JP2004299156A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten time for reading out control information from a storage means of a consumable article, in an image forming apparatus which is fitted with the consumable article with the storage means wherein the control information is stored, and wherein a prescribed operation to be controlled is controlled depending on the control information. <P>SOLUTION: Information on identification of an ink container 10 and information on viscosity of ink are stored in the storage means 8 of the ink container 10; when the apparatus is loaded with the ink container 10, only the information on the identification is read from the storage means 8 by a reading means 65; when the information on the identification is not stored in a storage part 66 of a body yet, the information on the viscosity of the ink is read from the storage means 8 by the reading means 65, so that the information on the identification and the information on the viscosity of the ink can be stored in the storage part 66 in such a manner as to correspond to each other; and the information on the viscosity of the ink is output to a control means 68. Additionally, when the read information on identification is already stored in the storage part 66, the information on the viscosity of the ink is output from the storage part 66 to the control means 68 without making the information on the viscosity of the ink read by the reading means 65. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a consumable having storage means for storing control information is mounted, and an operation of a predetermined control target is controlled according to the control information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in various image forming apparatuses such as a stencil printing apparatus and an ink jet recording apparatus, for example, an ink container or a stencil paper roll having a structure detachable from the stencil printing apparatus for reasons such as easy handling. Consumables such as are used. In addition, a detachable ink container is used in an ink jet recording apparatus as described above. The consumables described above are mounted on the main body of the device, and after supplying ink and stencil paper to the required locations as appropriate, when all of the ink and stencil paper are consumed, they are removed for disposal or recycling. It is. Then, the printing can be continuously performed by mounting the new consumables again.
[0003]
In a stencil printing apparatus using the above consumables, for example, in Patent Document 1, a consumable is provided with a memory IC for storing control information, and the control information is read from the memory IC to perform predetermined control. A stencil printing apparatus for controlling the operation of an object has been proposed. Specifically, for example, a memory IC that stores the viscosity information of the ink in the ink container is provided in the ink container mounted on the stencil printing apparatus, and the viscosity information of the ink is read from the memory IC by the stencil printing apparatus, and the reading is performed. The printing pressure of the press roller is controlled based on the viscosity information of the ink, and the energy amount of the thermal head suitable for making the stencil is stored in the stencil roll attached to the stencil printing machine. There is proposed a stencil printing apparatus in which a memory IC is provided, the amount of energy is read from the memory IC by a stencil printing apparatus, and the heat generation operation of a thermal head is controlled based on the read amount of energy. By storing various kinds of control information in the memory IC provided in the consumable as described above, it is possible to perform appropriate operation control in the stencil printing apparatus using the control information.
[0004]
Here, in the stencil printing apparatus as described above, the control information stored in the memory IC as described above generally indicates that consumables such as ink containers and stencil rolls are mounted on the stencil printing apparatus. When the stencil printing apparatus returns from a state in which consumables cannot be recognized, such as when the power of the stencil printing apparatus is turned on, the control information read from the memory IC is stored in a memory in the stencil printing apparatus. Is done.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-18507 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the control information stored in the memory IC is various as described above, it takes a lot of time to read from the memory IC. Therefore, an inconvenience has arisen that the operator must wait until all the control information is read from the memory IC and the printing operation starts.
[0007]
In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a consumable having a storage unit storing control information is mounted, and an operation of a predetermined control target is controlled according to the control information. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of shortening the time for reading control information from the storage means.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a detachable unit in which a consumable is detachably attached, the detachable unit having storage means for storing identification information for identifying the consumable and control information corresponding to the identification information, A reading unit capable of reading the identification information and the control information stored in the storage unit of the mounted consumable, and a predetermined operation whose operation is controlled in relation to the consumable based on the control information read by the reading unit Control means for controlling the operation of the control object, a main body storage unit for storing the identification information read by the reading means and the control information in association with each other, and control information stored in the storage means for the consumable supplies to the control means. When outputting, only the identification information is read from the storage means of the consumables by the reading means, and if it is confirmed that the read identification information is already stored in the main body storage unit, the identification information is read. The corresponding control information is output from the main body storage unit to the control unit, and if it is not confirmed that the read identification information is already stored in the main body storage unit, the reading unit outputs the consumables from the storage unit. An information input / output control unit for reading the control information, storing the identification information and the control information in association with each other in the main body storage unit, and outputting the control information to the control unit is provided.
