| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent immediate inhibition of an image forming operation even after a waste-toner full warning is issued, and allow printing on as many sheets as possible until a waste-toner container actually reaches a full-state, and to give priority to a function specified by a user or a function used most frequently. <P>SOLUTION: A waste-toner full detection sensor 115 detects that an amount of waste toner stored in the waste-toner container has reached a predetermined amount. After the occurrence of a detection output from a waste-toner quantity detection sensor 115, a waste-toner full count means 141 counts the number of sheets subjected to image formation, allows the image forming operation after the detection output and inhibits the image forming operation when the count value reaches a predetermined value. For particular functions other than, for example, a FAX function, the image forming operation may be inhibited immediately after the detection output from the waste-toner quantity detection sensor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO |
