Patent ID: 6164740
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: B41J,H04N

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus which selectively and exchangeably mounts one of a first recording means for recording in a plurality of colors and a second recording means for recording in monochrome, and for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising:reading means for reading an image on an original in a plurality of colors or in monochrome;mounting means for exchangeably mounting said first recording means and said second recording means;determining means for determining a kind of recording means mounted in said mounting means;instructing means which instructs either a color copy operation of reading the image on the original in a plurality of colors by said reading means and recording same, or a copy operation of reading the image on the original in monochrome and recording same;control means for causing, when said instructing means instructs a color copy operation, said determining means to determine whether or not the first recording means is mounted by said mounting means, and when it is determined that the first recording means is mounted, for conducting control so as to execute the color copy operation; andnotifying means for giving a notification to a user,wherein said control means sends a message promoting mounting of said first recording means by said notifying means when it is determined that said first recording means is not mounted.