JP2008048184A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can perform flexible color printing by selection of a user even when a draft limiting a number of colors is printed, or when color material constituting colors for image forming is insufficient. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus forms a color image using color materials of multiple colors, and is the image forming apparatus which is provided with a setting means which can select a using method of the color materials; a presenting means which presents colors reproducible by the using method selected by the setting means as a usable color; an object color extraction means which extracts a color of an execution object for color assignment out of colors used in the image data; and an assignment means which creates new image data to which a usable color is assigned for an object color extracted by the object color extraction means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms a color image by, for example, electrophotography.

  In recent years, electrophotographic color image forming apparatuses that print text using colors other than black have rapidly become widespread. This color image forming apparatus has four color toner units of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (B) to achieve color printing.

  However, some image data does not need to use all the CMYK toner units of the color image forming apparatus, such as one that uses only one black color and one that uses a color other than black. Even when printing a document with a limited number of colors as described above, printing is usually performed in full color. There is also known an image forming apparatus having a mode for selecting only the color of toner to be used or two colors to form an image.

  Further, in the color image forming apparatus having the above configuration, a toner remaining amount detecting means is provided in the toner unit to detect the remaining amount of toner, and when the toner runs out (decreases below a certain level), it is provided in the image forming apparatus main body. Further, it is configured to instruct the absence of toner by means of the absence of toner display means and replenish the toner. Alternatively, some are printed in a state where unusable color components are subtracted.

Further, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing apparatus that performs printing in a saving mode in which the recording agent is saved more than usual when it is determined that the remaining amount of the recording agent is less than a predetermined value.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-282350

  However, according to the above-described prior art, since full-color printing is performed even when a document with a limited number of colors is printed, a lot of unnecessary costs and time are wasted, which is inefficient. There was a problem.

  In addition, in an image forming apparatus having a mode for selecting only the color of toner to be used or two colors to form an image, the user cannot make detailed settings for the output. The output result desired by the user was not always obtained.

  Further, in the above-described prior art, when printing image data using toner that has run out, the user must replenish the toner, and printing is always interrupted at the time of replenishment. When printing is performed with the unusable color components subtracted, there is a problem in that wasteful printing with an unsatisfactory finished state is performed.

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the remaining amount of the recording agent such as toner or ink is reduced in the saving mode, the printed image may be thinned, and wasteful printing with an unsatisfactory finished state may be performed. There is a problem that will be done.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and even when a document with a limited number of colors is printed or a color material constituting a color for forming an image is insufficient, An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of flexible color printing according to a user's selection.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configurations.
1.
An image forming apparatus for forming a color image using a plurality of color materials,
Setting means capable of selecting a method of using the coloring material;
Presenting means for presenting colors that can be reproduced by the method of use selected by the setting means as usable colors;
A target color extracting means for extracting a color to be subjected to color allocation among colors used in image data;
Assigning means for creating new image data in which usable colors are assigned to the target color extracted by the target color extracting means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:
2.
The setting means can select the color of the color material to be used,
2. The image forming apparatus according to 1 above, wherein the target color extracting unit can extract all colors used in the image data as targets.
3.
The setting means can select the color of the color material to be used,
2. The image formation according to 1, wherein the target color extraction unit is capable of extracting a color composed only of unselected color materials from among colors used in the image data. apparatus.
4).
The setting means can select the color of the color material to be used,
2. The image formation according to 1, wherein the target color extraction unit can extract a color including a color component of a color material that is not selected from among colors used in the image data. apparatus.
5.
The setting means can limit the amount of color material to be used,
2. The image forming apparatus according to 1 above, wherein the target color extracting unit can extract all colors used in the image data as targets.
6).
The setting means can limit the amount of color material to be used,
2. The image according to 1, wherein the target color extracting unit is capable of extracting a color that cannot be reproduced with a limited amount of color material from among colors used in the image data. Forming equipment.
7).
The setting means can limit the amount of color material to be used,
2. The object color extraction unit according to item 1, wherein the target color extraction unit can extract a color including a color component of a color material whose use amount is limited among colors used in image data. Image forming apparatus.
8).
A remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the color material,
A remaining amount determining means for determining whether or not the remaining amount of the color material detected by the remaining amount detecting means is equal to or less than a reference amount;
When there is a color material whose remaining amount is determined to be equal to or less than a reference amount by the remaining amount determining unit,
8. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 7, wherein the setting unit includes a control unit that disables selection of a usage method of the color material equal to or less than a reference amount.
9.
Usage information storage means for storing usage amount information relating to the usage amount of the color material; and charging calculation means for calculating a charge for image formation based on the usage amount stored in the usage information storage means. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 8, further comprising:

  According to the present invention, it is used when printing a document with a limited number of colors, printing image data using a color material less than the reference remaining amount, or when reducing the amount of color material used. The user can select the color material usage conditions, and the user can change the settings related to the color assignment so that the color material is used effectively under the set conditions. In this way, an output result desirable for the user can be obtained.

  Further, according to the present invention, when printing image data that uses a color material that is less than or equal to the reference remaining amount, the color material other than the color material is selectively used by the setting unit that can select the color material use method. As a result, it is possible to form an image without interrupting the image forming process.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is applicable to both an image forming apparatus such as a printer that does not include an image reading unit such as a scanner, and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine that includes an image reading unit such as a scanner. It is possible.

In this embodiment, an electrophotographic copying machine will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus.
(Mechanical configuration of image forming apparatus)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) 20, a scanner unit 30, a printer unit 40, and an operation display unit 50. The automatic document feeder 20 has a function of feeding documents stacked on the document placement tray one by one to the reading portion of the scanner unit 30. The double-sided document has a function of reversing the front and back and sending it to the scanner unit 30 again after one-sided reading.

  The scanner unit 30 receives reflected light from a document sent by the automatic document feeder 20 and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the light intensity, and the reflected light from the document to the line sensor 36. A condensing lens for condensing light and various mirrors for forming an optical path for guiding reflected light from the mirror of the exposure scanning unit to the line sensor 36 are provided. The line sensor 36 has a function of scanning the document in the main scanning direction, and is constituted by a number of CCD elements, for example.

  The printer unit 40 has a function of forming a color image corresponding to the color image data on a recording sheet by an electrophotographic process. In this example, four color image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals, and these image forming units 1Y, 1M, and 1C are arranged in parallel. A toner image of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is formed by 1K. The yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images formed by the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt, and then transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt. After the transferred toner image is transferred to a recording sheet, a color image is formed by performing a fixing process. Each image forming unit includes a laser unit 42 that outputs laser light that is turned ON / OFF according to image data, a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a charging device disposed around the photoconductor, and development. The apparatus includes a remaining amount detection unit 2 that detects the remaining amount of toner in the developing device, a transfer device, a separation device, a cleaning device, and a paper feeding device that stores recording paper K.

  Here, the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners correspond to the color materials of a plurality of colors in the present embodiment.

  The operation display unit 50 has a function of accepting various operations from the user and a function of displaying various information for the user.

  FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. The automatic document feeder (ADF) 20 includes an ADF control unit 28 that controls a drive unit (not shown).

  The printer unit 40 includes a laser unit (LD) 42 and a printer control unit 41. The printer control unit 41 performs ON / OFF control of the laser diode of the laser unit 42 and rotation control of the polygon mirror. The printer control unit 41 has a function of performing overall control of operations of voltage application to the charging device, transfer device, and separation device, rotation of the photosensitive member, developing device, cleaning device, fixing device, paper feeding device, and the like.

  The ADF control unit 28, the scanner control unit 39, the operation control unit 53, and the printer control unit 41 are composed of circuits each including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and execute various controls according to programs stored in the ROM. It is supposed to be.

  The overall control unit 100 has a function of performing overall control of the operation of the image forming apparatus 10. The overall control unit 100 includes a read processing unit 101, a DRAM control IC 102, a compression / decompression IC 103, an image memory 104, a write processing unit 105, an image control CPU 110, a program memory 106, a system memory 107, and a nonvolatile memory. The memory 108 and the I / O port 109 are provided.

  The reading processing unit 101 generates digital image data after performing various processing such as analog processing, A / D conversion processing, and shading processing on the analog image signal input from the scanner unit 30. The generated image data is output to the compression / decompression IC 103.

  The compression / decompression IC 103 performs compression processing on the input digital image data and outputs it to the DRAM control IC 102.

  The DRAM control IC 102 controls the compression process of the digital image data by the compression / decompression IC 103 and the decompression process of the compressed image data by the compression / decompression IC 103 in accordance with an instruction from the image control CPU 110, and inputs the image data into the image memory 104. Perform output control.

  For example, when an instruction to save an analog image signal read by the scanner unit 30 is given, the compression / decompression IC 103 executes compression processing of the digital image data input from the reading processing unit 101, and the compressed image data is stored in the image memory. The data is stored in the compression memory 104a 104. When the print output of the compressed image data stored in the compression memory 104a is instructed, the compressed image data is read from the compression memory 104a, decompressed by the compression / decompression IC 103, and stored in the page memory 104b. Further, when an instruction to print out the uncompressed image data stored in the page memory 104 b is given, the uncompressed image data is read from the page memory 104 b and output to the write processing unit 105.

  The image memory 104 includes a compression memory 104a and a page memory 104b configured by DRAM (Dynamic RAM). The compression memory 104a is a memory for storing compressed image data, and the page memory 104b is a memory for temporarily storing uncompressed image data to be printed before printing.

  The compression / decompression IC 103 performs decompression processing on the input compressed image data.

  The write processing unit 105 generates print data for image formation based on the uncompressed image data input from the DRAM control IC 102 and outputs the print data to the printer unit 40.

  The scanner unit 30 includes a line sensor 36 configured by a CCD or the like, a scanner control unit 39, and the like. The scanner control unit 39 executes exposure scanning of the document surface placed on the contact glass, photoelectrically converts the reflected light of the light by the line sensor 36 constituted by a CCD or the like, and reads an image. The read analog image signal is output to the reading processing unit 101.

  The image control CPU 110 is a CPU that controls the entire operation of the image forming apparatus 10, and has a function of managing the flow of image data and a function of managing job reservation registration and execution. The program memory 106 is a memory storing a program executed by the image control CPU 110, and the system memory 107 is a work memory for temporarily storing various data during the execution of the program. The image control CPU 110 controls the entire image forming apparatus 10 while performing serial communication with the printer control unit 41 according to a program stored in the program memory 106 while referring to data on the system memory 107. The printer control unit 41 controls the load in accordance with an instruction from the image control CPU 110, and performs paper feed conveyance and image formation.

  The nonvolatile memory 108 is a memory that stores user data and system data that should be stored even after the power is turned off. The non-volatile memory 108 stores the reference remaining amount of toner provided in the toner developing device for each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which is used when the remaining amount determination unit 113 described later is used.

  The I / O port 109 is connected to various sensors such as the remaining amount detecting means 2 for detecting the remaining amount of toner in each color developing device, LED elements, and the like. The remaining amount detection unit 2 transmits the remaining amount of toner in each color developing device to the image control CPU 110.

  The image control CPU 110 can use the target color extracted by the target color extracting unit 111 and the target color extracting unit for extracting a color to be subjected to color allocation among the colors used in the image data. Functions as an assigning unit 112 that creates new image data to which colors are assigned, and a remaining amount determining unit 113 that determines whether or not the remaining amount of each color toner detected by the remaining amount detecting unit 2 is equal to or less than a reference amount. Fulfill.

  The target color extraction unit 111 selects a color corresponding to an extraction range of a color that needs to be changed, set by the user, from among colors included in the image data read by the scanner unit 30. To extract as the color to be.

  The remaining amount determining unit 113 determines whether or not the remaining amount of toner of each color included in each color developing device detected by the remaining amount detecting unit 2 is equal to or less than a preset reference remaining amount. .

  The assigning unit 112 creates new image data in which an available color that can be reproduced by the toner usage method selected by the user is assigned to the target color extracted by the target color extracting unit.

  The operation control unit 53 of the operation display unit 50 functions as a setting unit 114 that can select a toner usage method, and a presentation unit 115 that presents a color that can be reproduced by the usage method selected by the setting unit as an available color. Fulfill.

The operation display unit 50 includes an operation unit including a display unit 51 including a liquid crystal display (LCD) shown in FIG. 1 and other switches including a touch switch and a start key laid on the screen and a numeric keypad. 52 and an operation control unit 53 for controlling these operations. The operation display unit 50 is configured to transmit an operation command or the like by the user to the image control CPU 110. For example, when the user selects a toner usage method, the operation display unit 50 can be reproduced by the selected usage method. When displaying a color as an available color, when a user selects a color range to be subjected to color assignment, when displaying a color used for image data within the selected color range, etc. Used for. The operation display unit 50 displays color samples of colors used in the image data and available colors in various setting screens, for example, when color allocation is set, and the user touches the color sample. Thus, an operation button or the like for enabling selection of the color sample is displayed. The operation keys are configured such that a user can input a print execution command, a scan start command, and the like.
<Operation flow>
The image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above performs setting processing that can select a toner usage method for a document image corresponding to document data read by the scanner unit 30 by executing processing described below. Thus, it is formed by the usage method set by the user. In the following description, it is assumed that the toner usage method change mode for changing the toner usage method is selected using the operation display unit 50.

  7 to 9 are flowcharts for explaining an example of the image forming process of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 7, first, when the start key displayed on the operation display unit 50 is pressed, the scanner unit 30 reads a document, and the obtained image data is stored in the image memory 104. Store (step S1).

  A setting input screen (FIG. 3) is displayed on the operation display unit 50, and the user inputs a toner usage method (step S2).

  As shown on the left side of FIG. 3, a setting screen for toner usage is displayed. In this setting screen, a selection button A1 and a selection button A2 that can select either a mode for selecting a toner to be used or a mode for setting an upper limit of density are created. When one of A1 and A2 is selected by the user, the selected mode is set as a new mode, and this mode is stored in the nonvolatile memory 104.

  It is determined whether or not a button for selecting used toner has been selected (step S3). If it is determined that a button for selecting used toner is selected (YES in step S3), the used toner is selected (S4). ).

  As shown in FIG. 3, a setting screen for selecting the toner to be used is displayed. In this setting screen, toner selection buttons B1, B2, B3, and B4 that can select yellow, magenta, cyan, and black as toners to be used are created. When at least one of B1, B2, B3, and B4 is selected by the user, the selected toner is set as a new used toner and is stored in the nonvolatile memory 104 as a used toner. In this example, yellow, magenta, and black are selected as toners to be used.

  Next, an allocation change color extraction process T is executed.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the assignment change color extraction process T shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 8, when the assignment change color extraction process is executed, a setting input screen (FIG. 3) is displayed on the operation display unit 50, and the user selects an extraction method (step T1).

  As shown on the left side of FIG. 3, a setting screen for extracting colors that need to be changed is displayed. In this setting screen, as a color that needs to be changed (for example, a color that cannot be expressed), a color including only unselected toner (in this example, cyan) and a color including unselected toner (in this example, cyan) are displayed. Extracted color selection buttons C1, C2, and C3 that can select any one of the colors including all the colors are created. When any one of the extraction color selection buttons C1 to C3 is selected by the user, the selected color is set as a new extraction color, and when the next button F1 is selected, this setting is confirmed. This extracted color is stored in the nonvolatile memory 104.

  It is determined whether or not a button for all colors has been selected (step T2). If it is determined that a button for all colors has been selected (YES in step T2), the image control CPU 110 performs the above process. All of the colors used in the image data stored in the image memory 104 are extracted (T3), the extracted colors are set as targets for assignment change (T8), and the process proceeds to step S6 in FIG.

  If it is determined that the buttons for all colors are not selected (NO in step T2), the image control CPU 110 selects the colors used in the image data stored in the image memory 104. Decompose into Y, M, C, and K color components (T4). It is determined whether or not a button for a color including unselected toner has been selected (step T5). If it is determined that a button for a color including unselected toner has been selected (YES in step T5). ) Among the colors used in the image data stored in the image memory 104 by the image control CPU 110, a color including unselected toner is extracted (T6), and the extracted color is a target of assignment change. (T8), the process proceeds to step S6 in FIG.

  If it is determined that the button for the color including unselected toner is not selected (NO in step T5), the image control CPU 110 uses the image data stored in the image memory 104. Among the colors, a color composed only of unselected toner is extracted (T7), and the extracted color is set as an assignment change target (T8), and the process proceeds to step S6 in FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 7, the assignment change screen (FIG. 4) is displayed on the operation display unit 50 (S6).

  As shown in FIG. 4, an assignment setting screen is displayed. In this setting screen, the input image G1 and the print image G2 are displayed, and all the color samples H1 of the color that needs to be changed (the color before change) extracted by the assignment change color extraction process T, and after the assignment Are displayed in a one-to-one correspondence with the color sample H2 of the color (the color after change). On the screen, only the three color samples H1 and H2 are displayed. By the up key I3 and the down key I4, the displayed color sample screen is scrolled up and down, and extracted by the allocation change color extraction process T. All the colors that need to be changed can be displayed. At this time, the assigned color (changed color) H2 is a default color (specified color) stored in advance in the non-volatile memory 108, for example, a color that can be reproduced with the used toner is a color that is not reproduced. A possible color is set to a predetermined color or the like.

  The user operates the up key I3 and the down key I4 to change the assignment for each target color extracted in the assignment change color extraction process T while checking the color sample screen, or the user Is confirmed (S7). That is, if the user determines that there is no problem with the default color assignment, selecting the OK button J1 confirms these settings.

  When the user wants to change the color assignment on the assignment change screen, when the user selects the color change button I1 while selecting the H2 button of the color to be changed, the usable color selection screen (FIG. 5) is operated as described above. It is displayed on the display unit 50.

  On the usable color selection screen, all the colors that can be reproduced using the method of using the toner selected in step S4 are displayed as a color sample K1. When one of the color samples displayed in this way is selected by the user, this color is set as a new assigned color K3. In the lower right of the screen, the current color K2 (color H1 before change) and the new assigned color K3 (color H2 after change) are displayed. When the OK button L1 is selected, these settings are confirmed.

  The image control CPU 110 creates new image data based on the assignment set in step S7 (step S8), and when there is image data of a color that has not been extracted, the image processing CPU 105 combines them. And print processing is executed.

  Referring to FIG. 7 again, if it is determined in step S3 that the button for selecting the toner to be used is not selected (NO in step S3), a mode for defining the upper limit (usage amount) of the toner density of each color is set. (S5).

  As shown on the right side of FIG. 3, a setting screen for the upper limit of density is displayed. On this setting screen, one of the upper limit of density 0% (white background part), 25%, 50%, 100% (solid part) can be selected for each color toner of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The density upper limit selection buttons D1, D2, D3, and D4 are created. When the user selects any one of the density upper limit selection buttons D1 to D4 for each color toner, the selected density upper limit is set as a new density upper limit, and this density upper limit is set as the non-volatile memory. 104. In this example, yellow is set to 0%, magenta is set to 50%, cyan is set to 50%, and black is set to 100%.

  Next, an allocation change color extraction process U is executed.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the assignment change color extraction process U shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 9, when the assignment change color extraction process is executed, a setting input screen (FIG. 3) is displayed on the operation display unit 50, and the user selects an extraction method (step U1).

  As shown on the right side of FIG. 3, a color extraction setting screen that needs to be changed is displayed. In this setting screen, only colors that cannot be reproduced as colors that need to be changed, colors that include color components of color materials whose upper limit of density is limited (in this example, colors that include yellow, magenta, and cyan), all colors Extracted color selection buttons E1, E2, and E3 that can select any one of the colors as the target are created. When any one of the extraction color selection buttons E1 to E3 is selected by the user, the selected color is set as a new extraction color, and when the next button F1 is selected, this setting is confirmed. This extracted color is stored in the nonvolatile memory 104.

  Next, it is determined whether or not a button for all colors has been selected (step U2). If it is determined that a button for all colors has been selected (YES in step U2), image control is performed. All the colors used in the image data are extracted by the CPU 110 (U3), the extracted colors are set as assignment change targets (U8), and the process proceeds to step S6.

  If it is determined that the buttons for all colors are not selected (NO in step U2), the image control CPU 110 changes the colors used in the image data to Y, M, C, and K color components. The density data of each color is acquired (U4). It is determined whether or not a button that targets only non-reproducible colors has been selected (step U5). If it is determined that a button that targets only non-reproducible colors has been selected (YES in step U5), Among the colors used in the image data by the image control CPU 110, a color exceeding the upper limit of the set density is extracted (U6), and the extracted color is set as an assignment change target (U8). Proceed to step S6.

  If it is determined that a button that targets only unreproducible colors has not been selected (NO in step U5), the image control CPU 110 limits the upper limit of the density among the colors used in the image data. The color including the color component of the toner that has been extracted (in this example, the color including yellow, magenta, and cyan) is extracted (U7), and the extracted color is set as an assignment change target, and the extracted color Among the colors including toner color components whose upper limit is not 0% (in this example, including magenta and cyan), the upper limit (in this example) among these colors used in the image data. In this case, since magenta and cyan are the targets, if there is a color with a density exceeding 50%, a color including the extracted toner color component (in this example, magenta so that the maximum density is 50%) , Cyan No color) is corrected, the color after correction is stored in the nonvolatile memory 108 as the default color after allocation change (U9), the process proceeds to step S6.

  Returning to FIG. 7, the assignment change screen (FIG. 4) is displayed on the operation display unit 50 (S6).

  As shown in FIG. 4, an assignment setting screen is displayed. In this setting screen, the input image G1 and the print image G2 are displayed, and all the color samples H1 of the color that needs to be changed (the color before change) extracted by the assignment change color extraction process U, and after the assignment Are displayed in a one-to-one correspondence with the color sample H2 of the color (the color after change). On the screen, only the three color samples H1 and H2 are displayed. By the up key I3 and the down key I4, the displayed color sample screen is scrolled up and down, and extracted by the assignment change color extraction process U. All the colors that need to be changed can be displayed. At this time, the assigned color (changed color) H2 is a default color (specified color) stored in advance in the non-volatile memory 108, for example, a color that can be reproduced with the used toner is a color that is not reproduced. A possible color is set to a predetermined color or the like.

  The user operates the up key I3 and the down key I4 to change the assignment for each target color extracted in the assignment change color extraction process T while checking the color sample screen, or the user Is confirmed (S7). That is, if the user determines that there is no problem with the default color assignment, selecting the OK button J1 confirms these settings.

  When the user wants to change the color assignment on the assignment change screen, when the user selects the color change button I1 while the H2 button of the color to be changed is selected, the available color selection screen (FIG. 6) is operated as described above. It is displayed on the display unit 50.

  On this usable color selection screen, all the colors that can be reproduced using the method of using the toner selected in step S5 are displayed as a color sample K1. When one of the color samples displayed in this way is selected by the user, this color is set as a new assigned color K3. In the lower right of the screen, the current color K2 (color H1 before change) and the new assigned color K3 (color H2 after change) are displayed. When the OK button L1 is selected, these settings are confirmed.

  The image control CPU 110 creates new image data based on the assignment set in step S7 (step S8), and when there is image data of a color that has not been extracted, the image processing CPU 105 combines them. And print processing is executed.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, when a document with a limited number of colors is printed, when image data that uses toner below the reference remaining amount is printed, or when it is desired to reduce the amount of toner used, etc. In this case, the user can select the use condition of the toner, and the user can change the setting related to the color assignment so that the toner is effectively used under the set condition. Among them, an output result desirable for the user can be obtained.

  In the flowchart of the above embodiment, before the user inputs the toner usage method in step S2, the image control CPU 110 detects the amount of toner detected by the remaining amount detecting unit 2 that detects the remaining amount of each color toner. It is determined whether or not the remaining amount is equal to or less than the reference amount. When there is toner determined to be less than the reference amount, the operation display unit 50 is set so that the toner that is equal to or less than the reference amount cannot be selected. Is preferably controlled.

  For example, when yellow toner falls, the image control CPU 110 displays a message “Yellow toner cannot be used because the remaining amount is below the reference amount” on the display unit 53 of the operation display unit, or FIG. The yellow toner should not be selected on the setting screen. In this embodiment, the image control CPU 110 corresponds to a control unit that disables selection of a toner usage method that is equal to or less than a reference amount.

  As a result, when printing image data using toner below the reference remaining amount, an image can be formed by selecting and using a toner other than the toner by a setting means capable of selecting the toner usage method. As a result, a document image can be formed without interrupting the image forming process.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image control CPU 110 stores the remaining amount of toner detected by the remaining amount detection unit 2 that detects the remaining amount of toner of each color in the nonvolatile memory 108 for each color as needed, and stores a predetermined image. It is preferable to calculate the amount of toner used from the difference in the remaining amount of toner before and after the forming process, and to calculate a charge for a predetermined image forming process based on the used amount. In this embodiment, the nonvolatile memory 104 corresponds to usage information storage means, and the image control CPU 110 corresponds to charge calculation means. In such a system in which charging is calculated based on the amount of toner used, the charge can be reduced by the toner usage reduction effect of the present invention.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 10 may be configured by using the image forming apparatus 10 as an image forming apparatus main body and connecting a charging management apparatus including usage information storage means and charging calculating means to the image forming apparatus main body.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a setting input screen displayed on the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the allocation change screen displayed on the operation display part of the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an available color selection screen displayed when an used toner is displayed, which is displayed on the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an available color selection screen displayed when an upper limit of the used toner density is displayed on the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of image forming processing of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an allocation change color extraction process T when a used toner is selected as shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an assignment change color extraction process U at the time of setting an upper limit of used toner density shown in FIG. 7. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 20 Automatic document feeder 28 ADF control part 30 Scanner part 39 Scanner control part 40 Printer part 41 Printer control part 50 Operation display part 51 Display part 52 Operation part 53 Operation control part 110 Image control CPU

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus for forming a color image using a plurality of color materials,
Setting means capable of selecting a method of using the coloring material;
Presenting means for presenting colors that can be reproduced by the method of use selected by the setting means as usable colors;
A target color extracting means for extracting a color to be subjected to color allocation among colors used in image data;
Assigning means for creating new image data in which usable colors are assigned to the target color extracted by the target color extracting means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The setting means can select the color of the color material to be used,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target color extracting unit can extract all colors used in the image data as targets. The setting means can select the color of the color material to be used,
2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the target color extracting unit can extract, as a target, a color composed only of a color material that is not selected among colors used in the image data. Forming equipment. The setting means can select the color of the color material to be used,
2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the target color extracting unit is capable of extracting a color including a color component of a color material that is not selected from among colors used in the image data. Forming equipment. The setting means can limit the amount of color material to be used,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target color extracting unit can extract all colors used in the image data as targets. The setting means can limit the amount of color material to be used,
2. The target color extracting unit can extract a target color that cannot be reproduced with a limited amount of color material used in image data. Image forming apparatus. The setting means can limit the amount of color material to be used,
2. The target color extracting unit can extract a color including a color component of a color material whose use amount is limited from colors used in image data as a target. Image forming apparatus. A remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the color material,
A remaining amount determining means for determining whether or not the remaining amount of the color material detected by the remaining amount detecting means is equal to or less than a reference amount;
When there is a color material whose remaining amount is determined to be equal to or less than a reference amount by the remaining amount determining unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit includes a control unit that disables selection of a usage method of the color material equal to or less than a reference amount. Usage information storage means for storing usage amount information relating to the usage amount of the color material; and charging calculation means for calculating a charge for image formation based on the usage amount stored in the usage information storage means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image forming apparatus.

Images