Abstract: Disclosed an image forming apparatus including: a first input section to receive a setting instruction of an output cycle of sample output; a second input section to receive an instruction of immediate output of the sample output; an image forming section; an ejection section; a control section to count a number of the recording media, the control section judging timing of executing the sample output, based on a counted value of the number of recording media and an set output cycle, the control section ejecting sample output matter according to a judgment result, the control section simultaneously initializing the counted value, the control section allowing the image forming section to form an image and eject the sample output matter when the immediate output of the sample output is instructed with the second input section, the control section simultaneously initializing the counted value.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: an image forming mechanism configured to form an image on a sheet of a transfer material; a post-processor configured to perform post-processing on a plurality of sheets of transfer materials, respectively, there being on at least one of which a respective image has been formed by the image forming mechanism; a transporter to transport the sheets through the post-processor along one or more transport paths; and a controller operable to do the following including, determine a first stopping condition of whether the number of sheets exceeds a reference number, and detect a second stopping condition of whether a cumulative thickness of the sheets loaded in the post-processor exceeds a reference thickness, and stop further image formation by the image forming mechanism when at least one of the first and second stopping conditions is satisfied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a plurality of developing devices, contactable to the image bearing member, for developing a latent image on the image bearing member with toner; a rotatable member for rotatably supporting the plurality of developing devices; a detecting device for detecting a position of the image bearing member, wherein on the basis of an output of the detecting device, the rotatable member is rotated; and a control device for changeably controlling a period from timing of detection by the detecting device to timing of contact of one of the plurality of developing device, rotated by the rotatable member, to the image bearing member.

Abstract: In order to print a required number of copies, MFP having an assigned email address includes an email reception portion to receive an email, a number of copies determination portion to determine, based on destination information of the received email, the number of copies of data included in the email to print, and an image formation control portion to print the data included in the email by the determined number of copies.

Abstract: A technique for reducing downtime that accompanies the execution independently of adjustment processing for maintaining image quality and the execution of finishing processing relating to a printing medium. In order to apply the finishing processing to the printing medium in a finishing processing unit, an image forming apparatus to which this technique is applied sets a time between sheets that extends from end of image formation regarding a first sheet of the printing medium to start of image formation regarding a second sheet of the printing medium transported following the first sheet of the printing medium in the image forming unit, and executes adjustment processing, which is for maintaining image quality in the image forming unit, within the set time between sheets.

Abstract: In case of printing of a monochrome image is performed and the number of counts of a K-counter reaches a predetermined number, a K developing device forcibly consumes a toner when a printing ratio is lower than a predetermined value, and does not forcibly consume the toner when the printing ratio is equal to or higher than the predetermined value. When the number of counts of the K counter reaches the predetermined number, necessary amounts of toners are supplied to developing devices for all colors for Y, M, C, and K according to detection results of auto toner sensors.

Abstract: When image forming is performed by a photosensitive drum according to operating conditions corresponding to an image forming mode selected out of a predetermined plurality of candidates, an actual cumulative number of printed sheets Pi is corrected and recorded based on the image forming mode (monochrome mode or color mode; low-temperature and low humidity ambience mode or other ambience mode) selected at the time of each image forming (S7) and an adjustment volume (ko×Pia) of a charging applied voltage Ey is calculated and the charging applied voltage Ey is set based on a corrected cumulative number of printed sheets Pia (S5). As a result, the charging applied voltage Ey to a charging unit is changed according to a cumulative number of printed sheets and at the same time, a pace of change thereof is adjusted based on the image forming mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner-image forming unit, a photosensor, an information obtaining unit, and a toner-amount calculating unit. The toner-image forming unit forms a toner image on the image carrier with toner. The photosensor detects a toner area where the toner is sticking to the image carrier. The information obtaining unit obtains particle-size-change information about how particle size distribution of the toner changes over time. The toner-amount calculating unit calculates a toner amount of the toner image based on the toner area and the particle-size-change information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for printing an image on a continuous print medium includes an image processing unit for converting print data received to image data printable; a developer image forming unit for forming a developer image using specific developer according to the image data; a transfer unit for transporting the continuous print medium and transferring the developer image to the continuous print medium; and a control unit for instructing timings of the developer image forming unit to form the developer image and the transfer unit to transport the continuous print medium when the control unit receives a conversion process completion notice from the image processing unit. Further, it is arranged so that an initialization operation of the developer image forming unit is performed before the developer image forming unit forms the developer image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a maintenance method thereof are provided to enable rotation and replacement of a peeling claw at a suitable timing before the peeling claw is deformed or damaged. Several peeling members are disposed in a width direction of a drum-shaped photoreceptor. Each peeling member is disposed with a peeling claw and a collision sensor detecting that the peeling claw collides with a sheet. A collision history value of each peeling claw is stored and managed based on a collision detection signal from the collision sensor; if the peeling claw reaching a preset rotation request value exists in the read collision history values of the peeling claws, a rotation request of the relevant peeling claw is reported; the collision history value of the rotated peeling claw is rewritten; and if the peeling claw reaching the rotation request value does not exist, a print process is performed.

Abstract: In a color laser printer, the printing density of images to be formed is corrected based on a correction values stored in a control memory, For each printing operation the printer determines whether the correction values stored in the control memory matches a value stored in a backup memory. If the correction values in the control memory does not match the correction values in the backup memory, the value of a number of printed pages A serving as the printing performance is incremented by one. If the number of printed pages A is greater than a reference performance number of sheets B pre-stored in memory, then the correction values in the control memory is copied to the backup memory, and the printing operation is executed. If a “Restore correction data” command is inputted, the contents of the backup memory are copied to the control memory.

Abstract: A sheet is placed on a sheet feed unit. A main-scanning sensor detects first detection information for identifying a sheet size in a main-scanning direction and a sub-scanning sensor detects second detection information for identifying a sheet size in a sub-scanning direction. A sheet sensor detects presence of the sheet on the sheet feed unit. It is monitored whether the sheet sensor has detected a sheet and a timer starts counting a first elapsed time from a time point at which the sheet sensor detects a sheet. A size identifying unit identifies, when the first elapsed time exceeds a first predetermined set time, a sheet size based on the first and the second detection information.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus including: a heating rotary member, which heats an image on a recording material in a nip portion; an air blowing unit, which blows air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the heating rotary member; and a shutter, which opens and closes the air blowing port, wherein a cooling operation can be performed continuously with the shutter opened after image heating processing is completed, whereby a downtime required for making the temperature distribution over the entire heating area uniform after the continuous sheet supply of small-size recording materials is reduced remarkably.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a case, a printing medium feeding unit disposed in the case to feed printing media, an image forming unit disposed in the case to form images on a printing medium fed from the printing medium feeding unit using developer and to include at least one portion being stained when the images are formed, and a control portion to control the image forming unit to form the images in a plurality of print modes. The control portion sends a cleaning command to clean the at least one stained portion when the amount of the developer used by the image forming unit reaches a reference amount of the developer or when the number of the printing media supplied by the printing medium feeding unit reaches a reference value of the number of the printing media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a carriage including image forming units, the carriage driven reciprocally in a main scanning direction; a conveyance unit to convey a sheet of recording media to a position where the image forming units perform image formation; a first detector provided to the carriage, the first detector including a light emitting part and a light receiving part to periodically detect a surface of the sheet; a calculation unit to calculate a relative amount of movement between the sheet and the image forming units by comparing patterns periodically detected by the first detector; and a control unit to control a timing to perform image formation by the image forming units and an amount of conveyance of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit based on a result calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image according to the present invention includes a coverage rate finder, a developing unit, and a control unit. The coverage rate finder finds the coverage rate of the image. The developing unit holds developer in it and includes a stirring means for stirring the held developer at a stirring speed. The developing unit supplies the stirred developer to a surface of an image carrier. When the apparatus forms the image consecutively on sheets of paper, the control unit changes the stirring speed in proportion to the coverage rate. When the apparatus forms an image with a higher coverage rate consecutively on sheets of paper, the control unit makes the stirring speed higher.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof to improve quality of an image in consideration of a change in posture of a print media. The image forming apparatus can include a transferred unit on which a visible image is formed, a transferring unit to form a transfer region through which the visible image is transferred onto a print medium, along with the transferred unit, a bias supplying unit to supply bias to the transferring unit so that a transfer electric field is produced in the transfer region, and a controller to control the bias supplying unit to supply different first to third biases to the transferring unit while at least first to third regions of the print medium pass through the transfer region, respectively.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of image data acquisition units for respectively acquiring one or more page(s) of image data; a color or monochrome determining unit for determining whether each of the acquired pages is in color or in monochrome; an image forming unit for performing image formation of each page switchably using a monochrome-only image forming function for a monochrome page or a color and monochrome image forming function for a color page and a monochrome page; an image data switching unit for sequentially selecting and arranging the acquired pages of image data one by one so that the image formation of each page is performed in the order of selection; a function selecting unit for selecting either one of the monochrome-only and color and monochrome image forming functions for each of the arranged pages on the basis of the determination result made by the color or monochrome determining unit; and a control unit for controlling the image forming unit so that image formation of

Abstract: A sheet temperature sensor which detects temperature of a recording medium that is fed is provided downstream in a sheet feeding direction from a fixing device. A controller counts the number of sheets on which an image is continuously formed, and controls the number of sheets discharged by the fixing device per unit time in accordance with the counted number of sheets and the temperature detected by the sheet temperature sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured such that a developer image is transferred by a transfer section from an image bearing body onto a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes a memory, an apparatus usage information obtaining section, and a transfer voltage correcting section. The memory stores correction values for a transfer voltage, the correction values corresponding to changes in an operation status of the image forming apparatus. The apparatus usage information obtaining section obtains information on the operation status. The transfer voltage correcting section corrects the transfer voltage based on the correction values and the information on the operation status.

Abstract: A detecting unit detects a usage state of a charge storage unit for each predetermined time period. A setting unit determines whether the usage state of the charge storage unit satisfies a predetermined condition for each time period, and when it is determined that the usage state satisfies the predetermined condition, sets a corresponding time period as a charge-use permitted time. A control unit determines whether a current time falls in the charge-use permitted time, and when it is determined that the current time falls in the charge-use permitted time, allows a discharging unit to discharge the charge storage unit.

Abstract: A first calculating unit calculates an allocation time required for forming a patch pattern. A second calculating unit calculates a maximum patch-pattern length of the patch pattern that can be formed within the allocation time based on the number of patch patterns that can be formed within the allocation time. A setting unit calculates a difference between an environmental temperature around the image forming apparatus and an environmental temperature at which the image forming condition stored in the storing unit is set, and newly sets an image forming condition for the patch patterns based on a result of comparing the difference with a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control mechanism capable of selecting a plurality of print modes and a fixing device fixing an image developed based on one of the print modes selected by the control mechanism. The control mechanism selects any one of the print modes based on a successive print sheet number determined by print information received from a host device and a power consumption amount of each of the print modes calculated from fixing temperature of the fixing device prior to starting print operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is free from occurrence of image noise due to the bleed phenomenon even without providing any contact-and-separation mechanism for the transfer member includes a control device which counts stop time elapsing from a stop to a restart of the image carrier, calculates an avoidance sheet count corresponding to the stop time at a restart of the image carrier, and makes a toner image carried on only part of the image carrier that has been out of the nip against the transfer member during the stop of the image carrier until the avoidance sheet count is reached after the restart of the image carrier.

Abstract: In an MFP, when a count of printed sheets of paper exceeds a predetermined count, a controller reads, from internal counters, a frequency of a stabilization process executed in return, a frequency of a stabilization process executed automatically in printing, a frequency of a stabilization process executed manually based on a user's instruction, and a frequency of return, respectively. When the frequency of the stabilization process executed automatically is small while the frequency of the stabilization process executed manually is large, the controller raises a frequency level of execution of the stabilization process. When the frequency of the stabilization process executed manually is small, the controller lowers the frequency level of execution of the stabilization process.

Abstract: To provide an image forming device that is capable of preventing deterioration of the image quality through preventing deterioration of the toner even if frequency of making a copy is low. The image forming device includes: a developing part having a developing roller for achieving development by electrostatically attaching a toner onto an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor; a transferring part for transferring a developed toner image to a paper; and a cleaner part for removing and collecting the toner remained on the photoreceptor after transferring, wherein the developing roller is rotary-driven at a lower speed than a speed of development under a standby state. The image forming device includes a standby-state refresh control part for forcibly consuming an amount of the toner that is calculated based on accumulated time of the low-speed rotary drive.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which predicts VL fluctuations of a photosensitive drum in consideration of a double-sided print mode, and performs an image formation control based on the prediction, and thus always obtains a stable density image. The image forming apparatus performs an appropriate image formation control by controlling an image forming condition based on a photosensitive member rotation time, a photosensitive member stop time, a temperature of an atmospheric environment, an absolute humidity of the atmospheric environment, and whether an image formation that precedes a subsequent image formation is performed in single-sided printing or double-sided printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a developing unit for attaching developer to a static latent image formed through charging and exposing to form a developer image; an image supporting member for supporting the developer image formed with the developing unit; a removing member disposed to abut against the image supporting member for removing developer; a drive unit for driving the image supporting member; a drive control unit for controlling the drive unit; and a fixing unit for fixing the developer image to a medium. It is configured such that the drive control unit controls the drive unit to temporarily stop before developer is discharged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; toner image forming means for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; a detecting member for directing light to an object and for detecting the light reflected by the object; a controller for controlling a toner image forming condition of the toner image forming means in accordance with an output of the detecting member with respect to the toner image formed on the image bearing member and an output of the detecting member with respect to the image bearing member; a cleaning member, in contact to the image bearing member, for cleaning the image bearing member; an executing portion for executing, when the output with respect to the image bearing member reaches a reference level, an operation in a cleaning mode in which the cleaning member cleans the image bearing member; and a change portion for changing the reference level in accordance with a use amount of the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image by forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrying body, developing the electrostatic latent image by sticking a developer on the image carrying body, and transferring the developer to a recording subject medium; a suspension time calculating unit that calculates a suspension time for which image formation by the image forming unit is suspended; and a correction amount calculating unit that calculates a correction amount for an image formation condition of the image forming unit based on the suspension time calculated by the suspension time calculating unit.

Abstract: A fuser unit including: a set of a heat roller and a pressure roller for sandwiching and conveying a printing sheet while heating the printing sheet by the heat roller; a peripheral surface contact member which is in contact with the peripheral surface of the heat roller; an external heater for heating the peripheral surface contact member by applying electric energy; a contact member temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the peripheral surface contact member; and a temperature controller for controlling an upper limit temperature of the peripheral surface contact member in accordance with the number of printing sheets conveyed per unit time.

Abstract: A delaying section for obtaining from an image processing section a printing rate of image data used for forming a toner image, and delaying in accordance with the obtained printing rate a start timing of a toner image forming by the toner image forming section. The delaying section does not delay the start timing of the present toner image forming by the toner image forming section in the case where the when a printing rate of image data for the preceding toner image forming and a printing rate of image data for the present toner image forming are the same. In the case where the printing rates are different from each other, the delaying section delays the start timing for the present toner image a predetermined delaying time, the predetermined delaying time being predetermined in accordance with a printing rate of image data determined for the present toner image forming.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container that holds a two-component developer, a toner concentration detector that detects toner concentration in the developer, a toner supplying unit configured to supply new toner to a developing unit, a toner supply controlling unit that compares an output of the toner concentration detector and a toner concentration reference value Vtref to control the toner supplying unit. The image forming apparatus detects an output of the toner concentration sensor with respect to a plurality of linear velocities, and calculates linear velocity shift amounts ?Vt1=(Vt1?Vt0) and ?Vt2=(Vt2?Vt0) to be reflected in a toner supply control parameter.

Abstract: A patch-pattern forming unit causes an image forming unit to form a patch pattern including a plurality of patches on a conveying member. A detecting unit detects the patch pattern formed on the conveying member. An adjusting unit adjusts an image forming condition of the image forming unit based on a result of detection by the detecting unit. The patch pattern has a length substantially equal to a distance between a patch-pattern start position, which is located at a space corresponding to at least a predetermined margin of a recording medium from a position of the image, and a position of the detecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided with a photoreceptor, a belt, a back member, a front member, and a voltage change device. The belt faces the photoreceptor. The back member is disposed on a back side of the belt. The front member is disposed on a front side of the belt. The front member is disposed adjacent to the belt and faces the back member. The voltage change device is configured to change voltage between the back member and the front member within a range excluding zero. Based on detected conditions such as the number of sheets printed, the replacement of a developer cartridge, or the current between the back member and the front member, the voltage change device change the voltage between the back member and the front member to enhance the ability to clean the belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a heat member; a press member; a plurality of heat source members; temperature detectors; temperature control units that control outputs from the respective heat source members so that detected temperatures that the respective temperature detectors detect become preset controlled temperature; a processing target determining unit that determines whether at least one sheet to be subjected to the fixation includes a medium size sheet; and a controlled temperature determining unit that sets the controlled temperature of the heat source member corresponding to the temperature detection target area where the sheet does not pass to a temperature higher than the controlled temperature of the heat source member corresponding to the temperature detection target area where the sheet passes if it is determined that the medium size sheet is included.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. When a user inputs a print request, life count values stored in a life management section are read out. A table of correlation between the life count values and a rotating speed of a driving roller is looked up, a rotating speed of the driving roller corresponding to the life count values read out is determined at which the driving roller is set to rotate. With the driving roller rotating at the set rotating speed, a printing process is performed so that a transfer belt turns at a constant running speed. Following the printing process, the life count values are updated based on the latest total number of printed copies and the latest revolving speed of the transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms multicolor toner images superposed on a transfer belt. A sensor is disposed in an image formation region and detects a pattern on the transfer belt. A controller determines, when image data is received, whether or not a region of a toner image based on the image data will be superposed on a region of the pattern. The controller controls the image forming unit to form the toner image based on the image data and the pattern simultaneously on the transfer belt when the controller determines that the region of the toner image based on the image data will not be superposed on the region of the pattern.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of development units each using a developer including a toner and a carrier, a density detection unit configured to perform a density detection operation for detecting a density of a detection toner image formed by each of the plurality of development units, and a replenishment unit configured to perform a toner replenishment operation based on a result of the detection by the density detection unit. In the image forming apparatus, at least two of the plurality of development units use respective toners having different color depths in the same hue, and a frequency of the density detection operation using the development unit using a lighter color toner is higher than a frequency of the density detection operation using the development unit using a darker color toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt which is wound around a plural rollers and conveys a recording medium in a conveying direction; a plurality of image forming units which sequentially form images on the recording medium conveyed by the endless belt in an overlap manner; a fixing unit which is provided at a downstream of the endless belt in the conveying direction; a first detection unit which detects a temperature of a roller closest to the fixing unit; a second detection unit which detects a temperature of the endless belt; an error calculation unit which calculates an error of a conveying speed of the recording medium based on a difference between the detected temperatures, and a number of a recording medium, on which images are next to be formed; and a compensation unit which compensates the error calculated by the error calculation unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed in which a guide member configured to guide a sheet to a nip section between a heating roller and a pressing roller is disposed close to the upstream side of the rollers and on the pressing roller side. A downstream end of the guide member is disposed on the heating roller side with respect to the nip surface between the rollers so that a header of the sheet to be printed is in contact with the heating roller first, and a downstream end of the fixing device introduction guide member is concavely curved.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus including: a heating rotary member, which heats an image on a recording material in a nip portion; an air blowing unit, which blows air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the heating rotary member; and a shutter, which opens and closes the air blowing port, wherein a cooling operation can be performed continuously with the shutter opened after image heating processing is completed, whereby a downtime required for making the temperature distribution over the entire heating area uniform after the continuous sheet supply of small-size recording materials is reduced remarkably.

Abstract: To prevent image defects such as fog and irregularities caused by the accumulation of the oppositely charged toner by flying the toner toward a photoreceptor to compulsorily consume the toner even though the toner is oppositely charged toner having a small charged amount. A potential difference between the photoreceptor and the development roller is set at a value at which the normally charged toner on the development roller can be flown toward the photoreceptor in the development phase at the time of compulsorily consuming the toner, and this potential difference is set at a value at which the flown normally charged toner can be returned to the development roller in the recovery phase.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of appropriately cleaning an image carrier is provided. An image forming apparatus 1 including toner cartridges 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, a developing section which forms toner images, an image carrier 4 which carries the toner images formed by the developing section, a transfer member 5 which transfers toner images from the image carrier 4 to a recording sheet S, and a cleaner 14 which is operable for press and release operation to/from the image carrier 4 and which is pressed to the image carrier 4 to scrape off the toner remaining on the image carrier 4 is provided with a control means 23 which decreases the number of press and release operations of the cleaner 14 when the cumulated value of the number of images formed since the first use of the brand-new toner cartridges 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K is large.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a first sheet stack portion, a sheet output section, and a post processing unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The first sheet stack portion is provided at an upper face of the image forming unit. The sheet output section outputs the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit from one side of the image forming apparatus to the first sheet stack portion. The post processing unit is provided adjacent to a lateral side of the image forming unit at an upstream side of the sheet output section to execute post processing on the sheet. A sheet subjected to post-processing by the post-processing unit is output to the first sheet stack portion from the same direction as a sheet not subjected to post-processing by the post-processing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for discharging a sheet from a discharge port to a sheet tray, includes a main unit provided with a discharge port and movably provided with a sheet tray to hold the sheet discharged from the discharge port, a drive unit to start movement of the sheet tray toward a position of the discharge port on the basis of an instruction of image forming start, and an image forming unit to compare sheet tray movement time which is time required for the sheet tray to reach the discharge port by the drive unit with image formation processing time which is time of an image forming process performed before discharging the sheet from the discharge port and when the sheet tray movement time does not exceed the image formation processing time, to start the image forming process.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer tank, a developing roller, a supply roller, a stirring member, and a doctor blade. The developing device is provided with: a cleaning member detachably provided on a contact portion of the doctor blade with the developing roller, which slides to rub a surface of the doctor blade upon contacting; a supporting section for supporting the cleaning member so as to be capable of being attached to and detached from the contact portion of the doctor blade with the developing roller; and a driving mechanism for moving the cleaning member so as to be attached to and detached from the contact portion of the doctor blade with the developing roller.

Abstract: There are provided a control unit which controls image quality maintenance, a detection unit which detects a print command of image data, a calculation unit which calculates a print ratio of the image data when the print command for printing at least a predetermined number of sheets is detected, and a toner specific concentration control unit which sets toner specific concentration for each print of the plural sheets on the basis of the print ratio calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units each having an image supporting member, a developer supporting member, and a cleaning member for cleaning developer on the image supporting member. The image forming apparatus further includes a transfer device for transferring a developer image to a medium; a fixing device for fixing the developer image to the medium; a first detection unit for detecting a first physical value of an external environment of the image forming apparatus; a second detection unit for detecting a second physical value of an internal environment of the image forming apparatus; and a control unit for determining whether at least one of the image forming units performs a developer discard mode in which developer is discarded according to the first physical value, the second physical value, and a distance between the one of the image forming units and the fixing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a counting unit that, when a driving unit for rotating an image carrier is operating, adds a predetermined first count value to a total count value in a predetermined timing and that, when the driving unit is being stopped, subtracts a predetermined second count value from the total count value in every predetermined timing; and a suspending unit that suspends printing when the total count value becomes equal to or larger than a preset suspend value.