JP4682537B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and program for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, and a copying machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that can flexibly display information on a toner cartridge used for image formation.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, or a copying machine that forms an image using electrophotographic technology, an electrostatic latent image is formed according to image data, and a toner as a developer is formed on the electrostatic latent image. Is developed to a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to a transfer target medium to form an image. In such an apparatus, the toner cartridge that accommodates the toner is detachably held. In particular, in an apparatus capable of forming an image in color, a plurality of toner cartridges, for example, four colors ( Yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K) toner cartridges are respectively mounted.

  In an apparatus in which a plurality of toner cartridges are mounted in this manner, information on how much toner is remaining in each toner cartridge and information on whether or not a toner cartridge is mounted at each mounting position of the toner cartridge. It is necessary to provide information about each toner cartridge to the user of the apparatus. In the conventional apparatus, the position for mounting the toner cartridge is usually fixed depending on the color, and a plurality of toner cartridges of the same color are not mounted. Accordingly, when information about each toner cartridge is provided to the user, color information alone is sufficient as information (name) for identifying each toner cartridge. For this reason, the identification information (name) of the toner cartridge is handled as fixed information that is not particularly changed in the apparatus.

  For example, when displaying the remaining amount of each toner cartridge in an apparatus equipped with each YMCK toner cartridge, Y, M, C, and K are used as identification information for each toner cartridge, respectively. In order not to change, it was written in color and letters on the casing around the display panel. Then, the remaining amount information of each toner cartridge is displayed at the position of the display panel corresponding to the described identification information. Therefore, conventionally, when displaying information about each toner cartridge to the user, only the attribute information such as the remaining amount information is displayed on the display panel or the like without displaying the identification information of each toner cartridge.

The following patent document describes an ink jet printer, and discloses an information display method for a plurality of color ink cartridges attached to the printer. Also in such a printer, as described above, the identification information of each cartridge is fixedly marked, and information such as the ink remaining amount of each cartridge is displayed on the display screen.
JP 2003-266896 A

  However, in the case of a device that has a higher degree of freedom of toner cartridges that can be mounted, such as mounting a plurality of toner cartridges of the same color, as in the past, to identify each toner cartridge that is mounted at that time, A fixed marking method such as using only information is difficult, and this method cannot provide a good user interface.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and the like that can flexibly display information about each mounted toner cartridge and can improve the user interface.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus that forms an image using toner as a developer is detachably mounted with a plurality of developing units that store the toner of the same color. Developing means, identification information recognizing means for recognizing identification information for identifying each developing unit attached to the developing means, and attribute information for each developing unit attached to the developing means, the identification information recognizing means And attribute information display means for displaying together with the corresponding identification information recognized. Therefore, according to the present invention, attribute information such as the remaining amount of each developing unit is displayed together with the identification information of each developing unit, and it is possible to display information that is easy for the user to understand and kind.

  Furthermore, in the above-described invention, a preferable aspect thereof further includes storage means for storing identification information of each developing unit, and the identification information recognition means is based on the identification information stored in the storage means. The identification information is recognized.

Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is that the identification information stored in the storage means is:
The name is arbitrarily determined by a user of the image forming apparatus. As a result, not only can a plurality of mounted development units of the same color be correctly identified to provide information, but also the degree of freedom of information display can be increased and the user interface can be improved.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the identification information stored in the storage unit is generated by the image forming apparatus. Thereby, even when the user does not set the identification information, the identification information is not lost, and the setting operation by the user can be omitted.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, another aspect is characterized in that identification information recognized by the identification information recognition unit is generated by the image forming apparatus. This also prevents the identification information from being lost when the user does not set the identification information, and the user's setting operation can be omitted.

  In the above invention, a preferable aspect is that the generated identification information includes information on a color of toner stored in the developing unit and a position on the developing unit to which the developing unit is attached. It is characterized by. Thereby, the minimum information necessary for identifying the developing unit is displayed, and sufficient information can be provided to the user.

  In order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention provides an image forming system including a host device that makes a request for image formation and an image forming device that forms an image using toner as a developer in accordance with the request. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus recognizes identification information for identifying a developing unit to which a plurality of developing units containing the toner of the same color are detachably mounted and each developing unit mounted on the developing unit. An information recognition unit; and an attribute information transmission unit configured to transmit attribute information of each development unit mounted on the development unit to the host device together with the corresponding identification information recognized by the identification information recognition unit, The host device has host device side display means for displaying the attribute information and identification information of each developing unit transmitted from the attribute information transmitting means. .

  In order to achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host device that requests image formation from an image forming apparatus that performs image formation using toner as a developer. An image forming apparatus program for executing a process of displaying information requests the image forming apparatus to transmit attribute information relating to a plurality of developing units that are attached to the image forming apparatus and store the toner; Receiving, from the image forming apparatus, identification information for identifying each developing unit recognized by the image forming apparatus in response to the transmission request and the attribute information; and the identification of each received developing unit And causing the host device to execute the step of displaying information and attribute information in association with each other.

  Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printer which is an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. A printer 2 shown in FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and is an apparatus that forms an image on a predetermined print medium based on a print request from a host computer 1 (host apparatus). The printer 2 has a configuration in which a plurality of toner cartridges 611 (development units) of the same color can be mounted, and information about each toner cartridge 611 is displayed more flexibly than before.

  A printing system 10 (image forming system) according to the present embodiment is configured by the host computer 1 and the printer 2 shown in FIG. 1, and the printer 2 executes printing based on print data transmitted from the host computer 1.

  The host computer 1 is a host device for the printer 2 and transmits print data including image data and control commands to the printer 2 based on a user operation or the like. The host computer 1 can be configured by a so-called personal computer. A printer program 3 (image forming apparatus program) in the host computer 1 receives data from an application (not shown) in the host computer 1 and generates the print data to be transmitted to the printer 2. This is executed by a control device (not shown) of the host computer 1. Further, the printer program 3 allows the user of the printer 2 to see the status of the printer 2 on the host computer 1 side. Specifically, a printer status window, which will be described later, is displayed, and information regarding the printer 2 is provided to the user. The information display by the printer status window also reflects the characteristics of the printing system 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 2 includes a controller unit 4, an engine control unit 5, an engine 6, and an operation unit 7. The controller unit 4 receives print data transmitted from the host computer 1, interprets a control command included in the data, performs predetermined processing on the image data included in the data, and performs engine 6 side. Generate data to provide to Although not shown, the controller unit 4 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like, and the generated data is stored in the memory. Further, the controller unit 4 transmits information indicating that development is started to the engine control unit 5 when a predetermined amount of data is generated in the memory. The controller unit 4 also performs display control and the like in an operation unit 7 to be described later.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the engine control unit 5 includes a CPU 51 (identification information recognition unit), a ROM 52, a RAM 53, a main body side memory 54 (storage unit), an I / F 55, and the like. The CPU 51 is a part that controls each part of the engine 6 and executes various processes. In the information display process of each toner cartridge, which is a feature of the printer 2, the CPU 51 acquires and generates information to be displayed.

  The ROM 52 stores various programs for controlling the printer 2, and the RAM 53 temporarily stores various information regarding the printer 2. Next, the main body side memory 54 is data storage means for storing information on each toner cartridge 611 of the developing device 61 described later. Specifically, the presence / absence information of the toner cartridge 611 in the developing device 61, toner color information written in a toner cartridge side memory 612, which will be described later, consumption amount information, and the like are stored. An identification name table 541 in which the mounting position (for example, 1, 2, 3, 4) of the toner cartridge 611 in the developing device 61 is associated with the identification name (identification information) of the toner cartridge 611 mounted at that position is stored. This is one of the features of the printer 2. The specific contents of the identification name table 541 will be described later.

  The I / F 55 is an interface between the CPU 51 and the toner cartridge side memory 612, and is used when the CPU 51 reads the information written in the toner cartridge side memory 612 and writes it in the main body side memory 54.

  Next, the engine 6 includes a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing device, a transfer unit, and the like. In FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram centering on the mechanism of the engine 6 portion of the printer 2.

  The photosensitive drum 621 has a cylindrical conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, is rotatable about a central axis, and rotates clockwise as indicated by an arrow. The charging unit 622 charges the photosensitive drum 621, and the exposure unit 623 irradiates the charged photosensitive drum 621 with a beam from a light source such as a built-in laser or LED array to form a latent image due to static electricity. Beam irradiation of the exposure unit 623 is controlled by a drive signal modulated based on image information input from the host computer 1.

  The developing device 61 is a developing rotary that has mounting portions 614A to 614D to which toner cartridges 611A to 611D that store toner that is a developer are detachably mounted, and is rotatable with respect to the central shaft 613. The developing device 61 is rotated so that necessary toner cartridges 611A to 611D are brought close to the photosensitive drum 621, and the developer is supplied to the photosensitive drum 621 on which the latent image is formed. Developed.

  It should be noted that toners 611A to 611D that contain black K, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y developer materials are mounted on the mounting portions 614A to 614D of the developing device 61, for example, in combination with various color toners. All black K toner cartridges 611A to 611D can be mounted.

  The primary transfer unit 626 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 621 to the intermediate transfer body 627. The intermediate transfer member 627 is an endless belt in which an aluminum vapor deposition layer is formed on the surface of a PET film and a semiconductive paint is formed on the surface, for example, and is driven to rotate at the same peripheral speed as that of the photosensitive drum 621. Then, the secondary transfer unit 628 transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 627 to a printing medium such as paper, and the fixing unit 629 welds the toner image transferred onto the printing medium to the medium and becomes permanent. The print medium is discharged out of the printer 2.

  The cleaning unit 624 is provided between the primary transfer unit 626 and the charging unit 622 and has a cleaning blade 625 that comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 621 and remains on the photosensitive drum 621 after the primary transfer. The developing material (toner) to be removed is removed by the cleaning blade 625.

  Each toner cartridge 611 has a storage medium for storing color information and remaining amount information of the developer, such as a non-contact type nonvolatile memory, so that the printer 2 can recognize the state of the mounted toner cartridge 611. The toner cartridge side memories 612A to 612D are provided. Then, after the power is turned on or after the toner cartridge 611 is mounted on the developing device 61, information in the toner cartridge side memory 612 is read. Further, the remaining amount information of the toner cartridge side memory 612 of the toner cartridge 611 is updated after development.

  An operation unit 7 shown in FIG. 1 is a part for the user to operate the printer 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the operation unit 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 7 includes a display panel 71, operation buttons 72, and the like. In the operation unit 7, various setting actions such as setting printing conditions in the printer 2 are performed, and an error message notifying the printer 2 of a failure or abnormality, information indicating various states of the printer 2, and the like are displayed. In order to perform such setting and display, the user performs an operation by appropriately pressing the operation button 72 while viewing information displayed on the display panel 71. The display panel 71 that displays various information has a characteristic when displaying information on each toner cartridge 611 described above, and the specific contents thereof will be described later.

  The operation of the printer 2 according to this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described below. When the toner cartridge 611 is mounted on the developing device 61, the mounted state is recognized by reading the information from the toner cartridge side memory 612 described above, and the printer 2 is ready for printing. Thereafter, at the time of printing, the print data described in a predetermined language is supplied from the host computer 1 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 621, development by the corresponding toner cartridge 611, and intermediate by the primary transfer unit 626. The toner image is transferred onto the transfer body 627. Further, it is transferred to a printing medium such as paper by the secondary transfer unit 628, fixed by the fixing unit 629, and discharged outside the printer 2.

  The printer 2 mainly operates repeatedly with such contents. However, in the printer 2, as described above, the toner cartridge 611 that can be mounted has a high degree of freedom, so that these operations are appropriately performed. Information regarding each toner cartridge 611 is appropriately provided to the user. There is a feature in the way of providing information regarding each toner cartridge 611, and this point will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the information display process regarding the toner cartridge 611. The processing shown in the figure is performed by the CPU 51 of the engine control unit 5 described above in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 52.

