JP3929392B2 - Image forming apparatus and its consumption material consumption notification system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a consumable material consumption notification system that allow a user to select an economical output quality while notifying a user of information related to the consumption and cost of the consumable during output.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine in which a plurality of these functions are combined is known. Also, in such an image forming apparatus, conventionally, analog image information has been recorded and formed using an analog image forming process, but as digital information has recently been digitized, it is processed as digital information using a digital image forming process. In general, an image composed of minute dots is formed on a recording medium. That is, digital image information formed by a set of minute dots is exposed as a minute dot on a charged photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image. Thereafter, the image is visualized using a toner powder or the like with a developing device, and is transferred to a sheet as a recording medium to output an image.
[0003]
Also, with the diversification of information, colorization is beginning to spread in such image forming apparatuses. In such a color image forming apparatus, the image forming process as described above is repeated for each of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and toners of these colors are superimposed on the paper. The full color image is recorded and fixed using a fixing device controlled to a predetermined temperature.
[0004]
The digitized image forming apparatus has an affinity with an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and the information processing apparatus connected to the network simultaneously with a normal copying operation using the image forming apparatus alone. In some cases, it can be used as an output device, and the amount of output is increasing. In addition, since diversified information is output, the amount of information recorded on one sheet increases, and as a result, the amount of toner consumed per output tends to increase. The ratio of toner to the cost associated with the output of such an image forming apparatus is large, and the ratio to the cost is also increasing. For this reason, in the case of color output, the amount of toner consumed is larger than in the case of monochrome output, and in general offices, the use of the color image forming apparatus may be limited to specific applications or restricted.
[0005]
Under such circumstances, from the viewpoint of the user who uses the image forming apparatus, means for knowing the amount of toner or consumable material to be used for output is extremely limited. In the case of a print job, there is only a method for roughly judging visually from a document displayed on the display unit of the information processing apparatus. For this reason, it is virtually impossible to grasp the actual toner amount and its cost.
[0006]
Patent Document 1 discloses a fee processing apparatus and a copying machine for the same, in which coins are inserted into a fee processing apparatus at a copy shop or the like, and a customer pays a fee for each copying operation. According to Patent Document 1, a document set by a customer is read by a copying machine, a necessary toner amount is calculated by an internal circuit of the copying machine, and a fee corresponding to the toner amount is displayed on a display unit on the fee processing device. Is displayed. Copying work becomes possible if there is a charge greater than the displayed amount.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-084963
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is installed in a copy shop or the like to calculate the fee paid by the customer, and is evoked by notifying the user of toner consumption to improve cost awareness If necessary, it does not give an option of outputting with an image quality with low toner consumption. In addition, dedicated devices are required.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, calculates the amount of toner or the amount of consumables necessary for the output of the image forming apparatus and the approximate cost thereof, notifies the user, and provides an economical output mode. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and a consumable material consumption amount notification system that are recommended and capable of comparing toner amounts or costs thereof.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus including an interactive unit having a display unit, and the image forming apparatus converts a toner image including a plurality of image pixels into a plurality of toner images. To form and output a plurality of image pixels in each of the plurality of image quality modes and form and output a toner image in each of the plurality of image quality modes when forming and outputting in a specific image quality mode selected from the image quality modes The amount of toner consumed is calculated based on the number of counts of image pixels, and the cost of toner amount related to the output of each of a plurality of image quality modes is calculated based on the cost of toner that has been input in advance. The image quality mode with a lower cost than the specific image quality mode is selected as the recommended image quality mode, and the number of image pixels and consumption in the selected image quality mode are selected. Wherein the comparison displayed on the same screen in that the cost of the amount of toner amount of toner consumption, the display unit and the cost of the recommended image quality mode and the recommended quality mode.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including an interactive unit having a display unit, and the image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a cartridge in which a consumable material including toner is integrated, When this image forming apparatus forms and outputs a toner image composed of a plurality of image pixels in a specific image quality mode selected from a plurality of image quality modes, a plurality of image pixels in each of the plurality of image quality modes are output. The amount of toner consumed for counting and forming and outputting a toner image in each of a plurality of image quality modes is calculated based on the number of counts of image pixels. The cost of the toner amount related to the output of each image quality mode is calculated, and the consumable cost related to the output of the image forming unit for each of the plurality of image quality modes In terms of conversion, an image quality mode with a consumable cost lower than that of the selected specific image quality mode is set as a recommended image quality mode, and the number of image pixels and the amount of toner consumed in the selected specific image quality mode are consumed. The display unit displays the toner amount cost, the consumed consumable cost, the recommended image quality mode, and the consumable material cost in the recommended image quality mode on the same screen.
