Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

The printer reads a capacity number of printed sheets and a accumulated number of printed sheets of a toner cartridge stored in a cartridge memory of toner cartridge and compares them to determine whether toner cartridge's service life has expired. Similarly, it reads toner cartridge's product information stored in the cartridge memory, and compares it with an authorized product's product information to determine whether the toner cartridge is an authorized product. If it is determined that toner cartridge's life has expired or the toner cartridge is not an authorized product, the printer executes printing process in the safety mode with an increased frequency compared to that of the standard mode. Thus, the printer allows continuation of printing without deteriorating printing quality and without halting instantly even when a toner cartridge, whose service life has expired, or an unauthorized product is used.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim