| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which the replacement of a processing unit other than an original manufacturer's product by a user is prevented, character quality and the operating performance are secured, and the occurrence of failure or a defect and the shortening of an apparatus service life is prevented. SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is provided with an image forming part 3, a processing unit 5 which is detachably attached to the image forming part 3 to constitute part of the image forming part 3 and to which a memory 4 is mounted, a communication part 6 to communicate with the outside, and a control part 7 to control these operations. When the processing unit 5 is replaced, the control part 7 reads identification information from the memory 4, and transmits the identification information to a predetermined service base 17 through the communication part 6. The communication part 6 receives authentication information from the service base 17, and the control part 7 restricts an image forming operation in the image forming part 3, when the authentication information is negative. |
