A printer controller determines whether a cartridge refilled with a recording material is mounted on an image forming apparatus. If it is determined that the cartridge refilled with the recording material is mounted on the image forming apparatus, control for shifting a printer engine to a predetermined state is performed, raw data is acquired from the printer engine that has been shifted to the predetermined state, and a user is notified of the degree of wear of the cartridge based on the acquired raw data. On the other hand, if the printer controller determines that the cartridge refilled with the recording material is not mounted on the image forming apparatus, the printer controller acquires a predicted value from the printer engine, and notifies the user of the degree of wear of the cartridge based on the predicted value.

An operation unit of an image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, allowing accurate and easy input by the user requesting switching of display to a screen image allowing selection of an operation mode, includes: a pilot lamp, a touch-panel display, and hardware keys including a power key, an energy-saving key and a home key. The home key that switches the display on the touch-panel display to an operation mode selecting screen image (home screen image) when pressed is provided closer to the touch-panel display than other hardware buttons.

A preview screen display apparatus for displaying a preview screen for printing includes a selection unit which selects a print setting function in accordance with an input from a user, a reading unit which reads preview images, and a preview display unit which performs simultaneous display of a plurality of display objects corresponding to a plurality of different settings and including the preview images on a same screen or performs switching display of the display objects upon accepting selecting operation by the user, regarding the print setting function selected by the selection unit.

An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body to which a fixing device that thermally fixes a toner image on a sheet is detachably mounted; a controller that performs authentication of a user using the image forming apparatus, and controls the image forming apparatus; and a storage that stores user information indicating availability of replacement work of the fixing device by the user, wherein the controller determines availability of replacement work of the fixing device by the user, based on the user information at a time of usage by the authenticated user, and inquires the user whether to perform replacement of the fixing device according to a determination result.

An image forming apparatus includes a developing container, a detection portion detecting an amount of toner in the developing container, a display portion, and a control portion controlling the detection portion to execute a first detection and a second detection, wherein the display portion, in a case where the detection result of the first detection is greater than or equal to a first threshold, displays a first display and, in a case where the detection result is less than the first threshold, displays a second display different from the first display, and in a case where the detection result of the second detection is greater than or equal to a second threshold smaller than the first threshold, displays the first display and, in a case where the detection result is less than the second threshold, displays the second display.

An image forming apparatus includes: a detachable fuser; and a cooling controller that starts a cooling mode for cooling the fuser, and stops the cooling mode when a cooling completion condition selected by a user is satisfied.

The invention relates to a printing system for printing a plurality of print jobs, the printing system having a receiving unit for receiving the print jobs, a controller for controlling a scheduling process and a printing process of the print jobs, a print unit for printing the print jobs, a plurality of supply holders for holding supply material for printing, and a user interface for communicating to the operator scheduled supply operator actions. Each of the scheduled supply operator actions is linked to one of the plurality of supply holders. The controller has an establishing unit for establishing a time period of unattended printing of the printing system, and a determination unit for determining scheduled supply operator actions per holder needed to be done before the time period of unattended printing starts. The user interface displays the established time period of unattended printing and the determined supply operator actions per holder. The invention also relates to a method suitable for application in the printing system.

On a touch-panel display of an image forming apparatus, which is divided to five areas, that is, a system area, a function selection area, a preview area, an action panel area and a task trigger area, pieces of information are displayed. Even if an operational mode is switched, the same or similar information is always displayed in the area arranged at the same position. In the task trigger area, software buttons operated by the user for actually operating the image forming apparatus are displayed.

An operation console used in relation to an apparatus as an object of control operated by a user operation includes: a display device having a display area for displaying information to the user; an input device for the user to input a request; and a display control device displaying, if a request for displaying specific information on said display device is input through the input device, the specific information on the display device. The input device includes a plurality of operation buttons for inputting a plurality of requests, corresponding to respective requests, arranged in the vicinity of the display area. Among the plurality of operation buttons, an operation button corresponding to the request for displaying the specific information is provided closest to the display device.

A processing apparatus includes: a processing unit that performs a process related to image data; a display unit that displays a process selection portion, with which the process performed by the processing unit is associated and which is selected to start the process by the processing unit; and a creation unit that, in a case of creating the process selection portion to be displayed in the display unit, creates the process selection portion while associating data with the process selection portion.