Patent Application
20180348702
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an electronic storage device, a cartridge, and a method of controlling the image forming apparatus.
Conventionally, as for a process cartridge type image forming apparatus, there is known an arrangement in which a developing device, a photosensitive drum, and other process members (a charge means and the like) are integrated in a process cartridge, and the process cartridge is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body. With this arrangement, toner replenishment and other maintenance operations can easily be performed.
Since needs of users variously change in recent years, process members in a process cartridge put in a market are also changed in some cases. In this case, process conditions (for example, a transfer bias and a fixing temperature) in image formation need to be changed in accordance with the physical characteristic of the process members.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-240928, a memory is provided in a process cartridge, and identification information and change data are stored in the memory. Even when a process member is changed, process conditions are corrected to appropriate process conditions in accordance with the identification information, and image formation is performed.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-240928, however, even if the change data in the memory is erroneously rewritten due to electric noise or the like, the correctness of the change data cannot be determined. For this reason, it may be impossible to form an image under appropriate process conditions and obtain a satisfactory output image. In addition, if the process conditions of the fixing device or transfer device are inappropriate, the interior of the image forming apparatus main body may be contaminated. If high-temperature fixing control or high transfer bias control more than necessary is performed, a formed image may considerably degrade.
Considering the above-described situations, there is still room for improvement/refinement from the viewpoint of determining the correctness of data that is stored in a storage device and used to control image formation.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus to which a cartridge including an electronic storage device can detachably be attached, comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain control information used for image formation from a first area of the electronic storage device and obtain determination information used to determine correctness of the control information stored in the first area from a second area configured to store the determination information; a determination unit configured to determine the correctness of the control information based on the control information and the determination information; and a control unit configured, if the determination unit determines that the control information is correct, to control image formation using the control information obtained by the obtaining unit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic storage device provided in a cartridge that can detachably be attached to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a first area configured to store control information used for image formation by the image forming apparatus; and a second area configured to store determination information used to determine correctness of the control information stored in the first area.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge that can detachably be attached to an image forming apparatus, comprising: an electronic storage device; and a storage unit configured to store a developing material, wherein the electronic storage device comprises: a first area configured to store control information used for image formation by the image forming apparatus; and a second area configured to store determination information used to determine correctness of the control information stored in the first area.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image forming apparatus to which a cartridge including an electronic storage device configured to store information can detachably be attached, wherein the electronic storage device includes: a first area configured to store control information used for image formation by the image forming apparatus; and a second area configured to store determination information used to determine correctness of the control information stored in the first area, and the method comprises: deriving first information using control information stored in the first area; determining, based on the first information and the determination information stored in the second area, whether the control information stored in the first area is correct; and if it is determined in the determining that the control information is correct, correcting a control parameter used for image formation using the control information stored in the first area and controlling the image formation.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus to which a cartridge including an electronic storage device can detachably be attached, comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain identification information used to identify the cartridge from the electronic storage device; and a control unit, wherein the electronic storage device stores first control information for a first image forming apparatus and second control information for a second image forming apparatus of a version different from the first image forming apparatus, the obtaining unit selectively selects control information corresponding to an own apparatus from the first control information and the second control information in the electronic storage device, and the control unit controls image formation using the selected control information.
According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately determine the correctness of the information of an area where change information stored in a storage device is stored and perform appropriate operation control of an image forming apparatus.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings).
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail. Note that the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of components set forth in these embodiments should be appropriately changed in accordance with the arrangement of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various kinds of conditions and do not limit the scope of the present invention to the following embodiments.
[Apparatus Arrangement]
When the image forming operation starts, a photosensitive drum 1 that is an image carrier is rotatably driven in the direction of an arrow A in
The toner image visualized on the photosensitive drum 1 is sent to the contact portion to a transfer roller 9 serving as a transfer device and transferred onto a transfer material P such as paper conveyed in synchronism. Between the transfer roller 9 and the photosensitive drum 1, a power supply (not shown) applies a transfer bias to the transfer roller 9. The toner image transferred to the transfer material P is fixed to the transfer material P by a fixing device 8. In addition, the toner that remains on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred is collected by a cleaning device 7. The image forming operation is executed by repeating these steps. Details will be described below.
(Transfer Device)
The transfer roller 9 is provided to face the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 1 across the conveyance path of the transfer material P. The transfer roller 9 is formed into a roller shape by a core member made of a metal or the like and an elastic material such as silicone rubber or urethane rubber with a high wear resistance. The transfer roller 9 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 1 to form a transfer nip portion. A transfer bias can be applied by a power supply (not shown) to the transfer roller 9 via the core member. When the transfer material P is conveyed to the transfer nip portion, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is electrostatically attracted and transferred from the photosensitive drum 1 to the transfer material P. Here, a negatively charged toner is used, and a positive bias of a polarity opposite to the toner is applied as the transfer bias, thereby satisfactorily performing the transfer process.
(Fixing Device)
The fixing device 8 is a device that applies heat and a pressure to the image formed on the transfer material P and fixes the toner image, and includes a fixing belt 81 and elastic pressure rollers 82. The elastic pressure rollers 82 sandwich the fixing belt 81 and form a fixing nip portion of a predetermined width with a belt guide member (not shown) by a predetermined press contact force. In a temperature controlled state in which the fixing nip portion is heated to a predetermined temperature, the unfixed toner image is fixed in a process in which the transfer material P with the unfixed toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip portion.
(Process Cartridge)
In the process cartridge type shown in this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 1, the charge roller 2, the developing device 4 storing the toner T, and the cleaning device 7 are integrated to form a process cartridge 10. The process cartridge 10 is configured to be detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.
In this embodiment, two process cartridges 10 and 10B will be described as examples. The process cartridge 10 is a process cartridge that stores toner capable of obtaining an optimum image under the control of the above-described image forming apparatus 100 (transfer bias=+1600 V, fixing temperature=220° C.). The process cartridge 10B is a process cartridge that stores toner having a characteristic different from that of the toner stored in the process cartridge 10. In addition, each process cartridge includes an electronic storage device M. Note that a description will be made assuming that the process cartridges have the same structure except the toner.
Although the process cartridge will be described below as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a development cartridge that includes the toner T and the developing device 4 but not the photosensitive drum 1 can also be used. A developing material bottle (toner cartridge) that does not include rollers may also be used. Alternatively, a photosensitive drum cartridge that does not include the developing device 4 and integrates the photosensitive drum 1, the charge roller 2, and the cleaning device may be used.
(Outline of Control of Image Forming Apparatus)
Control according to this embodiment will be described with reference to
A main CPU 104 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls the entire engine control unit 102. A storage device 108 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM stores a control program used to execute each flowchart to be described later. In addition, the RAM functions as a work area that temporarily stores various kinds of operation results or data obtaining results when a flowchart to be described later is executed.
An exposure control unit 105 controls exposure of the photosensitive drum 1. A charge control unit 106 performs control to apply a charge bias to the photosensitive drum 1. A development control unit 107 performs control to apply a developing bias to the developing roller 5.
A device communication unit 109 reads/writes information M0 from/to the electronic storage device M via an interface (electrical contact portion (not shown)) provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.
A transfer control unit 113 performs control to apply a transfer bias to transfer a toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 to the transfer material P. A fixing control unit 114 performs energization control based on the detection result of a temperature detection element and controls a fixing temperature to fix the toner on the transfer material P. The image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is controlled based on values set by the main CPU 104 in advance such that the transfer control unit 113 applies a transfer bias=+1600 V, and the fixing control unit 114 sets a fixing temperature=220° C.
A determination unit 120 determines, based on the information in the electronic storage device M, whether to change control. Upon determining based on identification information M3 and determination information M2 to change control, the determination unit 120 instructs change value data based on change information M1 in the electronic storage device M to the control units. In the example shown in this embodiment, a case in which transfer control and fixing control are changed will be described. Note that in
(Electronic Storage Device)
The electronic storage device M provided in the process cartridge 10 will be described with reference to
In the example shown in
The identification information M3=“1” is stored in the third area 403 as information representing that the change information M1 is provided. Note that if the change information M1 is not provided, the identification information M3=“0” is stored as shown in
[Control Procedure]
In step S101, the determination unit 120 obtains the identification information M3 from the information M0.
In step S102, the determination unit 120 determines whether the information of the identification information M3 is “1”. If the information is 1 (YES in step S102), the process advances to step S103. If the information is not 1 (that is, the information is 0) (NO in step S102), the process advances to step S109.
In step S103, the determination unit 120 obtains the change information M1 from the information M0.
In step S104, the determination unit 120 derives determination information A based on the change information M1. Here, deriving means generating information. The determination information A according to this embodiment will be described using an example in which a digital signature A based on a Hash value derived by calculating a Hash function is used.
In step S105, the determination unit 120 compares the determination information A derived in step S104 with the determination information M2 included in the information M0. In this embodiment, the digital signature A derived in step S104 and the digital signature M2 stored in the electronic storage device M are compared. Upon determining, as the result of comparison, that the digital signature A matches the digital signature M2 (YES in step S105), the process advances to step S106. Upon determining that the digital signatures do not match (NO in step S105), the process advances to step S108.
In step S106, the determination unit 120 determines to employ the change information M1. In the example shown in
In step S107, the determination unit 120 decides to control the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 under the changed conditions. In an example in the case in which it is determined to employ the change information M1,
transfer bias=+1600−50=+1550 V, and
fixing temperature=220−9=211° C.
are set, and instructions are output to the transfer control unit 113 and the fixing control unit 114. Then, the processing procedure ends.
In step S108, the determination unit 120 notifies a data error to a display unit 27 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. This is because it is considered that the change information M1 stored in the electronic storage device M provided in the mounted process cartridge is rewritten for some reason such as noise.
In step S109, the determination unit 120 determines not to employ the change information of the change information M1. The process advances to step S107. In this case, in the control of step S107, transfer control and fixing control are performed using operation conditions defined in advance in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. That is, in an example in the case in which it is determined not to employ the change information M1,
transfer bias=+1600 V, and
fixing temperature=220° C.
are set, and instructions are output to the transfer control unit 113 and the fixing control unit 114. Then, the processing procedure ends.
With the above-described processing, even when the process cartridge 10B of the changed toner is used, image formation according to the toner can be performed.
As described above, in this embodiment, when the change information M1 stored in the electronic storage device is employed, the correctness of the change information M1 can accurately be determined by the determination information M2. It is therefore possible to perform an appropriate operation of the image forming apparatus.
In the second embodiment of the present invention, a case in which common process cartridges are used, and process cartridges having the same structure can be mounted in a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses will be described.
A description will be made here assuming that the plurality of types of image forming apparatuses are image forming apparatuses 100A, 100B, and 100C in the order of release in the market. In addition, a description will be made assuming that the common process cartridges that are process cartridges storing different toners (printing materials) are process cartridges 10A, 10B, and 10C in the order of release in the market. That is, the process cartridges themselves have a common structure, and the toners stored in them are improved.
In this embodiment, assume a case in which the process cartridge 10C that can be mounted in the image forming apparatus 100C can be mounted even in the image forming apparatuses 100A and 100B released before the image forming apparatus 100C, as shown in
The toner stored in the process cartridge 10C released later in the market is assumed to have been more improved. For this reason, the optimum transfer bias and fixing temperature of the toner stored in the process cartridge 10C are lower than those of the toners stored in the process cartridges 10A and 10B, and the power consumption of the image forming apparatus 100C at the time of an operation can be suppressed low. Hence, when the process cartridge 10C can be mounted even in the image forming apparatuses 100A and 100B, it is possible to obtain a user merit that the power consumption of the image forming apparatuses already released in the market at the time of an operation can be suppressed low.
In this embodiment, an electronic storage device M provided in the process cartridge 10C includes a plurality of pieces of change information for the different image forming apparatuses, and includes determination information for determining the correctness of each change information.
(Image Forming Apparatus)
In this embodiment, three types of image forming apparatuses using different transfer bias conditions and fixing temperature conditions, as shown in
(Process Cartridge)
In this embodiment, process cartridges that store different toners will be described. More specifically, three types of process cartridges (toners) to be described below are used.
Process cartridge 10A that stores toner capable of obtaining an optimum image under the conditions (transfer bias=+1600 V, fixing temperature=220° C.) of the image forming apparatus A
Process cartridge 10B that stores toner capable of obtaining an optimum image under the conditions (transfer bias=+1550 V, fixing temperature=211° C.) of the image forming apparatus B
Process cartridge 10C that stores toner capable of obtaining an optimum image under the conditions (transfer bias=+1530 V, fixing temperature=200° C.) of the image forming apparatus C
The mountability of the process cartridges for the image forming apparatuses is as follows, as shown in
Each process cartridge 10 includes the electronic storage device M.
(Electronic Storage Device)
Referring back to
The relationship between the image forming apparatus 100A and the image forming apparatus 100B will be described here. These image forming apparatuses correspond to image forming apparatuses already distributed in the market before the release of the image forming apparatus 100C. The image forming apparatuses 100A to 100C have a common mechanical structure so that a common cartridge can be mounted. The image forming apparatus 100A is improved, and its specifications are changed to obtain the image forming apparatus 100B. Improvement and specification change are further reflected to obtain the image forming apparatus 100C.
Determination information M2 used to determine the correctness of the change information is stored in the second area 602, as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, two pieces of determination information, that is, the determination information M2a derived using the change information M1a and determination information M2b derived using the change information M1b are stored. As in the first embodiment, the pieces of determination information M2a and M2b are obtained by converting Hash values derived by a Hash function into digital signatures.
In a case in which the process cartridge 10 has undergone many changes, and the identification information M3=“2” is stored in the third area 603, as described above, the image forming apparatuses 100A and 100B corresponding to the identification information M3=0 and the identification information M3=1 are operating in the market. In this case, in the electronic storage device M of the newly changed process cartridge 10, pieces of control information for the image forming apparatuses 100A and 100B already operating in the market are stored in a predetermined area. Now, the pieces of control information correspond to the change information M1a and the change information M1b. The determination information M2a and the determination information M2b are used by a determination unit 120 to determine the correctness of these pieces of change information. Note that determining the correctness by the determination unit 120 corresponds to processing of determining whether each change information stored in the electronic storage device M matches original change information stored upon shipping from the factory.
[Control Procedure]
A control procedure according to this embodiment will be described with reference to
(Case of Image Forming Apparatus 100A)
A case in which the process cartridge 10A, the process cartridge 10B, or the process cartridge 10C is mounted in the image forming apparatus 100A will be described first with reference to
In step S701, the determination unit 120 obtains the identification information M3 from the information M0.
In step S702, the determination unit 120 determines whether the identification information M3 is “0”. If the identification information M3 is 0 (YES in step S702), the process advances to step S717. If the identification information M3 is not 0 (NO in step S702), the process advances to step S703.
In step S703, the determination unit 120 determines whether the identification information M3 is “1”. If the identification information M3 is 1 (YES in step S703), the process advances to step S704. If the identification information M3 is not 1 (NO in step S703), the process advances to step S711.
In step S704, the determination unit 120 obtains the change information M1a from the information M0. When the change information M1a stored in the first area is first control information, the change information M1b obtained in step S711 to be described later can be called second control information.
In step S705, the determination unit 120 derives determination information A based on the change information M1a. Here, deriving means processing or generating information. In this embodiment, the determination information A is a digital signature A based on a Hash value derived using a Hash function.
In step S706, the determination unit 120 compares the determination information A derived in step S705 with the determination information M2a included in the information M0. Upon determining, as the result of comparison, that the determination information M2a matches the determination information A (YES in step S706), the process advances to step S707. Upon determining that the pieces of determination information do not match (NO in step S706), the process advances to step S709.
In step S707, the determination unit 120 determines to employ the change information M1a. In the example of this embodiment, the transfer bias correction value=−50 V and the fixing temperature correction value=−9° C., which are stored as the change information M1a, are employed.
In step S708, the determination unit 120 decides to control the main body of the image forming apparatus 100A under the changed conditions. In an example in the case in which it is determined to employ the change information M1a,
transfer bias=+1600−50=+1550 V, and
fixing temperature=220−9=211° C.
are set, and instructions are output to the transfer control unit 113 and the fixing control unit 114. Then, the processing procedure ends.
In step S709, the determination unit 120 notifies a data error to a display unit 27 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100A. This is because it is considered that the change information M1a is rewritten for some reason such as noise.
In step S710, the determination unit 120 determines not to employ the change information M1a. After that, the process advances to step S708 to perform control using uncorrected control parameters.
If the identification information is not “1” in step S703, the determination unit 120 obtains the change information M1b from the information M0 in step S711. In this way, in steps S704 and S711, the determination unit 120 can selectively obtain appropriate change information (control information) from the change information M1a and the change information M1b in accordance with the contents of the obtained identification information M3.
In step S712, the determination unit 120 derives determination information B based on the change information M1b. Here, deriving means processing or generating information.
In step S713, the determination unit 120 compares the determination information B derived in step S712 with the determination information M2b included in the information M0. Upon determining, as the result of comparison, that the determination information M2b matches the determination information B (YES in step S713), the process advances to step S714. Upon determining that the pieces of determination information do not match (NO in step S713), the process advances to step S715.
In this way, in steps S706 and S713, the determination unit 120 can selectively obtain the appropriate determination information M2 from the determination information M2a and the determination information M2b in accordance with the contents of the obtained identification information M3, and determine the correctness based on the determination information M2.
In addition, by the processes of steps S706 and S713 by the determination unit 120, each image forming apparatus can appropriately be caused to use the latest process cartridge 10 even in a case in which the image forming apparatuses (100A, 100B, and 100C) corresponding to a plurality of pieces of identification information M3 are already distributed in the market. That is, since the determination unit 120 confirms the correctness (coincidence from the original) for each of the change information M1a and the change information M1b, it is possible to cope with the state in which the image forming apparatuses corresponding to the plurality of pieces of identification information M3 are already distributed in the market while ensuring safety.
In step S714, the determination unit 120 determines to employ the change information M1b. In the example of this embodiment, the transfer bias correction value=−70 V and the fixing temperature correction value=−20° C., which are stored as the change information M1b, are employed. After that, the process advances to step S708 to decide to control the main body of the image forming apparatus 100A under the changed conditions. In an example in the case in which it is determined to employ the change information M1b,
transfer bias=+1600−70=+1530 V, and
fixing temperature=220−20=200° C.
are set, and instructions are output to the transfer control unit 113 and the fixing control unit 114. Then, the processing procedure ends.
In step S715, the determination unit 120 notifies a data error to the display unit 27 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100A. This is because it is considered that the change information M1b is rewritten for some reason such as noise.
In step S716, the determination unit 120 determines not to employ the change information M1b. After that, the process advances to step S708 to perform control using uncorrected values.
In step S717, the determination unit 120 determines not to employ the change information M. Then, the process advances to step S708. In this case, in the control of step S708, transfer control and fixing control are performed using control values set in advance in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100A. That is, in an example in the case in which it is determined not to employ the change information M,
transfer bias=+1600 V, and
fixing temperature=220° C.
are set, and instructions are output to the transfer control unit 113 and the fixing control unit 114. Then, the processing procedure ends. Note that even when it is determined in step S709 or S716 not to employ the change information M1a or M1b, control is performed using the same control parameters.
As described above, even in a case in which the process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus 100A, it is possible to determine the correctness of the change information and perform an appropriate image forming operation.
(Case of Image Forming Apparatus 100B)
A case in which the process cartridge 10C is mounted in the image forming apparatus 100B will be described next with reference to
In step S801, the determination unit 120 obtains the identification information M3 from the information M0.
In step S802, the determination unit 120 determines whether the identification information M3 is “0”. If the identification information M3 is 0 (YES in step S802), the process advances to step S811. If the identification information M3 is not 0 (NO in step S802), the process advances to step S803.
In step S803, the determination unit 120 determines whether the identification information M3 is “1”. If the identification information M3 is 1 (YES in step S803), the process advances to step S812. If the identification information M3 is not 1 (NO in step S803), the process advances to step S804.
The processes of steps S804 to S810 are the same as those of steps S704 to S710 shown in
transfer bias=+1550−20=+1530 V, and
fixing temperature=211−11=200° C.
are set, and instructions are output to the transfer control unit 113 and the fixing control unit 114. In addition, if it is determined not to employ the change information M1a,
transfer bias=+1550 V, and
fixing temperature=211° C.
are set, and instructions are output to the transfer control unit 113 and the fixing control unit 114.
