Image forming apparatus using multiple removable cartridges, information processing apparatus used together with this apparatus, and methods of controlling these apparatus
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorShukei Kurihara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that uses a plurality of removable cartridges and that is so adapted that a desired cartridge can be exchanged with ease. The apparatus includes a cartridge management unit which, in accordance with a command supplied from a move-cartridge designating unit of a host computer, causes movement of cartridges possessed by an image forming unit.
Claims27
An image forming apparatus having a plurality of removable cartridges and a cartridge support for supporting the plurality of cartridges, said apparatus comprising:
- cartridge support moving means for moving the cartridge support and placing one of the plurality of cartridges at a detachable position when a cartridge supported on the cartridge support is to be removed from said image forming apparatus;
- and
- control means for controlling operation of said cartridge support moving means if a cartridge-move command issued by an external unit has been received.
An information processing apparatus capable of transferring information to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of removable cartridges, comprising:
- cartridge designating command accepting means for accepting a cartridge designating command that designates one of the plurality of cartridges;
- cartridge-move command issuing means for issuing a cartridge-move command to said image forming apparatus based upon the cartridge designating command accepted by said cartridge designating command receiving means.
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cartridge-move command issued by said cartridge-move command issuing means includes information on cartridge type.
A method of controlling an image forming apparatus having a plurality of removable cartridges and a cartridge support for supporting the plurality of cartridges, said apparatus comprising:
- a cartridge support moving step of moving the cartridge support and placing one of the plurality of cartridges at a detachable position when a cartridge supported on the cartridge support is to be removed from said image forming apparatus;
- and
- a control step of controlling processing of said cartridge support moving step if a cartridge-move command issued by an external unit has been received.
An method of controlling an information processing apparatus capable of transferring information to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of removable cartridges, comprising:
- a cartridge designating command accepting step of accepting a cartridge designating command that designates one of the plurality of cartridges;
- a cartridge-move command issuing step of issuing a cartridge-move command to said image forming apparatus based upon the cartridge designating command accepted at said cartridge designating command receiving step.
A control program capable of controlling an image forming apparatus having a plurality of removable cartridges and a cartridge support for supporting the plurality of cartridges, said control program causing a computer to execute the following steps:
- a cartridge support moving step of moving the cartridge support and placing one of the plurality of cartridges at a detachable position when a cartridge supported on the cartridge support is to be removed from said image forming apparatus;
- and
- a control step of controlling processing of said cartridge support moving step if a cartridge-move command issued by an external unit has been received.
A control program capable of controlling an information processing apparatus capable of transferring information to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of removable cartridges, said control program causing a computer to execute the following steps:
- a cartridge designating command accepting step of accepting a cartridge designating command that designates one of the plurality of cartridges;
- a cartridge-move command issuing step of issuing a cartridge-move command to said image forming apparatus based upon the cartridge designating command accepted at said cartridge designating command receiving step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.