JP4702478B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus capable of reducing an image composed of a plurality of pages and printing it on one page of paper (recording medium).

  In this type, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is one in which the user can select in advance how many pages of images are reduced to one page (so-called Nin1 or N-up). When image data is input from a PC or the like, the image is automatically reduced and printed in each divided area of the recording medium according to the selection result, so that the recording medium can be saved. It has become.

JP 2005-79830 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can save use of consumables when the remaining amount of consumables is not more than a predetermined level.

As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a remaining amount detection for detecting the remaining amounts of a plurality of consumables in an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a recording medium based on image data. And when the remaining amount of the plurality of consumables detected by the remaining amount detecting unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the image is reduced on the recording medium at a magnification based on the remaining amount of the consumables that is equal to or less than the predetermined value . An image forming control unit that forms an image is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the remaining amount detection unit detects a remaining amount of the recording medium and a remaining amount of toner, and the image formation control unit When the remaining amount of the recording medium and the remaining amount of toner detected by the remaining amount detecting means are less than or equal to a predetermined amount, the magnification based on the remaining amount of the recording medium or the remaining amount of toner that has become less than or equal to the predetermined amount, It is characterized in that a reduced image is formed on a recording medium.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided the first or second aspect of the invention, further comprising a page number detecting means for detecting the number of pages constituting the image, wherein the image formation control means is controlled by the page number detecting means. When a plurality of pages are detected, the consumption that is detected by the remaining amount detection means in each corresponding divided area on the recording medium into which the image composed of the plurality of pages is divided for each image of each page. It is characterized in that the image is reduced and formed at a magnification based on the remaining amount of the product.

<Invention of Claim 1>
According to this configuration, when the remaining amount of consumables is less than or equal to a predetermined value, a reduced image is formed on the recording medium, so that the use of consumables can be saved. In addition, it is possible to avoid problems caused by consumption of consumables that occur during printing.

<Invention of Claim 2>
According to this configuration, it is possible to avoid problems caused by insufficient toner remaining during printing. In addition, it is possible to avoid a shortage of recording media that occurs during printing.

<Invention of Claim 3>
According to this configuration, the present invention can be applied to a case where an image composed of a plurality of pages is reduced and formed on one recording medium. In addition, an easy-to-read image can be formed on the recording medium.

Block diagram showing the configuration of the printing system Side sectional view showing the internal structure of the printer The figure which shows a mode that Nin1 printing is carried out according to conditions A flowchart showing processing of the CPU when receiving print data The figure which shows a mode that Nin1 printing is performed according to the conditions of the reference form 2. A flowchart showing processing of the CPU when receiving print data The figure which shows a mode that Nin1 printing is performed according to the conditions of embodiment. A flowchart showing processing of the CPU when receiving print data

<Reference form 1>
A reference embodiment 1 of a printing system 1 in which a laser printer (image forming apparatus) of the present invention is used will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing system 1.

1. Configuration of Printing System As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 includes a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC 10) and a laser printer (hereinafter referred to as “printer 20”, which corresponds to the “image forming apparatus” of the present invention). Are connected via, for example, a LAN cable 2 (communication means). When the printer 20 receives print data (image data) transmitted from the PC 10, the printer 20 performs print processing based on the print data.

(1) Personal Computer As shown in FIG. 1, the personal computer (PC 10) includes an operation unit 11 that receives an input operation from the outside (for example, an input unit such as a keyboard or a mouse), and a display unit that displays various images. 12, a ROM 13, a RAM 14, a CPU 15, a hard disk (HDD) 16, and a network interface 17. The hard disk 16 stores application software for creating information to be printed, a printer driver, and the like. The CPU 15 reads application software, a printer driver, and the like from the hard disk 16 based on the start command from the operation unit 11. To start.

  When the CPU 15 receives a print request command from the operation unit 11 by a user input operation, the print data (image data) created by the application software is transferred to the printer driver, where it is converted into, for example, PDL data. (Conversion) processing is performed, and then data transmission to the printer 20 is executed via the network interface 17 and the LAN cable 2.

(2) Printer (a) Structure FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the internal structure of the printer 20. As shown in the figure, the printer 20 has a housing 21. A paper feed cassette 22 in which sheets as stacked recording media are stored is mounted on the lower portion of the housing 21. Yes. The paper feed cassette 22 is detachable, and can be removed by pulling it out in the front direction of the printer 20 (the right direction in the drawing). The paper feeding cassette 22 is provided with a paper pressing plate 23 that is urged upward by a pressing spring (not shown), and the uppermost layer of paper stacked on the paper pressing plate 23 is attached to the printer 20. The sheet feeding roller 24 is provided on the front surface side and rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow. The sheet is separated and fed one by one by the action of the separation pad 25.

  Here, a sheet remaining amount detection unit 23A is attached to the sheet pressing plate 23. The remaining paper amount detection unit 23A detects the remaining amount of paper by detecting the weight of the paper stacked on the paper pressing plate 23. For example, a plurality of sensors are arranged at predetermined heights (stacked heights of sheets) along the inner wall of the sheet feeding cassette 22, and the remaining paper is detected according to the position (height) of the sensor that detected the sheet pressing plate 23. The remaining amount detection unit may be configured to detect the amount (the height of the sheet).

  A process cartridge 26 is disposed above the paper feed cassette 22. The process cartridge 26 is also detachable from the front side of the printer 20, as with the paper feed cassette 22. The process cartridge 26 is configured by assembling a photosensitive cartridge 26A and a developing cartridge 26B so as to be separable. The photoconductor cartridge 26A has a photoconductor drum 27 that transfers the toner image, a transfer roller 28 that transfers the toner image carried on the photoconductor drum 27 to the paper P, and corona discharge to correct the surface of the photoconductor drum 27. A scorotron charger 29 is provided for charging to a potential. The developing cartridge 26B includes a developer chamber 30 that stores toner, a developing roller 31 that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 27, and a supply roller 32 that supplies toner to the developing roller 31. The developer chamber 30 is provided with an agitator 33 for stirring the toner.

A toner remaining amount detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the developer chamber 30 is provided on both sides of the developing cartridge 26B (the front side in FIG. 2 and the opposite side thereof) on the inner wall of the housing 21. 49 is provided.
The toner remaining amount detection unit 49 includes a light projecting element and a light receiving element that are opposed to each other so as to sandwich the developing cartridge 26B from both left and right sides, and windows provided on both side walls of the developing cartridge 26B. Light passing through the window from the optical element is received by the light receiving element.

  As a result, among the projected light, the light irradiated to the light receiving element is repeatedly turned on and off periodically (by being shielded by the agitator 33 and the toner) as the agitator 33 rotates. If the remaining amount is large, the time during which light is shielded during one period becomes longer. Therefore, by detecting a periodic change in the amount of light received by the light receiving element (the time during which light is blocked (incident) in one cycle), the approximate remaining amount of toner is detected. It has become.

  A front cover 34 whose lower end portion is pivotably attached and can be opened and closed is provided above the paper feed cassette 22 in the front face portion of the printer 20 to which the paper feed cassette 22 is attached and detached. Thus, the process cartridge 26 can be attached and detached. A pinch roller 35 and a registration roller 36 are rotatably mounted between the process cartridge 26 and the paper feed cassette 22.

  Above the process cartridge 26, a laser generator for emitting a laser beam (shown), a polygon mirror 37 (hexahedral mirror) that is driven to rotate, a lens 38, a reflection mirror 39, a reflection mirror 40, a lens 41, and a reflection A laser scanner unit 43 including a mirror 42 and the like is attached. The laser beam L swayed by the polygon mirror 37 is applied to the photosensitive drum 27 through the lens 38, the reflecting mirrors 39 and 40, the lens 41, and the reflecting mirror 42, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27. It is formed.

