JP2009008756A - Image forming apparatus, print control method for the apparatus and print control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus or the like for overcoming the disadvantage that foul circulating use of consumable units occurs between image forming apparatuses different in charging systems, and also enabling circulating use between image forming apparatuses adopting the same charging system. <P>SOLUTION: When consumable units 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K, 10Y, 10M, 10C and 10K mounted in the image forming apparatus 1 are determined to be new ones mounted for the first time, information concerning the charging system stored in a storage means 29 is written to memories 9, 22 of the consumable units. When they are determined to be old ones mounted before, the information concerning the charging system stored in the storage means 29 is compared with the information concerning the charging system written to the memories 9, 22 of the consumable units, and when the charging systems are the same, the use of the consumable units is permitted, and when they are different, the use is prohibited. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) which is a multi-function digital multifunction peripheral in which these functions are integrated, a print control method and a print control program for the apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus as described above, a consumable unit such as a toner cartridge or an imaging unit is used. These consumable units have consumables such as toner and a photosensitive drum that are consumed every time a printing operation is performed, and when all the consumables are consumed or when the lifetime is reached, a new consumable unit is obtained. To be exchanged.

  By the way, as a charging method for printing of the image forming apparatus, there are generally a charging method and a spot method, and either method is set by a contract between the user and the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus. The charge method is a method in which the image forming apparatus counts the number of printed sheets and charges the user for a charge corresponding to the counted number of printed sheets. The spot method is a method in which the user purchases a consumable unit such as a toner cartridge. This is a method for charging a user. In many cases, the user can select which method to set in consideration of the usage status, cost, etc. of the image forming apparatus. The fact is that they are mixed.

  However, since the charging method for consumable units is different between the spot method and the charge method, inconvenience may occur if consumable units used in each method are mixed.

  For example, in the charge method, after the contract, the number of prints is totaled for every fixed period, and a charge is charged to the user. Meanwhile, consumable units such as a toner cartridge and an imaging unit are provided for replacement by the manufacturer when they reach the end of their lives. That is, the charge amount is constant regardless of the amount of toner consumed per sheet. In contrast, in the spot method, when a consumable unit reaches the end of its life, the user purchases a consumable unit to be replaced independently. That is, the printing fee is proportional to the purchase price of the consumable unit.

  There is such a difference between the charging method and the spot method, and when image forming apparatuses of the same model having different charging methods are mixed in the use environment of the same user, a problem is particularly likely to occur. For example, in the charge method, the printing fee per sheet is constant regardless of the amount of toner used, so a toner cartridge or the like used in the charge method image forming apparatus is attached to the spot image forming apparatus. There is a possibility that fraud may be performed after the toner is consumed by printing and then returned to the original charge type image forming apparatus.

Therefore, a technique has been proposed in which data unique to an image forming apparatus is written into the memory of a consumable unit that is mounted for the first time, so that the consumable unit cannot be used in other image forming apparatuses other than the apparatus to which the consumable unit is first attached. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-222193 A

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, even if the consumable unit of the charge-type image forming apparatus is attached to the spot-type image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus in the image forming apparatus other than the apparatus to which the consumable unit is first attached is used. Since the use is prohibited, it is possible to prevent the above-described unauthorized use.

