Patent ID: 6711362
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: B41J,G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:a process unit inserted in and removed from the image forming apparatus, wherein the process unit includes a first memory having an identification code and a count value stored therein; a memory access unit that accesses the first memory and reads the identification code and the count value; a second memory that stores an identification code and a count value of the image forming apparatus; and a control unit that limits an image forming operation if the identification code stored in the first memory matches the identification code stored in the second memory and the count value stored in the first memory has a predetermined relation with the count value of the second memory; wherein, upon the insertion of the process unit into the image forming apparatus, the identification codes of the first and second memories are compared, and if the identification codes match, the count value stored in the second memory is changed to a new count value, the new count value is stored in the first memory, and the image forming operation is allowed.