US 11,720,301 B2
Image forming apparatus having main body, main memory and controller, and consumable cartridge having cartridge memory therefor
Yuki Fukusada, Nagoya (JP)
Assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Aug. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/399,481.
Application 17/399,481 is a continuation of application No. 17/002,861, filed on Aug. 26, 2020, granted, now 11,132,155.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-176819 (JP), filed on Sep. 27, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0373823 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. G06F 3/12 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 3/1235 (2013.01) [G06F 3/121 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a consumable cartridge comprising a cartridge memory having a first area configured to store usage information indicating whether the consumable cartridge is unused and a second area configured to store identifying information for identifying the consumable cartridge; and
a main body comprising
a main memory, and
a controller,
wherein the controller executes
a storing process of storing the identifying information stored in the second area in the main memory in a case where the usage information stored in the first area indicates that the consumable cartridge is unused,
a first rewriting process of rewriting the usage information stored in the first area into information indicating that the consumable cartridge is used in a case where the usage information stored in the first area indicates that the consumable cartridge is unused, and
a first control process including
a process of allowing the image forming apparatus to execute printing in a case where the usage information stored in the first area indicates that the consumable cartridge is used and the identifying information stored in the second area is stored in the main memory, or
a process of executing a specific error process in a case where the usage information stored in the first area indicates that the consumable cartridge is used and the identifying information stored in the second area is not stored in the main memory,
wherein when the consumable cartridge is used, the usage information further indicates whether there is life remaining, and
wherein when the usage information does not indicate that the consumable cartridge is used, and there is no remaining life the controller executes an error process.