Patent ID: 8233810

Claim:
An image forming apparatus enabling an operator to specify a time to start image formation, comprising: an image forming condition setting unit for setting an image forming condition including the time to start image formation specified by an operator and an information related to recording material; a control unit adapted to calculate a recording material acquisition startup time for starting to acquire a recording material by subtracting a sheet acquisition enabled time from the specified printing time based on the image forming condition set by the image forming condition setting unit, wherein the sheet acquisition enabled time is set in advance as a time period enabling an operator to replenish the recording material, monitor a clock to determine when the calculated recording material acquisition startup time arrives, verify presence of the recording material specified by the image forming condition based at least partly on information from a sheet detecting unit, when the clock indicates that the calculated recording material acquisition startup time has arrived, and issue a warning related to a replenishment of the recording material, and/or to inhibit formation of image, in the case, as a result of the verification of the presence of the recording material, where there is no recording material specified under the image forming condition or in the case where the recording material is insufficient.