[0009]
Here, as the “identification information”, for example, a serial number can be used, but any other information for identifying consumables may be used.
[0010]
The “predetermined control object whose operation is controlled in relation to the consumable” may be any object as long as its operation is controlled according to the characteristics of the consumable. If the product is a stencil roll, the thermal head is controlled to generate heat with the amount of energy corresponding to the type of the stencil of the stencil roll, and if the consumable is an ink container, the ink container A press roller controlled to have a printing pressure corresponding to the viscosity of the ink contained in the ink container, and a printing drum installed in the apparatus according to the color of the ink contained in the ink container. Is determined, and if a printing drum of a color different from the color of the ink contained in the ink container is installed, there is a printing operation stopping means for stopping the printing operation.
[0011]
The “control information” may be any information as long as it is information for operating the “control target”. For example, when the control target is a thermal head, information indicating the energy amount, control If the target is a press roller, information indicating the printing pressure can be used, and if the control target is the printing operation stopping unit, information indicating the color of ink can be used. The "control information" may be directly related to the control operation such as the energy amount or the printing pressure, or may include information indirectly indicating the control operation. For example, the type of stencil paper can be used as an indirect indication of the energy amount, and the viscosity of ink can be used as an indirect indication of the printing pressure.
[0012]
Further, the image forming apparatus can be applied to a stencil printing apparatus.
[0013]
【The invention's effect】
According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the control information stored in the storage unit for consumables is output to the control unit, only the identification information is read from the storage unit for consumables by the reading unit, and the read identification information is read. When it is confirmed that the information is already stored in the main body storage unit, control information corresponding to the identification information is output from the main body storage unit to the control unit, and the read identification information is already stored in the main body storage unit. If it is not confirmed that the control information is stored in the storage unit, the control unit reads the control information from the storage unit of the consumable supplies, stores the identification information and the control information in the main body storage unit in association with each other, and Since the control information is output to the control means, when the control information is already stored in the main body storage section, it can be prevented from being read, and the control means is controlled from the consumable storage means. It is possible to shorten the time to read the information.
[0014]
In the case where the image forming apparatus is applied to a stencil printing apparatus, the stencil printing apparatus has a large amount of control information to be stored in a storage unit for consumables. Obtainable.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a stencil printing apparatus using a first embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the stencil printing apparatus 1.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the stencil printing apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 10 that reads an image of a document, a stencil making unit 20 that performs a stencil making process on a stencil sheet M based on image information read by the image reading unit 10, A printing unit 30 for printing on printing paper using the stencil sheet M made in the printing unit 20; a paper feeding unit 40 for feeding printing paper to the printing unit 30; a paper discharging unit 50 for discharging printed printing paper; And a stencil discharging unit 60 for discarding the used stencil sheet M.
[0017]
The image reading unit 10 is an image scanner, and includes a line image sensor 12 for reading an image of a document conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, and a document feed roller 14.
[0018]
The plate making unit 20 includes a base paper roll unit 21, a plate making unit 22 having a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a row, base paper feed rollers 23 and 24, base paper guide rollers 25, 26 and 27, and base paper. And a cutter 28.
