Image forming apparatus and image forming method

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a first hardware processor that, when receiving an execution command of a job related to formation of an image on a continuous recording medium, calculates a consumption amount of a recording agent on a basis of information of the job;
• and
• a second hardware processor that determines whether the recording agent is sufficient on a basis of the consumption amount, wherein
• in a case where the second hardware processor determines that the recording agent is insufficient, a notification that the recording agent is insufficient is made;
• a third hardware processor that detects or calculates a remaining amount of a recording agent in a recording agent storage container attached;
• and
• a fourth hardware processor that detects or calculates a remaining amount of the recording agent in the image forming apparatus;
• wherein the second hardware processor determines whether the recording agent is sufficient on a basis of a sum of the remaining amount of the recording agent in the recording agent storage container and the remaining amount of the recording agent in the image forming apparatus;
• wherein in a case where the second hardware processor determines that the recording agent is insufficient, execution of the job is suspended until an execution command of the job is received again;
• wherein the job includes one or more pieces of information of a coverage of each color in an image, a continuous print distance, a total print distance, a type of a continuous recording medium, and a machine setting of the image forming apparatus;
• wherein the image is formed by repeatedly arranging unit images;
• wherein the first hardware processor calculates a consumption amount of a recording agent per unit print distance and calculates the consumption amount of the recording agent consumed in the job by multiplying the consumption amount of the recording agent per unit print distance by the total print distance;
• wherein
• when determining that the recording agent is insufficient, the second hardware processor calculates at least one value of a print distance possible with a remaining amount of the recording agent, a print time taken to perform printing by the print distance, and a time from start of printing until the recording agent storage container becomes empty, and
• a notification of a value calculated by the second hardware processor is made;
• wherein
• when receiving an execution command of the job while execution of the job is suspended, the second hardware processor calculates the value again, and
• in a case where the value is different from a previously calculated value, a notification of a newly calculated value is made, and the execution of the job is suspended until the execution command of the job is received again.

An image forming method comprising:

• receiving an execution command of a job;
• calculating a consumption amount of a recording agent on a basis of information included in the job via a first hardware processor;
• determining whether the job can be executed on a basis of a remaining amount of the recording agent and the consumption amount via a second hardware processor;
• and
• forming an image based on the information on a continuous recording medium with the recording agent, wherein
• in a case where it is determined in the determining that the job cannot be executed, making a notification that the job cannot be executed is performed, and performing of the forming is suspended until the execution command of the job is received again;
• detecting or calculating a remaining amount of a recording agent in a recording agent storage container attached via a third hardware processor;
• and
• detecting or calculating a remaining amount of the recording agent in the image forming apparatus via a fourth hardware processor;
• wherein the second hardware processor determines whether the recording agent is sufficient on a basis of a sum of the remaining amount of the recording agent in the recording agent storage container and the remaining amount of the recording agent in the image forming apparatus;
• wherein in a case where the second hardware processor determines that the recording agent is insufficient, execution of the job is suspended until an execution command of the job is received again;
• wherein the job includes one or more pieces of information of a coverage of each color in an image, a continuous print distance, a total print distance, a type of a continuous recording medium, and a machine setting of the image forming apparatus;
• wherein by receiving an estimate change command, at least one of the third hardware processor or the fourth hardware processor changes a constant for calculating a remaining amount of a recording agent.