Image forming apparatus capable of controlling extension of use of drum cartridge

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an apparatus body;
• a toner cartridge detachably attachable to the apparatus body;
• a replaceable part detachably attachable to the apparatus body and for use with the toner cartridge in an image-formation, the replaceable part including a replaceable part memory storing therein replaceable part type information indicating one of a subscribed replaceable part and a normal replaceable part;
• a controller;
• and
• an apparatus body memory storing life information indicating remaining life of the replaceable part attached to the apparatus body,
• wherein the controller is configured to switch a control between:
• a control for allowing an extended use of the replaceable part;
• and a control for restricting the extended use of the replaceable part, according to the replaceable part type information, the extended use being defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory.

An image forming system comprising:

• an image forming apparatus;
• and
• a communication device configured to communicate with the image forming apparatus via a network,
• the image forming apparatus comprising:
• an apparatus body;
• a toner cartridge detachably attachable to the apparatus body;
• a replaceable part detachably attachable to the apparatus body and for use with the toner cartridge in an image-formation;
• a controller, whose operating mode is set to one of a subscription mode and a normal mode, the controller being configured to perform processes in accordance with the set operating mode;
• and
• an apparatus body memory configured to store life information indicating a remaining life of the replaceable part attached to the apparatus body,
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• switch a control between:
• a control for allowing an extended use of the replaceable part;
• and a control for restricting the extended use of the replaceable part, according to the set operating mode, the extended use being defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory;
• and
• in a case where the controller restricts the extended use of the replaceable part, transmit order information to the communication device to order a new replaceable part based on the life information.

A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising a toner cartridge and a replaceable part for use with the toner cartridge in an image-formation, an operating mode of the image forming apparatus being set to one of a subscription mode and a normal mode,

• the method comprising:
• storing, in an apparatus body memory, life information indicating remaining life of the replaceable part attached to the apparatus body;
• and
• switching a control between:
• a control for allowing an extended use of the replaceable part;
• and a control for restricting the extended use of the replaceable part, according to the set operating mode, the extended use being defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory.

A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising a toner cartridge and a replaceable part for use with the toner cartridge in an image-formation, replaceable part type information being previously assigned to the replaceable part, the replaceable part type information indicating one of a subscribed replaceable part and a normal replaceable part,

• the method comprising:
• storing, in an apparatus body memory, life information indicating remaining life of the replaceable part attached to the apparatus body;
• and
• switching a control between:
• a control for allowing an extended use of the replaceable part;
• and a control for restricting the extended use of the replaceable part, according to the replaceable part type information, the extended use being defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory.

A non-transitory storage medium storing a set of program instructions installed on and executed by a computer for controlling an image forming apparatus, an operating mode of the image forming apparatus being set to one of a subscription mode and a normal mode,

• the set of program instructions comprising:
• storing, in an apparatus body memory, life information indicating remaining life of the replaceable part attached to the apparatus body;
• and
• switching a control between:
• a control for allowing an extended use of the replaceable part;
• and a control for restricting the extended use of the replaceable part, according to the set operating mode, the extended use being defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory.

A non-transitory storage medium storing a set of program instructions installed on and executed by a computer for controlling an image forming apparatus, replaceable part type information being previously assigned to the replaceable part, the replaceable part type information indicating one of a subscribed replaceable part and a normal replaceable part,

• the set of program instructions comprising:
• storing, in an apparatus body memory, life information which indicating remaining life of the replaceable part attached to the apparatus body;
• and
• switching a control between:
• a control for allowing an extended use of the replaceable part;
• and a control for restricting the extended use of the replaceable part, according to the replaceable part type information, the extended use being defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory.