JP2007114535A - Image forming apparatus, control method and control program for the apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus to which a cartridge storing an image forming material is stored is attached freely detachably, the image forming apparatus being designed, such that even if a quality non-guaranteed cartridge, the quality of which is not guaranteed by the manufacturer, is attached, the cartridge can be easily and accurately replaced, and to provide the control method and control program for the image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus to which the cartridge storing the image forming material is attached freely detachably and which forms images with the image forming material stored in the cartridge includes a sensing means for sensing that whether the attached cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge, that is, quality non-guaranteed cartridge; and a moving means for moving the non-guaranteed cartridge to a cartridge replaceable position if the sensing means senses that the attached cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge containing an image forming material is detachably mounted, and in particular, when a cartridge that is not subject to quality assurance by a manufacturer is mounted, the cartridge can be easily replaced. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and the like that can be performed accurately and accurately.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, or a copying machine that forms an image using electrophotographic technology, an electrostatic latent image is formed according to image data, and a developer (image forming) is formed on the electrostatic latent image. The material toner is supplied and developed into a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to a transfer target medium to form an image. In such an apparatus, the toner cartridge that accommodates the toner is detachably held. Normally, in an apparatus that forms an image in monochrome, a black toner cartridge forms an image in color. In the apparatus, toner cartridges of a plurality of colors, for example, toner cartridges of four colors (yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, black K) are mounted. When the mounted toner cartridge runs out of toner, it is replaced with a new toner cartridge filled with toner.

  The toner cartridge includes a cartridge that is subject to quality assurance by the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a guarantee cartridge) and a cartridge that is not subject to quality assurance (hereinafter referred to as a non-guaranteed cartridge). If the non-guaranteed cartridge is attached, the performance of the image forming apparatus may not be fully exhibited. Therefore, for the purpose of preventing a user who does not know that the installed cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge from printing using the non-guaranteed cartridge, the installed cartridge is not used. A technique for detecting whether or not the cartridge is a guarantee cartridge has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1 below).

When it is detected that a non-guaranteed cartridge is installed, it is desirable that the guaranteed cartridge be installed. Therefore, the conventional apparatus treats this as an error and displays this error to the user.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-199095

  However, when an error due to the installation of the non-guaranteed cartridge is displayed in the conventional apparatus, when the user replaces the cartridge, it is temporarily displayed using an operation button or the like provided in the image forming apparatus. Then, it is necessary to cancel the error, and then select a toner replacement instruction from the operation menu to replace the cartridge. Such a multi-step operation is troublesome for the user, and even when a plurality of non-guaranteed cartridges are installed, only an error message is displayed so that the user can select a cartridge to be replaced. Therefore, it is required to replace them without fail, which is a more troublesome work, and there is a possibility that mistakes may occur in the replacement work.

  In addition, in the case of a device that counts the number of times of error cancellation for an error caused by the non-guaranteed cartridge, it is necessary to cancel the error as described above even when performing an operation of replacing the warranty cartridge. This will increase the number of error cancellations. The number of error cancellations is stored in the apparatus and is referred to when the performance of the apparatus cannot be exhibited. It is not preferable for the user that this value is large. Therefore, if you cancel the error caused by a non-guaranteed cartridge and continue to use the non-guaranteed cartridge, the number of error cancellations will not increase. It is not preferable to increase it.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge containing an image forming material is detachably mounted, and a cartridge in a case where a non-guaranteed cartridge that is not subject to quality assurance is mounted. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily and accurately perform the replacement operation.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge for storing an image forming material is detachably mounted and image formation is performed using the image forming material stored in the cartridge. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the mounted cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge that is not subject to quality assurance, and the detecting means is configured such that the cartridge installed is a non-guaranteed cartridge. And detecting means for moving the non-guaranteed cartridge to a position where the cartridge can be replaced.

  Furthermore, in the above-mentioned invention, a preferable aspect thereof is that the moving means moves the non-guaranteed cartridge to a position where the cartridge can be replaced, and then notifies the user that an error has occurred in the non-guaranteed cartridge. In response to the display, when the user moves the cartridge moved to the replaceable position in response to the display, the error is not performed by the user without performing an error canceling operation. It is released.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is that when the detection unit detects that the plurality of cartridges mounted are non-guaranteed cartridges, the plurality of non-guaranteed cartridges are set to 1 according to a predetermined order. The movement by the moving means and the display by the display means are performed for each cartridge.

  In order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge for storing an image forming material is detachably mounted and image formation is performed using the image forming material stored in the cartridge. A control step of detecting whether or not the mounted cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge that is not subject to quality assurance, and the mounted cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge in the detection step. If it is detected that the non-guaranteed cartridge is moved to a position where the cartridge can be replaced, the moving step is included.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming method in which a cartridge for storing an image forming material is detachably mounted and image formation is performed using the image forming material stored in the cartridge. An apparatus control program detects whether the mounted cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge that is not subject to quality assurance, and the mounted cartridge is not guaranteed in the detection process. When it is detected that the cartridge is a cartridge, the image forming apparatus is caused to execute a moving step of moving the non-guaranteed cartridge to a position where the cartridge can be replaced.

  Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printer which is an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. A printer 2 shown in FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and is an apparatus that forms an image on a predetermined print medium (paper) based on a print request from the host computer 1. When the printer 2 detects that a non-guaranteed cartridge is attached as the toner cartridge 611, the printer 2 automatically moves the toner cartridge 611 to the replacement position, and the non-guaranteed cartridge can be easily and accurately replaced. It tries to be able to do it.

  A host computer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a host device that makes a print request to the printer 2 and transmits print data including image data and control commands to the printer 2 based on a user operation or the like. The host computer 1 can be configured by a so-called personal computer. The printer driver 3 in the host computer 1 is a part that receives data from an application (not shown) in the host computer 1 and generates the print data to be transmitted to the printer 2. The printer driver 3 is a program that causes the host computer 1 to execute processing related to the above functions, and the above functions are achieved by a control device (not shown) of the host computer 1 executing the processing according to the programs. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 2 is, for example, a so-called four-cycle laser printer including a controller unit 4, an engine control unit 5, an engine 6, an operation unit 7, and the like.

  The controller unit 4 receives print data transmitted from the host computer 1, interprets a control command included in the data, performs predetermined processing on the image data included in the data, and performs engine 6 side. Generate data to provide to As shown in FIG. 1, the controller unit 4 includes an I / F 41, a CPU 42, a ROM 43, a RAM 44, and an engine I / F 45.

  The I / F 41 is a part that receives the print data transmitted from the host computer 1, and the ROM 43 is a part that stores various programs for controlling the printer 2. The RAM 44 is a memory for storing the received print data and the like, and the image data of each page on which print processing is performed by the engine 6 is delivered to the engine I / F 45 from here.

  The CPU 42 controls various processes performed in the printer 2. In particular, the CPU 42 interprets the process for storing the image data included in the received print data in the RAM 44 and the control command included in the print data. It manages the process of instructing the engine control unit 5 to perform an appropriate printing process, the process of controlling the operation unit 7 that forms an interface with the user, and the like. The printer 2 is characterized by error processing by the CPU 42 when the mounted toner cartridge 611 is a non-guaranteed cartridge, and the specific contents thereof will be described later. The processing executed by the CPU 42 is mainly performed according to a program stored in the ROM 43.

  Next, the engine I / F 45 reads the pixel data stored in the RAM 44 described above at a predetermined timing when printing is performed by the engine 6, performs a predetermined process on the pixel data, and delivers the pixel data to the engine 6 side. This is the part that controls the interface between the controller 5 and the engine 6 side. Although not shown, the engine I / F 45 includes a memory for temporarily storing data, a decompression unit, a screen processing unit, and the like. The pixel data read from the RAM 44 is compressed data. Decompression and screen processing to convert to dot data. Further, the engine I / F 45 is specifically composed of an ASIC.

  Next, although not shown, the engine control unit 5 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the operation of each unit of the engine 6 described later. When the toner cartridge 611 is replaced, control is performed to move the toner cartridge 611 to be replaced to a predetermined replacement position in accordance with the instruction of the controller unit 4.

  Next, the engine 6 includes a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing device, a transfer unit, and the like. In FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram centering on the mechanism of the engine 6 portion of the printer 2. The photosensitive drum 621 has a cylindrical conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, is rotatable about a central axis, and rotates clockwise as indicated by an arrow. The charging unit 622 charges the photosensitive drum 621, and the exposure unit 623 irradiates the charged photosensitive drum 621 with a beam from a light source such as a built-in laser or LED array to form a latent image due to static electricity. Beam irradiation of the exposure unit 623 is controlled by a drive signal modulated based on image information input from the host computer 1.

  The developing device 61 is a developing rotary that has mounting portions 614A to 614D to which toner cartridges 611A to 611D that store toner that is a developer are detachably mounted, and is rotatable with respect to the central shaft 613. The developing device 61 is rotated so that necessary toner cartridges 611A to 611D are brought close to the photosensitive drum 621, and the developer is supplied to the photosensitive drum 621 on which the latent image is formed. Developed.

  For example, toner cartridges 611A to 611D that respectively contain black K, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y developing materials are mounted on the mounting portions 614A to 614D of the developing device 61. A to D attached to the toner cartridges 611A to 611D are symbols for identifying the mounting positions of the toner cartridge 611 in the developing device 61.

  The developing device 61 rotates at the time of the above-described printing or replacement of the toner cartridge 611 to move the predetermined toner cartridge 611 to a predetermined position, but each toner cartridge 611A to 611D has a default position (home position). When the predetermined processing is completed, the home position is returned to wait for the next processing. Corresponding to the replacement position for replacing the toner cartridge 611, the housing of the printer 2 is provided with an opening (not shown), and a cover (not shown) for opening and closing the opening. ) Is provided. The open / closed state of the cover can be detected by a limit switch or the like provided in the vicinity of the cover, and the CPU 42 can determine that the toner cartridge 611 has been replaced due to the opening / closing of the cover. it can.

  Each of the toner cartridges 611A to 611D is provided with memories 612A to 612D, and stores cartridge information such as the manufacturing lot and usage history of each toner cartridge 611 and the remaining amount of toner. Information stored in the memory 612 is read from the engine control unit 5 and the controller unit 4 as necessary, and is used for consumables management, quality assurance management, and the like regarding each toner cartridge 611. The cartridge information stored in the memory 612 is also used in the process of determining whether or not the mounted toner cartridge 611 is a non-guaranteed cartridge.

  The primary transfer unit 626 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 621 to the intermediate transfer body 627. The intermediate transfer member 627 is an endless belt in which an aluminum vapor deposition layer is formed on the surface of a PET film and a semiconductive paint is formed on the surface, for example, and is driven to rotate at the same peripheral speed as that of the photosensitive drum 621. Then, the secondary transfer unit 628 transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 627 to a printing medium such as paper, and the fixing unit 629 welds the toner image transferred onto the printing medium to the medium and becomes permanent. The print medium is discharged out of the printer 2.

  The cleaning unit 624 is provided between the primary transfer unit 626 and the charging unit 622 and has a cleaning blade 625 that comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 621 and remains on the photosensitive drum 621 after the primary transfer. The developing material (toner) to be removed is removed by the cleaning blade 625.

  An operation unit 7 shown in FIG. 1 is a part for the user to operate the printer 2, and includes a display panel 71 (see FIG. 2), operation buttons (such as an error release button), and the like. In the operation unit 7, various setting actions such as setting of printing conditions in the printer 2 are possible. In the process related to the non-guaranteed product error, which is a feature of the printer 2, the operation unit 7 displays the non-guaranteed product error and cancels the error.

