Patent ID: 7313334

Claim:
An image formation device, comprising: an image carrier in which is formed a latent image; a development device in which a plurality of development units housing a developing agent can be detachably mounted; and a control unit that controls a print operation, wherein: development units of a plurality of colors used to form color images, excluding a development unit of black color to form monochrome images, are mountable only in respectively reserved mounting positions of said development device, said development unit of black color is mountable in any mounting position among said plurality of mounting positions, when the development units of the plurality of colors, used to form color images, are mounted in the respectively reserved mounting positions of said development device, said control unit controls the print operation to operate in a color printing mode and controls a development process by using the development units of the plurality colors in an order of the reserved mounting positions; when the development unit of black color is mounted in any of the plurality of mounting positions, the control unit controls the print operation to operate in a monochrome printing mode.