Abstract: An electronic control device comprises an electronically rewritable nonvolatile memory which has first storage area and second storage area. The first storage area stores a control program in which control data is embedded, and the second storage area stores a plurality of control data usable for the control program and a rewrite program for rewriting the control data of the control program to one piece of control data selected from the plurality of control data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a density detection part and a control part to correct a density of developer image. The control part causes the density detection part to detect a density of first developer image and second developer image to obtain a first density detection result, and to detect a second density detection result that is another density detection result, and afterwards computes a first density comparison value by comparing the first density detection result with the second density detection result and corrects the density of the first developer image by subtracting the first density comparison value from the first density detection result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a density detection part and a control part to correct a density of developer image. The control part causes the density detection part to detect a density of first developer image and second developer image to obtain a first density detection result, and to detect a second density detection result that is another density detection result, and afterwards computes a first density comparison value by comparing the first density detection result with the second density detection result and corrects the density of the first developer image by subtracting the first density comparison value from the first density detection result.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes an image formation apparatus body, and a replacement member detachably provided in the image formation apparatus body and configured to be used for image formation. The replacement member includes a first storage to store a life determination value used in life determination of the replacement member. The image formation apparatus body includes a connection section configured to be connected to the first storage of the replacement member, and a controller configured to operate in: a first processing mode of accessing the first storage of the replacement member to acquire the life determination value and managing the life of the replacement member based on the acquired life determination value; and a second processing mode of managing the life of the replacement member such that the quality of image formation using the replacement member is not lower than that obtained through operation in the first processing mode.

Abstract: One of two replaceable components is selectively detachably attached to an apparatus. A first component includes first information that includes first lifetime indicative of a lifetime of the first component and is used for managing usage of the first component. A second component includes second information for managing usage of the second component. A controller determines, based on one of the first and second lifetimes, whether the apparatus should operate. The controller drives the apparatus to operate based on the first lifetime if a read/write section successfully reads the first lifetime from one of the first and second components that has been attached to the apparatus. The controller drives the apparatus to operate based on the second lifetime if the read/write section fails to read the first lifetime from one of the first and second components that has been attached to the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image forming part forming an image, and a developer containing part containing a developer, removably installed to the image forming part, and supplying the developer to the image forming part. The image forming part includes a first memory part storing first usage information indicating usage information of the image forming part and second usage information indicating usage information of the developer in the image forming part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body and a replaceable component. The main body includes a first storage unit storing first authentication informations for authentication with the replaceable component, a data storage unit storing authentication data for choosing the first authentication information. The replaceable component includes a second storage unit storing second authentication informations corresponding to the first authentication information. Authentication data is set to be different among different image forming apparatuses. The main body attempts authentication with the replaceable component using the first authentication information chosen based on the authentication data. When the second authentication information corresponding to the chosen first authentication information is stored, a control unit establishes connection between communication units of the main body and the replaceable component.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes an image formation apparatus body, and a replacement member detachably provided in the image formation apparatus body and configured to be used for image formation. The replacement member includes a first storage to store a life determination value used in life determination of the replacement member. The image formation apparatus body includes a connection section configured to be connected to the first storage of the replacement member, and a controller configured to operate in: a first processing mode of accessing the first storage of the replacement member to acquire the life determination value and managing the life of the replacement member based on the acquired life determination value; and a second processing mode of managing the life of the replacement member such that the quality of image formation using the replacement member is not lower than that obtained through operation in the first processing mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body and a replaceable component. The main body includes a first storage unit storing first authentication informations for authentication with the replaceable component, a data storage unit storing authentication data for choosing the first authentication information. The replaceable component includes a second storage unit storing second authentication informations corresponding to the first authentication information. Authentication data is set to be different among different image forming apparatuses. The main body attempts authentication with the replaceable component using the first authentication information chosen based on the authentication data. When the second authentication information corresponding to the chosen first authentication information is stored, a control unit establishes connection between communication units of the main body and the replaceable component.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image forming part forming an image, and a developer containing part containing a developer, removably installed to the image forming part, and supplying the developer to the image forming part. The image forming part includes a first memory part storing first usage information indicating usage information of the image forming part and second usage information indicating usage information of the developer in the image forming part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of performing a plurality of controlling operations. The image forming apparatus includes a detachable replaceable part having an information storing unit that stores predetermined information, an information reading unit that reads the predetermined information from the information storing unit, a determining unit that determines whether the replaceable part is a genuine part or not based on the predetermined information read by the information reading unit, a display unit capable of displaying the predetermined information, and a control unit that determines a controlling operation among the plurality of controlling operations based on a determination by the determining unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding procedure supplies recording media from a medium enclosing portion to a medium conveying path. An overlap-feed detecting procedure monitors a thickness of recording media supplied to the medium conveying path, thereby detecting the overlap-feed media. Sheet returning procedures (A) and (B) return the overlap-feed media into the medium enclosing portion when the overlap-feed media are detected. A looseness forming procedure applies rotational forces of different rotation speeds to upper and lower surfaces of the overlap-feed media during the medium returning procedure, thereby forming a looseness in the overlap-feed media. A medium re-feeding procedure supplies again the returned recording media to the medium conveying path from the medium enclosing portion. In the medium feed control, the overlap-feed can be further certainly recovered.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of performing a plurality of controlling operations. The image forming apparatus includes a detachable replaceable part having an information storing unit that stores predetermined information, an information reading unit that reads the predetermined information from the information storing unit, a determining unit that determines whether the replaceable part is a genuine part or not based on the predetermined information read by the information reading unit, a display unit capable of displaying the predetermined information, and a control unit that determines a controlling operation among the plurality of controlling operations based on a determination by the determining unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding procedure supplies recording media from a medium enclosing portion to a medium conveying path. An overlap-feed detecting procedure monitors a thickness of recording media supplied to the medium conveying path, thereby detecting the overlap-feed media. Sheet returning procedures (A) and (B) return the overlap-feed media into the medium enclosing portion when the overlap-feed media are detected. A looseness forming procedure applies rotational forces of different rotation speeds to upper and lower surfaces of the overlap-feed media during the medium returning procedure, thereby forming a looseness in the overlap-feed media. A medium re-feeding procedure supplies again the returned recording media to the medium conveying path from the medium enclosing portion. In the medium feed control, the overlap-feed can be further certainly recovered.