A consumable material consumption notification system according to the present invention is a consumable material consumption notification system for an image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus and a dialog unit having a display unit. When a toner image composed of image pixels is formed and output in a specific image quality mode selected from multiple image quality modes, multiple image pixels in each of the image quality modes are counted, and multiple image quality modes The amount of toner consumed to form and output a toner image in each is calculated based on the number of image pixel counts, and the output of each of a plurality of image quality modes is based on the pre-input toner cost. The cost of the toner amount is calculated, and an image quality mode having a cost lower than that of the selected specific image quality mode is set as a recommended image quality mode. The number of image pixels in the quality mode, the consumed toner amount, the cost of the consumed toner amount, the recommended image quality mode, and the cost of the recommended image quality mode are displayed on the same screen in comparison with each other. And
A consumable material consumption notification system according to the present invention is a consumable material consumption notification system for an image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus and a dialog unit having a display unit, and the image forming apparatus uses toner. An image forming unit comprising a cartridge with a consumable material integrated therein, and the image forming apparatus forms and outputs a toner image composed of a plurality of image pixels in a specific image quality mode selected from a plurality of image quality modes. In this case, the plurality of image pixels in each of the plurality of image quality modes are counted, and the amount of toner consumed for forming and outputting the toner image in each of the plurality of image quality modes is determined based on the count number of the image pixels. Calculate and calculate the toner amount cost related to the output of each of the plurality of image quality modes based on the pre-input toner cost, An image quality mode with a consumable material cost lower than the selected specific image quality mode is converted into a recommended image quality mode in terms of the consumable material cost related to the output of each image forming unit, and the selected specific image quality The number of image pixels, the amount of consumed toner, the consumed amount of toner, the consumed consumable cost, the recommended image quality mode and the consumable material cost of the recommended image quality mode in the mode are displayed on the same screen. Contrast with It is characterized by displaying.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention preferably has a plurality of color toners.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention may be a copying machine.
Further, the image forming apparatus in the consumable material consumption notification system of the present invention may be a printer, and the dialogue unit inputs and outputs the printer driver installed in the information processing apparatus connected to the printer and the printer driver. And an input / output device including a display unit connected to the information processing apparatus.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the details of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a connection between a printer, which is one of image forming apparatuses, and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer), which is an information processing apparatus. FIG. 1A shows a one-to-one connection between a printer and a personal computer. , (B) shows network connection. For example, the printer 2 in FIG. 1A is connected only to the personal computer 1 and can be used only from the personal computer 1. In this case, an OS and necessary application software are installed in the personal computer 1, and a printer driver dedicated to the printer 2 is installed for print output.
[0018]
In FIG. 1B, a plurality of personal computers 1 a to 1 c and a plurality of printers 2 a to 2 c are connected on one network 3. In other words, any of the plurality of personal computers 1a to 1c is connected so that print output can be made to all the plurality of printers 2a to 2c. In this example, assuming that the plurality of printers 2a to 2c are different models, in order to be able to perform print output to all the plurality of printers 2a to 2c from any of the personal computers 1a to 1c, each of the personal computers 1a to 2c. In 1c, it is necessary to install a printer driver for each of the different printers 2a to 2c.
[0019]
Such a printer driver includes various functions so that the performance of the target printer can be fully utilized as a dialog unit between the printer and the user. The description will be given later. Here, functions and output image quality modes according to the present embodiment will be described using a color printer as an example. In general, functions and image quality modes that affect toner consumption include the following.
[0020]
1) Integrated print mode: When printing a document consisting of a plurality of pages, instead of outputting one page on one sheet, each of the plurality of pages is reduced and output on one sheet. It is possible to save toner and paper. Normally, 2in1 prints 2 pages on a single sheet, 4in1 prints 4 pages on a single sheet, and prints 4in1 and 6 pages on a single sheet. 6in1 etc.
[0021]
2) Reduced print mode: A mode in which a document is reduced and printed on paper, and is printed as an image smaller than the actual size. Therefore, toner can be saved correspondingly. In the present embodiment, when the reduced print mode is enabled and the above-described aggregate print mode is enabled, automatic reduction for the aggregate print is further applied from the reduced state in the reduced print mode, and a plurality of pages are displayed. It is assumed that printing is consolidated on one sheet.
