# US 2024/0201625 A1 · Image formation apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201625 A1 - Document ID: US20240201625A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/529,746 - Filed: 2023-12-05 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-19 - Assignees: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Takeshi KOJIMA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201625A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/5041: {Detecting a toner image, e.g. density, toner coverage, using a test patch (G03G15/553 takes precedence)} - G03G 9/0926: {characterised by physical or chemical properties} - G03G 15/0856: {Detection or control means for the developer level} - G03G 15/556: {for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement} - G03G 15/6585: {by using non-standard toners, e.g. transparent toner, gloss adding devices} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: a first image formation unit including a storage part and configured to form a glitter developer image; and a controller configured to control the first image formation unit, upon forming a glitter image on a medium based on predetermined print data when a remaining amount of a glitter developer in the storage part is a first remaining amount, to form the glitter developer image with a ratio of the glitter image per unit area being a first area ratio, and upon forming the glitter image on the medium based on the predetermined print data when the remaining amount is a second remaining amount less than the first remaining amount, to form the glitter developer image with the ratio of the glitter image per unit area being a second area ratio greater than the first area ratio. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image formation apparatus comprising: a first image formation unit including a storage part in which a glitter developer is stored and configured to form a glitter developer image with the glitter developer; and a controller configured to control an operation of the first image formation unit according to print data received, wherein the controller is configured to control, upon forming a glitter image on a medium based on predetermined print data when an amount of the glitter developer stored in the storage part is a first remaining amount, the first image formation unit to form the glitter developer image in which a ratio of the glitter image formed per unit area is a first area ratio, and control, upon forming the glitter image on the medium based on the predetermined print data when the amount of the glitter developer stored in the storage part is a second remaining amount less than the first remaining amount, the first image formation unit to form the glitter developer image in which the ratio of the glitter image formed per unit area is a second area ratio greater than the first area ratio. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second image formation unit that includes at least one or more image formation units and is configured to form a black developer image, wherein the controller is configured to control operations of the first image formation unit and the second image formation unit according to the print data received, the controller is configured to control, upon forming the glitter image on the medium based on the predetermined print data when the amount of the glitter developer stored in the storage part is the first remaining amount, the first image formation unit and the second image formation unit to form the glitter developer image in which the ratio of the glitter image formed per unit area is the first area ratio and the black developer image in which the ratio of the glitter image formed per unit area is a third area ratio, and control, upon forming the glitter image on the medium based on the predetermined print data when the amount of the glitter developer stored in the storage part is the second remaining amount, the first image formation unit and the second image formation unit to form the glitter developer image in which the ratio of the glitter image formed per unit area is the second area ratio and the black developer image in which the ratio of the glitter image formed per unit area is a fourth area ratio less than the third area ratio. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second image formation unit that includes at least one or more image formation units and configured to form a black developer image, wherein the controller is configured to control operations of the first image formation unit and the second image formation unit according to the print data received, the controller is configured to control, upon forming the glitter image on the medium based on the predetermined print data when the amount of the glitter developer stored in the storage part is the first remaining amount, the first image formation unit and the second image formation unit to form the glitter developer image in which the ratio of the glitter image formed per unit area is the first area ratio and the black developer image in which the ratio of the glitter image formed per unit area is a third area ratio control, upon forming the glitter image on the medium based on the predetermined print data when the amount of the glitter developer stored in the storage part is the second remaining amount, the first image formation unit and the second image formation unit to form the glitter developer image in which the ratio of the glitter image formed per unit area is the second area ratio and the black developer image in which the ratio of the glitter image formed per unit area is a fourth area ratio, wherein a ratio of the fourth area ratio to the second area ratio is smaller than a ratio of the third area ratio to the first area ratio. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to set the third area ratio smaller than the first area ratio. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to form the black developer image between the glitter developer image and the medium. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to form the black developer image outside a formation region of the glitter developer image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image formation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to position a white region between a region of the glitter developer image and a region of the black developer image. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The image formation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to form a region where no developer image is formed between a region of the glitter developer image and a region of the black developer image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The image formation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to form a region of a developer image formed of a white developer between a region of the glitter developer image and a region of the black developer image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second image formation unit comprises an image formation unit configured to form the black developer image with the black developer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second image formation unit comprises at least one of image formation units configured to respectively form a yellow developer image, a magenta developer image and a cyan developer image. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a detector configured to detect a remaining amount of the glitter developer stored in the storage part, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the first image formation unit based on the first remaining amount and the second remaining amount detected by the detector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The image formation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to decrease the third area ratio with respect to the first area ratio. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The image formation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to form the black developer image between the glitter developer image and the medium. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The image formation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to form the black developer image outside a region where the glitter developer image is formed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The image formation apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to position a white region between a region of the glitter developer image and a region of the black developer image. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The image formation apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to form a region where no developer image is formed between a region of the glitter developer image and a region of the black developer image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The image formation apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to form a region of a developer image formed of a white developer between a region of the glitter developer image and a region of the black developer image. ### Claim 19 (depends on 3) The image formation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second image formation unit comprises an image formation unit configured to form the black developer image with the black developer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 3) The image formation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second image formation unit comprises at least one of image formation units configured to respectively form a yellow developer image, a magenta developer image and a cyan developer image.