JP2015191135A - image forming apparatus, image forming method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable image formation with less amount of toner within a range of the change of hue accepted by a user.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 performs image formation by using a recording agent. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a first acquisition part 112, a determination part 113, and an image forming part 15. The first acquisition part 112 acquires a first index value indicating the amount of the remaining recording agent. The determination part 113 determines a second index value indicating the amount of reduction of the recording agent on the basis of one of a plurality of steps related to the first index value to which the first index value belongs. The image forming part 15 reduces the recording agent with the amount of reduction indicated by the second index value to perform image formation.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses the following image forming apparatus. That is, the image forming apparatus forms an image using toners of other colors when there is no toner of a certain color among a plurality of different color toners used for image formation.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses the following image forming apparatus. That is, when the remaining amount of toner of a certain color among a plurality of different color toners falls below a predetermined amount, the image forming apparatus causes the user to set a reduction rate of the toner that has fallen below the predetermined amount . The image forming apparatus generates image data when the amount of toner used is reduced at a set reduction rate, and performs image formation based on the generated image data. Further, the image forming apparatus displays an image (image image after toner reduction) when the toner usage is reduced at a set reduction rate, and whether or not to perform image formation with the toner usage reduced. Let the user select.

JP 2008-191504 A JP 2011-39209 A

  The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 can continuously form an image using toners of other colors even when the toner of any one of a plurality of colors of toner is used up. However, the image forming apparatus forms an image using a toner of another color without using the toner even when the lost color toner is originally required. For this reason, depending on the content of an image that is an object of image formation (hereinafter referred to as “target image”), the image forming apparatus may not be able to form an image of the target image with an original color or a color close to it. .

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2 performs image formation by reducing the amount of toner that is likely to be consumed at a reduction rate set by the user before the toner is used up. That is, the image forming apparatus can perform image formation using toner of a color necessary for image formation of the target image while saving toner. However, if the set toner reduction rate is too large, the image forming apparatus forms an image of the target image with the original color or a color close to it as in the case where the toner of the originally required color is not used. It may not be possible.

  The image forming apparatuses described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can save toner by performing image formation as described above. However, the color change that may occur in these image forming apparatuses may be allowed depending on the user but may not be allowed. Accordingly, in consideration of user satisfaction, it is required to save toner within a range in which a change in color is allowed by the user.

  Note that the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2 displays an image after toner reduction before image formation. Therefore, the user can set the reduction rate so that the color change is within an allowable range by looking at the image after the toner reduction. However, it is time-consuming for the user to set a reduction rate each time an image is formed and determine whether the image can be accepted by looking at the image after toner reduction.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image while saving toner within a range of color change allowed by a user. To provide a program.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention forms an image using a recording agent. The image forming apparatus includes a first acquisition unit, a determination unit, and an image forming unit. The first acquisition unit acquires a first index value indicating a remaining amount of the recording agent. The determining unit determines a second index value indicating a reduction amount of the recording material based on which of the plurality of stages related to the first index value the first index value belongs to. To do. The image forming unit performs image formation by reducing the recording agent by a reduction amount indicated by the second index value.

  An image forming method according to another aspect of the present invention is an image forming method for forming an image using a recording agent. The image forming method includes a first step, a second step, and a third step. The first step is a step of obtaining a first index value indicating the remaining amount of the recording material. The second step includes a second index value indicating a reduction amount of the recording material based on which of the plurality of stages related to the first index value the first index value belongs to. It is a step to determine. The third step is a step of performing image formation by reducing the recording agent by a reduction amount indicated by the second index value.

  A program according to another aspect of the present invention causes a computer constituting an image forming apparatus that performs image formation using a recording agent to execute a first step, a second step, and a third step. It is a program. The first step is a step of obtaining a first index value indicating the remaining amount of the recording material. The second step includes a second index value indicating a reduction amount of the recording material based on which of the plurality of stages related to the first index value the first index value belongs to. It is a step to determine. The third step is a step of performing image formation by reducing the recording agent by a reduction amount indicated by the second index value.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to form an image that saves toner within a range of color change allowed by the user.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an example of remaining amount level management information according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an example of color difference level management information according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an example of correspondence management information according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the image forming process according to the embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, all the elements and combinations described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential for the solution of the invention. In these drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same components throughout the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus that forms an image using a recording agent such as toner or ink. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is a multi function peripheral (MFP) and has functions of a scanner, a copier, a printer, and a facsimile (FAX). The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image using a plurality of different color toners, in this embodiment, toners of four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment performs image formation of a target image (an image that is a target of image formation) while reducing the amount of toner used. In other words, the image forming apparatus 1 has a smaller amount of toner (hereinafter referred to as “toner amount after reduction”) than the amount of toner originally necessary for image formation of the target image (hereinafter referred to as “toner amount before reduction”). Image formation is performed using toner. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to reduce the amount of toner, that is, reduce the amount of toner based on which of a plurality of predetermined stages with respect to the remaining amount of toner the toner remaining state belongs to. An index value indicating a difference between the pre-toner amount and the post-reduction toner amount is determined.

  In this embodiment, the toner whose usage is to be reduced (hereinafter referred to as “reduction target toner”) is the toner having the smallest remaining amount among cyan toner, magenta toner, and yellow toner. is there. Hereinafter, cyan toner is referred to as “toner C”, magenta toner is referred to as “toner M”, yellow toner is referred to as “toner Y”, and black toner is referred to as “toner K”. Is written. Note that the reduction target toner is not limited to the toner with the smallest remaining amount. For example, all or some of the toner C, toner M, and toner Y may be reduction target toners. Further, the toner K may be a reduction target toner.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a storage unit 14, an image forming unit 15, an image reading unit 16, And an input / output unit 17. The ROM 12, RAM 13, storage unit 14, image forming unit 15, image reading unit 16, and input / output unit 17 are each connected to the CPU 11.

  The CPU 11 controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 1. The CPU 11 controls the image forming unit 15 to perform image forming processing for forming an image of the target image. Details of the image forming process will be described later with reference to FIG. The CPU 11 includes a user information acquisition unit 111, a remaining amount index value acquisition unit 112, and a reduction index value determination unit 113.

  The user information acquisition unit 111 acquires information (hereinafter referred to as “user information”) that identifies a user who instructs the image forming apparatus 1 to perform image formation. The remaining amount index value acquiring unit 112 acquires an index value indicating the remaining amount of toner (hereinafter referred to as “residual amount index value”) (first index value). For example, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a sensor (hereinafter referred to as “residual amount detection sensor”) for detecting the remaining amount of each of a plurality of different color toners. Then, the remaining amount index value acquiring unit 112 acquires the remaining amount index values of the plurality of different color toners from the remaining amount detection sensor.

  In this embodiment, the remaining amount index value is the amount of toner at the time of detecting the remaining amount relative to the amount of toner (hereinafter referred to as “maximum toner amount”) when the toner is full (hereinafter referred to as “detected toner amount”). The ratio of That is, the remaining amount index value in the present embodiment is a value within the range of 0% to 100%. When the toner is full, the remaining index value is 100%. When the toner runs out, the remaining amount index value is 0%. As the remaining amount of toner decreases, the remaining amount index value approaches 0%. The remaining amount index value is not limited to the ratio of the toner amount at the time of detection to the maximum toner amount. For example, the detected toner amount itself may be used as the remaining amount index value.

  The reduction index value determination unit 113 determines whether the remaining amount index value acquired by the remaining amount index value acquisition unit 112 belongs to which of a plurality of predetermined stages with respect to the remaining amount index value. An index value indicating the amount of reduction (hereinafter referred to as “reduction index value”) (second index value) is determined. Hereinafter, each of a plurality of stages determined in advance regarding the remaining amount index value is referred to as a “toner remaining level”.

  In the present embodiment, the reduction index value is one color difference level selected from a plurality of predetermined color difference levels (candidate values). Here, the color difference level refers to each of a plurality of stages defined for the color difference between the original color when the toner usage is not reduced and the color after the reduction when the toner usage is reduced. Say. For example, a color difference value (color difference value) between the original color and the reduced color is associated with each of the plurality of color difference levels. The image forming apparatus 1 forms the target image by reducing the amount of toner used based on the color difference value corresponding to the reduction index value determined by the reduction index value determination unit 113. Note that when, for example, L * a * b * is adopted as the color system, the color difference is represented by a numerical value of ΔE * ab.

  The functions of the CPU 11 and the functions of the user information acquisition unit 111, the remaining amount index value acquisition unit 112, and the reduction index value determination unit 113 are realized by the CPU 11 executing various computer programs loaded from the ROM 12 to the RAM 13. Is done. Instead of realizing the functions of the user information acquisition unit 111, the remaining amount index value acquisition unit 112, and the reduction index value determination unit 113 by software, hardware that realizes these functions is an image forming apparatus. 1 may be mounted.

  The ROM 12 is, for example, a PROM (Programmable ROM) such as a flash memory. The RAM 13 is, for example, a DRAM (Dynamic RAM). In the ROM 12, for example, various computer programs executed by the CPU 11, such as firmware, are stored. The CPU 11 loads a computer program to be executed from the ROM 12 to the RAM 13 and executes the loaded program.

  The storage unit 14 is a secondary storage device, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk. The storage unit 14 stores remaining amount level management information 2, color difference level management information 3, correspondence management information 4, and a plurality of color tables 5. Details of the remaining amount level management information 2, the color difference level management information 3, and the correspondence management information 4 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The color table 5 is a table used by the image forming apparatus 1 to perform color conversion of the target image. Based on the color table 5, the image forming apparatus 1 uses image data (hereinafter referred to as “input image data”) received from an external computer or generated by reading an image by the image reading unit 16 as an image forming image. Data (hereinafter referred to as “output image data”) is converted. The input image data is, for example, image data in RGB format. The output image data is, for example, CMYK format image data. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment converts the input image data of the target image into output image data for reducing the amount of toner used by performing color conversion based on the color table 5.

  The image forming unit 15 is a device that realizes an image forming function. The image forming unit 15 performs image formation by reducing toner with a reduction amount indicated by the reduction index value determined by the reduction index value determination unit 113 under the control of the CPU 11. The image reading unit 16 is a device that realizes a scanner function. The image reading unit 16 reads an image under the control of the CPU 11 and generates image data indicating the read image. The input / output unit 17 is a device that implements an input / output function. The input / output unit 17 receives input from the user and displays information to be presented to the user. For example, the input / output unit 17 is a touch panel, operation keys, a display, or the like.

  The input / output unit 17 according to the present embodiment has a function of accepting input of user information. For example, the input / output unit 17 includes an IC card reader. When the IC card reader of the input / output unit 17 communicates with the IC card in which user information is stored, the input / output unit 17 acquires user information from the IC card.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an example of remaining amount level management information according to the embodiment.

  The remaining amount management information 2 is information for managing a plurality of predetermined toner remaining levels. The remaining amount management information 2 according to the present embodiment includes, for each of a plurality of remaining toner levels, an identifier assigned to the remaining toner level (hereinafter referred to as “remaining level ID”), and the remaining toner level. Are managed in association with data indicating the range (small section) of the remaining amount index value corresponding to. The remaining amount management information 2 is expressed in a table format, for example, as shown in FIG.

  The remaining amount level management information 2 includes a data field for the remaining toner level 21 and a data field for the remaining toner level 22. The remaining toner level 21 stores the remaining amount level ID. The toner remaining amount 22 stores data indicating a range of the remaining amount index value.

  For example, the remaining amount level management information 2 shown in FIG. 2 manages five remaining toner level. Specifically, the remaining amount level management information 2 shown in FIG. 2 includes a toner remaining amount level (toner remaining amount level 1) having a remaining amount level ID “TLv.1” and a remaining amount level ID “TLv. 2 ”, the remaining toner level (toner remaining level 3), the remaining toner level ID“ TLv.3 ”, and the remaining toner level ID“ TLv. 4 ”and the toner remaining level (toner remaining level 5) whose remaining level ID is“ TLv.5 ”are managed. In the example of FIG. 2, the range of the remaining amount index value corresponding to the toner remaining amount level 4 is a range of 40% to 50%. Therefore, for example, when the remaining amount index value is in the range of more than 40% and not more than 50%, the remaining amount index value belongs to the toner remaining amount level 4, that is, the toner remaining amount state becomes the toner remaining amount level 4. It is judged that there is.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an example of color difference level management information according to the embodiment.

  The color difference level management information 3 is information for managing a plurality of predetermined color difference levels. The color difference level management information 3 according to the present embodiment includes, for each of a plurality of color difference levels, an identifier assigned to the color difference level (hereinafter referred to as “color difference level ID”), a color difference value corresponding to the color difference level, The color table ID of the color table 5 corresponding to the color difference level is associated and managed. Here, the color table ID is an identifier assigned to the color table 5. The color difference level management information 3 is expressed in a table format as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

  The color difference level management information 3 includes a color difference level 31 data field, a design color difference 32 data field, and a color table ID 33 data field. The color difference level 31 stores a color difference level ID. The design color difference 32 stores a color difference value between the original color and the reduced color. In the present embodiment, the color difference value is a value of ΔE * ab. The greater the color difference value, the greater the amount of toner reduction. The color difference value “0” indicates that the original color and the color after reduction are the same. Therefore, when the color difference value is “0”, the amount of toner used is not reduced.

  The color table ID 33 stores, for each color difference level, the color table 5 corresponding to the color difference level, that is, the color table ID of the color table 5 used when the reduction index value is determined to be the color difference level. Is done. In the present embodiment, the color table ID 33 stores a plurality of color table IDs for each color difference level. Specifically, the color table ID 33 includes a data field of cyan reduction 331, a data field of magenta reduction 332, and a data field of yellow reduction 333. The cyan reduction 331 stores the color table ID of the color table 5 used when the toner to be reduced is the toner C. The magenta reduction 332 stores the color table ID of the color table 5 used when the toner to be reduced is the toner M. The yellow reduction 333 stores the color table ID of the color table 5 used when the toner to be reduced is the toner Y.

  A color table 5 corresponding to a certain color difference level (referred to as “color difference level A” in this description) includes the color of an image indicated by input image data (that is, the original color, hereinafter referred to as “input image color”), and an output. The color difference value corresponding to the color difference level A is the color difference value for the color of the toner to be reduced between the color of the image indicated by the image data (that is, the color after reduction, hereinafter referred to as “output image color”) (this explanation) The color table 5 is defined to be “color difference value A” in FIG. Accordingly, the color conversion is performed based on the color table 5 corresponding to the color difference level A, so that the input image data of the target image is output for reducing the usage amount of the reduction target toner by the reduction amount based on the color difference value A. Converted to image data. Here, the reduction amount based on the color difference value A means a reduction amount at which the color difference value for the color of the reduction target toner between the input image color and the output image color becomes the color difference value A.

  For example, the color difference level management information 3 shown in FIG. 3 manages five color difference levels. Specifically, the color difference level management information 3 shown in FIG. 3 includes a color difference level (color difference level 1) having a color difference level ID “CLv.1” and a color difference level (color difference level ID “CLv.2”) ( Color difference level 2), color difference level (color difference level 3) with color difference level ID “CLv.3”, color difference level (color difference level 4) with color difference level ID “CLv.4”, and color difference level ID The color difference level (color difference level 5) which is “CLv.5” is managed.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the color difference value corresponding to the color difference level 4 is “7”. Further, “C4” is stored in the cyan reduction 331 of the color table ID 33 corresponding to the color difference level 4. Therefore, for example, when the reduction target toner is the toner C and the reduction index value is determined to be the color difference level 4, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the color table 5 (color color) whose color table ID is “C4”. Based on the table C4), input image data is converted into output image data. Here, the color table C4 is a color table 5 defined so that the color difference value for the cyan color between the input image color and the output image color is a color difference value corresponding to the color difference level 4, that is, “7”. It is. Therefore, by performing color conversion based on the color table C4, the input image data of the target image is converted into output image data for reducing the usage amount of the toner C by the reduction amount based on the color difference value “7”. The

  In the present embodiment, the design color difference 32 stores the color difference value corresponding to the color difference level, but instead of this, data indicating the allowable range of the color difference value corresponding to the color difference level may be stored. . For example, the allowable range of the color difference value corresponding to the color difference level 1 is set to a range from 0 to 2, and the allowable range of the color difference value corresponding to the color difference level 2 is set to a range of 2 to 4, corresponding to the color difference level 3. The allowable range of the color difference value is a range from 4 to 6, the allowable range of the color difference value corresponding to the color difference level 4 is a range of 6 to 8, and the allowable range of the color difference value corresponding to the color difference level 5 is from 8 The range may be up to 10. In this case, for example, the color table 5 corresponding to the color difference level 4 is defined such that the color difference value for the color of the toner to be reduced between the input image color and the output image color falls within the range from 6 to 8. The

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an example of correspondence management information according to the embodiment.

  The correspondence management information 4 is information for managing the correspondence between the remaining toner level and the color difference level. The correspondence management information 3 according to the present embodiment manages the correspondence between the remaining toner level and the color difference level for each user who instructs the image forming apparatus 1 to form an image. Specifically, the correspondence management information 3 according to the present embodiment is determined as a reduction index value for each of a plurality of remaining toner levels for each user when the remaining index value belongs to the remaining toner level. Manage color difference levels. The correspondence management information 4 is expressed in a table format as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

  The correspondence management information 4 includes a data field with a number 41, a data field with a user name 42, and a data field with a color difference level 43. The number 41 stores a number given to the user (hereinafter referred to as “user ID”). The user name 42 stores data indicating the name of the user (hereinafter referred to as “user name”). In the present embodiment, the user information is a user ID or a user name. The color difference level 43 includes a color difference level determined as a reduction index value when the remaining amount index value belongs to the remaining toner level for each of a plurality of remaining toner levels managed by the remaining amount management information 2. Are stored.

  For example, in the correspondence management information 4 shown in FIG. 4, the data entry 44 indicates the correspondence between the remaining toner level and the color difference level for the user (user A) whose user name is “A”. As shown in FIG. 4, for the user A, the color difference level 2 is associated with the remaining toner level 1 and the remaining toner level 2. For user A, color difference level 1 is associated with toner remaining level 3, toner remaining level 4, and toner remaining level 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the color difference value corresponding to the color difference level 2 is “3”, and the color difference value corresponding to the color difference level 1 is “0”.

  Accordingly, when the user A instructs image formation and the remaining amount index value belongs to the remaining toner level 1 or the remaining toner level 2, the image forming apparatus 1 determines the reduction index value as the color difference level 2. Then, the image forming apparatus 1 performs color conversion based on the color table 5 corresponding to the color difference level 2, and converts the input image data of the target image into output image data (based on the color difference value “3” corresponding to the color difference level 2 ( The amount of reduction based on the color difference value “3” is converted into output image data for reducing the amount of toner used for reduction. When the user A instructs image formation and the remaining amount index value belongs to the remaining toner level 3, the remaining toner level 4, or the remaining toner level 5, the image forming apparatus 1 sets the reduction index value. Color difference level 1 is determined. Then, the image forming apparatus 1 performs color conversion based on the color table 5 corresponding to the color difference level 1, and converts the input image data of the target image to output image data based on the color difference value “0” corresponding to the color difference level 1. Convert. In this case, since the color difference value is “0”, the amount of toner used is not reduced. That is, for the user A, when the remaining toner level is between the remaining toner level 3 and the remaining toner level 5, the toner usage is not reduced. When the amount of toner is reduced and the remaining toner level is between the remaining toner level 1 and the remaining toner level 2, the amount of toner to be reduced is reduced by the reduction amount based on the color difference value “3”. Is done. That is, for user A, the amount of toner used is reduced after the remaining toner is low. Further, the amount of toner reduction for user A is small.

  On the other hand, the data entry 45 indicates the correspondence between the remaining toner level and the color difference level for the user (user B) whose user name is “B”. As shown in FIG. 4, for user B, the color difference level 5 is associated with the remaining toner level 1, the remaining toner level 2, the remaining toner level 3, and the remaining toner level 4. For user B, the remaining toner level 5 is associated with the color difference level 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the color difference value corresponding to the color difference level 5 is “9”, and the color difference value corresponding to the color difference level 4 is “7”.