[0022]
3) Draft mode: An image quality mode in which toner is saved by making the output image thinner than usual in an output mode used for printing and checking in the middle of document creation or for proofreading.
[0023]
4) Resolution mode: Each printer has a physical resolution. For example, a 600 dpi (dots per inch) printer forms an image using 600 dots per inch. However, it is also possible to perform finer printing by increasing the resolution in a pseudo manner. Conversely, printing can be performed at a low resolution by thinning or overlapping dots. In this way, the image quality mode is output at the specified resolution.
[0024]
5) Smoothing mode: When the resolution is not high, the edges of the image and the diagonal lines may be jagged. This function allows the printer driver or an image processing unit inside the printer to correct this jaggedness and output smooth outlines, lines, characters, and the like. The functions and image quality modes described so far are functions common to black-and-white printing and color printing, but an outline of image quality modes specific to color printing that affect toner consumption will be described below.
[0025]
6) Monochrome conversion mode: A mode in which a color file is converted into black and white (white and black binary or multi-stage gray scale) and output. Generally, since consumables such as color toners used for color output are higher in cost than those for black and white, this is an image quality mode used when there is no problem in monochrome output.
[0026]
7) Black replacement mode: When four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are superimposed to form a full-color image, it is usually a neutral black, although it depends on the density. Are output by mixing three colors other than black. This is an image quality mode in which economical printing is possible by replacing the portion that is output by mixing these three colors with black toner, which is less expensive than color toner.
[0027]
8) Continuous gradation mode: An image quality mode in which each color dot is output in multiple gradations instead of binary, and is suitable for outputting an image with high gradation such as a photograph.
[0028]
The above printing mode is an example for explaining the present invention. Depending on the performance of the printer and the function of the printer driver, there are functions and image quality modes other than the above that affect the toner consumption amount. The description is omitted because it is not directly related.
[0029]
Considering the case of actually using a color printer having the above functions and image quality mode and its printer driver, a color document can be output in black and white or in color. At present, the method of use is generally performed and other image quality modes are not considered except in special cases. The reason is that, as described above, from the viewpoint of the user who uses the printer, means for knowing the amount of toner to be used at the time of output is extremely limited, and the cost is virtually impossible to grasp. It was because it was in a state.
[0030]
FIG. 2 is an example of a general initial screen 4 of a printer driver on a personal computer used when outputting with a printer. As shown in FIG. 2, the minimum information necessary for output includes, for example, the output destination printer by the printer selection window 5, the page range to be output by the page range input window 7, and the number of copies to be output by the number input window 6. In this case, normal printing is performed based on this input information. For inputting and selecting other functions, it is possible to select a detailed function by pressing the property button 9 or the option button 8 shown in FIG.
[0031]
FIG. 3 shows a print property screen 11 that appears when the property button 9 is pressed, for example. The property screen 11 has a plurality of function groups, and each group can be selected by selecting one of the necessary function group tabs from the selection tab 12 at the top of the screen. The example of FIG. 3 is a screen selected by clicking the toner save tab 13 to select the toner save (toner save) function.
[0032]
On the toner save screen 14, the image quality mode that affects the toner consumption is displayed in the image quality mode selection window 15, the aggregate print mode is displayed in the aggregate print selection window 22, and the reduced print mode is reduced. The contents displayed on the print input window 23 and displayed by default or separately selected will be displayed. In the example of FIG. 3, since the image quality mode is not particularly selected, the default standard mode for performing normal printing is displayed. Below the image quality mode selection window 15, there is an aggregate print selection window 22, which is not particularly selected, and is set to “no aggregate print” for printing one page on one sheet. Below the consolidated print selection window 22 is a reduced print input window 23, which is not particularly selected, and is set to “not reduced print”. Below that, there is a print preview window 16 that displays the contents of the page to be printed in a preview state, and the print page display window 17 above it displays the page to be output together with the total number of pages of the document. Has been. In the example shown in the figure, the total number of pages of the document is 4, and the first page is selected as the output page.
[0033]
Although nothing is normally displayed in the toner information display window 20 and the recommended mode display window 21, the page displayed in the print page display window 17 is displayed on the image quality mode selection window 15 by pressing the coverage calculation button 18 below the toner information display window 20 and the recommended mode display window 21. The toner information to be output in the image quality mode selected in step 1, the presence / absence or type of the aggregate print selected in the aggregate print selection window 22 and the reduction ratio set in the reduction print input window 23 is displayed in the toner information display window. 20 and the recommended mode display window 21 calculate and display the recommended modes. In the case of a color printer, the toner information display window 20 includes the number of image pixels (number of pixels) of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and image pixels of the respective colors. The ratio (%) of the total number of pixels of one sheet, the cost of each color toner, and the total cost of those toners are displayed. The recommended mode display window 21 displays the types of image quality modes that can be output at a lower cost than the total cost displayed in the toner information display window 20, and the total cost.
[0034]
In this way, the current toner information relating to the page to be output and its image quality mode is displayed immediately, and at the same time, a mode having a lower toner cost than the image quality mode is recommended, so that the user can be reduced in toner consumption and cost. It is possible to provide the opportunity to convey detailed information related to it and to compare it with information in the recommended mode.
[0035]
The consolidated print mode and the reduced print mode are convenient for storage and delivery because the printed document does not take up space, and may be used intentionally for such purposes. In the recommended mode display window 21, the aggregate print mode and the reduced print mode are not recommended. If the user wants to compare the toner consumption and cost in the aggregate print mode and the reduced print mode, the user selects a predetermined aggregate print mode in the aggregate print selection window 22 in FIG. The desired reduction rate may be input and the coverage calculation button 18 may be pressed. .
[0036]
FIG. 4 is an example of the toner save screen 14 in which the 4-in-1 consolidated printing mode is selected and the reduction ratio is not set. In the print preview window, a preview that is automatically reduced so that four pages fit within the paper size is displayed, and in the print page display window 17, a display indicating that one to four of the four pages are being displayed is displayed. Then, when the coverage calculation button 18 is pressed, information relating to the toner necessary for performing the collective printing of 1 to 4 pages in the standard image quality mode is displayed as shown in the figure. Further, in the recommended mode display window 21, when 1-4 pages are collectively printed with the image quality mode as the standard mode, other image quality modes whose toner costs are lower than the standard mode are displayed as the recommended mode along with the cost.
[0037]
As a result of examining the cost of toner on the toner save screen 14, when printing is performed in the currently displayed image quality mode, the aggregate print mode, and the reduced print mode, for example, the content shown in FIG. If you want to print in the print mode and reduced print mode (in the figure, the image quality mode is the standard mode, the consolidated print mode is “4 in 1”, and the reduced print mode is “no reduced print”), OK in the lower right of the property screen 11 is OK. When the button is pressed, the screen returns to the initial screen shown in FIG. The same applies to printing in any of the modes recommended in the recommended mode display window 21. That is, a recommended mode may be selected using the image quality mode selection window 15 and the OK button may be pressed.
[0038]
Next, input of information on which the toner cost is calculated by the printer driver will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a toner cost input screen. FIG. 5A shows the case of toner cost, and FIG. 5B shows the case of a cartridge in which a developing unit and a photosensitive member containing toner are integrated. Actually, either one is incorporated in the printer driver depending on the type of printer used. Usually, the purchase price of toner differs depending on the user. In addition, when an independent profit system is adopted for each department, the toner acquisition cost may differ for each department. In such a case, by pressing the cost setting button 19 shown in FIG. 3 or 4, the screen is switched to the cost input screen 30 in FIG. 5, and information on which cost calculation is based can be input in advance.
[0039]
Taking the case of FIG. 5 (a) as an example, it is assumed that, for example, a color toner has a predetermined amount and costs 5000 yen. Black toner is 2000 yen. In this case, the number of sheets that can be printed with the predetermined amount can be simultaneously obtained from the supplier of the normal toner. When the cost and the number of toners for each color are input from the cost input window 31 and the OK button is pressed, the input cost information is registered, and the screen returns to the screen shown in FIG. become. Further, the number of sheets that can be output with the predetermined amount of toner is based on a predetermined toner coverage. Therefore, the numerical value of the predetermined toner coverage may be input at the same time, or fixed at the time of designing the printer driver. It may be incorporated as a numerical value.
[0040]
FIG. 5B shows a case where the corresponding printer uses a cartridge in which a developing device including toner and a photosensitive member are integrated. Also in this case, as described with reference to FIG. 5A, the cost of the cartridge for each color and the number of sheets that can be printed by the cartridge may be input instead of the toner. The same applies to the toner coverage on which the number of sheets is based.