[0019]
The printing unit 30 includes an ink-permeable cylindrical printing drum 31 such as a perforated metal plate and a mesh structure, a squeegee roller 32, a doctor roller 33, and an ink supply pump 35 (see FIG. 2) disposed inside the printing drum 31. ), And a press roller 36. A perforated stencil sheet M is wound around the drum and mounted.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, the ink container 10 containing the ink used in the printing unit 30 is provided with an opening 11 at the tip end of which the ink is ejected. It is connected to an ink supply pump 35 installed inside. Further, the ink container 10 is provided with a storage means 8 for storing predetermined information at the tip thereof. The storage means 8 includes a memory IC 81 constituting a nonvolatile memory (such as an EEPROM) capable of storing data for a certain period without supplying power, and a contact 83 is provided at a tip of a substrate 82 to which the memory IC 81 is attached. ing. The memory IC 81 of the storage means 8 stores identification information for identifying the ink container 10 and viscosity information of the ink contained in the ink container 10.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, a connector 84 is provided near the ink supply pump 35 of the stencil printing machine 1 to be electrically connected to the contact 83 of the storage unit 8 of the ink container 10. The connector 84 is connected to a reading unit 65 described later. The connector 84 functions as a part of the reading unit 65.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, the stencil printing apparatus 1 has a reading unit that can read the identification information stored in the storage unit 8 of the attached ink container 10 and the viscosity information of the ink corresponding to the identification information. 65, a main body storage unit 66 for storing the identification information read by the reading unit 65 and the viscosity information of the ink in association with each other, and when the ink container 10 is mounted, the reading unit 65 identifies the identification information from the storage unit 8 of the ink container 10. Only the information is read, and it is confirmed whether or not the read identification information is already stored in the main body storage unit 66. If it is confirmed that the identification information is already stored in the main body storage unit 66, Causes the control unit 68 to output the viscosity information of the ink corresponding to the read identification information from the main body storage unit 66, and the read identification information is already stored in the main body storage unit 66. If it is not confirmed that the ink viscosity has been confirmed, the reading means 65 reads the ink viscosity information from the storage means 8 of the ink container 10 and associates the identification information with the ink viscosity information to store the main body storage unit. The information input / output control means 67 causes the control means 68 to output the viscosity information of the ink corresponding to the identification information from the main body storage part 66, and the information input / output control means 67 outputs the viscosity information from the main body storage part 66. Control means 68 for obtaining a printing pressure of the press roller 36 based on the viscosity information of the ink, and outputting a control signal to operate the press roller 36 at the printing pressure.
[0023]
The control means 68 stores a table in which ink viscosity information and printing pressure are associated with each other. The control means 68 determines the printing pressure by referring to the table based on the input ink viscosity information. The control signal is output so that the press roller 36 operates at the printing pressure. The above table is set so that the larger the viscosity information of the ink is, the higher the required printing pressure is.
[0024]
The paper supply unit 40 includes a paper supply table 41 on which the print papers P are placed, a pickup roller 42 that takes out the print papers P one by one from the paper supply table 41, and a print drum 31 and a press roller 36 that transport the print papers P. And a timing roller 43 for feeding the sheet between them.
[0025]
The paper discharge unit 50 includes a peeling claw 51 for peeling the print paper P from the print drum 31, a paper discharge feed belt unit 52, and a paper discharge table 53 on which the printed print paper P is stacked. .
[0026]
The stencil discharge unit 60 is provided on one side of the printing unit 30, and receives a used stencil sheet M peeled off from the printing drum 31 and a stencil discharge box 61, and peels the used stencil sheet M from the printing drum 31. And a plate discharge roller 62 which feeds the plate into the plate discharge box 61.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the stencil printing machine 1 will be described.
[0028]
First, the stencil paper roll 21b is set on the master holder 90, and a stencil paper M having a length corresponding to one preset stencil sheet is fed out. Then, in the plate making section 20, a plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 22 are individually and selectively heated to perform heat-perforated plate making, and the plate-making stencil sheet M is cut by the base paper cutter 28 to form the printing drum 31. Is wound around.
[0029]
On the other hand, the ink container 10 is installed in the ink supply pump 35 of the ink supply device 34, whereby the contact 83 of the storage means 8 and the connector 84 are connected, and only the identification information stored in the storage means 8 by the reading means 65 is read. It is read via the contact 83 and the connector 84. Then, the identification information read at this time is output to the information input / output control means 67, and the information input / output control means 67 checks whether or not the identification information is stored in the main body storage section 66. If the information input / output control unit 67 does not confirm that the identification information is stored in the main body storage unit 66, the information input / output control unit 67 uses the reading unit 65 to store the ink container 10. 8 to read the viscosity information of the ink corresponding to the identification information, store the identification information and the viscosity information of the ink in the main body storage unit 66 in association with each other, and control the viscosity information of the ink from the main body storage unit 66. Output to means 68. In this embodiment, if the information input / output control unit 67 does not confirm that the identification information is stored in the main body storage unit 66, the identification information and the viscosity of the ink are stored in the main body storage unit 66 as described above. After the information is stored, the ink viscosity information is output from the main body storage unit 66. However, after the identification information and the ink viscosity information are stored in the main body storage unit 66 as described above, the ink You may make it output the viscosity information to the control means 68.
[0030]
When the information input / output control means 67 confirms that the identification information is stored in the main body storage section 66, the information input / output control means 67 reads from the main body storage section 66 the ink corresponding to the identification information. Is output to the control means 68.
[0031]
The control means 68 obtains and sets the printing pressure with reference to a preset table based on the viscosity information of the ink input as described above, and performs printing at the set printing pressure. The control signal is output to the press roller 36.
[0032]
Then, ink of a predetermined color is supplied to the inside of the printing drum 31 by the ink supply device 34. When the printing drum 31 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, the printing paper P moves from the left to the right in FIG. 1 by the timing roller 43 at a predetermined timing in synchronization with the rotation of the printing drum 31. It is supplied between the printing drum 31 and the press roller 36. Then, the printing paper P is pressed against the stencil sheet M having the stencil wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the drum by the press roller 36 at the printing pressure controlled as described above. Stencil printing is performed.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, the ink viscosity information is stored as control information in the storage unit 8 of the ink container 10, but other information may be stored. For example, ink color information, The dielectric constant information of the ink, the manufacturing date information of the ink container 10, the total capacity of the ink, and the like may be stored. When the color information of the ink is stored in the storage means 8 of the ink container 10, for example, the color information may be displayed in a stencil printing apparatus using the color information of the ink, If the color information is different from the color information set in the printing apparatus 1, control may be performed to prohibit the printing operation. When the dielectric constant information of the ink is stored in the storage unit 8 of the ink container 10, for example, when the supply amount of the ink is detected by the sensor, the detection of the sensor by the dielectric constant of the ink is performed. Since the sensitivities differ, the sensitivity of the sensor may be automatically and optimally set using the dielectric constant information of the ink. When the date of manufacture of the ink is stored in the storage unit 8 of the ink container 10, it is checked whether or not the ink is within the expiration date by using the date of manufacture. If not, a warning may be displayed. When the total amount of ink is stored in the storage unit 8 of the ink container 10, the remaining amount is calculated by subtracting the used amount from the total amount in the stencil printing apparatus, and the remaining amount is displayed. Alternatively, the number of printable sheets may be calculated and displayed based on the remaining amount. Further, a warning may be displayed when the remaining amount of ink or the number of printable sheets becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold. Alternatively, other control information may be stored, and a predetermined control target may be controlled using the control information. When the control information as described above is read from the storage unit 8 of the ink container 10, it may be read in the same manner as when reading the ink viscosity information from the storage unit 8.
[0034]
Next, a stencil printing apparatus using a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.
[0035]
The schematic configuration of the stencil printing apparatus 2 is substantially the same as that of the stencil printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but in the stencil printing apparatus 2, as shown in FIG. In addition, a stencil sheet roll 21b in which a long stencil sheet M before plate making is wound around a paper core 21a is installed in a state where it can be replaced with a master holder 90. At one end of the stencil roll 21b inside the paper tube 21a, a storage means 9 for storing predetermined information is disposed on a support member 21c rotatably provided with respect to the paper tube 21a. The storage means 9 includes a memory IC 91 constituting a non-volatile memory (such as an EEPROM) capable of storing data for a certain period without supplying power, and a contact 93 is provided at a tip of a substrate 92 to which the memory IC 91 is attached. ing. The memory IC 81 of the storage means 9 stores identification information for identifying the stencil paper roll 21b and the energy amount of the thermal head 22 corresponding to the amount of heat applied to the stencil paper M of the stencil paper roll 21b. . As shown in FIG. 3, the master holder 90 is provided with a connector 94 which is electrically connected to the contact 93 of the storage means 9 of the stencil sheet roll 21b. The connector 94 is connected to an information input / output control unit 97 described later. The connector 94 functions as a part of the reading means 95.
[0036]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the present stencil printing apparatus 2 reads the identification information and the energy amount stored in the storage means 9 of the mounted stencil roll 21b by reading means 95 and readable means 95. When the main body storage unit 96 and the stencil sheet roll 21b, which stores the identification information and the energy amount in association with each other, are attached, the reading unit 95 reads only the identification information from the storage unit 9 of the stencil sheet roll 21b. It is checked whether or not the read identification information is already stored in the main body storage section 96. If it is confirmed that the identification information is already stored in the main body storage section 96, the read identification information is stored. The energy amount corresponding to the information is output from the main body storage section 96 to the control means 98, and the read identification information is already stored in the main body storage section 96. If not recognized, the reading means 95 reads the energy amount from the storage means 9 of the stencil paper roll 21b, stores the identification information in association with the energy amount in the main body storage section 96, and stores the energy amount in the main body storage section 96. The information input / output control means 67 for causing the control section 98 to output the energy amount from the section 96 and the information input / output control section 97 so that the thermal head 22 operates with an energy amount based on the energy amount output from the main body storage section 96. Control means 98 for outputting a control signal is provided.
[0037]
Next, the operation of the stencil printing machine 2 will be described.
[0038]
First, a stencil sheet roll 21b is set on the master holder 90, and a stencil sheet M having a plate length corresponding to a preset one plate is fed out. 22 and is guided.
[0039]
On the other hand, since the stencil roll 21b is set on the master holder 90 as described above, the connector 94 provided on the master holder 90 and the contact 93 of the storage means 9 provided on the stencil roll 21b are electrically connected. , And only the identification information stored in the storage unit 9 is read by the reading unit 95 via the contact point 93 and the connector 94. Then, the identification information read at this time is output to the information input / output control means 97, and the information input / output control means 97 checks whether or not the identification information is stored in the main body storage section 96. If the information input / output control means 97 does not confirm that the identification information is stored in the main body storage section 96, the information input / output control means 97 causes the reading means 95 to store the stencil sheet roll 21b. The energy amount is read from the means 9, the identification information and the energy amount are stored in the main body storage unit 96 in association with each other, and the energy amount is output from the main body storage unit 96 to the control unit 98. In this embodiment, if the information input / output control unit 97 does not confirm that the identification information is stored in the main body storage unit 96, the identification information and the energy are stored in the main body storage unit 96 as described above. After storing the amount, the energy amount is output from the main body storage unit 96. After the identification information and the energy amount are stored in the main body storage unit 96 as described above, the energy amount is read from the reading unit 95. You may make it output to the control means 98.
[0040]
When the information input / output control unit 97 confirms that the identification information is stored in the main body storage unit 96, the information input / output control unit 97 transmits the energy corresponding to the identification information from the main body storage unit 96. The amount is output to the control means 68.
[0041]
The control means 98 controls the thermal head 22 so that the thermal head 22 generates heat with the amount of energy input as described above.
[0042]
The stencil sheet M guided between the platen roller 23 and the thermal head 22 is pressed by the thermal head 22 by the platen roller 23 and is conveyed by the rotation of the platen roller 23. The stencil sheet M is subjected to thermal perforation by the thermal head 22 whose energy amount is controlled as described above, and then conveyed to the stencil cutter 28 by the stencil guide rollers 26 and 27 and the stencil feed roller 24, where the stencil sheet M is conveyed. A plate having a length corresponding to one plate is cut by the cutter 28 and wound around the printing drum 31.
[0043]
The ink and the printing paper P are supplied in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and a predetermined printing pressure is applied by the press roller 36 to the stencil sheet M on which the printing paper P is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the drum. Stencil printing is performed on the printing paper P.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, the energy amount of the thermal head 22 is stored in the storage means 9 of the stencil roll 21b. However, other information may be stored. The thickness of the stencil sheet M, the date of manufacture of the stencil sheet roll 21b, the total amount of the stencil sheet M of the stencil sheet roll 21b, and the like may be stored. When the thickness of the stencil sheet M is stored in the storage means 9 of the stencil sheet roll 21b, for example, the number of plates stored in the stencil discharge unit may be set using the thickness. In addition, when an optical sensor is used to grasp the transport position of the stencil sheet M, the reflectance and transmittance vary depending on the thickness of the stencil sheet M, and the sensitivity of the sensor is optimized using the thickness. You may make it set automatically. When the date of manufacture is stored in the storage means 9 of the stencil roll 21b, it is checked whether or not the stencil roll is within the expiration date by using the date of manufacture. If not, a warning may be displayed. When the total capacity of the stencil paper is stored in the storage means 9 of the stencil paper roll 21b, the remaining amount is calculated by subtracting the used amount from the total capacity in the stencil printing apparatus. May be displayed, or the number of plate making possible may be calculated and displayed based on the remaining amount. Further, a warning may be displayed when the remaining amount of the stencil sheet or the number of stencils that can be made is smaller than a predetermined threshold. Alternatively, other control information may be stored, and a predetermined control target may be controlled using the control information. When the control information as described above is read from the storage means 9 of the stencil sheet roll 21b, the control information may be read in the same manner as when reading the energy amount from the storage means 9.
[0045]
According to the stencil printing apparatuses of the first and second embodiments, when outputting the control information stored in the consumable supply storage means to the control means, the reading means reads only the identification information from the consumable supply storage means. If it is confirmed that the read identification information is already stored in the main body storage unit, the control information corresponding to the identification information is output from the main body storage unit to the control unit, and the read information is read. When it is not confirmed that the identification information is already stored in the main body storage unit, the control unit reads the control information from the storage unit of the consumable supplies by the reading unit, and associates the identification information with the control information and stores the identification information in the main body storage unit. Since the control information is output to the control means while the control information is already stored in the main body storage unit, it can be prevented from being read. It is possible to shorten the time to read the control information from the storage means 耗品.
[0046]
In the first and second embodiments, the identification information and the control information are read when the consumable is loaded in the apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The above-described identification information and control information may be read when the power of the device is turned on.
[0047]
Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can be used for an ink jet recording apparatus. Specifically, a storage unit is provided in the ink cartridge mounted on the inkjet recording apparatus, and the storage unit stores the identification information of the ink cartridge and the viscosity information of the ink in the ink cartridge. The identification information and the viscosity information of the ink may be read from the storage unit in the same manner as the apparatus. The viscosity information of the ink read as described above is used when setting a color correction table, an applied voltage for ink ejection, a paper transport time, and the like. Operation is controlled.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a stencil printing apparatus using a first and a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a stencil printing using a first embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial block diagram of a stencil printing apparatus using a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
1, 2 stencil printing apparatus 8, 9 storage means 10 image reading section 12 line image sensor 14 original feed roller 20 stencil making section 21 stencil roll section 21a paper tube 21b stencil stencil roll 22 stencil making unit 28 stencil cutter 30 printing section 31 printing drum 35 Ink supply pump 36 Press roller 40 Paper feed unit 50 Paper discharge unit 60 Plate discharge units 65, 95 Reading unit 66, 96 Main unit storage unit 67, 97 Information input / output control unit 68, 98 Control unit 81, 91 Memory IC
82,92 Substrate 83,93 Contact 84,94 Connector

Claims (2)

An attaching / detaching unit to which a consumable having a storage unit for storing identification information for identifying the consumable and control information corresponding to the identification is detachably mounted;
Reading means capable of reading the identification information and the control information stored in the storage means for consumables attached to the detachable unit;
Control means for controlling the operation of a predetermined control object whose operation is controlled in relation to the consumable based on the control information read by the reading means;
A main body storage unit that stores the identification information and the control information read by the reading unit in association with each other;
When outputting the control information stored in the storage means for the consumables to the control means, only the identification information is read from the storage means for the consumables by the reading means, and the read identification information is already When it is confirmed that the identification information is stored in the main body storage unit, control information corresponding to the identification information is output from the main body storage unit to the control unit, and the read identification information is already stored in the main body storage unit. If it is not confirmed that the control information is stored in the main body storage unit, the control unit reads the control information from the storage unit for the consumables by associating the identification information with the control information. And an information input / output control means for outputting the control information to the control means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a stencil printing apparatus.

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