is to be changed on the job information display screen is pressed, a setting screen for the item is displayed in a pop-up, and new content can be set.

  On the other hand, when the mode selection button n is not pressed in step S2 (step S2; NO), a screen for job setting is displayed on the display means 104, the transfer paper size, the number of output copies, duplex / single-sided printing, density, etc. Job setting is performed (step S11).

  When the job setting is completed and the name registration button r is pressed (step S12; YES), a name setting screen is displayed on the display means 104, and the name input from the screen is set and registered as the job name. (Step S13). Then, in response to pressing of the start button, the job is started, the image of the original is read by the scanner unit 101, and image formation is performed with the job setting contents set in steps S4 to S11 by the printer unit 102 (step S1). S14). Further, the PWM signal level counting means 109 is operated, and the level of the PWM signal is counted (step S15).

  When the image formation is completed, the image rate and the toner usage rate for the executed job are calculated based on the count number from the PWM signal level counting means 109 (step S16). Then, the communication unit 105 transmits job information such as the user ID, job execution date, name, job setting content, image rate, and toner usage rate to the server 2 (step S17), and the process ends.

  In the server 2, when job information is received, the job information is stored in the job information storage means.

  As described above, according to the image forming system 100, when a job is set in the image forming apparatus 1 through the operation unit 103 and the job is executed, the image rate and toner usage in the image forming job are performed. The rate is calculated, and job information including job setting information, image rate, and toner usage rate is transmitted to the server 2 and stored in the job information storage unit. When the operation unit 103 instructs the image forming apparatus 1 to read past job information, the server 2 requests the server 2 to transmit job information for the past image forming job stored in the job information storage unit. When the past job information is received from the server, a job information display screen including the received job information is displayed on the display means 104. When one job information is selected from the job information display screen and setting is instructed, job setting information included in the selected job information is set for the current job. Then, the image rate and toner usage rate of the current job are calculated, and job information including job setting information, image rate, and toner usage rate is transmitted to the server 2 and stored in the job information storage unit.

  Therefore, before the user executes the job, when a new image processing condition is set before the user executes the job, the job to be set and executed based on the toner usage amount in the job set in the past. It is possible to grasp the toner usage status. Thereby, for example, if the toner usage rate is high, the user can save toner by changing the density setting to suppress the toner usage amount.

  In addition, since the user can set an arbitrary name for job information in the image forming apparatus 1, even if there is the same job setting content, that is, job setting information in the past, a name is set for each document. In addition, job information can be set and registered. If a name indicating the contents of a document is set for the job information, the user can easily select the job information when copying the same document next time.

  Further, when job information is selected from the job information display screen, the image forming apparatus 1 compares the toner usage rate included in the selected job information with the current toner remaining rate, and the toner remaining rate is low. In this case, the warning of toner shortage is displayed, so that the user can predict the toner shortage, and after executing the job, the user does not notice that the desired finish has not been achieved due to toner shortage.

  Note that the description in the above embodiment is a preferred example of the image forming system 100 according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the job information storage means is provided in the server 2, but the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a storage device such as a large-capacity HDD, and this large-capacity storage device is stored in the job information storage. You may make it use a means.

  In the above embodiment, the toner usage rate is obtained and displayed so that the user can easily grasp the usage amount of toner, but the toner usage amount itself may be displayed.

  The job information storage unit stores only the image rate in association with each job setting information, and the toner usage amount is calculated based on the image rate read from the job information storage unit. It may be. Further, the image rate and toner usage rate may be calculated on the server side.

In the above embodiment, the case where the density of one pixel is expressed in multiple values has been described as an example. However, the present invention is also applied to the case where one pixel is expressed in binary (white or black). Can do. In the case of an image forming apparatus that expresses one pixel in binary, for example, the number of image forming pixels in the entire job is counted,
(Number of image forming pixels in the entire job) / (Total number of pixels per page in the used transfer paper size × number of pages) × 100
By calculating, the image rate can be obtained. In addition, the toner usage rate is stored as a fixed value for the number of pixels in which image formation is possible with one toner bottle loaded in the image forming apparatus 1.
(Number of image forming pixels in the entire job) / (Number of pixels capable of forming an image with one toner bottle) × 100
Can be obtained by calculating.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each apparatus constituting the image forming system 100 can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system 100 according to the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration inside an image forming apparatus 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operation means 103 4 is a flowchart illustrating job control processing executed by a CPU. It is a figure which shows an example of a job information display screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming system 1 Image forming apparatus 101 Scanner means a Automatic document feeding means b Original table c Original reading means 102 Printing means d Writing means e Paper feeding means f Cleaning means g Charging means h Developing means i Photosensitive drum j Transfer Means k Fixing means l Discharge means
103 operation means m personal authentication information input means n mode selection button o frequency button p history button q job setting button r name setting button 104 display means 105 communication means 106 CPU
107 storage means 108 RAM
109 PWM signal level count means 110 Image rate calculation means 111 Toner usage rate calculation means 112 Toner remaining amount detection means 2 Server NT network

Claims (6)

In an image forming apparatus that forms and outputs an image on a transfer sheet based on input image data,
Display means for displaying a display screen;
Job setting means for setting image forming conditions in an image forming job;
An image rate calculating unit that calculates an image rate of an image formed by the image forming job based on setting contents from the job setting unit;
A toner usage amount calculating unit that calculates a toner usage amount in the image forming job based on the image rate calculated by the image rate calculating unit;
Job information storage means for storing job setting information set for the image forming job, job information including the calculated image rate and the calculated toner usage;
When setting image forming conditions for a new image forming job, job information for the past image forming job is read from the job information storage unit, and includes job setting information, an image rate, and a toner usage amount for the past image forming job. Control means for displaying job information on the display means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a name setting unit configured to set an arbitrary name in the job information. Toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the current toner remaining amount;
Selecting means for selecting job information including job setting information to be applied to the current image forming job from job information for past image forming jobs displayed on the display means;
The amount of toner used included in the job information selected by the selection unit is compared with the remaining amount of toner detected by the remaining toner amount detection unit. When the remaining toner amount is low, the remaining toner amount is insufficient. Warning means to warn
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: In an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus that forms and outputs an image on a transfer sheet based on input image data and a server are connected to be able to transmit and receive data via a communication network.
The image forming apparatus includes: a display unit for displaying a display screen; a job setting unit for setting image forming conditions in an image forming job; and image formation by the image forming job based on setting contents from the job setting unit. Image rate calculation means for calculating the image rate of the image that has been obtained, and toner use amount calculation means for calculating the toner use amount in the image forming job based on the image rate calculated by the image rate calculation means, Sending job information including job setting information set for the image forming job, the calculated image rate and the calculated toner usage to the server via the communication network;
The server includes job information storage means for storing job information. When job information is received from the image forming apparatus via the communication network, the received job information is stored in the job information storage means. ,
The image forming apparatus requests the server to transmit job information for past image forming jobs stored in the job information storage unit when setting image forming conditions for a new image forming job. An image forming system, wherein job information including job setting information, an image rate, and a toner usage amount with respect to the past image forming job transmitted from the display unit is displayed on the display unit.   The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a name setting unit that sets an arbitrary name in the job information.   The image forming apparatus includes: a toner remaining amount detecting unit that detects a current toner remaining amount; and job setting information that is applied to the current image forming job from job information for past image forming jobs displayed on the display unit. Comparing the toner usage amount included in the job information selected by the selection means with the remaining toner amount detected by the remaining toner amount detecting means, and selecting the remaining toner amount. 6. The image forming system according to claim 4, further comprising a warning unit that warns that the amount of toner is insufficient when the amount is small.

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