Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing having an opening; a cover for opening and closing the opening; a cartridge attachable to the casing through the opening; and a controller. The casing includes a first memory. The cartridge includes a second memory storing consumption state information representing a consumption state of the cartridge. The controller performs: determining whether the cartridge attached to the casing is unused; storing, when the attached cartridge is unused, the consumption state information acquired from the second memory in the first memory; determining, when the image forming apparatus is powered on or the cover is closed, whether the consumption state information in the first memory and the consumption state information in the second memory match; permitting use of the cartridge when the two sets of consumption state information match; and prohibiting use of the cartridge when the two set of consumption state information does not match.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main memory, and a controller. The main memory stores mode information indicating whether the image forming apparatus is set to a contract mode, an upper limit to which printing can be performed during a prescribed period, and an actual print sheet number actually printed during the prescribed period. The controller performs a printing permission process in a case that mode information indicates the contract mode and the actual print sheet number is less than the upper limit when the controller receives a print job even in a case that a sum of a specific print sheet number specified in advance in the print job and the actual print sheet number is greater than the upper limit. The printing permission process permits printing for the specific sheet number as a permission print sheet number.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a consumable cartridge and a main body. The consumable cartridge includes a cartridge memory storing usage information and identifying information. The main body includes a main memory and a controller. The controller stores the identifying information stored in the cartridge memory in the main memory and rewrites the usage information stored in the cartridge memory into information indicating that the consumable cartridge is used in a case where the usage information indicates that the consumable cartridge is unused.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, upon receipt of a printing instruction, a controller starts rotation of a heating member, starts rotation of a photoconductor drum when a standby time has elapsed from a time of the start of the rotation of the heating member, starts conveyance of a sheet after the start of the rotation of the photoconductor drum, and forms a toner image on the sheet after the start of the conveyance of the sheet. The controller is configured to be operated in one of selectable modes including a multicolor mode in which a toner image is formed using both of toner of a first color and a second color and a monochrome mode in which a toner image is formed using toner of the second color only. The standby time adopted in the monochrome mode is longer than the standby time adopted in the multicolor mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main memory, and a controller. The main memory stores mode information indicating whether the image forming apparatus is set to a contract mode, an upper limit to which printing can be performed during a prescribed period, and an actual print sheet number actually printed during the prescribed period. The controller performs a printing permission process in a case that mode information indicates the contract mode and the actual print sheet number is less than the upper limit when the controller receives a print job even in a case that a sum of a specific print sheet number specified in advance in the print job and the actual print sheet number is greater than the upper limit. The printing permission process permits printing for the specific sheet number as a permission print sheet number.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing having an opening; a cover for opening and closing the opening; a cartridge attachable to the casing through the opening; and a controller. The casing includes a first memory. The cartridge includes a second memory storing consumption state information representing a consumption state of the cartridge. The controller performs: determining whether the cartridge attached to the casing is unused; storing, when the attached cartridge is unused, the consumption state information acquired from the second memory in the first memory; determining, when the image forming apparatus is powered on or the cover is closed, whether the consumption state information in the first memory and the consumption state information in the second memory match; permitting use of the cartridge when the two sets of consumption state information match; and prohibiting use of the cartridge when the two set of consumption state information does not match.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main memory, and a controller. The main memory stores mode information indicating whether the image forming apparatus is set to a contract mode, upper limit information indicating an upper limit to which printing can be performed during a prescribed period, and actual print sheet number information indicating an actual print sheet number actually printed during the prescribed period. The performs a printing permission process in a case that mode information indicates the contract mode and the actual print sheet number is less than the upper limit when the controller receives a print job even in a case that a sum of a specific print sheet number specified in advance in the print job and the actual print sheet number is greater than the upper limit, the printing permission process permitting printing for the specific sheet number as a permission print sheet number.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing having an opening; a cover for opening and closing the opening; a cartridge attachable to the casing through the opening; and a controller. The casing includes a first memory. The cartridge includes a second memory storing consumption state information representing a consumption state of the cartridge. The controller performs: determining whether the cartridge attached to the casing is unused; storing, when the attached cartridge is unused, the consumption state information acquired from the second memory in the first memory; determining, when the image forming apparatus is powered on or the cover is closed, whether the consumption state information in the first memory and the consumption state information in the second memory match; permitting use of the cartridge when the two sets of consumption state information match; and prohibiting use of the cartridge when the two set of consumption state information does not match.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, upon receipt of a printing instruction, a controller starts rotation of a heating member, starts rotation of a photoconductor drum when a standby time has elapsed from a time of the start of the rotation of the heating member, starts conveyance of a sheet after the start of the rotation of the photoconductor drum, and forms a toner image on the sheet after the start of the conveyance of the sheet. The controller is configured to be operated in one of selectable modes including a multicolor mode in which a toner image is formed using both of toner of a first color and a second color and a monochrome mode in which a toner image is formed using toner of the second color only. The standby time adopted in the monochrome mode is longer than the standby time adopted in the multicolor mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a consumable cartridge and a main body. The consumable cartridge includes a cartridge memory storing usage information and identifying information. The main body includes a main memory and a controller. The controller stores the identifying information stored in the cartridge memory in the main memory and rewrites the usage information stored in the cartridge memory into information indicating that the consumable cartridge is used in a case where the usage information indicates that the consumable cartridge is unused.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main memory, and a controller. The main memory stores mode information indicating whether the image forming apparatus is set to a contract mode, upper limit information indicating an upper limit to which printing can be performed during a prescribed period, and actual print sheet number information indicating an actual print sheet number actually printed during the prescribed period. The performs a printing permission process in a case that mode information indicates the contract mode and the actual print sheet number is less than the upper limit when the controller receives a print job even in a case that a sum of a specific print sheet number specified in advance in the print job and the actual print sheet number is greater than the upper limit, the printing permission process permitting printing for the specific sheet number as a permission print sheet number.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing having an opening; a cover for opening and closing the opening; a cartridge attachable to the casing through the opening; and a controller. The casing includes a first memory. The cartridge includes a second memory storing consumption state information representing a consumption state of the cartridge. The controller performs: determining whether the cartridge attached to the casing is unused; storing, when the attached cartridge is unused, the consumption state information acquired from the second memory in the first memory; determining, when the image forming apparatus is powered on or the cover is closed, whether the consumption state information in the first memory and the consumption state information in the second memory match; permitting use of the cartridge when the two sets of consumption state information match; and prohibiting use of the cartridge when the two set of consumption state information does not match.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a consumable cartridge and a main body. The consumable cartridge includes a cartridge memory storing usage information and identifying information. The main body includes a main memory and a controller. The controller stores the identifying information stored in the cartridge memory in the main memory and rewrites the usage information stored in the cartridge memory into information indicating that the consumable cartridge is used in a case where the usage information indicates that the consumable cartridge is unused.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a consumable cartridge and a main body. The consumable cartridge includes a cartridge memory storing usage information and identifying information. The main body includes a main memory and a controller. The controller stores the identifying information stored in the cartridge memory in the main memory and rewrites the usage information stored in the cartridge memory into information indicating that the consumable cartridge is used in a case where the usage information indicates that the consumable cartridge is unused.

Abstract: A printing apparatus system, comprising: a printing apparatus; and connection devices connected to the printing apparatus in multistage, wherein a device side controller is configured to: execute an authentication process in cooperation with an apparatus side controller when a signal is input thereto, the signal corresponding to a start command signal output from the printing apparatus and input to an electric resistance; and execute a level process where a voltage level of the start command signal passed the electric resistance is set to be higher than or equal to a predetermined level when the authentication process is finished, wherein the apparatus side controller is configured to store identification information assigned to each of the connection devices and number-of-stage information indicating, for each of the connection devices, which stage a connection device associated with the identification information is connected to, wherein the identification information is associated with the number-of-stage

Abstract: A printing apparatus system, comprising: a printing apparatus; and connection devices connected to the printing apparatus in multistage, wherein a device side controller is configured to: execute an authentication process in cooperation with an apparatus side controller when a signal is input thereto, the signal corresponding to a start command signal output from the printing apparatus and input to an electric resistance; and execute a level process where a voltage level of the start command signal passed the electric resistance is set to be higher than or equal to a predetermined level when the authentication process is finished, wherein the apparatus side controller is configured to store identification information assigned to each of the connection devices and number-of-stage information indicating, for each of the connection devices, which stage a connection device associated with the identification information is connected to, wherein the identification information is associated with the number-of-stage

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device having a heating member, a heat source, a rotating member, and a temperature sensor; and a control device configured to control the heat source, wherein, in a case of a low temperature state where the temperature of the heating member is lower than a predetermined temperature, the control device to control the heat source such that the temperature of the heating member rises with a gradient equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and wherein, in a case of a high temperature state where the temperature of the heating member at the print-instruction receiving time is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the control device to control the heat source such that the temperature of the heating member rises with a gradient smaller than that in the normal mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device having a heat source, a heating member, and a backup member; a temperature detecting member; a driving source configured to rotate at least one of the heating member and the backup member; a transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a driving force of the driving source; and a control device configured to control the heat source and the driving source, wherein, after a power is turned on, the control device turns on the heat source before the driving source is driven for the first time, and wherein, when at least one of a condition, where the temperature detected by the temperature detecting member becomes a first temperature, and a condition where a predetermined period elapses after the power is turned on, is satisfied, the control device turns off the heat source and then drives the driving source.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a fixing device; a power supply unit; a non-contact temperature sensor; and a control device. The fixing device has a heating member. The power supply unit is configured to supply electric power to the heating member. The non-contact temperature sensor is disposed in a position separate from the heating member and configured to detect temperature of the heating member. A first function and a second function respectively produce a first corrected temperature value and a second corrected temperature value smaller than the first corrected temperature value with respect to a given detected temperature. The control device is configured to: select the first function to correct the detected temperature at a start of a print control process; switch from the first function to the second function at a prescribed timing during the print control process; and control the power supply unit based on the corrected temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include: a heating unit including a heating member that is heated by a heat source and a backup member that forms a nip portion; a feeding unit; and a control unit configured to control the heat source and the feeding unit, wherein the control unit controls the feeding unit such that each of a plurality of recording sheets is fed to the nip portion, wherein some of the plurality of the recording sheets are sequentially conveyed at a second interval to each other, wherein a first recording sheet of the some of the plurality of the recording sheets is fed to have a first interval with respect to a previously conveyed recording sheet, and wherein the control unit increases the output of the heat source on a timing when a front end of the first recording sheet reaches a periphery of the nip portion.