Patent ID: 9392130
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: H04N

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an option device that includes an option control portion and an option storage portion; a printing portion that prints an image onto a sheet; a main body storage portion that stores control information which defines a control condition of the option device; an I/F portion for communicating with the option device mounted on the image forming apparatus, and a main body control portion that makes the printing portion perform operation in accordance with the control condition of the option device and gives, via the I/F portion, an operation instruction to the option control portion based on the control condition of the option device, wherein the option storage portion stores control information that defines a control condition suitable for specifications of the option device, in a case where an unsuitableness error, which is an error caused by the control information stored in the main body storage portion being unsuitable for the specifications of the option device, occurs in the option device, the option control portion transmits, via the I/F portion, error information indicating content of the occurring unsuitableness error and the control information stored in the option storage portion to the main body control portion, the main body control portion updates the control information stored in the main body storage portion based on the control information transmitted from the option control portion such that the control information stored in the main body storage portion becomes suitable for the specifications of the option device, the option device is a post-process device including a post-process execution portion that applies a post-process to the sheet introduced from the printing portion, based on an output from a sheet detection sensor disposed at an introduction port that serves as an accepting aperture for the sheet introduced from the printing portion, the option control portion detects the sheet introduced into the post-process device, the control information stored in the option storage portion includes data that indicates a suitable between-sheets distance which is a between-sheets distance to be disposed between a rear end of a preceding sheet and a tip end of a following sheet in a case where a plurality of sheets are continuously introduced into the post-process device, in the case where a plurality of sheets are continuously introduced, the option control portion detects a between-sheets distance based on the output from the sheet detection sensor, and if the detected between-sheets distance is not suitable for specifications of the post-process device, the option control portion determines that the unsuitableness error occurs and transmits the control information, which includes the data stored in the option storage portion and indicating the suitable between-sheets distance, and the error information to the main body control portion, and the main body control portion updates the control information stored in the main body storage portion based on the control information transmitted from the option control portion, thereby thereafter setting the between-sheets distance, when continuously introducing a plurality of sheets into the post-process device, to the suitable between-sheets distance.