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, even when a consumable unit of an image forming apparatus that cannot be used due to a failure or the like is mounted on another image forming apparatus of the same charging method, its use is uniformly prohibited. For this reason, the flexibility of the consumable unit is lacking.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and solves the inconvenience that the consumable unit is illegally reused between image forming apparatuses having different charging systems, and between image forming apparatuses having the same charging system. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, a printing control method, and a printing control program for the consumable unit that can be reused.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) A consumable unit having an image forming means for performing a printing operation for printing data to be printed, a memory and a replaceable device that is exchangeably mounted and is consumed by repetition of the printing operation. New / old discriminating means for discriminating whether it is a new article or an old article that has been installed for the first time in the image forming apparatus, storage means for storing information relating to a charging system for printing, and the old / old discriminating means When it is determined that the attached consumable unit is new, the writing unit writes information on the charging method stored in the storage unit into the memory of the consumable unit, and the new / old discriminating unit. If it is determined that the installed consumable unit is an old product, information on the charging method stored in the storage means and the Control means for comparing information related to the charging method written in the memory of the consumable unit and permitting the use of the consumable unit if the charging method is the same, and prohibiting the use of the consumable unit if the charging method is different And an image forming apparatus.
(2) The information related to the charging method is stored in a data rewritable area in the storage means, and the information related to the charging method is written to the memory of the consumable unit only in the rewritable area only once. 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1, which is performed.
(3) A consumable unit that includes a step of performing a printing operation for printing data to be printed on a sheet and a consumable unit that has a memory and is replaceably mounted and is consumed by repetition of the printing operation is provided in the image forming apparatus. A step of determining whether the product is a new product that has been installed for the first time or an old product that has been installed, and if the installed consumable unit is determined to be a new product, it is stored in the storage means. Information about the charging method that is stored in the memory of the consumable unit, and when it is determined that the attached consumable unit is an old product, Compare the information about the charging method written in the memory of the consumable unit, and if the charging method is the same, the use of the consumable unit is permitted. Printing control method for an image forming apparatus characterized by comprising: a step of prohibiting the use of the consumable unit Different billing method.
(4) A consumable unit that includes a step of performing a printing operation for printing data to be printed on a sheet, and a consumable unit that has a memory and is replaceably mounted and is consumed by repetition of the printing operation is provided in the image forming apparatus. A step of determining whether the product is a new product that has been installed for the first time or an old product that has been installed, and if the installed consumable unit is determined to be a new product, it is stored in the storage means. Information about the charging method that is stored in the memory of the consumable unit, and when it is determined that the attached consumable unit is an old product, Compare the information about the charging method written in the memory of the consumable unit, and if the charging method is the same, the use of the consumable unit is permitted. Print control program for executing the steps of prohibiting the use of the consumable unit Different charging method, to the computer of the image forming apparatus.

  According to the invention described in the above item (1), when it is determined that the mounted consumable unit is a new product that is mounted for the first time on the image forming apparatus including the apparatus itself, it is stored in the storage unit of the apparatus. If the information related to the billing method is written in the memory of the consumable unit and is determined to be an old product that has been attached to the image forming apparatus including the self apparatus, the information is stored in the storage means of the self apparatus. The stored information related to the charging method is compared with the information related to the charging method written in the memory of the consumable unit. If the charging method is the same, the use of the mounted consumable unit is permitted. If they are different, the use of consumable units is prohibited. For this reason, if an old consumable unit with a charging method different from the charging method of the image forming apparatus is attached to the image forming apparatus, the use of the consumable unit is prohibited. It is possible to eliminate the problem that the consumable unit is illegally used between different image forming apparatuses.

  On the other hand, if an old consumable unit with the same charging method as the charging method of the image forming apparatus is installed, the use of the consumable unit is permitted. The product unit can be reused.

  If it is determined that the attached consumable unit is new, information on the charging method of the attached image forming apparatus is written in the memory of the consumable unit, and at that time the consumable unit is Since the charging system to be applied is determined, the cost for production, sales, inventory management, etc. of consumable units is reduced compared to the case where the charging method for consumable units is determined at the consumable unit production stage. Can do.

  According to the invention described in item (2) above, since the information related to the charging method is stored in the data rewritable area in the storage means, even if the charging method is changed after the use of the image forming apparatus is started. By rewriting the information related to the charging method stored in the storage means, it is possible to respond quickly. On the other hand, since the information related to the charging method is written into the memory of the consumable unit only in the rewritable area, falsification of the information related to the charging method can be prevented.

  According to the invention described in (3) above, when an old consumable unit having a charging method different from the charging method of the image forming apparatus is attached to the image forming apparatus, the use of the consumable unit is used. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the consumable unit is illegally used between image forming apparatuses having different charging methods. On the other hand, if an old consumable unit with the same charging method as the charging method of the image forming apparatus is installed, the use of the consumable unit is permitted. The product unit can be reused.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (4), it is determined whether the consumable unit is new or old, and information regarding the charging method to the memory of the consumable unit when it is determined that the consumable unit is new is written. The computer of the image forming apparatus can execute the comparison of the charging methods when it is determined that the consumable unit is not new and the use permission or prohibition based on the comparison result.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) which is a multifunction digital multi-function peripheral is used as the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, a paper discharge tray 5, and the like.

  The scanner unit 2 includes a CCD sensor 6 and reads a document set on an automatic document feeder or platen glass (both not shown).

  The image forming unit 3 performs a printing operation of printing image data of a document read by the scanner unit 2, print data transmitted from the outside, and the like on a sheet. In this embodiment, the imaging unit 10Y 10M, 10C and 10K, toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C and 8K, an intermediate transfer belt 7, an exposure unit 14, a polygon mirror 15, a transport roller 18, a secondary transfer roller 19, a fixing device 20, and the like.

  The imaging units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K are for forming an electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image. Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K ) For each color. Each of the imaging units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K includes a rotatable photosensitive drum 11, a charger 13 that charges the photosensitive drum 11, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. A developing device 12 or the like for forming a toner image by attaching toner is provided, and these components are configured as one unit.

  The photosensitive drums 11 and the like included in the imaging units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K are consumables that gradually deteriorate in performance due to repeated printing operations and eventually reach the end of their lives. For this reason, each of the imaging units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K is a consumable unit that is replaced with a new imaging unit when the consumable reaches the end of its life, and is attached to the image forming apparatus 1 in a replaceable manner. The replacement is performed by opening the front door 21 of the image forming apparatus 1. Each imaging unit 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K is provided with a memory chip 22, and information about the imaging units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K is registered in the memory chip 22, respectively. .

  The toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K store toners corresponding to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. Supply to imaging units 10Y, 10M, 10C and 10K.

  The toner of each color accommodated in the toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K is a consumable that is consumed by repeating the printing operation. Therefore, each of the toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K is a consumable unit that can be replaced with a new toner cartridge when the toner runs out, and can be replaced by opening the front door 21 of the image forming apparatus 1. It is attached to. Each of the toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K is provided with a memory chip 9 in which information about the toner cartridge is registered, which will be described in detail later.

  The intermediate transfer belt 7 primarily transfers the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 11 of the four imaging units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K in a superimposed state. And the driven roller 17 and is driven to rotate in a fixed direction by the rotation of the driving roller 16.

  The exposure unit 14 forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by irradiating the charged photosensitive drum 11 of each imaging unit 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K with laser light.

  The polygon mirror 15 deflects the laser light emitted from the exposure unit 14 and scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 11.

  The transport roller 18 transports the paper supplied from the paper supply unit 4 to the secondary transfer position. The secondary transfer roller 19 transfers the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 7 onto the sheet conveyed by the conveying roller 18, and the fixing device 20 is transferred to the sheet. The toner image is fixed.

  The paper feed unit 4 stores paper for each type, and when a print instruction is given, the paper is taken out from the paper feed unit 4 one by one and conveyed to the secondary transfer position by the conveyance roller 18.

  The recording paper on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 20 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 5.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the scanner unit 2 and the image forming unit 3 described above, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an MFP controller unit 26, an engine control unit 27, a storage unit 28, a backup memory 29, an operation panel unit 30, and a consumable part. The product unit detection sensor 31 is provided.

  Since the scanner unit 2 and the image forming unit 3 have already been described, description thereof will be omitted.

  The MFP controller unit 26 controls the entire image forming apparatus 1 in an integrated manner, and includes a CPU 261, a ROM 262, and the like.

  The CPU 261 implements control performed by the MFP controller unit 26 by executing a program stored in the ROM 262. Specifically, in addition to controlling the scanner unit 2, the engine control unit 27, the storage unit 28, the operation panel unit 29, etc., in this embodiment, the following control is performed. That is, the CPU 261 determines that the consumable units such as the toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K and the imaging units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K that are mounted based on the information from the engine control unit 27 It is determined whether the product is a new product that has been installed for the first time in the image forming apparatus including the product, or an old product that has been installed, that is, an old product that has already been used.

  When the CPU 261 determines that a new consumable unit is mounted, the CPU 261 reads information on the charging method stored in the backup memory 29 and then stores the information on the charging method in the memory 9 of the consumable unit. 22 is written. On the other hand, when it is determined that the old consumable unit is mounted, information on the charging method is read from the memory 9 and 22 of the consumable unit and compared with the information on the charging method stored in the backup memory 29. Then, based on the result, whether or not the old consumable unit can be used is determined, and the printing operation for the image forming unit 3 is controlled via the engine control unit 27.

  In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the charging method is a charge method in which charging is performed according to the number of printed sheets and a spot method in which a user purchases a consumable unit and performs printing.

  The engine control unit 27 communicates with the MFP controller unit 26 and controls the printing operation by the image forming unit 3 in accordance with a command from the MFP controller unit 26. In this embodiment, when a signal indicating that a consumable unit is newly installed is transmitted from the consumable unit detection sensor 31, the engine control unit 27 sends memory chips 9 and 22 of the consumable unit. Is used to read new product information, which will be described later, and send the read new product information to the CPU 261.

  The storage unit 28 includes a recording medium such as a hard disk or a non-volatile memory, and stores image data of the original read by the scanner unit 2, other data, various programs, and the like.

  As described above, the backup memory 29 stores information indicating whether the charging method based on the contract between the user of the image forming apparatus 1 and the manufacturer is the charge method or the spot method. For example, the EEPROM ( Nonvolatile memory devices such as electronically erasable and programmable read only memory) are used.

  The operation panel unit 30 is used by the user to perform input operations and provide various screens and messages to the user. The operation panel unit 30 includes a key input unit including a plurality of keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key, and a mode setting screen. And a touch panel display (not shown) for displaying messages and the like.

  The consumable unit detection sensor 31 is provided for each of the toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K and the imaging units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K as the consumable units. It detects and outputs a mounting detection signal to the engine control unit 27.

  Next, address mapping of the memory chip 9 provided in the toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the memory chip 9 is composed of three different types of storage areas, addresses 00H to 1FH, addresses 20H to 2FH, and addresses 30H to 7FH. Each address stores information of up to 8 bits. Is possible.

  The storage areas at addresses 00H to 1FH are areas (ROM areas) in which subsequent writing is prohibited when data is written at the time of manufacture, and only reading is possible.

  In this storage area, a model identification code indicating the type of the toner cartridge, a color identification code indicating the color of the filled toner, and a destination code indicating the country or region where the toner cartridge is shipped are registered.

  The storage areas at addresses 20H to 2FH are areas (OTP areas) in which the image forming apparatus 1 can rewrite data only once, and new product information is written therein. The new product information is information indicating whether the toner cartridge 8Y, 8M, 8C, or 8K is a new product that has never been installed in the image forming apparatus or an old product that has been installed even once. That is, “FFh” is written when the toner cartridge is shipped in a new state, and when the toner cartridge is attached to any of the image forming apparatuses, it is rewritten to “FCh” to become an “old product”. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 reads this new product information, and determines that it is “new” if it is “FFh” and “old” if it is “FCh”.

  Further, information relating to the accounting method is also written in the storage areas of the addresses 20H to 2FH. This information is written by the image forming apparatus 1 when it is determined that the toner cartridge is new, and “FFh” is written at the time of shipment. The same information as the charging method stored in the backup memory 29 of the image forming apparatus 1 is written. Specifically, “AAh” indicating that the charging method is the charge method or “55h” indicating that the charging method is the spot method is written.

  As described above, the new information on the toner cartridge and the information related to the charging method are stored in the OTP area, and the storage area can only change each bit from “1” to “0”. Thus, it is impossible to return to the information indicating the later, or to change the billing method, and therefore it is possible to prevent falsification of the information.

  The storage areas at addresses 30H to 7FH are rewritable areas (R / W areas), and store information relating to control of the image forming apparatus 1 such as the remaining amount of toner.

  Note that the memory mapping of the memory chip 22 provided in the imaging units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K is the same as that of the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating address mapping of the backup memory 29 of the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the backup memory 29, all storage areas are rewritable areas (R / W areas), and information indicating whether a charging method based on a contract is a charge method or a spot method is stored at an address 120H. “AAh” is written in the charge method, and “55h” is written in the spot method.

As described above, since the information related to the charging method is stored in the rewritable area of the backup memory 29, when the charging method is changed by changing the contract form after the use of the image forming apparatus 1 is started. Can be rewritten with information about the new scheme. The rewriting is performed in a special mode such as a service mode that cannot be performed by a general user.
[Overview of control]
Next, the outline of the control in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, the case where the consumable unit is a toner cartridge (the toner cartridge is described as “TC” in FIGS. 5 and 6) will be described. However, the consumable unit may be another consumable unit such as an imaging unit. .

  As shown in FIG. 5A, it is assumed that a new toner cartridge is provided by the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus 1 whose charging method is the charge method ((1) in FIG. 5A). )). Information indicating that the charging method is the charge method is written in the backup memory 29 of the image forming apparatus 1. When a new toner cartridge is mounted, the image forming apparatus 1 rewrites the new information on the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge to “old product” ((2) in FIG. 5A) and writes it to the backup memory 29. Information indicating that the charging method is the charge method is written in the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge ((3) in FIG. 5A). When the toner cartridge is new, its use is permitted unconditionally and printing is permitted ((4) in FIG. 5A).

  Next, it is assumed that the toner cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus 1 and is mounted on another image forming apparatus that is also charged as shown in FIG. 5B. The image forming apparatus determines that the mounted toner cartridge is not new, and compares the charging method written in the backup memory 29 with the charging method written in the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge (FIG. 5B). (7)). In this case, both charging methods are the same in the charging method, so that the use of the toner cartridge is permitted ((8) in FIG. 5B). That is, printing is permitted.

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the toner cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 5A and is mounted on another spot type image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 5C. The image forming apparatus determines that the mounted toner cartridge is not a new one, and compares the charging method written in the backup memory 29 with the charging method written in the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge (FIG. 5C). (5)). In this case, since the charging method is different, use of the toner cartridge is prohibited ((6) in FIG. 5C). That is, printing is prohibited.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, it is assumed that a new toner cartridge purchased by the user is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 in which the charging method is the spot method ((1) in FIG. 6A). ). Information indicating that the charging method is the spot method is written in the backup memory 29 of the image forming apparatus 1. When a new toner cartridge is mounted, the image forming apparatus 1 rewrites new information on the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge to “old product” ((2) in FIG. 6A) and writes it to the backup memory 29. Information indicating that the billing method is the spot method is written in the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge ((3) in FIG. 6A). When the toner cartridge is new, printing is permitted unconditionally ((4) in FIG. 6A).

  Next, it is assumed that the toner cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus 1 and is attached to another image forming apparatus of the charge type as shown in FIG. 6B. The image forming apparatus determines that the mounted toner cartridge is not a new one, and compares the charging method written in the backup memory 29 with the charging method written in the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge (FIG. 6B). (5)). In this case, since the charging method is different, printing using the toner cartridge is prohibited ((6) in FIG. 6B).

On the other hand, it is assumed that the toner cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 6A and is mounted on another spot type image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 6C. The image forming apparatus determines that the mounted toner cartridge is not new, and compares the charging method written in the backup memory 29 with the charging method written in the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge (FIG. 6C). (7)). In this case, since both charging methods match, printing using the toner cartridge is permitted ((8) in FIG. 6C).
[Operation of Image Forming Apparatus 1]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In this embodiment, the toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are described as being exchanged to determine whether they are new or old, but the determination is made when the imaging units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K are replaced. The determination may be made for both the toner cartridge and the imaging unit.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation from when the toner cartridge is mounted to when permission / prohibition of use of the toner cut ridge is determined.

  When the user removes one of the toner cartridges and mounts another toner cartridge, this is detected by the consumable unit detection sensor 31 (step S11), and a mounting detection signal is transmitted to the engine control unit 27. The engine control unit 27 that has received the mounting detection signal reads the new product information stored in the memory chip 9 of the mounted toner cartridge (step S12), and sends the new product information to the CPU 261 (step S13).

  The CPU 261 that has received the new product information performs the following operation in accordance with a control program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 262. That is, first, it is determined whether or not the toner cartridge is new based on the new information (step S14).

  If it is determined that the cartridge is new (YES in step S14), the new information on the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge is rewritten to “old product” (step S15), and then stored in the backup memory 29 of the image forming apparatus 1. The information related to the charging method is read (step S16), and then the read information related to the charging method is written in the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge (step S17). In step S21, permission to use the toner cartridge is determined.

  On the other hand, if the mounted toner cartridge is an old product (NO in step S14), information related to the charging method has already been written in the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge, so the CPU 261 reads out information related to the charging method. At the same time, information related to the charging method is also read from the backup memory 29 of the image forming apparatus 1 (step S18), and both charging methods are compared (step S19).

  Next, as a result of the comparison, it is determined whether or not both charging methods match (step S20). If they match (YES in step S20), there is no problem even if the toner cartridge is reused. Proceed to determine permission to use the toner cartridge.

  If both charging methods do not match in step S20 (NO in step S20), the use of the toner cartridge is prohibited in order to prohibit the reuse of the toner cartridge (step S22).

  When the use permission or prohibition of the toner cartridge is determined, the engine control unit 27 controls the image forming unit 3 according to the determination, and the printing operation is executed or prohibited.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when it is determined that the mounted consumable unit is an old product, information on the charging method stored in the backup memory 29 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the toner cartridge The information regarding the charging method written in the memory chip 9 is compared. If the charging method is the same, the use of the toner cartridge is permitted, and if the charging method is different, the use is prohibited. For this reason, when an old toner cartridge having a charging system different from the charging system of the image forming apparatus is attached to the image forming apparatus 1, the use of the toner cartridge is prohibited, so that the charging system is different. It is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the toner cartridge is illegally used between the image forming apparatuses.

  On the other hand, when an old toner cartridge having the same charging method as the charging method of the image forming apparatus 1 is mounted, the use of the toner cartridge is permitted, and therefore consumables between image forming apparatuses of the same charging method. The unit can be reused.

  If it is determined that the attached toner cartridge is new, information on the charging method of the attached image forming apparatus is written into the memory chip 9 of the toner cartridge, and is applied to the toner cartridge at that time. Since the charging method to be performed is determined, the cost for production, sales, inventory management, etc. of the toner cartridge can be reduced as compared with the case where the charging method for the toner cartridge is determined at the toner cartridge production stage.

  In the embodiment, the MFP is exemplified as the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is applicable to other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine and a printer as long as the image forming apparatus uses a consumable unit. Needless to say.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a main part of the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating address mapping of a memory chip provided in a toner cartridge used in the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the address mapping of a backup memory. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an outline of control when a toner cartridge is mounted on an image forming apparatus that uses a charging method as a charging method. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an outline of control when a toner cartridge is mounted on an image forming apparatus that uses a spot charging method. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Scanner part 3 ... Image forming part 4 ... Paper feed part 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K ... Toner cartridge 9 ... Memory chip 10Y, 10M, 10C 10K: Imaging cartridge 21 ... Front door 22 ... Memory chip 26 ... MFP controller unit 27 ... Engine control unit 28 ... Storage unit 29 ... Backup memory 30 ... Operation Panel unit 31 ... Consumable unit mounting detection sensor 261 ... CPU
262 ... ROM

Claims (4)

Image forming means for performing a printing operation for printing print target data on paper;
A consumable unit that has a memory and is replaceably mounted and has a consumable that is consumed by the repetition of the printing operation is a new product that has been installed for the first time in the image forming apparatus including the apparatus itself or has been installed. New and old discrimination means for discriminating whether it is an old product,
Storage means for storing information relating to a charging method for printing;
A writing means for writing information relating to the charging method stored in the storage means into the memory of the consumable unit when the new / old discrimination means determines that the mounted consumable unit is a new one;
If the new / old discriminating means discriminates that the installed consumable unit is an old product, the information related to the accounting method stored in the storage means and the memory of the consumable unit are written. Control means for comparing information on charging methods, permitting use of the consumable unit if the charging method is the same, and prohibiting use of the consumable unit if the charging method is different;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The information related to the charging method is stored in a data rewritable area in the storage unit, and the information related to the charging method is written to the memory of the consumable unit only in the rewritable area. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1. Performing a printing operation for printing the data to be printed on paper;
A consumable unit that has a memory and is replaceably mounted and has a consumable that is consumed by the repetition of the printing operation is a new product that has been installed in the image forming apparatus for the first time or an old product that has been installed. A step of determining whether or not
If it is determined that the mounted consumable unit is new, writing information relating to the charging method stored in the storage means into the memory of the consumable unit;
If it is determined that the installed consumable unit is an old product, the information related to the charging method stored in the storage means and the information related to the charging method written in the memory of the consumable unit are compared. And permitting the use of the consumable unit if the billing method is the same, and prohibiting the use of the consumable unit if the billing method is different;
A printing control method for an image forming apparatus. Performing a printing operation for printing the data to be printed on paper;
A consumable unit that has a memory and is replaceably mounted and has a consumable that is consumed by the repetition of the printing operation is a new product that has been installed in the image forming apparatus for the first time or an old product that has been installed. A step of determining whether or not
If it is determined that the mounted consumable unit is new, writing information relating to the charging method stored in the storage means into the memory of the consumable unit;
If it is determined that the installed consumable unit is an old product, the information related to the charging method stored in the storage means and the information related to the charging method written in the memory of the consumable unit are compared. And permitting the use of the consumable unit if the billing method is the same, and prohibiting the use of the consumable unit if the billing method is different;
Is a print control program for causing a computer of the image forming apparatus to execute.

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