Detachable unit, image forming apparatus, server computer, computer program, and client system

• US 20040240893A1
• Filed: 12/04/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Inaba, Masaharu, Sato, Hideki, Nanba, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,190,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/8
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5075 Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0695 using identification means or means for storing process or use parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1823 Cartridges having electronically readable memory

Abstract

A technical solution for easily carrying out detailed image formation control corresponding to respective customers, i.e., a detachable unit, an image forming apparatus, a server computer, a computer program and client system for easily carrying out detailed image formation control corresponding to respective customers, is to be provided. The detachable unit is a detachable unit detachable to an image forming apparatus, the detachable unit has a memory part storing information containing control information, and upon mounting the detachable unit on an image forming apparatus main member, operation of the image forming apparatus is controlled based on the information stored in the memory part.

Claims

1. A detachable unit detachable to an image forming apparatus,

the detachable unit comprising a memory part storing information containing control information, and

upon mounting the detachable unit on an image forming apparatus main member, operation of the image forming apparatus being controlled based on the information stored in the memory part.

2. The detachable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory part of the detachable unit stores control information corresponding to a destination of the detachable unit.

3. The detachable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control information stored in the memory part of the detachable unit is updated i times (1≦

i≦

n, where i and n each represent a natural number) corresponding to n-th destinations of from a manufacturer to an end customer of the detachable unit.

4. The detachable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control information stored in the memory part is one that is capable of being updated under a state where the detachable unit is not mounted on the image forming apparatus main member.

5. The detachable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detachable unit has a reception part for receiving an external signal, and the control information stored in the memory part is updated based on the signal received by the reception part.

6. The detachable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control information stored in the memory part is updated at least once from an initial state.

7. The detachable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory part of the detachable unit stores specification information showing specification of the detachable unit.

8. The detachable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory part of the detachable unit stores use history information showing use history of the detachable unit.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming apparatus main member, a detachable unit detachable to the image forming apparatus main member, and a control means for controlling operation of the image forming apparatus,

the detachable unit comprising a memory part storing information containing control information, and

the control means controlling operation of the image forming apparatus based on the information stored in the memory part.

10. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the detachable unit is a fixing unit for fixing a toner image formed on a recording sheet, and

the control means controls operation of the fixing unit based on the information stored in the memory part.

11. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the detachable unit is an image forming unit for forming a toner image on a recording sheet,

the image forming apparatus main member comprises a fixing unit for fixing the toner image formed on the recording sheet, and

the control means controls operation of the fixing unit based on the information stored in the memory part.

12. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the image forming apparatus has an output means for outputting information to a user,

the memory part stores, as the control information, delivery agent information showing delivery agent of the detachable unit, specification information showing specification of the detachable unit and use history information showing use history of the detachable unit, and

in the case where it is decided that a time for replacement of the detachable unit approaches based on the specification information and the use history information, the control means outputs the delivery agent information to the output means.

13. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the memory part stores advertisement information showing advertisement as the control information, and

the control means prints the advertisement information on a recording sheet upon forming an image.

14. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the image forming apparatus has an input means for inputting information from a user, and

the control means prints the advertisement information on a recording sheet based on a preference of the user input from the input means.

15. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the image forming apparatus has an accounting means for accounting corresponding to a number of times of image formation, and

the control means reduces the account in the case where the advertisement information is printed upon forming an image.

16. A server computer capable of communicating with plural client computers through an information communication network,

the server computer storing control information corresponding to the client computers and transmitting the control information to the client computers, and

the control information being information that controls an image forming apparatus.

17. A computer program for a server computer capable of communicating with plural client computers through an information communication network,

the computer program transmitting control information stored in the server computer to a client computer, and

the control information being information that controls an image forming apparatus.

18. A client system comprising a client computer capable of communicating with a server computer through an information communication network, and a writing device for writing control information obtained from the client computer on a memory part of a detachable unit detachable to an image forming apparatus, and

the control information being transmitted from the server computer to the client computer through an information communication network and being information that controls the image forming apparatus.