In step S811, the determination unit 120 notifies a data error to the display unit 27 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100B. This is because if the identification information M3 is “0”, it indicates that the process cartridge cannot be mounted in the image forming apparatus 100B, and this is notified.
In step S812, the determination unit 120 determines not to employ the change information M1. Then, the process advances to step S808. In this case, in the control of step S808, transfer control and fixing control are performed using control values set in advance in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100B. That is, in an example in the case in which it is determined not to employ the change information M1,
transfer bias=+1550 V, and
fixing temperature=211° C.
are set, and instructions are output to the transfer control unit 113 and the fixing control unit 114.
As described above, even in a case in which the process cartridge is mounted the image forming apparatus B, it is possible to determine the correctness of the change information and perform an appropriate image forming operation. Hence, even in the case of the common process cartridge, the correctness of the change information stored in the electronic storage device is determined, and an appropriate image forming operation is performed. Hence, when employing the change information M1 stored in the electronic storage device, since the correctness of the change information M1 can accurately be determined based on the determination information M2, an appropriate operation of the image forming apparatus can be performed.
Note that the set value of the identification information M3 and the range (data amount) of the (used) first area in which the change information is stored in the electronic storage device vary in accordance with the corresponding relationship between the process cartridges and the image forming apparatuses shown in
Additionally, in the above-described example, to simplify the description, values such as “1” and “2” are used as the identification information M3 in a case in which the change information is stored. However, for example, the value of the identification information may be information for uniquely identifying the type (model) of the image forming apparatus. For example, the model number of a released image forming apparatus, or the like may be used. In addition, the change information that is a process control parameter is ideally provided in accordance with each image forming apparatus. In fact, the change information is actually prepared for each minor change of the image forming apparatus 100 or the process cartridge. In this case, the identification information M3 is set while being changed for each minor change of the image forming apparatus 100 or the process cartridge. For example, assume a case in which each of the image forming apparatuses 100A, 100B, and 100C described above copes with a minor change, and the process cartridges 10A, 10B, and 10C are released in correspondence with the image forming apparatuses. In this case, the identification information M3 is individually set for the three different types of process cartridges 10A, 10B, and 10C.
Furthermore, in the above-described example, if it is determined not to employ the change information (steps S710 and S716 in
In the second embodiment, when, for example, the image forming apparatus 100A reads out the different identification information M3, the reference address at which the change information is read out from the electronic storage device M is different. For example, in
A description has been made above assuming that the types of identification information M3 and the link information of the change information M1 to be read out are incorporated in advance in the control program of each image forming apparatus. However, details of linking the identification information M3 and the start address of the change information M1 to be read out are not limited to this. This will be described below in detail.
A table shown in
For example, the corresponding relationship between the identification information M3 and the addresses shown in
In addition, a description has been made assuming that the corresponding relationship of the read start addresses of the identification information M3 and the change information M1 described with reference to
After step S701, in step S1001, the determination unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 100A obtains the model name of the own apparatus. The model name is stored in a predetermined area of a storage device 108. For the image forming apparatus 100A, the information of the model A is obtained. In addition, the model B corresponds to the image forming apparatus 100B, and a model C corresponds to an image forming apparatus 100C.
In step S1002, the determination unit 120 obtains the corresponding table information of the model names and the reference addresses from the predetermined area of the electronic storage device M via a device communication unit 109. When a process cartridge that stores the identification information M3=1 is mounted in the apparatus main body, table information corresponding to
In step S1003, the determination unit 120 obtains a reference address that matches the own model name based on the model name obtained in step S1001 and the information of the corresponding table obtained in step S1002.
If the read identification information M3 is “1” in step S703, since the reference address 11h is obtained from the information of the corresponding relationship shown in
In addition, the information stored in the electronic storage device M is not limited to the contents shown in
Furthermore, the case of the image forming apparatus 100A has been described with reference to
Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-112026, filed Jun. 6, 2017, and No. 2018-056751, filed Mar. 23, 2018, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-112026 | Jun 2017 | JP | national |
| 2018-056751 | Mar 2018 | JP | national |