[0041]
Up to now, a color printer has been described as an example of an image forming apparatus. However, a printer that uses only one color of toner or a printer that prints only a specific color using two or more colors of toner. But basically the same. Similar to a color printer, information on only the toner of the color being used may be input. In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention described so far can also be implemented in a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function machine that has a built-in printer controller or is installed outside and operates in the same manner as a printer, as long as the printer driver is used. .
[0042]
Next, a case where the image forming apparatus is used as a copying machine will be described using a color copying machine as an example. When copying, do not use a personal computer, set the document in the document reading section of the copier, let the copier read the document, and use the image processing section of the copier to perform image processing, such as separation into four colors. Is given. The printing unit of the copying machine processes the image processed image by a process similar to that of a printer and outputs it. In the case of a copying machine, such a series of processes is performed by interacting with the copying machine through an operation unit including a display unit and an input unit and inputting processing.
[0043]
That is, a display similar to the screen of the printer driver shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 may be performed on the display unit of the operation unit of the copying machine, and input or selection may be performed from the input unit. In this way, even when copying in the standard image quality mode, the toner amount and its cost can be calculated and displayed on the display unit of the operation unit, and the recommended mode described with reference to FIG. 3 is also displayed. Is possible.
[0044]
Up to now, using an image forming apparatus that uses toner as an example, the amount of toner consumed during printing and copying and its cost are calculated and displayed, and at the same time displayed as a recommended mode compared to other image quality modes However, as long as the consumption amount and the cost can be compared and calculated, for example, ink other than the toner may be used, and other image recording dyes may be used.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, when an image forming apparatus forms and outputs a toner image composed of a plurality of image pixels in one specific image quality mode selected from a plurality of image quality modes, via a dialog unit with a user. In addition, since the number of image pixels is counted and the user is notified of the counted number of image pixels via the interactive unit, the user can grasp the amount of toner necessary for output as the number of image pixels.
[0046]
In addition, the ratio of the counted number of image pixels to the number of output area pixels constituting all output areas related to one output is notified to the user via the dialog unit as the amount of toner consumed for forming the toner image. By doing so, the user can grasp the toner amount as a ratio of the toner image area to the output area, and the toner usage amount can be recognized more easily.
[0047]
Further, the amount of toner consumed for forming and outputting a toner image is calculated by counting a plurality of image pixels, and the cost of the toner amount for one output is calculated based on the cost of toner input in advance. In order to notify the user via the dialogue section, the user considers the toner amount from an economic point of view, and makes a realistic decision as to whether there is such an economic need for what is to be output. There is an excellent effect of being able to.
[0048]
  Further, the cost of the toner amount related to the output of each of the plurality of image quality modes is calculated, and the image quality mode having a lower cost than the selected image quality mode and its cost are set as recommended image quality modes via the dialogue unit.Since the user is notified on the same screen as the image pixel, toner amount, and toner amount cost of the selected image quality mode, the user can easily compare the costs in both modes and improve cost awareness. It becomes possible. That meansUsing the recommended image quality mode as an alternative, specific examination and judgment can be made from an economic point of view.
[0049]
  Even in the case of an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit made up of a cartridge in which a consumable material containing toner is integrated, the user is provided with the toner amount, the cost of the cartridge corresponding to the toner amount, and the recommended image quality mode.In contrast display on the same screenTherefore, the present invention can be implemented in various image forming apparatuses.
[0050]
Further, even if the image forming apparatus is not only a printer but also a copying machine, a similar consumable material consumption notification system is possible. In that case, the user may use the operation unit of the copying machine as a dialogue unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing connection between a printer and a personal computer. FIG. 1A shows a one-to-one connection between the printer and a personal computer, and FIG. 1B shows a network connection.
FIG. 2 is an example of a general initial screen of a printer driver used when outputting with a printer.
FIG. 3 is a toner save screen of the printer driver according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a toner save screen in which a 4-in-1 consolidated print mode is selected.
