US 12,483,663 B2
Image forming apparatus and control method of switching function usable in image forming apparatus based on contract information of apparatus main body and consumable
Takashi Suzuki, Nagoya (JP); and Noriko Misumi, Konan (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Jul. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/356,144.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-117443 (JP), filed on Jul. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0031501 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 1/00 (2006.01); H04N 1/32 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 1/00925 (2013.01) [H04N 1/00514 (2013.01); H04N 1/32673 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an apparatus main body;
an apparatus memory configured to store first type information, the first type information indicating whether the apparatus main body is a contract apparatus or a normal apparatus, the contract apparatus being usable in a case where an apparatus contract for the image forming apparatus is set, the normal apparatus being usable regardless of whether the apparatus contract is set;
a consumable attached to the apparatus main body, the consumable including a consumable memory configured to store second type information, the second type information indicating whether the consumable is a contract consumable or a normal consumable, the contract consumable being usable in a case where a consumable contract for the image forming apparatus is set, the normal consumable being usable regardless of whether the consumable contract is set; and
a controller configured to:
determine whether the first type information indicates that the apparatus main body is the contract apparatus;
determine whether the second type information indicates that the consumable attached to the apparatus main body is the contract consumable; and
switch a function usable in the image forming apparatus based on a combination of the first type information and the second type information,
wherein the contract consumable and the normal consumable are unusable in a case where the apparatus contract for the image forming apparatus is set and the consumable contract for the image forming apparatus is set and a period for the apparatus contract ends, and
wherein the contract consumable is unusable and the normal consumable is usable in a case where the apparatus contract for the image forming apparatus is not set and the consumable contract for the image forming apparatus is set and a period for the consumable contract ends.