JP5365355B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, image forming program, and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming technique.

Conventionally, consumable parts such as a photosensitive drum, an intermediate transfer belt, and a pressure roller used in a printing machine or a copying machine have been replaced when the number of printed sheets (reference number) determined by the manufacturer is printed. However, the consumption of consumable parts progresses in proportion to the number of pixels attached to the paper (number of pixels), not the number of printed sheets. Therefore, when the consumable part is replaced when the number of printed sheets reaches the reference number, It may happen that it is not very worn out, but is replaced, or it is very worn out but not replaced. Therefore, there is a technique for measuring the pixel ratio of pixels to the area to be printed on paper, and calculating the number of printable sheets before replacement of consumable parts from the reference pixel ratio determined by the manufacturer as a reference. . As a result, the replacement time of the consumable parts can be presented.

  In Patent Document 1, the replacement time of consumable parts is presented as follows. For example, in an image generating apparatus that replaces the cleaning roller with 10,000 sheets when printing is performed with a blackening rate of 5%, for example, when the blackening rate is 10% when the paper is measured and the blackening rate is 10%, the reference blackening rate is obtained. Since it is twice as compared, 2 is added to the counter for one sheet. When printing is performed at a blackening rate of 30%, 6 is added to the counter. Thus, the value obtained by dividing the measured blackening rate by the reference blackening rate is added to the counter, and when the counter reaches 10,000, the replacement display of the cleaning roller is displayed on the printer panel.

The print quality deteriorates not only when the entire consumable part is consumed, but also when a part is consumed. If there is a bias in the print location, a part of the consumable part is consumed so much that a printing failure occurs even if the number of printed sheets does not reach the reference number.

Here, the pixel ratio representing the degree of pixel adhesion to the paper will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the pixel ratio. It is an example of an image printed on A4 size paper, and pixels are attached to the paper in order to form the letter A. The ratio of the pixels attached to the entire paper is called the pixel ratio. For example, when an image is formed at 600 dpi, pixels of about 34.8 million dots are attached to one sheet of A4 size paper. When an image as shown in FIG. 1 is formed, it is determined whether or not there is a pixel for each dot section. As a result, when pixels adhere to about 1.74 million sections, the pixel ratio of the paper is (17.4 million / 34.8 million) × 100 = 5%.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the portions to which the pixels shown by diagonal lines are attached are biased, the pixel ratio in the left region 1 is 50% even if the pixel ratio as a whole of the document is 25%. At this time, the partial consumption of the consumable part that contacts the region 1 is more intense than the other parts, and this partial consumption causes the printing paper to become partially contaminated, and as a result, the printed paper can be used. It will disappear. Therefore, it can be said that it is not appropriate to determine the replacement time based on the overall pixel ratio of 25%. If a maintenance work plan is created based on such a determination, a printing failure will occur at an unexpected time earlier than planned, making it difficult for the maintenance worker to visit in time or adjusting the inventory of new consumable parts. There was a problem such as becoming.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium using pixels, and the number of pixels used in the image formed by the image forming unit. A pixel counting unit that counts for each area obtained by dividing the recording area of the recording medium, and a pixel number that calculates a cumulative value obtained by accumulating the number of pixels counted by the pixel counting means over a plurality of recording media for each area. A cumulative value calculating means; a cumulative value outputting means for outputting the cumulative value calculated by the pixel number cumulative value calculating means; and a maximum for extracting a maximum cumulative value among the cumulative values calculated by the pixel number cumulative value calculating means. An image forming apparatus comprising: an accumulated value extracting unit; and a notifying unit configured to notify when the maximum accumulated value extracted by the maximum accumulated value extracting unit exceeds a predetermined threshold .
The invention according to claim 2 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pixel counting unit counts the number of pixels for each type of the pixel, and the cumulative value calculating unit calculates the cumulative value, An image forming apparatus that displays each type of pixel .
A third aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the pixel types are yellow, magenta, cyan, and black .
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising an area receiving unit that receives information relating to the area .

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, an image forming step of forming an image on a recording medium using pixels, and the number of pixels used in the image formed in the image forming step are recorded on the recording medium. a pixel counting step of counting for each area obtained by dividing an area, and pixel number accumulated value calculation step of calculating an accumulated value obtained by accumulating the number of the pixels counted by the pixel counting process over the recording medium a plurality for each of the regions, the A maximum cumulative value extracting step for extracting a maximum cumulative value among the cumulative values calculated in the pixel number cumulative value calculating step, and the maximum cumulative value extracted in the maximum cumulative value extracting step exceeds a predetermined threshold value. An image forming method characterized by including a notification step of performing notification .
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an image forming step of forming an image on a recording medium using pixels, and the number of pixels used in the image formed by the image forming means are recorded on the recording medium. a pixel counting step of counting for each area obtained by dividing an area, and pixel number accumulated value calculation step of calculating an accumulated value obtained by accumulating the number of the pixels counted by the pixel counting process over the recording medium a plurality for each of the regions, the A maximum cumulative value extracting step for extracting a maximum cumulative value among the cumulative values calculated in the pixel number cumulative value calculating step, and the maximum cumulative value extracted in the maximum cumulative value extracting step exceeds a predetermined threshold value. An image forming program that causes an image forming apparatus to execute a notification step of performing notification .
The invention according to claim 7 is an image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium and a terminal connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, wherein the image forming apparatus uses pixels. An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, and a pixel count that counts the number of pixels used in the image formed by the image forming unit for each area obtained by dividing the recording area of the recording medium. means and the pixel number accumulated value calculating means for calculating an accumulated value obtained by accumulating the number of the pixels counted over a recording medium a plurality for each of the regions in the pixel counting means, the cumulative calculated by the pixel number accumulated value calculating means and the maximum cumulative value extracting means for extracting the maximum cumulative value of the values, and a notification unit configured to notify when the maximum cumulative value extracted by the maximum cumulative value extracting unit exceeds a predetermined threshold And, wherein the terminal includes a receiving unit that receives the accumulated value transmitted from the image forming apparatus, the image forming system characterized by an output means for outputting the accumulated value received by the receiving means is there.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a maintenance worker who performs maintenance of a printing machine or a copier knows the tendency of the pixels to adhere to the paper to be printed or copied by the user, and grasps the degree of consumption of the consumable parts. Can do. Therefore, the maintenance worker can replace the consumable parts before the printing failure occurs, and can prevent the user's work from being delayed due to the printing failure. Furthermore, it is possible to eliminate the waste of exchanging consumable parts that are not very consumed.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus.
The copying machine includes an image forming unit 1, a paper feeding unit 2, and a scanner unit 3. A control unit (not shown) for controlling the operation of each device in the copying machine is also provided. The control unit includes a CPU, a memory, and the like.
The scanner unit 3 reads the image information of the document placed on the contact glass 31 with the reading sensor 32 and sends the read image information to a control unit (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 3, four cartridge agents 12 </ b> Y, 12 </ b> M, 12 </ b> C, and 12 </ b> K corresponding to the type of each pixel are installed in the cartridge storage unit 11 above the printer unit 1.
An intermediate transfer unit 13 is disposed below the cartridge housing portion 11. Image forming units (photosensitive drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K and developing devices 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K, etc.) corresponding to the types of pixels are installed so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 131 of the intermediate transfer unit 13. Are arranged side by side.
Each of the photosensitive drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown).
The surfaces of the photoconductive drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are uniformly charged by the charging units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K. Thereafter, electrostatic latent images are formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K by laser light emitted from an exposure apparatus (not shown) based on image information received from the scanner unit 3.
Thereafter, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K reach the positions facing the developing devices 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K, respectively, and the electrostatic latent images are developed at these positions to form toner images. Is done. Thereafter, the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K reach the positions facing the first transfer bias rollers 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K, respectively, and the photoconductor drums 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K are located at these positions. The upper toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 131.
FIG. 4 shows a state where the toner image on the photosensitive drum 14Y is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 131. The slanted lines indicate the locations where the toner is attached. When an image with a large amount of toner is formed at the left end as described above, a large amount of toner adheres to the left end of the photosensitive drum 14Y and the intermediate transfer belt 131, and the deterioration proceeds quickly. The same applies to the photosensitive drums 14M, 14C, and 14K.
The intermediate transfer belt 131 onto which the various types of toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are transferred in a superimposed manner reaches a position facing the secondary transfer roller 18. At this position, the secondary transfer backup roller sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 131 with the secondary transfer roller 18 to form a secondary transfer nip.
The four types of toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 131 are transferred onto a recording medium P such as transfer paper conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip. Here, the recording medium P transported to the position of the secondary transfer nip is transported from the paper feed tray 21 of the paper feed unit 2 via the paper feed roller 22, the registration roller pair 23, and the like.
The recording medium P conveyed to the registration roller pair 23 is temporarily stopped at the position of the roller nip of the registration roller pair 23 that has stopped rotating. Then, the registration roller pair 23 is driven to rotate in synchronization with the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 131, and the recording medium P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip. In this way, a desired color image is transferred onto the recording medium P.
Thereafter, the recording medium P on which the color image has been transferred at the position of the secondary transfer nip is conveyed to the position of the fixing unit 19. At this position, the color image transferred to the surface is fixed on the recording medium P by heat and pressure generated by the pressure roller 191 and the fixing belt 192. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the toner is fixed to the recording medium by the pressure roller 191 and the fixing belt 192. The hatched portion is a portion where toner is attached. Deterioration of such a portion where much toner adheres to the pressure roller and the fixing belt tends to proceed quickly.
Thereafter, the recording medium P is discharged out of the apparatus as an output image.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the functional configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention.
The area receiving unit 401 receives area information for counting the number of pixels. When information regarding the area is input by the administrator on the screen of the operation panel of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 7 and the OK button is pressed, the area receiving unit 401 receives the information. The area-related information is information indicating a range in which the number of pixels is measured on the recording medium. For example, when a place where one pixel can be attached is defined as a section, the main scanning direction starts from the first upper left section on the recording medium. Information such as the range up to the 135th section and the 500th section in the sub-scanning direction.
The area storage unit 402 stores information on the area received by the area receiving unit 401 in a memory (not shown).
The image reading unit 403 irradiates an image of a paper document placed on a document table with a light source, and converts the reflected light into image information of an electrical signal by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor.
The image information conversion unit 404 creates bitmap data from the image information of the electrical signal read by the image reading unit 403.
The pixel counting unit 405 counts the number of pixels of the bitmap data converted by the image information conversion unit 404 for each region stored in the region storage unit 402.
The cumulative pixel number storage unit 406 stores the cumulative pixel number that is the cumulative number of pixels counted by the pixel counting unit 405, and includes a memory or the like. The cumulative pixel number storage unit 406 stores a value obtained by adding the number of pixels counted by the pixel counting unit 405 to the stored cumulative pixel number as a new cumulative pixel number.
The cumulative pixel number output unit 407 outputs the cumulative pixel number for each area stored in the cumulative pixel number storage unit 406.
The maximum cumulative pixel number extraction unit 408 extracts the maximum cumulative pixel number that is the maximum value among the cumulative pixel numbers for each region stored in the cumulative pixel number storage unit 406.
The exchange notifying unit 409 notifies the fact when the maximum accumulated pixel number extracted by the maximum accumulated pixel number extracting unit 408 exceeds a predetermined threshold.
First, the setting procedure of the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described. Here, at the time of printing, the number of division of the print area is set so that the number of pixels is printed with a predetermined number of divisions for each paper size.
An administrator of the image forming apparatus inputs an area for counting pixels, and the area receiving unit 401 receives it. FIG. 7 shows an example of an operation panel screen on which an administrator inputs. The administrator selects the paper size used for copying on this screen, and inputs the number of divisions corresponding to the paper size.
The area storage unit 402 stores the number of divisions received by the area reception unit 401 in association with the paper size. FIG. 8 shows an example of data in the area storage unit 402. When data such as this example is stored, when copying to A4 size paper, when copying to A3 size paper in an area divided into 4 in the main scanning direction and 5 in the sub-scanning direction When copying to B5 size paper in an area divided into 6 in the main scanning direction and 10 in the sub scanning direction, counting is performed in the area divided into 3 in the main scanning direction and 4 in the sub scanning direction.
For example, when an A4 size sheet is divided into four parts in the main scanning direction and five parts in the sub-scanning direction, 20 areas are formed as shown in FIG. When an image is formed on an A4 size paper at 600 dpi, the entire paper has 175 sections in the main scanning direction and 500 sections in the sub-scanning direction, so that the region 11 is the first to 35th sections in the main scanning direction. From the first division to the 125th division in the sub-scanning direction, the region 12 has the 36th division to the 70th division in the main scanning direction, and from the first division to the 125th division in the sub-scanning direction. For each region, the number of pixels (number of pixels) having four types of pixels of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is counted.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention.
When an operator sets a document on the contact glass 31 of the scanner unit 3 shown in FIG. 3 and presses a start switch (not shown), the reading sensor 32 reads image information.
Next, the image information conversion unit 404 converts the read image information into bitmap data. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the bitmap data. The bitmap data has information on whether or not there is a pixel for each section. In the example of FIG. 10, the letter A is printed, and in order to form a character, “◯” is written in a section where pixels are attached, and “X” is written in a section where pixels are not attached. Bitmap data is information indicating whether or not pixels are attached to each section of the paper in this way.
When the read image information is converted into bitmap data, the pixel counting unit 405 counts the number of pixels in each area of the bitmap data.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for counting each type (Y, M, C, K) of pixels for each region. When the number of divisions in the main scanning direction of each print area is P, the number of divisions in the sub scanning direction is Q, the number of divisions in the main scanning direction is A, and the number of divisions in the sub scanning direction is B, the main scanning direction in each area The number of sections is P / A (X in the following description and FIG. 11), and the number of sections in the sub-scanning direction in each area is Q / B (Y in the following description and FIG. 11).
The number of pixels nab in the region ab is counted by determining whether or not there is a pixel in the partition (x, y). First, nab = 0, y = 1, and the cumulative pixel number Nab = 0 (S1). Next, x = 1 is set (S2), and it is determined whether there is a pixel in the section (1, 1) (S3). If there is a pixel, nab = 1 is set (S4), and if there is no pixel, no addition is made to nab, and nab = 0. Next, x = 2 is set (S5), and if the number of sections X in the main scanning direction in the region ab is not exceeded (S6), it is determined whether or not there is a pixel in the section (2, 1) (S3). ).
If there is a pixel, 1 is added to nab (S4), and if there is no pixel, it is not added. It is determined whether there are any pixels in the sections (3, 1), (4, 1),..., (X, 1), and the same processing is performed (S3 to S6). When this processing is completed up to the number of sections in the main scanning direction, y = 2 is set (S7), and the sections (1, 2,), (2, 2),. Similarly, if there is a pixel in each section, 1 is added to nab, and if there is no pixel, it is not added (S2 to S6). The same processing is performed for the third to Yth rows (S2 to S7), and the value of nab when the processing is finished up to the section (X, Y) (S8) is stored in the cumulative pixel number storage unit 406. The accumulated pixel number Nab is added (S9). The cumulative pixel number Nab thus obtained is stored in the cumulative pixel number storage unit 406.
For subsequent copying, nab is calculated by the same procedure, and the value of nab by the copying is added to the accumulated pixel number Nab stored so far and stored in the accumulated pixel number storage unit 406.
Similarly, the above-described processing of FIG. 11 is performed for all regions.
FIG. 12 shows an example of data stored in the cumulative pixel number storage unit 406. This is an example of copying on A4 size paper at a resolution of 600 dpi, dividing into 4 parts in the main scanning direction and 5 parts in the sub-scanning direction, and counting the number of pixels for each pixel type. The cumulative value of the number of pixels is displayed for each area.
The procedure for counting pixels is not limited to the above. In the above-described example, an example is shown in which the size of the paper is counted for each equally divided area. The area may be set according to the tendency of the image forming apparatus to be used.
A procedure for presenting the data of the accumulated pixel number storage unit 406 thus stored to the maintenance worker will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, the cumulative pixel number output unit 407 displays the cumulative pixel number corresponding to the region number uniquely representing the region on the panel of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 13 illustrates an example where the pixel type is yellow. The cumulative number of pixels corresponding to the area number may be displayed in a graph. The accumulated pixel number display unit 407 may be displayed not on the panel of the image forming apparatus but on a management terminal on the local area network to which the image forming apparatus is connected, or connected via a telephone line or the Internet. The data of the accumulated pixel number storage unit 406 may be displayed on a remote maintenance center terminal. If the image forming apparatus has a printing function, data in the accumulated pixel number storage unit 406 may be printed by the printing function.

  Next, a procedure for detecting a consumable part based on the cumulative number of pixels for each region and notifying the replacement of the consumable part will be described. First, the maximum cumulative pixel number extraction unit 408 extracts a region having the largest cumulative pixel number (referred to as a maximum cumulative region) from the cumulative pixel number of each region. The exchange notifying unit 409 notifies when the cumulative number of pixels in the maximum cumulative area is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value. The notification method is displayed on the device panel. You may display on the management terminal on a local area network, or the terminal of the remote maintenance center connected via the internet. In addition, a personal computer used by an administrator or maintenance worker may be notified by e-mail.

This threshold value may be the number of pixels used when printing is performed with a reference pixel ratio to the number of sheets that can be printed. For example, in the case of an image generating apparatus that replaces the cleaning roller when copying 10,000 sheets at a pixel ratio of 5%, the number of pixels attached to one sheet is 34 million (dots / sheet) × 0.05 × 10000 sheets = 175. 100 million dots. When the paper is divided into 20 areas, 17.5 billion dots / 20 = 875 million dots are attached to each area. If this value is set as a threshold value, replacement can be performed when the amount of consumption corresponding to the number of sheets determined to be replaced by the manufacturer is reached, and it is possible to prevent a situation such as failure or printing failure. .
In the above-described embodiment, the processing for counting the pixels attached when copying a paper document has been described. However, the pixels can be counted even when printing is performed by the printing function. Electronic data created by a personal computer or the like is converted into a document described in a page description language by a printer driver and transmitted to the image forming apparatus. In the image forming apparatus, the image information conversion unit 404 converts document image information described in a page description language into bitmap data, and the pixel counting unit 405 counts pixels for each region. The subsequent processing is the same as described above.
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the counted number of pixels is converted into the number of copies, and the replacement time is output.
The hardware configuration is the same as in the first embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the functional configuration of the second embodiment.
The area accepting unit 501 accepts a setting relating to an area on the paper for counting the number of pixels. The number of divisions in each of the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is input on the screen of the operation panel of the apparatus, and when the division designation button is pressed, it is set whether to count the number of pixels in the area of the paper.
The area storage unit 502 stores, in a memory, information related to an area where the number of pixels received by the area reception unit 501 is counted.
The reference information storage unit 503 stores, in a memory, a reference pixel ratio that is a ratio of the number of copies for which consumable parts of the image forming apparatus require replacement and a ratio of pixels used for the copy to the entire sheet.
The reference pixel number calculation unit 504 calculates the number of pixels attached to each region as the reference pixel number per region when copying is performed so that the pixels are uniformly attached to the paper at the reference pixel ratio.
The image reading unit 505 irradiates the image of a paper document placed on the document table with a light source, and converts the reflected light into an electrical signal by a CCD sensor.
The image information conversion unit 506 converts the image information read by the image reading unit 505 into bitmap data.
The pixel counting unit 507 counts the number of pixels of the bitmap data converted by the image information conversion unit 506 for each region stored in the region storage unit 502.
The number conversion unit 508 calculates a value obtained by dividing the number of pixels counted by the pixel counting unit 507 by the reference number of pixels as the number of sheets.
The accumulated number storage unit 509 stores an accumulated number that is an accumulation of the counted number in a memory (not shown). A value obtained by adding the number converted by the number conversion unit 508 to the stored cumulative number is stored as a new cumulative number.
The cumulative number output unit 510 outputs the cumulative number stored in the cumulative number storage unit 509 for each region.
The maximum cumulative number extraction unit 511 extracts the maximum number of cumulative numbers stored in the cumulative number storage unit 509 as the maximum cumulative number.
The exchange notifying unit 512 notifies that fact when the maximum cumulative number exceeds the threshold value.
The setting in the second embodiment will be described.
It is the same as in the first embodiment that information related to the area where the number of pixels is counted is received and information related to the received area is stored. Next, the reference information storage unit 503 stores, in the memory, a reference number of sheets and a reference pixel ratio that serve as a reference for replacing the consumable parts of the image forming apparatus. Further, the reference information storage unit 503 stores the reference pixel number per sheet calculated from the number of sections determined by these values, resolution, and paper size in the memory. Then, the reference pixel number calculation unit 504 calculates the reference pixel number per region by dividing the reference pixel number by the total number of regions stored in the region storage unit 502.
Next, the operations of the image reading unit 505, the image information conversion unit 506, and the pixel counting unit 507 are the same as those in the first embodiment. When the pixel counting unit 507 counts the number of pixels per region, the number conversion unit 508 converts the number of pixels by the reference number of pixels per region to convert it to the number of pixels. For example, in an image forming apparatus that prints on A4 size paper at 600 dpi and a pixel ratio of 5% and replaces the cleaning roller with 10,000 sheets, the number of attached pixels is 34 million (dots / sheet) × 0.05 × 10000 sheets = The number of reference pixels per region is 17.5 billion dots / 20 = 875 million dots. Therefore, if the number of pixels in the measured area is 1750 million dots, 2 is obtained by dividing this value by the reference number of pixels per area. If it is 2,650,000,000 dots, this value is divided by the reference number of pixels per area, and 3 is converted as the number of sheets.
The cumulative number storage unit 509 stores the number thus converted in addition to the stored cumulative number. The operation of presenting the data of the stored cumulative number storage unit 509 to the maintenance worker and the operation of detecting a consumable part based on the cumulative number of areas and notifying the replacement of the consumable parts are the first embodiment. The operations of the cumulative pixel number output unit 407, the maximum cumulative pixel number extraction unit 408, and the exchange notification unit 409 are the same.
As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the maximum cumulative number and the reference counter value for exchanging consumable parts can be compared, an administrator or a maintenance worker can easily compare consumable parts. You can make a point of exchange.

It is a figure for demonstrating a pixel ratio. It is a figure for demonstrating a pixel ratio. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where a photosensitive drum is in contact with an intermediate transfer belt. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a recording medium passes between a pressure roller and a fixing belt. It is a figure for demonstrating the function structure of 1st embodiment. It is an example of the screen which inputs the setting of an area | region. It is an example of the data of an area | region memory | storage part. It is a figure for demonstrating an area | region. It is a figure for demonstrating bitmap data. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which counts a pixel for every area | region. It is an example of the data of a cumulative pixel number storage part. It is a display example of the number of accumulated pixels. It is a figure for demonstrating the function structure of 2nd embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer part 11 Cartridge accommodating part 12 Cartridge 13 Intermediate transfer unit 131 Intermediate transfer belt 14 Photoconductor drum 15 Developing device 16 Charging part 17 First transfer bias roller 18 Secondary transfer roller 19 Fixing part 191 Pressure roller 192 Fixing belt 2 Supply Paper unit 21 Paper feed tray 22 Paper feed roller 23 Registration roller pair 3 Scanner unit 31 Contact glass 32 Reading sensor 401 Area receiving unit 402 Area storage unit 403 Image reading unit 404 Image information conversion unit 405 Pixel counting unit 406 Cumulative pixel number storage unit 407 Cumulative pixel number output unit 408 Maximum cumulative pixel number extraction unit 409 Exchange notification unit 501 Region reception unit 502 Region storage unit 503 Reference information storage unit 504 Reference pixel number calculation unit 505 Image reading unit 506 Image information conversion unit 507 Pixel counting unit 508 Number conversion unit 509 Cumulative sheets Maximum storage unit 510 accumulated number output unit 511 accumulated number extraction unit 512 exchange notifier

JP-A-11-99692

Claims (7)

An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium using pixels, and the number of pixels used in the image formed by the image forming unit is counted for each area obtained by dividing the recording area of the recording medium. pixel counting means for the number of pixels cumulative value calculating means for calculating an accumulated value obtained by accumulating the number of the pixels counted over a recording medium a plurality for each of the regions in the pixel counting means, calculated by the pixel number accumulated value calculating means Maximum accumulated value extracting means for extracting the maximum accumulated value among the accumulated values, and notifying means for notifying when the maximum accumulated value extracted by the maximum accumulated value extracting means exceeds a predetermined threshold. An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pixel counting unit counts the number of pixels for each type of pixel, and the cumulative value calculation unit displays the cumulative value for each type of pixel. An image forming apparatus.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pixel types are yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 to 3, the image forming apparatus characterized by having an area receiving means for receiving information relating to the area. An image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium using pixels, and the number of pixels of the pixel used in the image formed in the image forming process is counted for each area obtained by dividing the recording area of the recording medium. A pixel counting step, a pixel number cumulative value calculating step for calculating a cumulative value obtained by accumulating the number of pixels counted in the pixel counting step over a plurality of recording media for each region, and a pixel number cumulative value calculating step. A maximum cumulative value extraction step for extracting a maximum cumulative value from the cumulative values, and a notification step for notifying when the maximum cumulative value extracted in the maximum cumulative value extraction step exceeds a predetermined threshold. image forming method, which comprises. An image forming step of forming an image on a recording medium using pixels, and the number of pixels of the pixels used in the image formed by the image forming unit is counted for each area obtained by dividing the recording area of the recording medium. A pixel counting step, a pixel number cumulative value calculating step for calculating a cumulative value obtained by accumulating the number of pixels counted in the pixel counting step over a plurality of recording media for each region, and a pixel number cumulative value calculating step. A maximum cumulative value extraction step for extracting a maximum cumulative value from the cumulative values, and a notification step for notifying when the maximum cumulative value extracted in the maximum cumulative value extraction step exceeds a predetermined threshold. An image forming program which is executed by an image forming apparatus. An image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium and a terminal connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, wherein the image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using pixels. An image forming means, a pixel counting means for counting the number of pixels used in the image formed by the image forming means for each area obtained by dividing the recording area of the recording medium, and the pixel counting means. A pixel number cumulative value calculation means for calculating a cumulative value obtained by accumulating the counted number of pixels over a plurality of recording media for each region, and a maximum cumulative value among the cumulative values calculated by the pixel number cumulative value calculation means is extracted. has a maximum accumulated value extracting means, and notification means for performing notification when the maximum cumulative value extracted by the maximum cumulative value extracting unit exceeds a predetermined threshold to the terminal, the Image forming system, characterized in that it comprises receiving means for receiving the transmitted said accumulated value from the image forming apparatus, and an output means for outputting the accumulated value received by the receiving unit.

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