| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus wherein a process unit can be smoothly attached and detached by a user and wasteful power consumption can be suppressed, and to provide a control method for the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes three types of replacement modes for enabling the developing unit to be attached/detached to/from the apparatus according to any one of the following operation modes: an image forming mode in which the entire apparatus is operated, a first power saving mode in which power consumption is reduced by stopping part of the apparatus, and a second power saving mode in which power consumption is further reduced by stopping more parts of the apparatus. In these replacement modes, the operations of the unnecessary parts of each device are stopped. However, the parts that have to be stopped are individually determined according to the operation modes. Accordingly, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed, while keeping convenience at the time of attaching and detaching work of the developing unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