  Accordingly, when the user B instructs image formation, if the remaining amount index value belongs to the remaining toner level 1, the remaining toner level 2, the remaining toner level 3, or the remaining toner level 4, the image forming apparatus 1 Determines the reduction index value as color difference level 5. Then, the image forming apparatus 1 performs color conversion based on the color table 5 corresponding to the color difference level 5, and converts the input image data of the target image to output image data based on the color difference value “9” corresponding to the color difference level 5. Convert. When the user B instructs image formation and the remaining amount index value belongs to the remaining toner level 5, the image forming apparatus 1 determines the reduction index value as the color difference level 4. Then, the image forming apparatus 1 performs color conversion based on the color table 5 corresponding to the color difference level 4, and converts the input image data of the target image into output image data based on the color difference value “7” corresponding to the color difference level 4. Convert. That is, for the user B, when the remaining toner level is at the remaining toner level 5, the use amount of the reduction target toner is reduced by the reduction amount based on the color difference value “7”. Further, when the remaining amount of toner is between the remaining toner level 1 and the remaining toner level 4, the usage amount of the reduction target toner is reduced by the reduction amount based on the color difference value “9”. That is, for the user B, the amount of toner used is reduced by a relatively large reduction amount from the stage where the toner still remains sufficiently.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 can cope with each remaining toner level by determining the reduction index value based on the correspondence management information 4 for managing the correspondence between the remaining toner level and the color difference level for each user. The amount of toner to be reduced can be changed for each user. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can reduce the amount of toner used with a toner reduction amount suitable for the user. For example, for a user who can tolerate a certain amount of color change, like User B, the correspondence between the remaining toner level and the color difference level so that the amount of toner used can be reduced by a relatively large reduction amount. A relationship may be defined. In addition, for example, for a user who can hardly tolerate a change in color, like User A, the relationship between the remaining toner level and the color difference level is defined so that the amount of toner used can be reduced with a small reduction amount. May be. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can perform image formation that saves toner within the range of color change allowed by the user.

  It should be noted that the correspondence between the remaining toner level and the color difference level is not limited to the degree to which the user can tolerate changes in color, but other matters such as the user's job title and the department to which the user belongs. May be defined based on

  Details of processing performed by the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the image forming process according to the embodiment.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 receives an image forming instruction from the user (step S101), the CPU 11 starts executing the image forming process.

  First, the user information acquisition unit 111 of the CPU 11 acquires user information via the input / output unit 17 (step S102). For example, an IC card reader provided in the input / output unit 17 communicates with an IC card in which user information is stored, and receives user information from the IC card. The user information acquisition unit 111 acquires user information received by the IC card reader.

  Next, the CPU 11 acquires input image data of the target image (step S103). For example, when the image formation instructed by the user is copying, the CPU 11 controls the image reading unit 16 to read the target image and generate input image data of the target image. For example, when the image formation instructed by the user is printing, the CPU 11 receives the input image data of the target image from, for example, an external computer.

  Next, the remaining amount index value acquiring unit 112 of the CPU 11 acquires, for example, remaining amount index values of a plurality of different color toners, that is, the toner C, the toner M, and the toner Y, from a remaining amount detection sensor (Step S1). S104).

  Next, the reduction index value determination unit 113 of the CPU 11 refers to the plurality of remaining amount index values acquired in step S <b> 104 and identifies the toner having the smallest remaining amount from the toner C, toner M, and toner Y. (Step S105). The toner specified here, that is, the toner with the smallest remaining amount becomes the reduction target toner. In the present embodiment, the remaining amount index value is a ratio of the toner amount at the time of detection to the maximum toner amount. Therefore, for example, when the maximum toner amounts of the toner C, the toner M, and the toner Y are the same, the reduction index value determination unit 113 selects the most of the plurality of remaining amount index values acquired in step S104. The toner corresponding to the remaining amount index value having a small value is identified as the toner having the smallest remaining amount.

  After that, the reduction index value determination unit 113 refers to the remaining amount level management information 2 and the correspondence management information 4, and determines the toner specified in step S105, that is, the remaining amount index value of the reduction target toner, and the user acquired in step S102. Based on the information, a reduction index value for the reduction target toner is determined (step S106).

  Specifically, the reduction index value determination unit 113 determines the reduction index value as follows. That is, first, the reduction index value determination unit 113 belongs to which toner remaining level among the plurality of remaining toner levels managed by the remaining level management information 2 the remaining index level of the reduction target toner. Determine. Then, the reduction index value determination unit 113 specifies, for the user specified by the user information in the correspondence management information 4, the color difference level associated with the remaining toner level to which the remaining amount index value of the reduction target toner belongs. . Then, the reduction index value determination unit 113 determines the reduction index value as the specified color difference level.

  For example, the remaining amount level management information 2 and the correspondence management information 4 are the remaining amount level management information 2 and the correspondence management information 4 shown in FIG. 4, respectively, and the user specified by the user information is the user B. When the remaining amount index value of the reduction target toner is 45%, the reduction index value determination unit 113 determines the reduction index value as follows. That is, the remaining amount index value of the toner to be reduced is in the range of greater than 40% and less than or equal to 50%, and therefore belongs to the remaining toner level 4. In the correspondence management information 4, for the user B, the color difference level associated with the remaining toner level 4 is the color difference level 5. Therefore, the reduction index value determination unit 113 determines the reduction index value as the color difference level 5.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 acquires the color table 5 used for converting the input image data of the target image into the output image data from the storage unit 14 (step S107). Specifically, the CPU 11 acquires the color table 5 as follows. That is, the CPU 11 uses the color table ID 33 of the color difference level management information 3 to reduce the usage amount of the reduction target toner in the color table ID corresponding to the color difference level determined as the reduction index value in step S106. The color table ID of the color table 5 is acquired. Then, the CPU 11 acquires the color table 5 to which the acquired color table ID is assigned from the storage unit 14.

  For example, when the color difference level management information 3 is the color difference level management information 3 shown in FIG. 3, the color difference level determined as the reduction index value is the color difference level 5, and the reduction target toner is the toner C, the CPU 11 The color table 5 is acquired as follows. That is, the CPU 11 uses the color table ID of the color table 5 used when reducing the usage amount of the toner C among the color table IDs corresponding to the color difference level 5 from the color table ID 33 of the color difference level management information 3. That is, “C5” is acquired. Then, the CPU 11 acquires the color table 5 having the color table ID “C5” from the storage unit 14.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 converts the input image data of the target image into output image data based on the color table 5 acquired in step S107 (step S108). By this conversion, output image data based on the color difference value (hereinafter referred to as “corresponding color difference value”) corresponding to the color difference level determined in step S106 is generated.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 controls the image forming unit 15 to form an image of the target image based on the output image data generated in step S108 (step S109). That is, the CPU 11 forms the target image by reducing the usage amount of the reduction target toner by the reduction amount based on the corresponding color difference value. Thereafter, the CPU 11 ends the image forming process.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment sets the reduction index value based on which toner remaining level of the plurality of remaining toner levels the toner remaining level index value of the reduction target toner belongs to. decide. Then, the image forming apparatus 1 reduces the usage amount of the reduction target toner by the reduction amount indicated by the determined reduction index value, that is, the reduction amount based on the color difference value corresponding to the reduction index value and the determined color difference level. Form. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 changes the toner reduction amount stepwise in accordance with the change in the remaining amount of toner when performing image formation with a reduced toner usage amount. Can be made. For example, the image forming apparatus 1 can increase the toner reduction amount stepwise as the remaining amount of toner decreases.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 determines the reduction index value based on the correspondence management information 4 that manages the correspondence between the remaining toner level and the color difference level. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 1 can reduce the amount of toner used with the amount of toner reduction corresponding to the remaining amount of toner without requiring the user to set the amount of toner reduction. It becomes.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 determines a reduction index value based on correspondence management information 4 for managing the correspondence between the remaining toner level and the color difference level for each user. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 1 can change the amount of toner reduction corresponding to each remaining toner level for each user. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can reduce the amount of toner used with a toner reduction amount suitable for the user. For example, for a user who can tolerate a certain amount of color change, the correspondence between the remaining toner level and the color difference level is defined so that the amount of toner used can be reduced with a relatively large reduction amount. Good. For example, for a user who can hardly tolerate a change in color, a correspondence relationship between the remaining toner level and the color difference level may be defined so that the amount of toner used can be reduced with a small reduction amount. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can perform image formation that saves toner within the range of color change allowed by the user.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, the image forming apparatus 1 may be configured as follows. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 further includes a specifying unit that specifies the type of the target image. Also, the correspondence management information 4 manages the correspondence between the remaining toner level and the color difference level for each of the plurality of image types. Here, as the types of images, for example, there are an image including a lot of text, an image including a chart, and an image including a photograph. Then, the image forming apparatus 1 may determine, as the reduction index value, the color difference level managed in association with the remaining toner level to which the remaining index value belongs for the type of target image specified by the specifying unit. Good.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus 1 can change the toner reduction amount corresponding to each remaining toner level for each type of target image. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can reduce the amount of toner used with a toner reduction amount suitable for the type of target image. For example, for an image in which a certain color change is allowed, for example, an image including a lot of text, the remaining toner level and the color difference level are set so that the amount of toner used can be reduced with a relatively large reduction amount. The corresponding relationship may be defined. In addition, for example, for an image that does not allow a change in color, for example, an image including a photograph, a correspondence relationship between the remaining toner level and the color difference level is defined so that the amount of toner used can be reduced with a small reduction amount. May be.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is described as an example of a multifunction peripheral. However, the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to the multifunction peripheral, and may be another apparatus having an image forming function.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Remaining level management information 3 Color difference level management information 4 Correspondence management information 5 Color table

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image using a recording agent,
A first acquisition unit that acquires a first index value indicating the remaining amount of the recording agent;
A determination unit that determines a second index value indicating a reduction amount of the recording material based on which of the plurality of stages related to the first index value the first index value belongs;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image by reducing the recording agent by a reduction amount indicated by the second index value. The plurality of stages correspond to a plurality of small sections into which sections from the minimum value of the first index value to the maximum value of the first index value are divided,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the second index value based on which small section of the plurality of small sections the first index value belongs to. . A storage unit that stores management information for managing each of the plurality of small sections in association with a candidate value determined as the second index value when the first index value belongs to the small section; In addition,
The determination unit determines, as the second index value, the candidate value managed in association with a first small section to which the first index value belongs among the plurality of small sections. The image forming apparatus according to 2. A second acquisition unit that acquires user information for specifying a user who instructs image formation;
The management information is managed for each user in association with each of the plurality of small sections and the candidate value,
The image formation according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines the candidate value managed in association with the first small section for the user specified by the user information as the second index value. apparatus. It further includes a specifying unit that specifies the type of image to be imaged,
The management information associates and manages each of the plurality of small sections and the candidate value for each of a plurality of image types,
4. The determination unit according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines, as the second index value, the candidate value managed in association with the first small section for the type of image specified by the specifying unit. 5. Image forming apparatus. The storage unit further stores a plurality of color tables corresponding to the plurality of candidate values managed by the management information,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming unit forms an image based on a color table corresponding to the candidate value determined as the second index value.   The second index value is a color difference value indicating a difference between an original color of an image to be image-formed and a color after reduction of the recording agent of the image to be image-formed. The image forming apparatus according to any one of? The image forming apparatus performs image formation using a plurality of different color recording agents,
The first acquisition unit acquires a plurality of the first index values indicating respective remaining amounts of the plurality of recording agents,
The determination unit determines the second index value for a target recording material having the smallest remaining amount among the plurality of recording materials,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit performs image formation by reducing the target recording agent based on the second index value. An image forming method for forming an image using a recording agent,
Obtaining a first index value indicating the remaining amount of the recording agent;
Determining a second index value indicating a reduction amount of the recording agent based on which of the plurality of stages related to the first index value the first index value belongs to;
And forming an image by reducing the recording agent by an amount indicated by the second index value. In a computer constituting an image forming apparatus that forms an image using a recording agent,
Obtaining a first index value indicating the remaining amount of the recording agent;
Determining a second index value indicating a reduction amount of the recording agent based on which of the plurality of stages related to the first index value the first index value belongs to;
And a step of performing image formation by reducing the recording agent by a reduction amount indicated by the second index value.

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