  In the printer 2 according to the present embodiment having the configuration described above, the print data described in a predetermined language is supplied from the host computer 1 during printing, and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 621 is supplied. , Development by the corresponding toner cartridge 611, and transfer of the toner image to the intermediate transfer body 627 by the primary transfer unit 626 are performed. Further, it is transferred to a printing medium such as paper by the secondary transfer unit 628, fixed by the fixing unit 629, and discharged outside the printer 2.

  Although the printer 2 mainly operates in such a content, as described above, the printer 2 performs processing when it is detected that a non-guaranteed cartridge is mounted, in other words, processing related to a non-guaranteed product error. There are characteristics, and these points will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating non-guaranteed product error processing performed by the CPU 42. This non-guaranteed product error processing is performed when the printer 2 is turned on or when toner replacement is performed (step S10 in FIG. 3). First, it is determined whether or not a non-guaranteed product error has occurred (step S20 in FIG. 3). This determination is made by determining whether or not a non-guaranteed cartridge is installed. If at least one non-guaranteed cartridge is installed, it is assumed that a non-guaranteed product error has occurred. Whether the non-guaranteed cartridge is installed is determined by the CPU 42 by reading the cartridge information stored in the memory 612 of each toner cartridge 611 described above and based on the cartridge information.

  Specifically, for example, a refill product (a cartridge in which only toner is replenished) is obtained based on information such as a manufacturing lot and usage history constituting the cartridge information or from information such as the remaining amount of toner included in the cartridge information. It is determined whether or not it is a non-guaranteed cartridge by verifying whether or not it is. Such determination may be performed using other methods.

  In this determination, if there is no non-guaranteed cartridge in the mounted toner cartridge 611 and no non-guaranteed product error has occurred (No in step S20 in FIG. 3), the non-guaranteed product error processing is terminated. A transition is made to a printable state (step S120 in FIG. 3).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a non-guaranteed cartridge in the mounted toner cartridge 611 and it is determined that a non-guaranteed product error has occurred (Yes in step S20 in FIG. 3), the CPU 42 performs engine control. The unit 5 is instructed to move the non-guaranteed cartridge to the cartridge replacement position (step S30 in FIG. 3). Here, when a plurality of non-guaranteed cartridges are mounted, one of those cartridges is selected according to the order determined based on a predetermined method, and the selected non-guaranteed cartridge is selected. An instruction to move is given. For example, the order based on the predetermined method may be the most efficient order for moving all of the plurality of non-guaranteed cartridges to the replacement position.

  Thereafter, the CPU 42 waits for the toner cartridge 611 selected according to the movement instruction to be moved to the replacement position (No in step S40 in FIG. 3), and when the movement is completed (Yes in step S40 in FIG. 3), the CPU 42 A non-guaranteed product error is displayed on the display panel 71 of the operation unit 7 (step S50 in FIG. 3).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a message related to a non-guaranteed product error displayed on the display panel 71. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the user is notified that a non-guaranteed product error has occurred in the upper part of the message, and in the lower part, the user is informed that the toner cartridge 611 indicated by “X” should be replaced. Reportedly. Here, “X” is information for identifying the toner cartridge 611 selected and moved to the replacement position. For example, when one toner cartridge 611 of each color of YMCK is mounted, for example, “ M ”is displayed and the user is prompted to replace the M toner cartridge 611. That is, the message informs the user that the M toner cartridge 611 is a non-guaranteed cartridge, and prompts the user to replace it with a guaranteed cartridge.

  As described above, in the present printer 2, even when a plurality of non-guaranteed cartridges are mounted when a non-guaranteed product error is displayed, only one toner cartridge 611 moved to the exchange position (to be exchanged). Display). Before the error display, the cartridge to be replaced has already been moved to the replacement position. These features of the printer 2 allow the user to easily replace the cartridge without making a mistake even when a plurality of non-guaranteed cartridges must be replaced. Further, since the target cartridge is moved to the replacement position when the error is displayed, the replacement operation can be performed as it is without removing the error and moving the cartridge as in the prior art.

  Thereafter, when the user presses an error cancel button provided in the operation unit 7 for the error display (Yes in step S60 in FIG. 3), the CPU 42 updates the number of non-guaranteed product error cancels (FIG. 3). 3 step S70). Specifically, the cumulative number of cancellation operations for non-guaranteed product errors so far is increased by one. The non-guaranteed product error cancellation count is stored in a predetermined location in the printer 2. By depressing the error cancel button, the non-guaranteed product error for the toner cartridge 611 is canceled and the display disappears. As a result, the processing for the non-guaranteed toner cartridge 611 is completed, and the process proceeds to step S100. Therefore, when this error release button is pressed, the non-guaranteed cartridge is not replaced for the target toner cartridge 611, and the non-guaranteed cartridge is used as it is. Therefore, in this case, it is reasonable to update the non-guaranteed product error cancellation count as described above.

  On the other hand, when the user does not press the error release button for the error display (No in step S60 in FIG. 3), the CPU 42 waits for the above-described toner cartridge replacement cover to be opened and closed (FIG. 3). No in step S80). When the toner cartridge replacement cover is opened and closed (Yes in step S80 in FIG. 3), it is determined that the cartridge replacement operation by the user is completed, and it is determined whether or not the replaced toner cartridge 611 is a guarantee cartridge. (Step S90 in FIG. 3). Here, it is determined that the cartridge replacement operation has been completed by opening and closing the toner cartridge replacement cover, but other methods may be used. When it is determined that the cartridge replacement operation is completed, the non-guaranteed product error for the toner cartridge 611 is canceled and the error display is turned off.

  The determination as to whether or not the cartridge is the above-mentioned guarantee cartridge is performed by the same method as the determination as to whether or not the cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge in step S20 described above. If it is determined that the cartridge is not a guaranteed cartridge as a result of the determination (No in step S90 in FIG. 3), non-guaranteed product error processing for the toner cartridge 611 is performed again from step S30 described above. That is, since the toner cartridge 611 has returned to the home position after the cartridge replacement operation is completed, the toner cartridge 611 is again moved to the replacement position and a non-guaranteed product error is displayed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the cartridge is a guarantee cartridge (Yes in step S90 in FIG. 3), the processing for the toner cartridge 611 ends, and the process proceeds to step S100. As described above, in the present printer 2, when a non-guaranteed cartridge is mounted, printing cannot be performed until the non-guaranteed product error cancel button is pressed or replaced with a guaranteed cartridge. Therefore, the user does not print without knowing that the non-guaranteed cartridge is installed. In addition, when replacing a non-guaranteed cartridge with a guaranteed cartridge, the user does not need to press the error cancel button to cancel the error, so the number of non-guaranteed product error cancels is not unreasonably updated. .

  When the processing for the target toner cartridge 611 is completed in this way, it is determined whether the processing has been completed for all the toner cartridges 611 determined to be non-guaranteed cartridges in step S20 (step S100 in FIG. 3). ) If there is still an unprocessed one (No in step S100 in FIG. 3), the next toner cartridge 611 is selected according to the above-described order (step S110 in FIG. 3). Then, the processing from step S30 is similarly performed on the selected toner cartridge 611.

  In this way, the processing is performed for each non-guaranteed cartridge, and when all the toner cartridges 611 determined to be non-guaranteed cartridges are completed (Yes in step S100 in FIG. 3), a series of non-guaranteed product error processing ends. Then, the printer 2 transitions to a printable state (step S120 in FIG. 3).

  As described above, the printer 2 according to the present embodiment checks whether or not a non-guaranteed cartridge is installed when the power is turned on or when toner replacement is performed. The warranty cartridge is automatically moved to the cartridge replacement position, and then a non-guaranteed product error is displayed. When a plurality of non-guaranteed cartridges are mounted, a series of processing such as cartridge movement and error display is performed for each cartridge, that is, when one cartridge for each YMCK is mounted. Each color is displayed, and information indicating one cartridge (one color) to be replaced is displayed on each error display.

  Therefore, when a non-guaranteed product error is displayed, the user only needs to replace the displayed cartridge, and there is no need to determine the cartridge to be replaced and to instruct the movement of the cartridge as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform the replacement work when the non-guaranteed product error occurs. In addition, even when multiple non-guaranteed cartridges are installed, it is only necessary to repeat the same operation by guiding the error display of each cartridge, and it is possible to prevent mistakes such as installing different color cartridges and replace them. The work can be performed accurately.

  Further, when the non-guaranteed product error is displayed, the cartridge to be replaced has already been moved to the replacement position. Therefore, when performing the cartridge replacement work, the user cancels the error by using the error cancel button, and There is no need to perform the movement instruction operation, and there is no unreasonable fact that the non-guaranteed product error cancel count is updated even when the warranty cartridge is replaced as in the prior art.

  Further, processing is performed independently for each cartridge (one color), and the user can select whether to use the cartridge as it is or replace with a guarantee cartridge for each cartridge (one color). . As a result, even when a guaranteed cartridge is not prepared for all of the detected non-guaranteed cartridges, it is possible to replace only a part of the cartridges and make it printable. The environment applicability of the user can be improved.

  In this embodiment, the printer 2 is a so-called four-cycle laser printer, but the present invention can also be applied to a tandem printer. That is, in the case of an apparatus that does not require the cartridge to be moved to a predetermined replacement position when replacing the cartridge, the replacement work by the user of the target cartridge is performed instead of the movement of the cartridge to the replacement position in the present embodiment. It is possible to perform a preparatory operation so that the user can perform the replacement operation immediately after the error is displayed.

  In the embodiment, the image forming apparatus is a printer. However, the present invention can be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine and a facsimile.

  The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. 2 is a configuration diagram centering on a mechanism of an engine 6 portion of the printer 2. FIG. It is the flowchart which illustrated the non-guaranteed product error process which CPU42 performs. It is the figure which illustrated the message concerning the displayed non-guaranteed product error.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer, 2 Printer, 3 Printer driver, 4 Controller part (detection means, movement means, display means), 5 Engine control part (detection means, movement means), 6 Engine, 7 Operation part (display means), 41 I / F, 42 CPU, 43 ROM, 44 RAM, 45 Engine I / F, 61 Developing device (detection means, moving means), 62 Other units, 71 Display panel, 611 Toner cartridge, 612 Memory

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge containing an image forming material is detachably mounted and image forming is performed using the image forming material contained in the cartridge,
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the mounted cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge not subject to quality assurance;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a moving unit configured to move the non-guaranteed cartridge to a position where the cartridge can be replaced when the detecting unit detects that the mounted cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge. In claim 1,
Further, after the moving means has moved the non-guaranteed cartridge to a position where the cartridge can be replaced, the moving means has a display means for displaying to the user that an error has occurred in the non-guaranteed cartridge,
In response to the display, when the user moves the cartridge moved to the replaceable position, the error is canceled without an error canceling operation by the user. . In claim 2,
When the detection means detects that the plurality of cartridges mounted are non-guaranteed cartridges,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the plurality of non-guaranteed cartridges are moved by the moving means and displayed by the display means for each cartridge in a predetermined order. A control method for an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge for storing an image forming material is detachably mounted, and image formation is performed using the image forming material stored in the cartridge.
A detection step of detecting whether or not the mounted cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge not subject to quality assurance;
And a moving step of moving the non-guaranteed cartridge to a position where the cartridge can be exchanged when it is detected in the detecting step that the mounted cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge. Control method of the device. A control program for an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge for storing an image forming material is detachably mounted and image formation is performed using the image forming material stored in the cartridge,
A detection step of detecting whether or not the mounted cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge not subject to quality assurance;
When it is detected in the detection step that the mounted cartridge is a non-guaranteed cartridge, the image forming apparatus is caused to execute a moving step of moving the non-guaranteed cartridge to a position where the cartridge can be replaced. A control program characterized by

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