JP2011056845A - Image forming apparatus, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, the program and recording medium, which reduces the frequency in collecting residue carried out by an operator. <P>SOLUTION: For the residue corresponding to the operation mode for image formation of the image forming apparatus, the number of remaining days is computed, and the calculated value is defined as a predicted value A (S1). When the predicted value A is a report threshold (S2) or below, the residue is stored as the one required for collecting (S3). Then, the number of remaining days is computed also for other residues. For the residue whose value calculated by subtracting an adjusting value from the calculated number of remaining days is the predicted value A or the report threshold or below, the residue is also stored as the one required for collecting (S4, S5, S6). Then, the operator (S10) is notified of the residue required for collecting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of accessing a plurality of processing means for outputting a residue and storing the residue, and an image forming apparatus capable of accessing a plurality of processing means for outputting the residue and storing the residue. The present invention relates to a program that functions as a means, and a computer-readable recording medium that records the program.

  Conventionally, in an electrophotographic system, some peripheral devices (for example, a sheet post-processing apparatus) connected to an image forming apparatus generate residue. It is already known that when the storage space for the residue is full, a warning message is displayed via the display device to notify the operator of the processing timing for the residue.

  However, in the conventional apparatus, it is only necessary to notify the operator of the processing timing of one residue of a certain peripheral device, and therefore it is necessary to have the operator perform processing of the residue each time the processing timing of each residue occurs. was there. Specifically, a warning message is displayed on the display when one peripheral device is full of punch scraps, so the operator has processed the residue, but other peripheral devices have cut staples. If the scrap is likely to be full, no warning message will be displayed for the peripheral device, so a warning message will be displayed when the staples are full. The number of operations was large, and the number of operations by the operator was large.

  In Patent Literature 1, the remaining amount of paper is read at the stage before starting the job, the expected paper consumption is calculated by executing the job, and the estimated remaining paper consumption is subtracted from the remaining paper amount. It is described that, when the amount is less than 0, a warning message indicating that operator maintenance is required is displayed before the job starts.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, the usable amount of a part having wearability or life is detected, the part usage amount is predicted, and the predicted usage amount is a predetermined level compared with the current remaining amount. In the case of the above, a device that displays a warning message to the user of the image output system is disclosed.

  However, when the conventional apparatus according to Patent Document 1 is applied to the collection process of residue, if it is determined that the estimated amount of each residue reaches a predetermined amount at the stage before starting the job, before starting the job, A warning message to that effect is displayed, but if there is a residue that needs to be collected soon, a warning message about the residue is not displayed. The number of work was increasing.

  Further, when the conventional apparatus according to Patent Document 2 is applied to residue collection processing, a warning message to that effect is displayed when it is determined that the estimated amount of each residue reaches a predetermined amount, as described above. When there is a residue that needs to be collected soon, a warning message about the residue is not displayed, so that the number of processing of the residue performed by the operator is large and the number of operations of the operator is large.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a program, and a recording medium that can reduce the number of operations of collecting a residue performed by an operator.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is capable of accessing a plurality of processing means for outputting a residue and storing the residue, and an image including a residue processing detecting means for detecting that the residue has been processed, and a timing means. A residue amount acquisition unit that predicts or measures the amount of residue accumulated in each of the plurality of processing units, and a residue accumulation amount acquired by the residue amount acquisition unit for each residue, A remaining period predicting means for predicting the remaining period until the processing of the residue is required based on the preset maximum accumulated amount of the residue, and the time when the processing is required for each residue Storage means for storing information on the first threshold value of the remaining period for determining that the determination has been made, and the second threshold value on which the determination criterion is set stricter than the first threshold value, and at least one type of residue In the remnants In response, when it is determined that the time required for processing has been reached based on the first threshold value stored in the storage means and the remaining period predicted by the remaining period prediction means for the remaining residue, The determination of the time when processing is required based on the second threshold value stored in the storage unit corresponding to the other residue and the remaining period predicted by the remaining period prediction unit for the other residue. Determination means to perform.

