JP2017114048A - Control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control device which can reduce the inconvenience for a user while notifying that the residual amount of consumable supplies becomes small.SOLUTION: A control device which controls an image forming apparatus for forming an image by using consumable supplies includes: a residual amount detection part 41 which detects the residual amount of consumable supplies; a notification processing part 43 which performs notification in a first notification form when the residual amount of consumable supplies is equal to less than a prescribed threshold; and an operation detection part 42 which detects a user operation to the image forming apparatus 1. The notification processing part 43 performs notification in a second notification form in which the load given to the sensation of a user is suppressed more than the first notification form when the user operation is detected during notification by the first notification form.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device that controls an image forming apparatus using consumables.

  Conventional image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers form images using consumables such as ink.

  In addition, when the remaining amount of consumables decreases, the user's sense (vision) is appealed by a method such as highlighting the backlight displayed on the display panel unit, and the user is informed that the remaining amount of consumables is low. A notification device has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-113461 A

  By the way, generally, even if the remaining amount of consumables decreases, the user continues to form images using the apparatus if the consumables are available.

  In the prior art, while the user is using the device as described above, since the user is informed that the remaining amount of the consumable item is low, the user who uses the apparatus may feel annoyed.

  That is, although the conventional technique emphasizes and notifies the user that it is easy to recognize that the remaining amount of consumables is low, the load given to the user's sense by such notification is too strong, resulting in annoying the user. There was a problem of making me feel that.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a control device that reduces the annoyance to the user while notifying that the remaining amount of consumables has decreased. .

  In order to achieve the above object, a first feature of the control device according to the present invention is a control device that controls an image forming apparatus that forms an image using consumables, and detects the remaining amount of the consumables. A remaining amount detection unit, a notification processing unit that notifies in a first notification mode when the remaining amount of the consumable is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, and an operation detection unit that detects a user operation on the image forming apparatus, When the user operation is detected during the notification in the first notification mode, the notification processing unit is notified in the second notification mode in which a load on the user's sense is suppressed as compared to the first notification mode. is there.

  A second feature of the control device according to the present invention is related to the above feature, wherein the notification processing unit displays a first notification image as the first notification mode, and displays a second notification image as the second notification mode. The display color of the second notification image is lighter than the display color of the first notification image.

  According to a third aspect of the control device of the present invention, the notification processing unit displays a first notification image as the first notification form and a second notification image as the second notification form. The area area of the second notification image is smaller than the area area of the first notification image.

  A fourth feature of the control device according to the present invention is related to the above feature, wherein the first notification image and the second notification image include a remaining amount display area indicating a remaining amount value of the consumable item. is there.

  A fifth feature of the control device according to the present invention is a control device that controls an image forming apparatus that forms an image using consumables, the remaining amount detecting unit that detects the remaining amount of the consumables, and An operation detection unit that detects a user operation on the image forming apparatus; and a notification processing unit that notifies the first notification form when the remaining amount of the consumable is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold and the user operation is not detected. In the second notification mode, the remaining amount of the consumable is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value and the load on the user's sense is suppressed compared to the first notification mode when the user operation is detected. It is to inform.

  According to the first feature of the control device of the present invention, the notification processing unit notifies in the first notification mode when the remaining amount of the consumable item is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. Moreover, a notification process part alert | reports by the 2nd alerting | reporting form which suppressed the load given to a user's feeling rather than a 1st alerting | reporting form, when a user operation is detected during alerting | reporting by a 1st alerting | reporting form. Thereby, when a user operation is performed, since it can be notified by the second notification form in which the load on the user's sense is suppressed, it is given to the user while notifying that the remaining amount of consumables has decreased. Annoyance can be reduced.

  According to the second feature of the control device of the present invention, the notification processing unit displays the first notification image as the first notification form, and the second notification form has a lighter display color than the first notification image. 2 A notification image is displayed. Thereby, when a user operation is performed, it is possible to notify the user while suppressing the visual load in the user's sense, so that the user is notified while the remaining amount of consumables is reduced Annoyance can be reduced.

  According to the third feature of the control device of the present invention, the notification processing unit displays the first notification image as the first notification form, and as the second notification form, the notification area is smaller than the first notification image. 2 A notification image is displayed. As a result, when a user operation is performed, it is possible to notify the user with a reduced load on the user's vision, thereby reducing the annoyance to the user while notifying that the remaining amount of consumables has been reduced. can do.

  According to the fourth feature of the control device of the present invention, the first notification image and the second notification image include a remaining amount display area indicating a remaining amount value. Thereby, it is possible to make the user recognize the accurate remaining amount while reducing the troublesomeness given to the user.

  According to the fifth feature of the control device of the present invention, the notification processing unit notifies the first notification form when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and no user operation is detected. Further, the notification processing unit notifies in the second notification mode when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and a user operation is detected. That is, the notification processing unit notifies in the second notification form when a user operation is detected. Thereby, the troublesomeness given to the user when the user is operating can be more reliably reduced.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2C is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a screen displayed on the image forming apparatus according to the modification of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Further, the embodiments shown below exemplify devices and the like for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention is to arrange the components and the like as follows. Not specific. The technical idea of the present invention can be variously modified within the scope of the claims.

[Example 1]
<Configuration of image forming apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment forms an image using consumables. In the first embodiment, the case where the consumable is ink will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention. In the first embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the image forming apparatus 1 is a printing apparatus such as a printer will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a communication unit 10, an operation panel unit 20, a storage unit 30, a main body control unit 40, and a printing unit 50.

  The communication unit 10 communicates with an external device such as the terminal device 100 and an external server (not shown). The communication unit 10 is connected to a network such as the Internet and a local area network, and transmits / receives various data to / from an external device via the network.

  The operation panel unit 20 includes a display / input panel and various operation keys such as a start key for starting a printing process, a stop key for stopping a printing process, and a numeric keypad for inputting a numerical value ( Both are not shown), and input information input by the user is transmitted to the main body control unit 40.

  The display / input panel of the operation panel unit 20 includes a pressure-sensitive or electrostatic transparent touch panel disposed on the front surface, and a liquid crystal display panel disposed on the back surface of the touch panel for displaying various display screens (all not shown). ). The user can perform various input operations displayed on the display screen by directly touching the surface of the touch panel with a finger or the like while viewing the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel.

  The storage unit 30 is configured by a hard disk. The storage unit 30 stores data used by various functions in the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the storage unit 30 stores data related to various images displayed on the operation panel unit 20. Data stored in the storage unit 30 is referred to by the main body control unit 40.

  The main body control unit 40 includes a CPU and a program ROM that stores a program for operating the CPU. The main body control unit 40 performs overall control of various functions in the image forming apparatus 1 by operating the CPU. In the first embodiment, the main body control unit 40 constitutes a control device that controls the image forming apparatus 1.

  The main body control unit 40 includes a remaining amount detection unit 41, an operation detection unit 42, a notification processing unit 43, and a print control unit 44.

  The remaining amount detection unit 41 detects the remaining amount of ink. Specifically, the remaining amount detection unit 41 detects the remaining amount of ink stored in an ink container 53 (described later). For example, the remaining amount detection unit 41 detects the remaining amount of ink by calculating the remaining amount of ink stored in the ink container 53 based on the ejection amount of ink ejected from the print head 52 (described later). To do.

  The operation detection unit 42 detects a user operation on the image forming apparatus 1. Specifically, the operation detection unit 42 detects that the user has directly touched the operation panel unit 20 as a user operation.

  The notification processing unit 43 notifies the user when the remaining amount of ink decreases. Specifically, the notification processing unit 43 notifies the first notification form when the ink remaining amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. Moreover, the notification process part 43 alert | reports by a 2nd alerting | reporting form, when a user operation is detected during the alerting | reporting by a 1st alerting | reporting form.

  In the present embodiment, the notification processing unit 43 is configured to display the first notification image as the first notification mode and the second notification image as the second notification mode on the operation panel unit 20. Note that the data indicating the first notification screen and the data indicating the second notification screen are stored in the storage unit 30 in advance.

  Moreover, the 2nd alerting | reporting form is the alerting | reporting form which suppressed the load given to a user's sense rather than the 1st alerting | reporting form. Specifically, the display color of the second notification image is lighter than the display color of the first notification image. That is, the notification processing unit 43 displays a second notification image in which a load given to the user's vision by color is suppressed as the second notification form.

  In Example 1, the light color indicates a color close to white. For example, in the HSB color space, when (H) is expressed by “0” to “360” and (S, B) is expressed by “0” to “100”, the display color values (H1, S1) of the first notification image are expressed. , B1) and the display color values (H2, S2, B2) of the second notification image may satisfy the following relationship. Specifically, the relationship of H2 = H1, S2 = S1 − ((100−S1) / m), B2 = B1 + ((100−B1) / m), and 2 ≦ m ≦ 4 may be satisfied.

  Here, FIG. 2A shows an example of the normal screen D0 displayed on the operation panel unit 20 in the normal time. FIG. 2B shows an example of the first screen D1 displayed on the operation panel unit 20 when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. FIG. 2C shows an example of the second screen D2 displayed on the operation panel unit 20 when a user operation is detected when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

  The notification processing unit 43 displays a normal screen D0 at the normal time as shown in FIG. In the normal screen D0, the normal image Dz is displayed in the background area, and input operation areas such as the print setting image Dx and the print execution button Dy are displayed. In addition to the above, an input operation area such as a cursor or a numeric keypad may be displayed on the operation panel unit 20, but detailed description thereof is omitted here. The display color of the normal image Dz is, for example, a gray color.

  In addition, when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, the notification processing unit 43 displays the first notification image Dz1 in the background area as the first notification form as illustrated in FIG. 2B. D1 is displayed. The display color of the first notification image Dz1 is, for example, red.

  Then, when a user operation is detected during notification in the first notification mode, the notification processing unit 43 displays the second notification image Dz2 in the background area as the second notification mode as illustrated in FIG. The displayed second screen D2 is displayed. The display color of the second notification image Dz2 is, for example, pink. That is, the display color of the second notification image Dz2 is lighter than the display color of the first notification image Dz1.

  As shown in FIGS. 2B to 2C, the first notification image Dz1 and the second notification image Dz2 may include a remaining amount display area Dw indicating a remaining amount value of ink. Further, the remaining amount display area Dw may indicate a numerical value (for example, 5%) of the remaining amount of ink, or an icon image whose shape changes according to the remaining amount of ink (for example, the filling range changes). Icon image).

  The print control unit 44 controls the printing unit 50 based on the input print image data, and executes a printing process for printing an image on printing paper.

  The printing unit 50 includes a transport unit 51 that transports printing paper, a print head 52 that executes a printing process for discharging ink onto the printing paper, and an ink container 53 that stores ink to be supplied to the printing head 52. The transport unit 51 and the print head 52 execute print processing by being controlled by the print control unit 44.

<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus>
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention will be described. Specifically, an operation when the main body control unit 40 executes the notification process in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. Here, FIG. 3 shows a flowchart showing the operation of the main body control unit 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in step S10, in the main body control unit 40, the remaining amount detection unit 41 determines whether or not the remaining amount of ink stored in an ink container 53 (described later) is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

  In step S20, when the ink remaining amount is not less than or equal to the predetermined threshold (step S10; “No”), the normal screen D0 is displayed on the operation panel unit 20.

  In step S <b> 30, when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold (step S <b> 10; “Yes”), the notification processing unit 43 displays the first screen D <b> 1 on the operation panel unit 20. Specifically, the notification processing unit 43 displays the first screen D1 in which the first notification image Dz1 whose display color is red is displayed in the background area as the first notification form.

  In step S40, the operation detection unit 42 determines whether a user operation is detected. If no user operation is detected (step S40; “No”), the operation of step S30 is repeated.

  When a user operation is detected in step S50 (step S40; “Yes”), the notification processing unit 43 displays the second screen D2 on the operation panel unit 20. Specifically, the notification processing unit 43 displays the second screen D2 in which the second notification image Dz2 whose display color is pink is displayed in the background area as the second notification form.

  In step S60, the notification processing unit 43 determines whether or not a user operation is not detected by the operation detection unit 42 for a predetermined period (for example, 30 seconds).

  When the user operation is detected within a predetermined period (step S60; “No”), the notification processing unit 43 repeats the operation of step S50. On the other hand, when no user operation is detected within a predetermined period (step S60; “Yes”), the process returns to the operation of step S10.

  The operation of the notification process shown in steps S10 to S60 described above may be executed at any timing of printing process start / end, power-on, or ink replacement, or periodically (for example, 5 minutes). Every).

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the notification processing unit 43 notifies in the first notification mode when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value. Moreover, the notification process part 43 alert | reports by the 2nd alerting | reporting form which suppressed the load given to a user's sense rather than a 1st alerting | reporting form, when a user operation is detected during alerting | reporting by a 1st alerting | reporting form. Accordingly, when the user operation is performed when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, the notification can be made by the second notification form in which the load on the user's feeling is suppressed, so the remaining amount of ink is reduced. It is possible to reduce the troublesomeness given to the user while notifying the user.

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the notification processing unit 43 displays the first notification image Dz1 as the first notification mode, and displays the first notification image Dz1 as the second notification mode. A light-colored second notification image Dz2 is displayed. Thus, when a user operation is performed, it is possible to notify the user with a reduced visual load in the senses of the user, so that bothering the user while notifying that the remaining amount of ink has been reduced. Can be reduced.

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the first notification image Dz1 and the second notification image Dz2 include the remaining amount display area Dw indicating the remaining amount value. Thereby, it is possible to make the user recognize the accurate remaining amount while reducing the troublesomeness given to the user.

[Example 2]
Next, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described by paying attention to differences from the above-described image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Here, for example, in the image forming apparatus 1, while the user uses the image forming apparatus 1 while operating the operation panel unit 20, ink consumption proceeds and the remaining amount of ink is greater than a predetermined threshold. In some cases, the state is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.

  In such a case, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, the notification processing unit 43 has a period from when the remaining amount of ink becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold until a user operation is detected, The first screen D1 is displayed. That is, when the user operates the operation panel unit 20, there is a period for displaying the first screen D1 as the first notification form.

  As described above, when the user is operating the operation panel unit 20, if the period for displaying the first screen D1 is interposed as the first notification form, there is a risk of bothering the user. In view of such a situation, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes the following configuration.

  Specifically, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the notification processing unit 43 notifies the first notification form when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold and no user operation is detected. In addition, the notification processing unit 43 notifies in the second notification mode when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold and a user operation is detected. In addition, when a user operation is detected during notification in the first notification mode, the notification processing unit 43 notifies in the second notification mode as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main body control unit 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Here, the operation of the main body control unit 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the operation of the main body control unit 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in that an operation of step S25 is added. The other operations are the same. Therefore, the description will be made focusing on the operation in step S25.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in step S25, the main body control unit 40 determines whether or not a user operation has been detected when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (step S10; “Yes”). Determine whether.

  When the user operation is not detected (step S25; “Yes”), the notification processing unit 43 performs the operation of step S30. Specifically, the notification processing unit 43 displays the first screen D1 in which the first notification image Dz1 whose display color is red is displayed in the background area as the first notification form.

  On the other hand, when the user operation is detected (step S25; “No”), the notification processing unit 43 performs the operation of step S50. Specifically, the notification processing unit 43 displays the second screen D2 in which the second notification image Dz2 whose display color is pink is displayed in the background area as the second notification form.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the notification processing unit 43 uses the first notification mode when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value and no user operation is detected. Inform. In addition, the notification processing unit 43 notifies in the second notification mode when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold and a user operation is detected. That is, when the user is operating the operation panel unit 20, the notification processing unit 43 uses the second notification mode when a user operation is detected even if the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. Inform. Thereby, the troublesomeness given to the user when the user operates the operation panel unit 20 can be more reliably reduced.

[Modification]
Next, modified examples according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the above-described first and second embodiments of the present invention, the notification processing unit 43 is configured to display the display color of the second notification image Dz2 in a lighter color than the display color of the first notification image Dz1.

  In the modification, the notification processing unit 43 is configured to display the area area of the second notification image Dz2 smaller than the area area of the first notification image Dz1. That is, in the second notification mode, the notification processing unit 43 displays the area area of the second notification image Dz2 to be smaller, thereby suppressing the load on the user's sense (vision) than that in the first notification mode. .

  FIG. 5 shows a second screen D2 according to a modification. As shown in FIG. 5, in the second screen D2 according to the modification, the area area Z2 of the second notification image Dz2 is smaller than the area area Z1 of the first notification image Dz1.

  Here, the area area Z2 of the second notification image Dz2 is preferably 50% or less of the area area Z1 of the first notification image Dz1, and more preferably 25% or less. From the viewpoint of notifying the user that the remaining amount of ink has decreased, the area area Z2 of the second notification image Dz2 is preferably 10% or more of the area area Z1 of the first notification image Dz1.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the modification of the present invention, the notification processing unit 43 displays the first notification image Dz1 as the first notification mode and the first notification image as the second notification mode. A second notification image Dz2 having a smaller area than Dz1 is displayed. Thereby, when a user operation is performed, the burden on the user's sense (sight) can be suppressed and notified, so the troublesomeness given to the user while notifying that the remaining amount of ink has been reduced. Can be reduced.

  The notification processing unit 43 makes the second notification image Dz2 smaller than the display area of the first notification image Dz1 while making the area area Z2 of the second notification image Dz2 smaller than the area area Z1 of the first notification image Dz1. The display color may be made lighter. That is, the notification processing unit 43 changes the display color and the area of the area in the first notification image Dz1 and the second notification image Dz2, thereby applying a load on the user's sense (vision) more than in the first notification mode. You may alert | report by the suppressed 2nd alerting | reporting form.

[Other embodiments of the present invention]
Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-described embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is a printing apparatus has been described as an example, but a copying machine may be used.

  In the above-described embodiments, the case where the consumable is ink has been described as an example. However, printing paper may be used. Further, for example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is a stencil printing apparatus, the consumable item may be a stencil master. Further, when the image forming apparatus 1 is a toner printing apparatus that prints by an electrophotographic method (so-called toner method), the consumable item may be toner.

  For example, the function of the main body control unit 40 may not be provided inside the image forming apparatus 1 but may be provided outside. For example, the function of the main body control unit 40 may be provided in the terminal device 100. In this case, the normal screen D0, the first screen D1, and the second screen D2 are displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 100.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the operation panel unit 20 is a display / input panel, and the case where the display unit and the operation unit are integrated has been described as an example. May be provided separately.

  In the Example mentioned above, although the alerting | reporting process part 43 displayed the 1st alerting | reporting image Dz1 as a 1st alerting | reporting form and the 2nd alerting | reporting image Dz2 as a 2nd alerting | reporting form, it is not limited to this. For example, the notification processing unit 43 may output the first notification sound as the first notification form, and output the second notification sound having a volume smaller than the volume of the first notification sound as the second notification form. That is, the notification processing unit 43 may perform notification in the second notification form while suppressing a load on the user's hearing as compared to the first notification form. Thus, if the alerting | reporting process part 43 can alert | report by the 2nd alerting | reporting form which suppressed the load given to a user's sense rather than a 1st alerting | reporting form, various alerting | reporting forms are applied to a 1st alerting | reporting form and a 2nd alerting | reporting form. it can.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the display color of the first notification image Dz1 is red and the display color of the second notification image Dz2 is pink is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The display color of the first notification image Dz1 may be blue, and the display color of the second notification image Dz2 may be light blue. That is, various colors can be applied as the display color of the second notification image Dz2 as long as it is lighter than the display color of the first notification image Dz1.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 10 ... Communication part 20 ... Operation panel part 30 ... Memory | storage part 40 ... Main body control part 41 ... Residual amount detection part 42 ... Operation detection part 43 ... Notification process part 44 ... Print control part 50 ... Printing unit 51 ... Conveying section 52 ... print head 53 ... ink container 100 ... terminal device

Claims (5)

A control device that controls an image forming apparatus that forms an image using consumables,
A remaining amount detecting unit for detecting the remaining amount of the consumables;
When the remaining amount of the consumable is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, a notification processing unit that notifies in a first notification form;
An operation detection unit that detects a user operation on the image forming apparatus,
When the user operation is detected during the notification in the first notification mode, the notification processing unit is notified in the second notification mode in which a load on the user's sense is suppressed as compared to the first notification mode. Control device characterized. The notification processing unit displays a first notification image as the first notification mode, and displays a second notification image as the second notification mode,
The control device according to claim 1, wherein a display color of the second notification image is lighter than a display color of the first notification image. The notification processing unit displays a first notification image as the first notification mode, and displays a second notification image as the second notification mode,
The control device according to claim 1, wherein a region area of the second notification image is smaller than a region area of the first notification image. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the first notification image and the second notification image include a remaining amount display area indicating a remaining amount value of the consumable item. A control device that controls an image forming apparatus that forms an image using consumables,
A remaining amount detecting unit for detecting the remaining amount of the consumables;
An operation detection unit for detecting a user operation on the image forming apparatus;
When the remaining amount of the consumables is a predetermined threshold value or less and the user operation is not detected, a notification processing unit that notifies in the first notification mode,
When the remaining amount of the consumable is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value and the user operation is detected, the notification processing unit notifies the user with a second notification form that suppresses a load on the user's sense rather than the first notification form. A control device.

Images