5A is a toner cost input screen, FIG. 5A is a case of toner cost, and FIG. 5B is a case of a cartridge in which a developing unit and a photoreceptor including toner are integrated.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 1a, 1b, 1c PC
2, 2a, 2b, 2c printer
3 network
4 Initial screen
5 Printer selection window
6 copies input window
7 Page range input window
8 Option button
9 Property button
11 Print properties screen
12 Selection tab
13 Toner Save Tab
14 Toner Save Screen
15 Image quality mode selection window
16 Print preview window
17 Print page display window
18 Coverage calculation button
19 Cost setting button
20 Toner information display window
21 Recommended mode display window
22 Integrated print selection window
23 Reduced print input window
30 Cost input screen
31 Cost input window

Claims (8)

  An image forming apparatus including an interactive unit having a display unit,
  When the image forming apparatus forms and outputs a toner image composed of a plurality of image pixels in a specific image quality mode selected from a plurality of image quality modes,
  Counting the plurality of image pixels for each of the plurality of image quality modes;
  A toner amount consumed to form and output the toner image in each of the plurality of image quality modes is calculated based on a count number of the image pixels;
  Based on the pre-input toner cost, the toner amount cost related to the output of each of the plurality of image quality modes is calculated,
  The recommended image quality mode is an image quality mode having a lower cost than the selected specific image quality mode,
  The number of image pixels in the selected specific image quality mode, the amount of toner consumed, the cost of the consumed toner amount, and the recommended image quality mode and the cost of the recommended image quality mode are displayed on the same screen on the display unit. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a contrast display is performed on the top.   An image forming apparatus including an interactive unit having a display unit,
  The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a cartridge in which a consumable material including toner is integrated,
  When the image forming apparatus forms and outputs a toner image composed of a plurality of image pixels in a specific image quality mode selected from a plurality of image quality modes,
  Counting the plurality of image pixels for each of the plurality of image quality modes;
  A toner amount consumed to form and output the toner image in each of the plurality of image quality modes is calculated based on a count number of the image pixels;
  Based on the pre-input toner cost, the toner amount cost related to the output of each of the plurality of image quality modes is calculated,
  In conversion to the consumable material cost related to the output of the image forming unit for each of the plurality of image quality modes,
  An image quality mode with a consumable cost lower than the selected specific image quality mode is set as a recommended image quality mode,
  The number of image pixels in the selected specific image quality mode, the amount of toner consumed, the cost of the consumed toner amount, the consumable cost consumed, the recommended image quality mode, and the consumption of the recommended image quality mode An image forming apparatus characterized in that a material cost is displayed in contrast on the same screen in the display unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes toners of a plurality of colors.   4. The image according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a copying machine, and the dialogue unit is an operation unit including an input unit and the display unit provided in the copying machine. Forming equipment.   A consumable material consumption notification system for the image forming apparatus, including an image forming apparatus and a dialogue unit having a display unit,
  When the image forming apparatus forms and outputs a toner image composed of a plurality of image pixels in a specific image quality mode selected from a plurality of image quality modes,
  Counting the plurality of image pixels for each of the plurality of image quality modes;
  A toner amount consumed to form and output the toner image in each of the plurality of image quality modes is calculated based on a count number of the image pixels;
  The output of each of the plurality of image quality modes based on a pre-input toner cost Calculate the toner amount cost related to
  An image quality mode having a cost lower than that of the selected specific image quality mode is set as a recommended image quality mode,
  The number of image pixels in the selected specific image quality mode, the amount of toner consumed, the cost of the consumed toner amount, and the recommended image quality mode and the cost of the recommended image quality mode are displayed on the same screen on the display unit. A consumable material consumption notification system characterized by being displayed in contrast.   A consumable material consumption notification system for the image forming apparatus, including an image forming apparatus and a dialogue unit having a display unit,
  The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a cartridge in which a consumable material including toner is integrated,
  When the image forming apparatus forms and outputs a toner image composed of a plurality of image pixels in a specific image quality mode selected from a plurality of image quality modes,
  Counting the plurality of image pixels for each of the plurality of image quality modes;
  A toner amount consumed to form and output the toner image in each of the plurality of image quality modes is calculated based on a count number of the image pixels;
  Based on the pre-input toner cost, the toner amount cost related to the output of each of the plurality of image quality modes is calculated,
  In conversion to the consumable material cost related to the output of the image forming unit for each of the plurality of image quality modes,
  An image quality mode with a consumable cost lower than the selected specific image quality mode is set as a recommended image quality mode,
  The number of image pixels in the selected specific image quality mode, the amount of toner consumed, the cost of the consumed toner amount, the consumable cost consumed, the recommended image quality mode, and the consumption of the recommended image quality mode A consumable material consumption notification system characterized in that the material cost is displayed in contrast on the same screen in the display unit.   7. The consumable material consumption notification system according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of colors of toner.   The image forming apparatus is a printer;
  The dialogue unit
  A printer driver installed in an information processing apparatus connected to the printer;
  An input / output device including the display unit connected to an information processing device that performs input / output with the printer driver;
  The consumable material consumption notification system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising:

Images