# US 2021/0240132 A1 · Image forming apparatus that controls regulation unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0240132 A1 - Document ID: US20210240132A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/237,493 - Filed: 2021-04-22 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-26 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yoshiteru Kaida - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210240132A1 ## CPC - G03G 21/1839: {Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body} - G03G 15/5004: {Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off} - G03G 15/5016: {User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console} - G03G 15/5033: {by measuring the photoconductor characteristics, e.g. temperature, or the characteristics of an image on the photoconductor} - G03G 15/553: {Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job} - G03G 15/556: {for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement} - G03G 21/1633: {using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence)} - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 21/1878: {Electronically readable memory} - G03G 2221/1654: Locks and means for positioning or alignment - G03G 2221/1869: Cartridge holders, e.g. intermediate frames for placing cartridge parts therein - G03G 2221/1892: Presence detection - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge replaceable by detachably mounting to the image forming apparatus, a door that takes a closed state or an open state, a locking pin that switches a state of the regulation unit between a regulating state in which the replacement unit is prevented to be detached from the image forming apparatus and a release state in which the replacement unit is to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, and a lock control unit (a control unit) that makes a determination as to whether or not the state of the regulation unit is to be switched from the release state to the regulating state, at a predetermined timing when initial processing is completed after a power source is turned on or a state of the door becomes the closed state from the open state. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 An image forming apparatus comprising: a cartridge including an image forming member configured to form an image on a recording material, wherein the cartridge is detachably mounted to a main body of the image forming apparatus; a door configured to be in a closed state in which the cartridge is prevented to be accessed or in an open state in which the cartridge is to be accessed; a regulation unit configured to be in a regulating state in which the cartridge is prevented to be detached from the main body or in a release state in which the cartridge is to be detachable from the main body; and a processor configured to control an actuator for switching the regulation unit between the release state and the regulating state, wherein in a case where the cartridge is replaced with a new one, the processor is configured to determine whether a predetermined time has passed or not, and wherein in a case where it is determined that the predetermined time has not passed, the processor is configured to control the actuator so that the regulation unit stays in the release state, and in a case where it is determined that the predetermined time has passed, the processor is configured to control the actuator so that the regulation unit is switched to the regulating state. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a remaining life of the cartridge reaches a predetermined life or not, and wherein in a case where it is determined that the remaining life of the cartridge does not reach the predetermined life, the processor is configured to control the actuator so that the regulation unit stays in the regulating state, and in a case where it is determined that the remaining life of the cartridge reaches the predetermined life, the processor is configured to control the actuator so that the regulation unit is switched to the release sate. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, comprising: a first memory unit configured to store information about a state of the cartridge between the regulating state and the release state; and a second memory unit provided in the cartridge, the second memory unit configured to store information about the cartridge, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether to control the actuator for switching a state of the regulation unit based on information stored in the first memory unit and the second memory unit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein in a case where it is determined that the cartridge is in the release state based on the information stored in the first memory unit, and the remaining life of the cartridge does not reach the predetermined life based on the information stored in the second memory unit, the processor is configured to control the actuator so that the regulation unit is switched to the regulating state. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein in a case where it is determined that the remaining life of the cartridge reaches the predetermined life, the processor is configured to control the actuator so that the regulation unit is switched to the release state to replace the cartridge with the new one of the cartridge, and store the state of the cartridge as in the release state in the first memory unit. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the information about the cartridge includes a serial number of the cartridge and information about an image forming apparatus into which the cartridge is to be mounted. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the information about the cartridge includes information about a color of the cartridge. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the image forming member includes at least a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed; and a development unit configured to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member with toner to form a toner image. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a length of the predetermined time is one minute. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the image forming apparatus is capable of shifting to a power-saving state whose power consumption is less than power consumption of image formation, and wherein the processor is configured to perform a shifting of a state of the image forming apparatus to the power-saving state when the predetermined time has passed. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the regulation unit comprises a lock member and a locking pin, and wherein in a case where the regulation unit is in the release state, the locking pin is in a projecting state to move the lock member to a position where the cartridge is not able to be pulled out, and in a case where the regulation unit is in the regulating state, the locking pin is in a retracting state to move the lock member to a position where the cartridge is able to be pulled out. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising, a plurality of cartridges including the cartridge, and wherein the lock member and the locking pin are provided for each of the plurality of the cartridges. ### Claim 33 (depends on 21) The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the regulation unit comprises a lock member and a locking pin, and wherein in a case where the regulation unit is in the release state, the locking pin disengages from the lock member provided in the door, and in a case where the regulation unit is in the regulating state, the locking pin engages with the lock member provided in the door. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The image forming apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising, a plurality of cartridges including the cartridge, a plurality of doors including the door, the plurality of doors corresponding to the plurality of cartridges respectively, and wherein the lock member is provided in each of the plurality of the doors. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The image forming apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising, a plurality of cartridges including the cartridge, and wherein the door is for accessing the plurality of the cartridges, and wherein the lock member is provided in the door. ### Claim 36 An image forming apparatus comprising: a cartridge including an image forming member configured to form an image on a recording material, wherein the cartridge is detachably mounted to a main body of the image forming apparatus; a door configured to be in a closed state in which the cartridge is prevented to be accessed or in an open state in which the cartridge is to be accessed; a regulation unit configured to be in a regulating state in which the cartridge is prevented to be detached from the main body or in a release state in which the cartridge is to be detachable from the main body; an operation unit configured to be operated by a user; and a processor configured to control an actuator for switching the regulation unit between the release state and the regulating state, wherein in a case where the cartridge is replaced with a new one, the processor is configured to determine whether an operation according to a completion of a replacement of the cartridge is performed on the operation unit or not, and wherein in a case where it is determined that the operation is not performed, the processor is configured to control the actuator so that the regulation unit stays in the release state, and in a case where it is determined that the operation is performed, the processor is configured to control the actuator so that the regulation unit is switched to the regulating state. ### Claim 37 An image forming apparatus comprising: a cartridge including an image forming member configured to form an image on a recording material, wherein the cartridge is detachably mounted to a main body of the image forming apparatus; a door configured to be in a closed state in which the cartridge is prevented to be accessed or in an open state in which the cartridge is to be accessed; a regulation unit configured to be in a regulating state in which the cartridge is prevented to be detached from the main body or in a release state in which the cartridge is to be detachable from the main body; a human detecting sensor configured to detect a human; and a processor configured to control an actuator for switching the regulation unit between the release state and the regulating state, wherein in a case where the cartridge is replaced with a new one, the processor is configured to determine whether the human detecting sensor detects the human or not, and wherein in a case where it is determined that the human detecting sensor detects the human, the processor is configured to control the actuator so that the regulation unit stays in the release state, and in a case where it is determined that the human detecting sensor does not detect the human, the processor is configured to control the actuator so that the regulation unit is switched to the regulating state.