In the case where the determination means determines that the time when processing is required for at least one type of residue has been reached, it further comprises a reporting means for collectively reporting that the time required for processing of at least one type of residue has been reached. It is a thing.
The second threshold value is calculated based on the first threshold value and the adjustment value, and further includes means for changing the adjustment value.
The apparatus further includes means for changing the first threshold value.
The notification means may display an item relating to each residue on the operation panel for all residues determined by the determination means to have reached a time when processing is required for the residue.

The present invention also provides a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of any of the image forming apparatuses described above.
The present invention also provides a computer-readable recording medium that records the above-described program.

  According to the image forming apparatus, the program, and the recording medium of the present invention as described above, it is possible to reduce the number of residues collecting operations performed by the operator.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of maintenance information related to residue managed by the image forming apparatus. It is the schematic which showed an example of the operation input screen of report days (report threshold value). It is the schematic which showed an example of the operation input screen of a report day adjustment value (report adjustment value). 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the image forming apparatus regarding residue collection. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a system including an image forming apparatus configured by a network.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus includes units of a plotter device 1, sheet storage devices 2 and 3, and sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6.
The plotter device 1 is composed of, for example, an electrophotographic recording device or an ink jet recording device, prints image information on sheet-like paper fed from the sheet storage devices 2 and 3, and the paper after the recording Are output (conveyed) to the sheet post-processing apparatuses 4 to 6.

  The sheet storage devices 2 and 3 are devices for storing sheet-like paper (not limited to paper) for transferring an image. There is a relatively small capacity storage device connected to the lower side of the plotter device 1 as shown in FIG. 2 and a large capacity storage device connected side by side with the plotter device 1 like 3. Each of these sheet storage devices 2 and 3 includes a plurality of paper feed stages (each having the same size is stored in each paper feed stage) that stores papers of different sizes. Transport.

  The sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6 are devices that perform post-processing on the paper discharged from the plotter device 1, and a plurality of sheet post-processing devices can be connected to the plotter device 1. 4 is for example an insertion device for inserting a cover or slip sheet for bookbinding, 5 is a punching device for punching, for example, and a folding device for folding paper for bookbinding, and 6 is for example on paper A stapling device for performing stapling processing, a tape binding device, a ring binding device, a bookbinding device for performing bookbinding, and a cutting device for cutting the bound paper into a final size are shown.

  In addition, the sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6 are provided with staples for staple processing, adhesives for perfect binding, tapes for tape binding, rings for ring binding, binding for sure binding, as necessary. A consumable storage unit (not shown) for storing each consumable such as a strip is also provided.

  Among the post-processing performed by each of these sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6, in the staple processing, staple chips are generated when staples are cut according to the number of sheets to be printed, and in punch processing, punch holes are formed in the printing paper. Punch scraps are generated when the sheet is opened, and in the bookbinding process, cutting scraps are generated during the three-way finishing cutting and the perfect binding milling process.

  The sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6 also include a residue collection unit (not shown) for storing residues such as staple scraps, punch scraps, and cutting scraps. Note that the perfect binding milling process refers to a process in which a jagged edge is applied to the back of a book, and an adhesive is applied to the portion of the book, and a cutting scrap is generated when the jagged edge is applied to the back of the book. .

  Here, in order to make this image forming apparatus function as a single image forming apparatus, a reading paper feeding apparatus that conveys a set original to a reading position, a scanner apparatus that reads image information of an original, a numeric keypad, a start key, a function key, An operation panel including an operation panel including various operation keys such as a one-touch key and a liquid crystal display may be provided, but details thereof are omitted.

Next, a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus includes a system control unit 11, a job reception unit 12, a residue state management unit 13, a residue generation amount prediction unit 14, an information notification unit 15, an information storage unit 16, an exchange detection unit 19, And a time counting unit 20, and each unit is connected by a bus.

The system control unit 11 includes a control unit including a CPU, a ROM that stores a program executed by the CPU, a RAM that constitutes a work area of the CPU, and the like. Perform management.
The job receiving unit 12 receives a print job requested by a user operating the image forming apparatus or a print job sent from a terminal device via a network. Information on the job received by the job receiving unit 12 is stored in the job information storage unit 17.

  The residue state management unit 13 manages residue accumulation generated by printing and post-processing executed by the image forming apparatus. Based on the residue accumulation amount calculated by the residue generation amount prediction unit 14, the residue state management unit 13 A predicted value of the number of days that can be collected (the number of remaining days) is calculated.

  The residue generation amount prediction unit 14 predicts and calculates the generation amount of residue generated with the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus based on the operation mode of the image forming operation at that time. For example, in the case of a job (print job or copy job) for which a stapling operation is designated, the weight of staple chips per copy can be predicted according to the number of pages constituting one set of printed materials collected by staples. Therefore, the estimated weight of staple chips for the job can be calculated by multiplying the estimated amount by the number of copies. Then, by accumulating the predicted weight calculated for one job for each job that generates staple chips, a predicted value of the accumulated amount (accumulated amount) of staple chips can be obtained. With respect to other residues, punch scraps, and cutting scraps, a predicted value of the accumulation amount can be obtained by the same prediction calculation.

The information storage unit 16 includes a job information storage unit 17 and a device information storage unit 18. The job information storage unit 17 stores information on the job received by the job receiving unit 12. This job information includes parameters related to finishing processing such as output size, number of copies, and stapling and punching.
The apparatus information storage unit 18 stores the configuration of the image forming apparatus and information on the connected residue collection unit. As for the residue, as will be described later, the maximum recoverable amount, the maximum recoverable amount and the reserved amount are also stored.

  The exchange detection unit 19 detects that the residues accumulated in the residue collection units of the respective sheet post-processing apparatuses 4 to 6 are collected. For example, the exchange detection unit 19 is provided in each residue collection unit and collects residues. It can be configured from a switch or the like operated later by the user. The time counting unit 20 counts the current time, and may include a clock function that outputs current date and time information. Here, the residue collecting operation (residue processing) is an operation such as collecting the residue from the residue collecting unit of each of the sheet post-processing apparatuses 4 to 6 or replacing the unit storing the residue. Yes, it is again an operation for allowing the residue collection unit to accumulate the residue.

Next, the management of the residue of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3 is an example of maintenance information related to residue stored in the device information storage unit 18 of the information storage unit 16.
This maintenance information stores a name, a set value, and a counter value for each residue. The set value is a value that can be set by the user, and includes a maximum collection amount, a report threshold value, and a report adjustment value. The counter value is based on the exchange date and time indicating the date and time when the residue was collected, the accumulation amount (predicted value) of the residue calculated by the residue generation amount prediction unit 14, and the remaining number of days (predicted value) calculated by the residue state management unit 13. Become.

  In the name column, the name of each residue is stored. In this case, “staple cutting waste”, “punching waste”, and “cutting waste” are stored. Further, the maximum collection amount of the set value stores the weight of the residue that can be collected by the residue collection unit for each residue. In this case, “1000 g” is stored in “staple scraps”, “1000 g” is stored in “punching scraps”, and “10000 g” is stored in “cutting scraps”.

  The notification threshold of the set value is a reference value for comparing the remaining value with the value of the remaining number of days of the counter value when determining whether or not to display a message prompting the collection to the user. The report adjustment value is the reference value for the number of remaining days when it is determined whether to display a message prompting the user to collect other remaining items when the remaining number of days is below the notification threshold. Is an adjustment value used when making the value stricter than the notification threshold.

Among these setting values, the notification threshold value and the notification adjustment value can be set by an administrator user operating the operation unit of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 4 shows an example of an operation input screen for the number of report days (report threshold) displayed on the operation unit when the administrator user specifies that the report threshold is operated.

  In this case, the title “report days setting” is displayed on the display screen DP of the operation unit DD, and the input field RA1 for inputting the report threshold value of “staple scraps” and the report threshold value of “punch scraps” are input. And an input field RA3 for inputting a notification threshold value of “cutting waste”. Then, by operating the numeric keypad TK provided in the operation unit DD, the administrator user can input a desired number of days in each of the input fields RA1, RA2, and RA3.

  Here, the movement of the input focus with respect to each of the input fields RA1, RA2, and RA3 can be performed by an operation using a cursor key (not shown). Alternatively, when a touch panel device is attached to the display screen DP, it can be performed by touching the input fields RA1, RA2, and RA3 of the movement destination.

  The values of the days input in the input fields RA1, RA2, and RA3 of the operation input screen for the “notification days setting” are “staple scraps”, “punch scraps” in the maintenance information setting values shown in FIG. And the notification threshold value of “cutting waste”, respectively.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an operation input screen for a report day adjustment value (report adjustment value) displayed on the operation unit when the administrator user specifies that the report threshold value is operated.
In this case, the display screen DP of the operation unit DD displays the title of “notification days adjustment value setting”, an input field RB1 for inputting the notification adjustment value of “staple cutting waste”, and the notification of “punching waste” An input field RB2 for inputting an adjustment value and an input field RB3 for inputting a notification adjustment value of “cutting waste” are displayed. Then, by operating the numeric keypad TK provided in the operation unit DD, the administrator user can input a desired number of days in each of the input fields RB1, RB2, and RB3.
In this case as well, the same method as in FIG. 4 can be used to move the input focus with respect to the input fields RB1, RB2, and RB3.

  The values of the days input in the input fields RB1, RB2, and RB3 of the operation input screen for the “notification day adjustment value setting” are “staple cutting waste” and “punch waste” in the maintenance information setting values shown in FIG. ”And“ cutting waste ”are stored as notification adjustment values.

  With the above configuration, in this embodiment, when the image forming apparatus performs an image forming operation, the residue corresponding to the sheet post-processing apparatuses 4 to 6 used in the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus at that time is left as a residue. If the remaining number of days falls below the maintenance information notification threshold for residue, check if there is any other residue that will soon require collection. However, when there are residues that will soon be needed, the user can be notified (notified) of the need for a collection operation at the same time, thereby reducing the number of operations of the residue collection process performed by the user. I can do it.

FIG. 6 shows an example of processing in which the CPU of the system control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus collects information from each unit and determines the amount of residue and gives an instruction for notification of residue collection regarding residue collection.
The CPU of the system control unit 11 obtains the remaining days calculated by the residual state management unit 13 for the residuals corresponding to the sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6 used in the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus at that time, The calculated value is set as a predicted value A (step S1). Here, the residual state management unit 13 calculates the number of remaining days based on the daily accumulation amount as follows.
Daily deposit amount = Deposit amount / (Current date and time-Exchange date and time)
Number of remaining days = (maximum recovered amount−deposited amount) / daily accumulated amount Here, the current date and time is acquired from the time counting unit 20.

  Next, it is checked whether or not the calculated predicted value A is equal to or less than the corresponding residual notification threshold (step S2). When the result of step S2 is NO, the residue corresponding to the operation mode at that time does not need to be collected, and thus this process ends. Further, when the result of step S2 is YES, the residue is stored as a residue requiring maintenance (collection work) (step S3).

  Next, other residues that are not subjected to the determination process regarding the necessity of the collection work are checked (step S4). For the residue selected in step S4, the accumulation amount of the counter value, the notification threshold value of the setting value and the notification adjustment value stored in the maintenance information are extracted, and the accumulation amount value is substituted into the predicted value N. Then, it is checked whether the value obtained by subtracting the notification adjustment value from the predicted value N is equal to or less than the predicted value A or the notification threshold value (step S5). Note that the contents of the determination in step S5 include only determining whether or not the value obtained by subtracting the notification adjustment value from the predicted value N is equal to or less than the predicted value A, and the notification adjustment value from the predicted value N. It may be determined only whether or not the reduced value is equal to or less than the notification threshold. The reason why the predicted value N is compared with the value obtained by subtracting the report adjustment value from the predicted value N is to allow more residues that need to be collected to be reported together.

When the result of step S5 is YES, the residue checked at that time is stored as a residue requiring maintenance (collection work) (step S6). Further, when the result of step S5 is NO, step S6 is not executed.
Then, it is checked whether or not the determination process for the necessity of the collection work has been completed for all residues (step S7). When the result of step S7 is NO, the process returns to step S4, and other residues are collected. Judgment processing for the necessity of work is performed.

  When the determination process for the necessity of the collection work is completed for all the residues, and the result of step S7 is YES, the CPU reports the residues that require maintenance (collection work) (step S8). At this time, when the display to the operator is set (the result of step S9 is YES), by displaying on the liquid crystal display or the like of the operation unit, a display for notifying the residue requiring maintenance (collection work) The operator is notified (step S10). When the result of step S9 is NO, step S10 is not executed.

  Here, the residue stored as a residue requiring maintenance (recovery operation) in step S6 is a residue that needs to be recovered soon, although there is room before the recovery operation is required. As a result, the operator can clearly know the residue that needs maintenance (collection work) together with the residue that needs to be collected soon, so that the operator can perform the operation of collecting those residues at once. The number of work can be reduced. In addition to the operation unit provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the display means provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus can also be used as the display means for displaying the residue that needs maintenance (collection work). . In that case, the CPU displays a display for notifying the residue that needs to be filled and the residue that needs to be filled a little more, the display means of the sheet post-processing device that collects each residue, or the sheet that has the display means. The display means of the processing device may be made to perform the operation.

  In the embodiments described above, the case where the image forming apparatus is a stand-alone type apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is similarly applied to a case where a terminal apparatus that transmits a print job and the image forming apparatus are connected via a network. Can be applied to.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a system when a terminal device that transmits a print job and an image forming apparatus are connected via a network.
As shown in FIG. 7, the system including the image forming apparatus connects terminal apparatuses 101, 102, and 103 that instruct image formation and a network-compatible image forming apparatus 100 that executes image formation via a network 105. ing.

  In FIG. 7, three terminal apparatuses and one network-compatible image forming apparatus are used. However, the number of each apparatus is not limited to this, and one or more apparatuses can be connected to each other. In FIG. 5, the network 105 is a bus type as an example, but the network form is not limited to this form, and may be a star type, ring type, or other connection type network. As the network 105, either a wired network or a wireless network can be applied.

  The network-compatible image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment adds network communication means (not shown) for connecting various data to other apparatuses connected to the network 105 in the image forming apparatus of FIG. The detailed description is omitted.

  In this case, the information notification unit 15 notifies (notifies) that to the operation panel of the image forming apparatus when residual processing is necessary, and connects to the network 105 by applying an appropriate communication application. The terminal devices 101, 102, 103 are also notified (notified) that the residual processing is necessary. Here, the terminal device of the notification destination (notification destination) may be all terminal devices, or may be only a specific terminal device, for example, a terminal device used by an administrator user or a user in charge of residue processing. .

  Further, in this embodiment, any one of the terminal devices 101, 102, and 103 notifies the network-compatible image forming apparatus 100 of the notification threshold value and notification stored in the maintenance information related to the residue managed by the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. Adjustment values can be set through the network 105 by applying an appropriate communication application.

  In this way, in this embodiment, since it is notified to the other terminal device via the network that the residual processing is necessary, for example, even when the administrator user or the residual processing user is in a remote location, Residue collection work of the image forming apparatus can be performed smoothly. In addition, it is convenient because it is possible to set a notification threshold value and a notification adjustment value stored in the maintenance information regarding the residue from other terminal devices via the network.

  In the above-described embodiment, the amount of accumulation is obtained by predicting the amount of residue. For example, the amount of accumulation of residue may be actually measured by an appropriate sensor provided in a residue collection unit or the like. it can. Further, the number of remaining days is calculated as a period during which the residue can be collected, but the unit of this period is not limited to days, and an appropriate timing unit such as hours and minutes can be applied.

Further, the post-processing devices 4 to 6 may be configured as external units without being included in the image forming apparatus. In this way, if the image forming apparatus can acquire the amount of accumulated residue by communicating with the post-processing apparatus or can predict the amount of residual from the contents of the job to be executed by the post-processing apparatus, etc. Similar operations are possible.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device other than a peripheral device connected to the image forming apparatus or a device connected to a device other than the image forming apparatus, such as a residue that needs to be collected according to the operation time of the device. As long as the amount of equipment is increased, it can be similarly applied to other equipment and other objects. Further, the present invention can be applied to any object such as residue as long as it is an object whose amount can be measured or predicted by an appropriate method.

  Further, the program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to control hardware so as to function as each element of the image forming apparatus as described above, and by causing the computer to execute such a program, as described above. Effects can be obtained.

  Such a program may be stored in a storage means such as ROM, HDD or SSD provided in the computer from the beginning, but it is a CD-ROM or flexible disk as a recording medium, MO, CD-R, CD-RW. , DVD + R, DVD + RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, or DVD-RAM, SRAM, NOV-RAM, EEPROM, a non-volatile recording medium (memory) such as a memory card, and the like. Each function described above can be realized by installing a program recorded in the memory in a computer and causing the CPU to execute the program, or causing the CPU to read and execute the program from the memory.

Furthermore, it is also possible to download and execute an external device that is connected to a network and includes a recording medium that records the program, or an external device that stores the program in the storage unit.
In addition, the configurations and modifications of the embodiments described above can be applied in appropriate combinations within a consistent range.

  The present invention is applicable to an image forming apparatus capable of connecting a plurality of peripheral devices for generating a residue, including an arbitrary recording unit such as an electrophotographic recording apparatus or an ink jet recording apparatus, or a network compatible image forming apparatus. Can be applied.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Plotter apparatus 2, 3: Sheet storage apparatus 4-6: Sheet post-processing apparatus 11: System control part 12: Job reception part 13: Residual state management part 14: Residual generation amount prediction part 15: Information notification part 16: Information Storage unit 17: Job information storage unit 18: Device information storage unit 19: Exchange detection unit 20: Time counting unit 100: Network-compatible image forming apparatus 101 to 103: Terminal device

JP 2006-058944 A JP 2003-303078 A

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus capable of accessing a plurality of processing means for generating a residue and storing the residue,
Residue amount acquisition means for predicting or actually measuring the amount of residue accumulated in each of the plurality of processing means;
For each residue, based on the residue accumulation amount acquired by the residue amount acquisition means and a preset maximum accumulation amount of the residue, a residue for predicting the remaining period until processing of the residue is required Period prediction means,
For each residue, information on the first threshold value of the remaining period for determining that the time required for processing has been reached and the second threshold value set with a stricter criterion than the first threshold value is stored. Storage means
At least one type of residue has reached a time when processing is necessary based on the first threshold value stored in the storage unit corresponding to the residue and the remaining period predicted by the remaining period prediction unit for the residue The other thresholds, the second threshold value stored in the storage unit corresponding to the other residues and the remaining period predicted by the remaining period prediction unit for the other residues. An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit configured to determine when processing is necessary based on the determination unit.   In the case where the determination means determines that the time required for processing has been reached for at least one type of residue, it further comprises a notification means for collectively reporting that the time required for processing of at least one type of residue has been reached. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The second threshold value is calculated based on the first threshold value and the adjustment value,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing the adjustment value.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing the first threshold value.   The said report means displays the item regarding each residue on the operation panel about all the residues which the said determination means determined to have reached the time which needs a process about a residue, The operation panel is characterized by the above-mentioned. Image forming apparatus.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising selection means for selecting whether or not to notify the notification means.   A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 7.

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