IP Library Granted Patent US 8,750,728
Granted Patent B2
US 8,750,728 · App. 13/219,769 · Granted Jun 10, 2014

Image forming apparatus that compares stored ID information to determine whether to permit use of a replacement part

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,750,728
App. No.
13/219,769
Granted
Jun 10, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body settable to any of at least first and second modes; a replacement part detachably attachable to the apparatus body; a first storage provided in the apparatus body and configured to store ID information for at least a selected one of the first and second modes; a second storage provided in the replacement part and configured to store ID information of the replacement part; and a determination section configured to compare the ID information of the apparatus body stored in the first storage with the ID information of the replacement part stored in the second storage to determine whether to permit use of the replacement part, wherein the second storage of the replacement part shipped with the image forming apparatus stores at least first ID information for the first mode and second ID information for the second mode.

Claims (44)

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an apparatus body settable to any of at least first and second modes;

a replacement part detachably attachable to the apparatus body;

a first storage provided in the apparatus body and configured to store ID information for at least a selected one of the first and second modes;

a second storage provided in the replacement part and configured to store ID information of the replacement part; and

a determination section configured to compare the ID information of the apparatus body stored in the first storage with the ID information of the replacement part stored in the second storage to determine whether to permit use of the replacement part, wherein

the second storage of the replacement part shipped with the image forming apparatus stores at least first ID information for the first mode and second ID information for the second mode.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an ID information rewrite section configured to rewrite the ID information stored in the second storage provided in the replacement part; and

a count section configured to count the number of times that the image forming apparatus prints, wherein

the ID information rewrite section writes the ID information stored in the first storage to the second storage when a counted value of the count section reaches a predetermined value.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the determination section compares the ID information of the apparatus body with the ID information of the replacement part to determine whether to permit use of the replacement part when the image forming apparatus is powered on or when a cover of the apparatus body is opened and closed.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the determination section displays a predetermined message on a display section when not permitting use of the replacement part.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the replacement part is a toner cartridge.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the second storage is a wireless tag.

7. A multifunction apparatus comprising the image forming apparatus of claim 1 .

8. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an apparatus body settable to any of a plurality of modes;

a replacement part detachably attachable to the apparatus body;

a first storage provided in the apparatus body and configured to store ID information for a selected one of the plurality of modes;

a second storage provided in the replacement part and configured to store ID information of the replacement part;

a third storage provided in the apparatus body and configured to store universal ID information which remains unchanged with a change in a setting of the apparatus body; and

a determination section configured to compare the ID information of the apparatus body stored in the first or third storage with the ID information of the replacement part stored in the second storage to determine whether to permit use of the replacement part, wherein

the second storage of the replacement part shipped with the image forming apparatus stores ID information the same as the universal ID information stored in the third storage, and

the determination section permits use of the replacement part installed in the apparatus body if the second storage stores the universal ID information.

9. The image forming apparatus of claim 8 , wherein

the first and third storages are formed of a same storage.

10. The image forming apparatus of claim 8 , wherein

the determination section determines whether the ID information of the apparatus body stored in the first storage matches the ID information of the replacement part stored in the second storage if the ID information stored in the second storage is not the universal ID information, and

the determination section permits use of the replacement part if the ID information of the apparatus body matches the ID information of the replacement part.

11. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an apparatus body settable to any of a plurality of modes;

a replacement part detachably attachable to the apparatus body;

a first storage provided in the apparatus body and configured to store ID information for a selected one of the plurality of modes;

a second storage provided in the replacement part and configured to store ID information of the replacement part; and

a determination section configured to compare the ID information of the apparatus body stored in the first storage with the ID information of the replacement part stored in the second storage to determine whether to permit use of the replacement part, wherein

the determination section permits use of the replacement part installed in the apparatus body if the ID information stored in the second storage of the replacement part shipped with the image forming apparatus is empty.

12. The image forming apparatus of claim 11 , wherein

if the ID information stored in the second storage is not empty, the determination section determines whether the ID information of the apparatus body matches the ID information of the replacement part, and

if the ID information of the apparatus body matches the ID information of the replacement part, the determination section permits use of the replacement part.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: OKI DATA CORPORATION
To: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059365/0145 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2011
From: HAYAKAWA, YOICHI; ITO, YUKIO
To: OKI DATA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026819/0506 →