  The photosensitive drum 27 and the transfer roller 28 are rotationally driven so as to sandwich and convey the paper P between them, and the paper P is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 27 and the transfer roller 28. As a result, the toner carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is transferred onto the paper P.

  A fixing device 59 for fixing toner on the paper P is provided behind the process cartridge 26. The fixing device 59 is disposed opposite to the heating roller 44 for heating and melting the toner on the transferred paper P, and a pressing roller that presses the fed paper P toward the heating roller 44. 45.

  The heating roller 44 includes a metal base tube 44A as a cylindrical member, and a halogen lamp 44B is provided along the axial direction thereof. The halogen lamp 44B can heat the surface of the heating roller 44 to a fixing temperature at which the toner is fixed to the paper P.

The pressure roller 45 includes a metal pressure roller shaft 45A and a rubber roller 45B made of a rubber material that covers the periphery of the pressure roller shaft 45A.
The toner transferred onto the paper P is thermally fixed to the paper P while the paper P passes between the heating roller 44 and the pressing roller 45.

  A shooter 46 is provided behind the fixing device 59. The shooter 46 is formed in a U-shape and feeds the paper P from the fixing device 59 by folding it back from the rear side to the front side. A pair of paper discharge rollers 48, 48 for discharging the paper P that has passed through the shooter 46 to a paper discharge tray 47 formed on the upper surface of the housing 21 is attached to the front end side of the shooter 46.

(B) Hardware Configuration The hardware configuration of the printer 20 is shown in a simplified manner in FIG. The printer 20 temporarily stores an operation unit 50 that receives various input operations, a printing unit 51 that controls printing on the paper P, a ROM 52 that stores a control program for the printer 20, and print data sent from the PC 10. Are provided with a RAM 53, a CPU 54, a network interface 55, and a detection unit 57 including various sensors (paper remaining amount detection unit 23A, toner remaining amount detection unit 49, etc.). . Then, print data (image data) consisting of a plurality of pages is divided into N corresponding N-divided areas (for example, 2in1 in FIG. 3) for each page of print data (image data). So-called Nin1 printing is possible in which image formation is performed by arranging in two divided areas per sheet P.

  The operation unit 50 can specify (switch) a manual Nin1 designation mode and an automatic Nin1 mode for Nin1 printing.

The manual Nin1 designation mode is a mode in which Nin1 printing can be performed by operating the operation unit 50 when the user intends to perform Nin1 printing. In this manual Nin1 designation mode, the following contents (a to c) can be designated.
a) Designation of Nin1 printing b) Designation of division number “N” in Nin1 printing c) Designation of reduction ratio in Nin1 printing

The automatic Nin1 mode is a mode in which Nin1 printing is automatically performed under a predetermined condition without depending on a user operation. Here, the predetermined condition will be described in detail later, but the proportion of the printed portion of the entire paper P, that is, the density of the printed portion (black portion / printed dot) (so-called printing rate). Nin1 printing is performed only when) becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.
This is because, when the density of a plurality of (many) characters (images) to be printed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, if the characters (images) are reduced by Nin1, the characters (which are too dense to read) This is because it is not desirable to perform Nin1 printing in such a case. In this reference embodiment, the number of pages in which the density of the printed portion (black portion / printed dot) corresponding to the print data (image data) composed of a plurality of pages is equal to or less than a predetermined number (all pages). The “N” value for Nin1 printing varies depending on the ratio of the shrinkage. Note that the number of characters to be printed may be used instead of the density of the printed portion (printing rate).

2. Processing of Printer CPU 54 FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the CPU 54.
The print data sent from the PC 10 is stored in the RAM 53, and when detecting that the print data has been received, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the automatic Nin1 mode is set (S11). If the manual Nin1 designation mode is set ("N" in S11), the printing unit 51 is caused to execute a printing process according to the set content (S26). Thus, for example, if Nin1 printing is set by the user's operation (Nin1 “N (≧ 2)” value or the like is set), printing is performed with the set contents, and Nin1 printing must be set. For example, printing is performed with a normal print size (print data for one page on one sheet of paper P).

  On the other hand, when the automatic Nin1 mode is set (“Y” in S11), the CPU 54 sets a work area for received print data (print data for one job (all pages) for which a print request has been made). It is secured in the RAM 53 (S12). Then, the print data (print data for one job in the PDL format) is decoded in the work area secured in the RAM 53 and developed into bitmap data (S13).

  Next, the CPU 54 detects the number of pages (number of pages), page data size (data size of each page), and data format of the received print data for one job (S14). Equivalent to “page number detection means”).

  The number of pages is detected based on the size of the bitmap data. For example, data composed of a plurality of pages transmitted from the PC 10 side is assigned the same job number to each page, and is attached to the data of each page when print data is received. Alternatively, the number of pages having the same job number may be detected as the number of pages.

The page data size is the data size, that is, the number of only black dots (printing dots) to be printed out of the bitmap data expanded in the work area of the RAM 53 for each page.
Then, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the detected number of pages (number of pages) is two or more (S15).
If the detected number of pages is 1 (“N” in S15), the printing unit 51 is caused to execute a printing process according to the set contents (S26).
On the other hand, if the number of detected pages is two or more (“Y” in S15), it is determined whether the data format is a text format composed of character data (S16).

  If the data format is not a text format (“N” in S16), the printing unit 51 is caused to execute a printing process according to the set contents (S26).

  On the other hand, if the data format is a text format (“Y” in S16), it is determined whether or not there is a page whose page data size is a predetermined value or less. Here, the predetermined value is, for example, 1 for the data size (when the entire page is printed black (for example, 100,000 dots)) when the entire page (A4, etc.) is printed in black (solid black). The data size is / 10 (when 1/10 (10,000 dots) of one page is printed in black and other portions are not printed).

If there is no page with the page data size equal to or smaller than the predetermined value (“N” in S17), the printing unit 51 is caused to execute a printing process according to the set content (S26).
If there is a page whose data size is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value (“Y” in S17), the CPU 54 detects how many pages are equal to or smaller than the predetermined value (S18), and the total number of pages (“image data of the present invention”). The ratio of the number of pages equal to or less than a predetermined value (the number of pages in which the image density is equal to or less than the predetermined number of pages constituting the image data) to the predetermined number of pages constituting the image data). %) Of S) is calculated (S19).

  Then, when the pages equal to or less than the predetermined value are 50 to 69% of all pages (“Y” in S20), the CPU 54 sets the 2-in-1 print setting (S21. Reduced by a magnification determined by the ratio).

  Also, if 70 to 89% of all the pages are less than the predetermined value (“N” in S20, “Y” in S22), 4in1 print setting is set (S23), and pages that are less than the predetermined value are all pages. If it is 90 to 100% (“N” in S20, “N” in S22, “Y” in S24), 9 in 1 print setting is set (S25).

  Then, the CPU 54 causes the printing unit 51 to execute Nin1 printing processing (S26). As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, printing is performed with the contents set for Nin1 printing (the number of divisions according to the setting). Therefore, the CPU 54 corresponds to the “image formation control unit” of the present invention.

  If the pages below the predetermined value are 0 to 49% of all pages (“N” in S20, “N” in S22, “N” in S24), Nin1 print setting is not performed and normal setting is performed. The printing process is executed (that is, the same size) (S26). As a result, printing is performed with a normal print size (print data for one page on one sheet of paper P).

3. Effects of this reference form According to this reference form, each division of the paper P (on the recording medium) is performed according to the ratio of the number of pages in which the data size (density) of print data (image data) consisting of a plurality of pages is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Since a reduced image is formed in the area, an image that is relatively easy to read can be formed on the paper P. Therefore, since it is not necessary to print again for easy reading, the paper P can be saved.

<Reference form 2>
Next, Reference Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the reference form 1, the division number (“N” of Nin1) is determined according to the page data size. However, in the reference form 2, the division number (“N” of Nin1 is determined according to the font size of the character data). ]) Is determined. In addition, about the structure same as the reference form 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

1. Processing of Printer CPU FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the CPU 54.
When detecting that the print data has been received, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the automatic Nin1 mode is set (S31). If the manual Nin1 designation mode is set ("N" in S31), the printing unit 51 is caused to execute a printing process according to the set content (S47). Thus, for example, if Nin1 printing is set by the user's operation (Nin1 “N (≧ 2)” value or the like is set), printing is performed with the set contents, and Nin1 printing must be set. For example, printing is performed with a normal print size (print data for one page on one sheet of paper P).

  On the other hand, when the automatic Nin1 mode is set (“Y” in S31), the CPU 54 sets a work area for the received print data (print data for one job (all pages) for which a print request has been made). It is secured in the RAM 53 (S32). Then, the print data (print data for one job) is expanded in the work area secured in the RAM 53 (S33).

  Next, the CPU 54 detects the number of pages (number of pages) and the data format of the received print data for one job (S34. Therefore, the CPU 54 corresponds to the “page number detection means” of the present invention).

  As for the number of pages, the same job number is assigned to each page of data composed of a plurality of pages transmitted from the PC 10, and when the print data is received, the CPU 54 The number of pages with the same job number assigned to the page data is detected as the number of pages.

Then, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the detected number of pages (number of pages) is two or more (S35).
If the detected number of pages is one (“N” in S35), the printing unit 51 is caused to execute a printing process according to the set contents (S26).
On the other hand, if the number of detected pages is two or more (“Y” in S35), it is determined whether the data format is a text format composed of character data (S36).

If the data format is not a text format (“N” in S36), the printing unit 51 is caused to execute a printing process according to the set contents (S26).
On the other hand, if the data format is a text format (“Y” in S36), it is determined whether there is a page whose font size is a predetermined point (predetermined value) or more. Here, the predetermined point (predetermined value) is, for example, a size of 12 points or more. Here, a page of a predetermined point or more is a page in which all of one page is composed of characters having a font size of a predetermined point (12 points) or more, but a predetermined number of characters (ratio) or more of one page. If the font size is greater than or equal to a predetermined point, the page may be equal to or greater than the predetermined point. The predetermined points are not limited to 12 points, and may be set to other sizes.

If there is no page whose font size is greater than or equal to the predetermined point (“N” in S37), the printing unit 51 is caused to execute a printing process according to the set contents (S47).
On the other hand, if there is a page whose font size is a predetermined point or more (“Y” in S37), the number of pages having a font size of 12 to 15 points is detected (S38).

  Then, the number of pages having a font size of 12 to 15 points with respect to the total number of pages (“predetermined number of pages constituting the image data” of the present invention) (the density of the image among the predetermined number of pages constituting the image data) When the ratio (the number of pages in which the print request is less than a predetermined number) is 50% or more (“Y” in S39), the 2-in-1 print setting is set (S40). Reduced at a magnification determined by the ratio).

  If the number of pages with a font size of 12 to 15 points with respect to the total number of pages is not 50% or more (“N” in S39), the number of pages having a font size of 16 to 19 points is set. It detects (S41).

  The ratio (ratio) of the number of pages having a font size of 16 to 19 points to the total number of pages (the number of pages in which the density of the image is less than or equal to the predetermined number of pages constituting the image data) is 50% or more. In some cases (“Y” in S42), 4-in-1 print setting is selected (S43, reduced at a magnification determined by the ratio).

  If the number of pages with a font size of 16 to 19 points relative to the total number of pages is not 50% or more (“N” in S42), the number of pages having a font size of 20 points or more is detected. (S44).

  If the ratio (ratio) of the number of pages with a font size of 20 points or more with respect to the total number of pages is 50% or more (“Y” in S45), the 9 in 1 print setting is selected (S46. With a magnification determined by the ratio). Reduction).

  Then, the CPU 54 causes the printing unit 51 to execute Nin1 printing processing (S47). As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, printing is performed with the contents set for Nin1 printing (the number of divisions according to the setting). Therefore, the CPU 54 corresponds to the “image formation control unit” of the present invention.

  If the ratio (ratio) of the number of pages with a font size of 20 points or more with respect to the total number of pages is not 50% or more (“N” in S45), the Nin1 print setting is not performed, and the normal setting (ie, equal magnification) Print processing is executed (S46). As a result, printing is performed with a normal print size (print data for one page on one sheet of paper P).

2. Effect of Reference Form 2 For example, in the configuration in which the density is detected based on the data amount of print data (image data), if the image data is character data, the data amount does not necessarily increase even if the font size increases, which is not desirable. . On the other hand, according to the reference form 2, since the density corresponding to the font size of the character data is detected, by determining “N” for Nin1 printing according to the density, it is more surely placed on the paper (recording medium). An easy-to-read image can be formed.

<Embodiment>
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the embodiment, the number of divisions (“N” of Nin1) is determined according to the remaining amount of consumables. In addition, about the structure same as the reference form 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

1. Processing of Printer CPU FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the CPU 54.
When detecting that the print data has been received, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the automatic Nin1 mode is set (S51). Here, when the manual Nin1 designation mode is set (“N” in S51), the printing unit 51 is caused to execute print processing according to the set content (S63). Thus, for example, if Nin1 printing is set by the user's operation (Nin1 “N (≧ 2)” value or the like is set), printing is performed with the set contents, and Nin1 printing must be set. For example, printing is performed with a normal print size (print data for one page on one sheet of paper P).

  On the other hand, when the automatic Nin1 mode is set (“Y” in S51), the CPU 54 sets a work area for received print data (print data for one job (all pages) for which a print request has been made). It is secured in the RAM 53 (S52). Then, the print data (print data for one job) is expanded in the work area secured in the RAM 53 (S53).

  Next, the CPU 54 detects the number of pages (number of pages) of the received print data for one job (S54, corresponding to “page number detection means” of the present invention).

As for the number of pages, the same job number is assigned to each page of data composed of a plurality of pages transmitted from the PC 10, and when the print data is received, the CPU 54 The number of pages with the same job number assigned to the page data is detected as the number of pages.
Then, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the detected number of pages is two or more (S55).
If the detected number of pages is 1 (“N” in S55), the printing unit 51 is caused to execute a printing process according to the set contents (S63).

On the other hand, if the detected number of pages (number of pages) is two or more (“Y” in S55), the CPU 54 detects from the detection unit 57 including the remaining paper amount detection unit 23A, the remaining toner amount detection unit 49, and the like. Based on this signal, the remaining amount of paper and the remaining amount of toner are detected (S56, corresponding to the “remaining amount detecting means” of the present invention).
If the remaining amount of paper or toner detected by the CPU 54 is 21 to 30% (“Y” in S57), the 2-in-1 print setting is set (S58).

  If the remaining amount of paper or the remaining amount of toner is 11 to 20% (“N” in S57, “Y” in S59), the 4-in-1 print setting is set (S60), and the remaining amount of paper or the remaining amount of toner is 10. If it is equal to or less than% (“N” in S59, “Y” in S61), 9 in 1 print setting is selected (S62).

  Then, the CPU 54 causes the printing unit 51 to execute Nin1 printing processing (S63). As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, printing is performed with the contents set for Nin1 printing (the number of divisions according to the setting). Therefore, the CPU 54 corresponds to the “image formation control unit” of the present invention.

  If the remaining amount of paper or the remaining amount of toner is 31% or more (“N” in S61), the Nin1 print setting is not performed, and the print processing is executed with the normal setting (that is, the same size). (S63). Thus, printing is performed with a normal print size (printing of print data for one page on one sheet of paper P).

2. Effects of this embodiment According to this embodiment, when the remaining amount of consumables (toner or paper P) is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, a reduced image is formed on the paper P (recording medium). Use of consumables can be saved. Also, it is possible to avoid a shortage of paper P (recording medium) or toner that occurs during printing of a plurality of sheets.
Further, print data (image) composed of a plurality of pages is detected by the detection unit 57 (remaining amount detection means) in each corresponding divided area on the paper P (recording medium) for each page of print data. Since printing is performed at a reduction ratio based on the ratio of the remaining amount of consumables, an easy-to-read image can be formed on the paper P (recording medium).

<Other embodiments and reference forms>
The present invention is not limited to the reference forms and embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings, and for example, the following reference forms and embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  (1) Although the print data is transmitted from the PC 10 to the printer 20, the print data to be read may be printed in Nin1 using a printer having an image reading (scanner) function. For example, it is possible to use a printer having an ADF (automatic paper feed mechanism) to read characters printed on a plurality of papers P with an image reading function and perform Nin1 printing.

  (2) The automatic Nin1 mode is set from the operation unit 50 of the printer 20, but is not limited thereto. For example, the automatic mode may be set on a setting screen (not shown) on the PC 10 side.

  (3) In the reference form 1, the CPU 54 detects whether or not the page data size of each page is equal to or less than a predetermined value (density is equal to or less than a predetermined value). However, the page data size of one part of each page is a predetermined value. It is good also as a structure which detects whether it is below (a density is below predetermined). For example, it may be detected whether the data size is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value (density is equal to or lower than a predetermined value) for a predetermined range near the center of each page.

  (4) In the reference form 1 and the reference form 2, the automatic Nin1 mode is configured to perform Nin1 printing according to the density of text data (character data), but is not limited thereto. For example, Nin1 printing may be performed according to the density of image data other than characters.

  (5) In Reference Form 1 and Reference Form 2, “N” of Nin1 is set depending on the ratio of the number of pages at which the density (page data size, font size) of the print data (image data) is a predetermined value or less. This ratio is not limited to the ratio of the reference form. Alternatively, printing may be automatically performed only with any “N” value (for example, in the automatic printing mode, only 2 in 1 may be set).

  (6) In the above-described reference embodiment, the print data composed of a plurality of pages is received. However, the present invention may be applied when one print data is transmitted. The print data of the sheet is reduced and printed in one of the divided areas.

(7) In the reference form 1 and the reference form 2, the CPU 54 of the printer 20 is configured to detect the density (page data size, font size). However, the CPU 15 of the PC 10 detects the density, and the density information is obtained from the printer 20. It is good also as a structure which transmits to. In this case, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes both the PC 10 and the printer 20.

20 ... Printer (image forming apparatus)
23A: Remaining paper amount detection unit 49 ... Remaining toner amount detection unit 50 ... Operation unit 51 ... Printing unit 54 ... CPU (image formation control means, page number detection means, remaining amount detection means)
57 ... Detector P ... Paper (recording medium)

Claims (3)

In an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a recording medium based on image data,
A remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of each of the consumables,
When the remaining amount of the plurality of consumables detected by the remaining amount detecting unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a reduced image is formed on the recording medium at a magnification based on the remaining amount of the consumables that is equal to or less than the predetermined value. And an image forming control unit. The remaining amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of the recording medium and the remaining amount of toner,
The image forming control unit, when the remaining amount and the toner remaining amount of the detected the recording medium by the remaining amount detecting means is below a predetermined value, the remaining amount or the toner of the recording medium becomes a predetermined or less 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reduced image is formed on the recording medium at a magnification based on the remaining amount of the recording medium. Comprising page number detecting means for detecting the number of pages constituting the image,
The image formation control means, when a plurality of pages are detected by the page number detection means, each image of the plurality of pages corresponding to each division on the recording medium divided for each page image. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is reduced and formed in a region at a magnification based on a remaining amount of consumables detected by the remaining amount detecting unit.