A method for controlling an electrophotographic printer (10) or copier, comprising a developer station(20, 22, 24, 26, 28) used to develop a latent charge image on a photoconductor(16) with toner. During the printing process, the toner discharge from the developer station(46) is detected and in the event that the detected toner discharge meets a predetermined first regeneration criterion, a developer regeneration process(48) is started, wherein a charge image is produced on the photoconductor, the charge image is developed and the developed image is removed by a cleaning device without being reprinted on a recording medium, and wherein new toner is introduced into the devloper station. During the printing process it is possible to determine, on the basis of printing data, which developer stations are required to print the data. If it is established that a developer station is not or was not required for a predefined period of time, said developer station is placed in a standby position by stopping the mechanical drives of certain developer stations. |