| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital color copying machine, and a system and a method for image formation that can achieve life prolongation wherein use frequencies of respective image formation stations are made constant while efficient maintenance is performed by uniformly using toner of developing devices of respective image formation stations and equalizing the maintenance periods of the respective image formation stations. <P>SOLUTION: Provided are 1st to 4th image formation stations which form images with mutually different color materials, a toner remaining amount detection sensor 407 which detects the remaining amounts of toner of developing devices 52a to 52d of the respective image formation stations, and a control part 40 which grasps the remaining amounts of toner of the respective developing devices by the toner remaining amount detection sensor and performs control to select a toner to form an additional image out of toner of the respective developing devices according to the remaining amounts of toner of the respective developing devices when image formation is carried out by adding the additional image to a normal image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI |
