Electric apparatus that determines type of attachment unit and performs operations using the attachment unit

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an attachment mechanism to which an attachment unit is detachably attachable;
• a first processor configured to perform a determination operation to determine whether or not an attachment unit attached to the attachment mechanism is of a genuine type, and transmit a determination result of the determination operation;
• a second processor configured to:
• send a command to the first processor to start the determination operation;
• upon sending the command, start a first print preparation associated with the genuine type, the first print preparation including a first setting of a toner transfer bias;
• perform a printing operation using a print setting made through the first print preparation when the determination result indicates that the attachment unit attached to the attachment mechanism is of the genuine type;
• and
• perform a second print preparation that includes a second setting of the toner transfer bias different from the first setting and perform a printing operation using a print setting made through the second print preparation when the determination result indicates that the attachment unit attached to the attachment mechanism is not of the genuine type.

An image forming method comprising:

• sending a command to a processor to start a determination operation to determine whether or not an attachment unit attached to an attachment mechanism of an image forming apparatus is of a genuine type;
• and
• upon sending the command, starting a first print preparation associated with the genuine type, the first print preparation including a first setting of a toner development bias;
• receiving a determination result of the determination operation from the processor;
• performing a printing operation using a print setting made through the first print preparation when the determination result indicates that the attachment unit attached to the attachment mechanism is of the genuine type;
• and
• performing a second print preparation that includes a second setting of the toner development bias different from the first setting and performing a printing operation using a print setting made through the second print preparation when the determination result indicates that the attachment unit attached to the attachment mechanism is not of the genuine type.

An image forming method comprising:

• sending a command to a processor to start a determination operation to determine whether or not an attachment unit attached to an attachment mechanism of an image forming apparatus is of a genuine type;
• and
• upon sending the command, starting a first print preparation associated with the genuine type, the first print preparation including a first setting of a toner transfer bias;
• receiving a determination result of the determination operation from the processor;
• performing a printing operation using a print setting made through the first print preparation when the determination result indicates that the attachment unit attached to the attachment mechanism is of the genuine type;
• and
• performing a second print preparation that includes a second setting of the toner transfer bias different from the first setting and performing a printing operation using a print setting made through the second print preparation when the determination result indicates that the attachment unit attached to the attachment mechanism is not of the genuine type.