# US 8,570,545 B2 · Image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming units, initial adjustment method for the image forming apparatus, and computer readable medium recording program for causing the image forming apparatus to perform initial adjustment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,570,545 B2 - Document ID: US8570545B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/034,444 - Filed: 2008-02-20 - Published: 2009-03-05 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-08-28 - Assignees: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Kazuo Okunishi; Hideo Mae; Junichi Taniguchi; Koichi Takeuchi - Inventors: Kazuo Okunishi; Hideo Mae; Junichi Taniguchi; Koichi Takeuchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570545B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/00002: {Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for (error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00)} - H04N 1/00034: {Measuring, i.e. determining a quantity by comparison with a standard (H04N1/00031 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00082: {Adjusting or controlling (interrupting an operation H04N1/00915; inhibiting an operation H04N1/00925)} - H04N 1/0009: {Storage} - H04N 2201/0416: Performing a pre-scan - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes a main body storage part, a determination part, and an initial adjustment part. The first image forming unit includes a first storage part storing first information indicative of whether or not an initial adjustment of the first image forming unit has been completed. The determination part determines whether or not the first information stored in the first storage part and the second information stored in the main body storage part satisfy respective prescribed conditions. The initial adjustment part causes the first and second image forming units to perform the initial adjustment when the first information indicates that the initial adjustment of the first image forming unit has not been completed and the second information indicates that the second image forming unit corresponds to an unused state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body including a main body storage part; a first image forming unit removably attached to said main body, wherein said first image forming unit includes a first storage part storing first information indicative of whether or not an initial adjustment of said first imaging forming unit has been completed; a second image forming unit removably attached to said main body, wherein said main body storage part stores second information indicative of a usage history of said second image forming unit, wherein the second image forming unit does not have a storage part storing second information; a determination part determining whether or not said first information stored in said first storage part and said second information stored in said main body storage part satisfy respective prescribed conditions; and an initial adjustment part causing said first and second image forming units to be agitated simultaneously as the initial adjustment when said first information indicates that the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit has not been completed and said second information indicates that the second image forming unit corresponds to an unused state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said initial adjustment part causes only said first image forming unit to perform the initial adjustment when said first information indicates that the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit has not been completed and said second information indicates that said second image forming unit corresponds to a used state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said usage history includes number of usage times of said second image forming unit, and said determination part determines that said second image forming unit corresponds to the unused state when said number of usage times is smaller than a preset threshold value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an update part updating, when the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit is completed, said first information stored in said first storage part to a content indicating that the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit has been completed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first image forming unit is an image forming unit for black, and said second image forming unit is an image forming unit for color. ### Claim 6 An initial adjustment method for an image forming apparatus, wherein said image forming apparatus includes a main body including a main body storage part, a first image forming unit removably attached to said main body and including a first storage part, and a second image forming unit removably attached to said main body, said initial adjustment method comprising the steps of: storing in said first storage part first information indicative of whether or not an initial adjustment of said first imaging forming unit has been completed; storing in said main body storage part second information indicative of a usage history of said second image forming unit, wherein the second image forming unit does not have a storage part storing second information; determining whether or not said first information stored in said first storage part and said second information stored in said main body storage part satisfy respective prescribed conditions; and causing said first and second image forming units to be agitated simultaneously as the initial adjustment when said first information indicates that the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit has not been completed and said second information indicates that the second image forming unit corresponds to an unused state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The initial adjustment method according to claim 6, wherein said step of causing said first and second image forming units to perform the initial adjustment includes a step of causing only said first image forming unit to perform the initial adjustment when said first information indicates that the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit has not been completed and said second information indicates that said second image forming unit corresponds to a used state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The initial adjustment method according to claim 6, wherein said usage history includes number of usage times of said second image forming unit, and said step of determining includes a step of determining that said second image forming unit corresponds to the unused state when said number of usage times is smaller than a preset threshold value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The initial adjustment method according to claim 6 further comprising a step of updating, when the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit is completed, said first information stored in said first storage part to a content indicating that the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit has been completed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The initial adjustment method according to claim 6, wherein said first image forming unit is an image forming unit for black, and said second image forming unit is an image forming unit for color. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for causing an image forming apparatus to perform an initial adjustment, wherein said image forming apparatus includes a main body including a main body storage part, a first image forming unit removably attached to said main body and including a first storage part, a second image forming unit removably attached to said main body, and a controller controlling operations of said image forming apparatus, said program causing said controller to perform the steps of: storing in said first storage part first information indicative of whether or not an initial adjustment of said first imaging forming unit has been completed; storing in said main body storage part second information indicative of a usage history of said second image forming unit, wherein the second image forming unit does not have a storage part storing second information; determining whether or not said first information stored in said first storage part and said second information stored in said main body storage part satisfy respective prescribed conditions; and causing said first and second image forming units to be agitated simultaneously as the initial adjustment when said first information indicates that the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit has not been completed and said second information indicates that the second image forming unit corresponds to an unused state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11, wherein said step of causing said first and second image forming units to perform the initial adjustment includes a step of causing only said first image forming unit to perform the initial adjustment when said first information indicates that the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit has not been completed and said second information indicates that said second image forming unit corresponds to a used state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11, wherein said usage history includes number of usage times of said second image forming unit, and said step of determining includes a step of determining that said second image forming unit corresponds to the unused state when said number of usage times is smaller than a preset threshold value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11, wherein said program further causes said controller to perform a step of updating, when the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit is completed, said first information stored in said first storage part to a content indicating that the initial adjustment of said first image forming unit has been completed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11, wherein said first image forming unit is an image forming unit for black, and said second image forming unit is an image forming unit for color.