Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image processing part, an image forming part, and an inquiry output part. The image processing part performs image processing on image data. The image forming part forms an image on a sheet based on the image data. The inquiry output part outputs, when a page indicated by the image data includes an image at only an upstream side end part in a scanning direction and a consumption of a toner used on the page is less than a predetermined threshold, an inquiry about whether or not a print processing of the page is performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image processing part, an image forming part, and an inquiry output part. The image processing part performs image processing on image data. The image forming part forms an image on a sheet based on the image data. The inquiry output part outputs, when a page indicated by the image data includes an image at only an upstream side end part in a scanning direction and a consumption of a toner used on the page is less than a predetermined threshold, an inquiry about whether or not a print processing of the page is performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first determination section, a calculation section, a second determination section, and a billing section. The first determination section determines whether a toner container attached to a toner supply section is a first container or a second container. The calculation section calculates a consumption amount of a toner in the toner container determined as the second container. The second determination section determines whether the consumption amount is a threshold value or larger. When the consumption amount is less than the threshold value, the billing section changes a billing price from a first price to a second price. When the toner container is determined to be the first container, the billing section changes the billing price from the first price to a third price. The second price is lower than the first price. The third price is equal to or lower than the second price.

Abstract: A monochrome image forming apparatus includes an image data supply unit for the color image forming apparatus that has a function to write input color image data including plural primary color data components into color buffers; and a color converter for a color image forming apparatus in which a color conversion unit reads the input color image data from the color buffers, performs an UCR process and a black generation process. The image data supply unit writes input monochrome image data of a single color to a monochrome buffer. In an eco printing mode, the color converter reads out the input monochrome image data to the color conversion unit as the plural primary color data components of the color image data, and performs the UCR process and the black generation process so as to make a toner consumption amount smaller than that in a normal printing mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first determination section, a calculation section, a second determination section, and a billing section. The first determination section determines whether a toner container attached to a toner supply section is a first container or a second container. The calculation section calculates a consumption amount of a toner in the toner container determined as the second container. The second determination section determines whether the consumption amount is a threshold value or larger. When the consumption amount is less than the threshold value, the billing section changes a billing price from a first price to a second price. When the toner container is determined to be the first container, the billing section changes the billing price from the first price to a third price. The second price is lower than the first price. The third price is equal to or lower than the second price.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveying portion, an image data outputting portion, a plurality of buffer memories, an image forming portion, and a timing control portion. At least one of the plurality of buffer memories corresponding to at least one predetermined channel among the plurality of color channels other than a head color channel is configured to store image data of two different pages individually. After the image data outputting portion starts outputting image data of the first page to the buffer memory corresponding to the predetermined channel, the image data outputting portion starts outputting image data of the second page to the buffer memory regardless of whether or not the image data of the first page has been read from the buffer memory.

Abstract: A monochrome image forming apparatus includes an image data supply unit for the color image forming apparatus that has a function to write input color image data including plural primary color data components into color buffers; and a color converter for a color image forming apparatus in which a color conversion unit reads the input color image data from the color buffers, performs an UCR process and a black generation process. The image data supply unit writes input monochrome image data of a single color to a monochrome buffer. In an eco printing mode, the color converter reads out the input monochrome image data to the color conversion unit as the plural primary color data components of the color image data, and performs the UCR process and the black generation process so as to make a toner consumption amount smaller than that in a normal printing mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a print engine, a job issuing device, two print control devices that control the print engine, and a job assignment device that assigns the print job to one of the two print control devices that is appropriate for the print job. Each print control device notifies the print engine of print information corresponding to the print job and manages already-indicated latest information, which is the latest print information. The print information is different from the already-indicated latest information. When making a switchover between the two print control devices to select a switched-to print control device, which is a print control device to which to assign the print job, the job assignment device causes the switched-to print control device to delete the already-indicated latest information managed by the switched-to print control device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print engine configured to perform printing on a recording medium, a job issuing unit configured to issue a print job, two print control units configured to control the print engine in accordance with the issued print job, and a job allocating unit configured to allocate the print job to an appropriate print control unit, among the two print control units. If a last print job that is issued is for a first print control unit, the control of the print engine by the first print control unit in accordance with the last print job allocated to the first print control unit is not completed, and a next print job that is issued is for a second print control unit, the job allocating unit is configured to place on standby the allocation of the next print job to the second print control unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a print engine, a job issuing device, two print control devices that control the print engine, and a job assignment device that assigns the print job to one of the two print control devices that is appropriate for the print job. Each print control device notifies the print engine of print information corresponding to the print job and manages already-indicated latest information, which is the latest print information. The print information is different from the already-indicated latest information. When making a switchover between the two print control devices to select a switched-to print control device, which is a print control device to which to assign the print job, the job assignment device causes the switched-to print control device to delete the already-indicated latest information managed by the switched-to print control device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print engine configured to perform printing on a recording medium, a job issuing unit configured to issue a print job, two print control units configured to control the print engine in accordance with the issued print job, and a job allocating unit configured to allocate the print job to an appropriate print control unit, among the two print control units. If a last print job that is issued is for a first print control unit, the control of the print engine by the first print control unit in accordance with the last print job allocated to the first print control unit is not completed, and a next print job that is issued is for a second print control unit, the job allocating unit is configured to place on standby the allocation of the next print job to the second print control unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a parts processing stage control method and a parts processing stage controlling program by which the progress in parts processing can be instantly recognized. In accordance with the method and program of the present invention, a control computer records the starts times and the end times of pre-processing, main-processing, and post-processing, in a performance time memory unit in a parts processing operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a parts processing stage control method and a parts processing stage controlling program by which the progress in parts processing can be instantly recognized. In accordance with the method and program of the present invention, a control computer records the starts times and the end times of pre-processing, main-processing, and post-processing, in a performance time memory unit in a parts processing operation. Based on a performance report as to each storage box, the control computer also records the completion time and the produced quantity for each storage box through the reading of the bar code on the packaging card attached to each storage box. The control computer further records a defect occurrence time when a defect occurrence report is made, in a defect occurrence information memory unit, as well as the contents of the defect.