Image forming apparatus, image forming system, method of controlling image forming apparatus, and recording medium

A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• controlling an image forming device to form a toner image onto a recording medium by transferring the toner image directly or indirectly onto the recording medium, the image forming device including a developing unit to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier into the toner image;
• determining whether a first estimated time period is greater than a first predetermined time period, the first estimated time period being a time period from a time when image formation of one page of the image completes to an estimated time when image formation of a subsequent page of the image will start;
• controlling a developing unit to stop operating based on a determination indicating that the first estimated time period is greater than the first predetermined time period;
• determining, after determination of a time when image formation of the subsequent page of the image starts, whether an updated first estimated time period reflecting the determined time when image formation of the subsequent page of the image starts, is equal to or less than the first predetermined time period;
• controlling the developing unit to start operating based on a determination indicating that the updated first estimated time period is equal to or less than the first predetermined time period;
• wherein, when image formation of the subsequent page of the image is not determined after an elapsed time period from the time when image formation of one page of the image completes reaches a third predetermined time period, controlling the developing unit to continue to be stopped;
• measuring a time period during when the developing unit stops operating;
• and
• setting a value of the third predetermined time period according to the measured time period during when the developing unit stops operating.

A non-transitory recording medium which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform a method of controlling an image forming apparatus comprising:

• controlling an image forming device to form a toner image onto a recording medium by transferring the toner image directly or indirectly onto the recording medium, the image forming device including a developing unit to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier into the toner image;
• determining whether a first estimated time period is greater than a first predetermined time period, the first estimated time period being a time period from a time when image formation of one page of the image completes to an estimated time when image formation of a subsequent page of the image will start;
• controlling a developing unit to stop operating based on a determination indicating that the first estimated time period is greater than the first predetermined time period;
• determining, after determination of a time when image formation of the subsequent page of the image starts, whether an updated first estimated time period reflecting the determined time when image formation of the subsequent page of the image starts, is equal to or less than the first predetermined time period;
• controlling the developing unit to start operating based on a determination indicating that the updated first estimated time period is equal to or less than the first predetermined time period;
• wherein, when image formation of the subsequent page of the image is not determined after an elapsed time period from the time when image formation of one age of the image completes reaches a third predetermined time period, controlling the developing unit to continue to be stopped;
• measuring a time period during when the developing unit stops operating;
• and
• setting a value of the third predetermined time period according to period during when the developing unit stops operating.