JP2019010786A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the satisfaction level experienced by a user when using an apparatus by efficiently changing the order of print jobs and reducing the number of print jobs whose execution is delayed. By comparing the amount of recording agent consumed in printing by a running print job with the remaining amount of the recording agent, it is determined whether or not the running print job is stopped in the middle. By comparing the consumption amount of the recording agent consumed in printing by the subsequent printing job with the remaining amount of the recording agent by the first determination unit 102, the subsequent printing job is replaced with the printing job being executed. When executed, the second determination unit 103, which determines whether or not the processing of the print job is completed, and the first determination unit 102 determine that the printing job being executed is stopped in the middle, and the second determination. When it is determined by unit 103 that the processing of the subsequent print job is completed, the control unit 100 is provided to stop the running print job and execute the subsequent print job. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to operation control when a remaining amount of a recording agent such as toner is low.

  In general image forming apparatuses such as printers and multi-function peripherals, when the recording agent runs short, printing stops and printing is not resumed until the recording agent is replenished. The execution of the print job is also delayed and downtime occurs. In the following Patent Document 1, in a color printing apparatus equipped with many types of recording agents, when one type of recording agent is insufficient or remaining when printing, another type of recording agent remains. In this case, it is described that priority is given to a waiting job that can be printed only with the other type of recording agent, thereby preventing a subsequent print job from being delayed. Yes.

JP 2006-263968 A

  By the way, if it is unavoidable that a running print job is stopped due to a shortage of remaining recording material, the user may give up, but the consumption of recording material by subsequent print jobs is small. Nevertheless, it seems that the user will be dissatisfied with the recording agent being insufficient due to the consumption of the recording agent by the stopped print job. The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 describes that the subsequent print job is preferentially executed, but this is because the remaining amount of the recording agent of the type necessary for image formation is insufficient, so that the printing being executed is performed. This is because the job has to be stopped, and the order of execution of the print jobs is not changed until the remaining amount of the recording material becomes insufficient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and improves the satisfaction (user experience) experienced by the user when using the apparatus by efficiently changing the order of the print jobs and reducing the number of print jobs that are delayed. For the purpose.

  An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium using a recording agent according to a print job; a control unit that controls the operation of the image forming unit; A remaining amount detection unit that detects a remaining amount, a consumption amount calculation unit that calculates a consumption amount of a recording agent consumed in printing by each print job for each print job, and an execution calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit Whether the print job being executed is stopped halfway by comparing the consumption of the recording agent consumed in printing by the print job in progress with the remaining amount of the recording agent detected by the remaining amount detection unit A first determination unit that determines whether or not, a consumption amount of the recording agent that is consumed by printing by a subsequent print job that follows the print job that is being executed, and the remaining amount detection unit that is calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit The remaining amount of recording agent detected by A second determination unit that determines whether or not the processing of the print job is completed when the subsequent print job is executed instead of the print job being executed. A print job that is being executed when the first determination unit determines that the print job being executed is stopped halfway, and the second determination unit determines that the processing of the subsequent print job is complete. Is stopped and the subsequent print job is executed.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium using a recording agent according to a print job, a control unit that controls the operation of the image forming unit, A remaining amount detecting unit for detecting the remaining amount of the recording agent, a consumption calculating unit for calculating a consumption amount of the recording agent consumed in printing by each print job for each print job, and the consumption calculating unit. By comparing the calculated consumption amount of the recording agent consumed by the print job being executed with the remaining amount of the recording agent detected by the remaining amount detection unit, the print job being executed is A first determination unit that determines whether or not to stop, and a remaining amount state determination unit that determines whether or not the remaining amount of the recording agent detected by the remaining amount detection unit has become equal to or less than a predetermined amount. And subsequent printing calculated by the consumption calculation unit When the remaining amount of the recording agent is reduced to the predetermined prescribed amount by comparing the consumption of the recording agent consumed by printing with the job with the predetermined prescribed amount. A third determination unit that determines whether or not the processing of the subsequent print job is completed when the subsequent print job is executed instead of the print job. When it is determined that the print job being executed by the first determination unit is stopped halfway, and the remaining amount status determination unit determines that the remaining amount of the recording agent is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, When there is a subsequent print job that is determined to be completed by the third determination unit, the print job being executed is stopped and the subsequent print job is executed.

  According to the present invention, there is a possibility that a print job being executed may stop in the middle due to a shortage of the remaining amount of the recording material, and if it is executed instead of the print job, a subsequent process that can complete the process If there is a print job, the print job being executed is stopped and the subsequent print job is executed. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently change the order of print jobs, reduce the number of print jobs that are delayed, and improve the satisfaction (user experience) experienced by the user when using the apparatus.

1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing operations performed by a control unit in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating a main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing operations performed by a control unit in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of changing the order in which print jobs are executed. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of changing the order in which print jobs are executed.

  1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and includes a control unit 10, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image, and the like. The image forming apparatus includes a forming unit 12, an image memory 32, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 92, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, an operation unit 47, and a toner container 17.

  A case where a document reading operation is performed in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The document reading unit 5 optically reads an image of the document conveyed by the document feeding unit 6 or the document placed on the platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in the image memory 32 or the like.

  A case where an image forming operation is performed in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. Based on the image data generated by the document reading operation, the image data stored in the HDD 92, the image data received from the computer as an external device connected to the network, the image forming unit 12 A toner image is formed on a recording sheet as a recording medium to be fed.

  The HDD 92 is a large-capacity storage device that stores document images read by the document reading unit 5 and various programs. The image memory 32 is an area for storing document image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 and temporarily storing data to be printed by the image forming unit 12.

  The fixing unit 13 fixes the toner image on the recording paper by thermocompression bonding, and the recording paper subjected to the fixing process is discharged to a discharge tray. The paper feed unit 14 includes a paper feed cassette.

  The operation unit 47 receives an instruction such as an image forming operation execution instruction from the operator for various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guidance to the operator. The display unit 473 is a touch panel, and the operator can operate the image forming apparatus 1 by touching buttons and keys displayed on the screen.

  The toner container 17 stores toner as a recording agent used for image formation by the image forming unit 12. Further, the toner container 17 is provided with a toner remaining amount sensor 171 for detecting the remaining amount of toner accommodated therein, and data indicating the remaining amount of toner detected by the remaining toner amount sensor 171 is the control unit. 10 and the control unit 10 performs control based on the signal. Examples of the remaining toner sensor 171 include an optical sensor that detects the remaining amount of toner by irradiating light toward the toner and detecting the amount of reflected light. The toner remaining amount sensor 171 is an example of a remaining amount detecting unit in claims.

  The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a micro processing unit (MPU). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, a consumption calculation unit 101, a first determination unit 102, and a second determination unit 103.

  The control unit 10 functions as the control unit 100, the consumption calculation unit 101, the first determination unit 102, and the second determination unit 103 by the operation of the processor according to the control program stored in the HDD 92. . However, the control unit 100 and the like can be configured by a hardware circuit regardless of the operation of the control unit 10 according to the control program. The same applies to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  The control unit 100 governs overall operation control of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feeding unit 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the image memory 32, the HDD 92, the fixing unit 13, the sheet feeding unit 14, the operation unit 47, and the toner container 17. The drive control is performed.

  The consumption amount calculation unit 101 calculates the consumption amount of the recording agent (toner) consumed for printing by each print job for each print job. Note that the consumption amount calculation unit 101 calculates the consumption amount of the recording agent (toner) consumed in printing for the print job being executed and the subsequent print job following this job. For example, the consumption calculation unit 101 passes image data related to a print job to a hardware circuit that performs rendering processing, generates raster data based on the image data, and from raster data obtained by the rendering processing, The amount of toner consumed in each pixel is counted, and the amount of toner consumed for printing by the print job is obtained by integrating the amount of toner consumed for all pixels.

  The first determination unit 102 uses the consumption amount V1 of toner consumed by printing by the print job being executed calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit 101 and the remaining amount R of toner detected by the remaining toner amount sensor 171. By comparing, it is determined whether the print job being executed is stopped halfway. For example, the first determination unit 102 determines to stop the print job being executed halfway when the toner consumption amount V1 is larger than the remaining amount of toner.

  The second determination unit 103 compares the toner consumption amount V <b> 2 consumed by the subsequent print job calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit 101 and the toner remaining amount R detected by the toner remaining amount sensor 171. Thus, when a subsequent print job is executed instead of the print job being executed, it is determined whether or not the processing of the print job is completed. For example, when the toner consumption amount V2 is equal to or less than the remaining amount R of toner, the second determination unit 103 performs processing of the print job when a subsequent print job is executed instead of the print job being executed. Determined to be complete.

  Next, an example of processing operations performed by the control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In this processing operation, it is determined that the first determination unit 102 stops the print job being executed halfway (that is, the print job being executed may be stopped halfway due to insufficient toner remaining). ), When the control unit 100 detects that a new print job is input (for example, when a new print job is transmitted from a personal computer which is an external device). .

  When the control unit 100 detects that a new print job has been input, the consumption amount calculation unit 101 calculates a consumption amount V2 of toner consumed in printing by the print job (subsequent print job) (S1). ), The control unit 100 compresses the image data relating to the print job, and stores the compressed image data in the HDD 92 (S2).

  Subsequently, the second determination unit 103 acquires data indicating the remaining amount R of toner detected by the toner remaining amount sensor 171 (S3), and the second determination unit 103 is calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit 101. It is determined whether or not the consumption amount V2 is less than or equal to the remaining amount R (S4). For example, when there are a plurality of subsequent print jobs, the consumption amount calculation unit 101 calculates the total of the consumption amounts calculated for each of the plurality of print jobs as the consumption amount V2.

  When the second determination unit 103 determines that the consumption amount V2 calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit 101 is equal to or less than the remaining amount R (YES in S4), the control unit 100 controls the operation of the image forming unit 12. The print job being executed is stopped (S5), and then the subsequent print job is executed (S6). Note that when the consumption amount calculation unit 101 calculates the total of the consumption amounts for the plurality of subsequent print jobs as the consumption amount V2, the control unit 100 executes all of the plurality of subsequent print jobs.

  The control unit 100 determines whether or not the subsequent print job has been executed (S7). If the control unit 100 determines that the subsequent print job has been executed (YES in S7), the control unit 100 has stopped the print job. Is executed (S8), and this processing operation is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the second determination unit 103 determines that the consumption amount V2 calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit 101 is not less than the remaining amount R (NO in S4), the processing operation is terminated as it is.

  According to the first embodiment, a print job that is being executed may stop midway due to a shortage of the remaining amount of toner as a recording agent. If the print job is executed instead of the print job, the process is completed. If there is a subsequent print job that can be executed, the print job being executed is stopped and the subsequent print job is executed. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently change the order of the print jobs, reduce the number of print jobs that are delayed, and improve the satisfaction (user experience) experienced by the user when using the image forming apparatus 1.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment does not include the second determination unit 103 but includes the remaining amount state determination unit 104 and the third determination unit 105. In the description of the second embodiment, the description of the processing is omitted as in the first embodiment.

  The remaining amount determination unit 104 determines whether or not the remaining amount R of toner detected by the remaining toner sensor 171 has become equal to or less than a predetermined amount T1. In other words, the remaining amount status determination unit 104 determines whether or not the toner is low. The specified amount T1 is, for example, an arbitrary value smaller than the remaining amount R of toner at the time when the recording agent consumption amount for the print job being executed by the consumption amount calculation unit 101 is calculated. The unit 104 sets based on the toner remaining amount R detected by the toner remaining amount sensor 171. For example, the remaining amount status determination unit 104 sets 50% of the remaining amount R of toner at the time when the recording agent consumption amount is calculated as the specified amount T1.

  The third determination unit 105 compares the toner consumption amount V2 consumed in printing by the subsequent print job calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit 101 with the specified amount T1, so that the remaining amount R of toner is the specified amount. If the subsequent print job is executed instead of the print job being executed when the time is decreased to T1, it is determined whether or not the processing of the subsequent print job is completed.

  Next, an example of the processing operation performed by the control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In this processing operation, it is determined that the first determination unit 102 stops the print job being executed halfway (that is, the print job being executed may be stopped halfway due to insufficient toner remaining). ) Is a processing operation performed when the remaining amount determination unit 104 determines that the remaining amount R of toner is equal to or less than the specified amount T1.

  The control unit 100 determines whether or not a subsequent print job (that is, image data related to the subsequent print job) is stored in the HDD 92 (that is, whether or not there is a standby print job) (S11). ), When the control unit 100 determines that there is a waiting print job (YES in S11), the consumption calculation unit 101 has the earliest waiting print in the execution order among the waiting print jobs. The image data relating to the job, here, the first waiting print job in the order of input is read from the HDD 92, and the toner consumption amount V3 consumed in printing by the print job is calculated (S12).

  Subsequently, when the third determination unit 105 decreases the remaining amount R of toner detected by the toner remaining amount sensor 171 to the specified amount T1, the consumption amount V3 calculated by the consumption amount calculating unit 101 is the specified amount T1. It is determined whether or not the following is true (S13). When the third determination unit 105 determines that the consumption amount V3 calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit 101 is equal to or less than the specified amount T1 (YES in S13), the control unit 100 controls the operation of the image forming unit 12. Then, the print job being executed is stopped (S14), and then the standby print job is executed (S15).

  On the other hand, when the third determination unit 105 determines that the consumption amount V3 calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit 101 is not equal to or less than the specified amount T1 (NO in S13), the control unit 100 determines that another standby print job is present. It is determined whether or not it exists (S16).

  When the control unit 100 determines that there is another standby print job (YES in S16), the consumption amount calculation unit 101 has the earliest standby in the execution order among the other standby print jobs. The image data relating to the middle print job, here, the first waiting print job in the input order is read out from the HDD 92, and the toner consumption V3 consumed in printing by the print job is calculated (S17). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S13.

  Processing is performed when the control unit 100 determines that there is no waiting print job (NO in S11) or when the control unit 100 determines that there is no other waiting print job (NO in S16). Since there is no print job waiting for completion of this processing, this processing operation is terminated.

  In step S15, after executing the standby print job, the control unit 100 determines whether the execution of the print job is completed (S18), and determines that the execution of the print job is completed (S18). In step S19, the control unit 100 sets the size obtained by subtracting the consumption amount V3 from the specified amount T1 as a new threshold value TA (S19), and determines whether there is another waiting print job. S20).

  When the control unit 100 determines that there is another standby print job (YES in S20), the consumption amount calculation unit 101 has the earliest standby in the execution order among the other standby print jobs. The image data related to the middle print job, here, the first waiting print job in the order of input is read from the HDD 92, and the toner consumption V3 consumed in printing by the print job is calculated (S21). ).

  Subsequently, the third determination unit 105 determines whether or not the consumption amount V3 calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit 101 is equal to or less than the threshold value TA (S22). When the third determination unit 105 determines that the consumption amount V3 calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit 101 is equal to or less than the threshold value TA (YES in S22), the control unit 100 controls the operation of the image forming unit 12. Then, the standby print job is executed (S23).

  On the other hand, when the third determination unit 105 determines that the consumption amount V3 calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit 101 is not equal to or less than the threshold value TA (NO in S22), the process returns to S20.

  After executing the standby print job in S23, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the execution of the print job is completed (S24), and determines that the execution of the print job is completed (S24). The control unit 100 updates the threshold value TA to a value obtained by subtracting the consumption amount V3 from the threshold value TA (S25), and then the process proceeds to S20.

  If the control unit 100 determines in S20 that there is no other standby print job (NO in S20), the print job that has been stopped in S14 is re-executed (S26), and this processing operation is performed. finish.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of changing the execution order for executing a print job. FIG. 5 shows that five print jobs having names “Job A”, “Job B”, “Job C”, “Job D”, and “Job E” are input to the image forming apparatus 1. This indicates that “Job A” input first is being executed and other print jobs are waiting.

  FIG. 5 shows that the toner consumption amount in “Job A” is “more than the remaining amount of toner”, and the toner consumption amounts in “Job B”, “Job C”, and “Job E” are “specified amount T1”. Indicates that the toner consumption amount in “Job D” is “greater than the prescribed amount T1”.

  Since the amount of toner consumed in “Job A” is “larger than the remaining amount of toner”, there is a risk of stopping halfway due to a shortage of remaining toner. For “Job B”, “Job C”, and “Job E”, the processing is completed even if the processing is started when the remaining amount R of toner is reduced to the specified amount T1.

  Therefore, when the processing operation shown in FIG. 4 is executed, the execution order is “job B”, “job C”, “job E”, “job A”, “job D” as shown in FIG. Will be replaced. For “Job C” and after, the amount of toner consumed by “Job B” and the remaining amount of toner are reduced. Therefore, strictly speaking, it is necessary to consider the amount of toner consumed by “Job B”. Therefore, the toner consumption is not taken into consideration.

  According to the second embodiment, the currently executed print job is executed until the toner remaining amount is reduced to some extent, and when the toner remaining amount is reduced to some extent, switching to execution of the waiting print job is performed. It is possible to reduce the number of print jobs that are delayed while executing the print job being executed as long as possible, and to further improve the satisfaction (user experience) experienced by the user when using the image forming apparatus 1. . Furthermore, when there are a plurality of waiting print jobs, each print job can be sequentially processed in an order based on a certain standard.

  By the way, there is a case where the printed matter includes a highly confidential document such as an internal secret, and the print job may include attribute information indicating whether or not the print job is confidential. Therefore, as another embodiment, the control unit 100 has confidentiality among subsequent print jobs (that is, waiting print jobs) based on the attribute information. The execution order may be set higher than those not performed.

  For example, in the above embodiment, in S12, S17, and S21, the consumption amount calculation unit 101 reads out from the HDD 92 the image data related to the waiting print job that has been input earlier among the waiting print jobs. The consumption amount V3 of the toner consumed in printing by the print job is calculated. In another embodiment, the control unit 100 waits for the consumption amount calculation unit 101 to have confidentiality. Image data relating to the print job in the middle is read from the HDD 92 with priority, and the toner consumption V3 consumed in printing by the print job is calculated with priority.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of changing the order in which print jobs are executed. As shown in FIG. 6, since “Job C” has confidentiality, the execution order is “Job C”, “Job B”, “Job E”, “Job A”, “Job D”. Will be replaced.

  In yet another embodiment, the control unit 100 can switch between the normal mode and the eco mode in which the consumption amount of toner as a recording agent is reduced according to a predetermined reduction condition as compared with the normal mode. In this case, when the eco mode is set, the consumption amount calculation unit 101 may calculate the consumption amount of toner consumed in printing by the print job according to the predetermined reduction condition.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. In the above-described embodiment, a multifunction peripheral is used as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. However, this is only an example, and other images such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, and the like are used. A forming apparatus may be used.

  The configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment using FIGS. 1 to 6 are only one embodiment of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to the configuration and processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 12 Image forming part 100 Control part 101 Consumption calculation part 102 1st determination part 103 2nd determination part 104 Remaining condition judgment part 105 3rd determination part 171 Toner remaining amount sensor

Claims (4)

An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium using a recording agent in accordance with a print job;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the image forming unit;
A remaining amount detecting unit for detecting the remaining amount of the recording agent;
For each print job, a consumption amount calculation unit that calculates the consumption amount of the recording agent consumed in printing by each print job;
By comparing the consumption amount of the recording agent consumed by the printing by the print job being executed calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit with the remaining amount of the recording agent detected by the remaining amount detection unit. A first determination unit that determines whether or not the print job is stopped halfway;
The consumption amount of the recording agent consumed by printing by the subsequent print job following the print job being executed, calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit, and the remaining amount of the recording agent detected by the remaining amount detection unit A second determination unit that determines whether or not the processing of the print job is completed when the subsequent print job is executed instead of the print job being executed,
The control unit determines that the print job being executed by the first determination unit is to be stopped halfway, and the second determination unit determines that the processing of the subsequent print job is completed. An image forming apparatus that stops a print job and executes the subsequent print job. An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium using a recording agent in accordance with a print job;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the image forming unit;
A remaining amount detecting unit for detecting the remaining amount of the recording agent;
For each print job, a consumption amount calculation unit that calculates the consumption amount of the recording agent consumed in printing by each print job;
By comparing the consumption amount of the recording agent consumed by the printing by the print job being executed calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit with the remaining amount of the recording agent detected by the remaining amount detection unit. A first determination unit that determines whether or not the print job is stopped halfway;
A remaining amount status determining unit that determines whether or not the remaining amount of the recording agent detected by the remaining amount detecting unit is equal to or less than a predetermined amount;
The remaining amount of the recording agent is determined in advance by comparing the consumption amount of the recording agent consumed in printing by the subsequent print job calculated by the consumption amount calculation unit with the predetermined amount. A third determination unit that determines whether or not the processing of the subsequent print job is completed when the subsequent print job is executed instead of the print job being executed And comprising
The control unit determines that the print job being executed by the first determination unit is stopped halfway, and the remaining amount determination unit determines that the remaining amount of the recording material has become equal to or less than the predetermined amount. When there is a subsequent print job that is determined to be completed by the third determination unit when the determination is made, the image forming apparatus that stops the print job being executed and executes the subsequent print job. The print job includes attribute information indicating whether or not the print job has confidentiality,
When there are a plurality of subsequent print jobs determined to be completed by the third determination unit,
The control unit sets an execution order higher than a non-confidential print job for the subsequent print jobs based on the attribute information. The image forming apparatus described in 1. The control unit includes a normal mode in which image formation is performed with a predetermined normal recording material, and an eco mode in which image formation is performed by lowering the consumption of the recording agent in accordance with a predetermined reduction condition than in the normal mode. And switch between
4. The consumption amount calculation unit according to claim 1, wherein the consumption amount calculation unit calculates a consumption amount of a recording agent consumed in printing by a print job in accordance with the predetermined reduction condition when the eco mode is set. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.