TONER ORDER MANAGEMENT METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner order management method whereby toner can be supplied with comparatively proper timing, and to provide an image forming apparatus. SOLUTION: The toner consumption detecting/managing section 43 of the image forming apparatus 20 measures the flow rate of toner with a flow meter 50, detects the state in which toner consumption obtained by the integrated value of the flow rate of toner has reached a measurement judgement value corresponding to a condition for transmitting the information, and informs a toner consumption information pre-decision section 44 of the state. The toner consumption information pre-decision section 44 calculates toner consumption (a corrected value) based on the area of images and an amount of toner attached per unit area. Based upon the toner consumption measured by the flow meter 50 and the calculated toner consumption (corrected value), the pre-decision section 44 judges accuracy in the detection of the toner consumption. Based upon the result of the decision, the information about the state is transmitted. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI