METHOD FOR ESTIMATING MASS OF TONER FOR PRINTER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an improved method for estimating toner using amount in a digital electrophotographic printer and a copying machine by using a signal expressing the number and the distribution of an image pixel and converting the number of the image pixels into toner mass to generate a signal expressing the toner mass. SOLUTION: A control device 90 includes an image bit map storage device 130 having a function for housing an image bit map used for driving a ROS 30. A nonvolatile memory 132 decides a grouped dot size, and inputs it to a linear answering device 136 for calculating a colored dot size in terms of a specified scanning line. The actual colored dot size is housed in a storage device 138, and generates an adequate signal for operating a toner dispenser controller 142 operatively connected to a toner dispenser 40. The signal is used for making the device 140 convert the toner amount.