  First, it is determined whether it is time to display information (step S1). Here, the displayed information is attribute information about each of the toner cartridges 611A to 611D mounted on the printer 2, and is, for example, the remaining amount of toner, the type of toner, and the date of manufacture. The display timing varies depending on the content of the attribute information to be displayed. For example, the display timing is when the printer 2 is turned on, when the toner cartridge 611 is detached, when requested by the user, or the like. The user request may be made from the operation unit 7 described above or may be made from the host computer 1 using the printer program 3 described above. The information display process is in a standby state until such display timing is reached (No in step S1 → S1), and when the display timing is reached (Yes in step S1), the CPU 51 performs a process of acquiring attribute information to be displayed. (Step S2).

  In many cases, since the information of each toner cartridge 611 is stored in the corresponding toner cartridge side memory 612, the CPU 51 reads the corresponding information from each toner cartridge side memory 612 via the I / F 55. For example, when displaying the remaining amount of toner, information on the remaining amount updated as needed is stored in each toner cartridge-side memory 612, so that information is read out. Note that attribute information may be acquired by a method other than reading information from the toner cartridge side memory 612.

  Next, the CPU 51 accesses the above-described identification name table 541 stored in the main body side memory 54 (step S3), and checks whether or not the identification name is stored in the table 541 (step S4). FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an identification name table 541. FIG. 5A shows an example in which an identification name is set by the user, and the toners mounted at the mounting positions (1, 2, 3, 4) of the four toner cartridges 611, respectively. The identification names of the cartridges 611 are set to “black A1”, “black A2”, “black B1”, and “black B2” in order.

  The identification name in this example represents the color, manager, and serial number of the toner cartridge 611. For example, “black A1” is the first toner cartridge of black K managed by the A group. The name represents that. The example shown in FIG. 5 is a case where all four toner cartridges 611A to 611D are black K.

  FIG. 5B shows another example when the identification name is set by the user, and here, the identification name represents the type of toner contained in the toner cartridge 611. For example, “Glossy 1” is an identification name when the first toner cartridge containing glossy toner is used as a name for identifying the toner cartridge 611. FIG. 5C shows an example in which the toner color and the mounting position are used as identification names. Therefore, for example, “K1” is an identification name indicating that the color is black K and the toner cartridge 611 is mounted at the mounting position “1”.

  Returning to FIG. 4, when the identification name is stored in the identification name table 541 (Yes in step S <b> 4), that is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in the “Identification name” column of the identification name table 541. If any name is stored, the CPU 51 generates information to be displayed based on the stored identification name (step S5). Specifically, “identification name + attribute information” is generated as display information for each toner cartridge 611. Here, “identification name” is a name stored in the identification name table 541, and “attribute information” is the information acquired in step S2. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5A, display information such as “black A1: remaining amount 80%” is generated for the toner cartridge 611 mounted at the mounting position “1”.

  On the other hand, if no identification name is stored in the identification name table 541 (No in step S4), display information is generated using the default name (step S6). In this case, since the identification name in the identification name table 541 cannot be used, the CPU 51 generates an identification name (default name) of each toner cartridge 611 according to a predetermined rule. For example, the mounting position and color of each toner cartridge 611 can usually be easily grasped, so “color + mounting position” is generated as an identification name from these pieces of information. Then, as in the case of step S5 described above, display information is generated by adding the acquired attribute information to the identification name. For example, when a black K toner cartridge is mounted at the mounting position “1”, display information such as “K1: remaining amount 80%” is generated. Note that the default name may be generated by another method (rule).

  When the display information is generated in this way, the display information is transmitted to the controller unit 4 (step S7). Thereafter, the display information is displayed on the display panel 71 of the operation unit 7 or the display screen of the host computer 1. Based on the information display. When displayed on the display panel 71, the display process is controlled by the control of the controller unit 4. When displayed on the host computer 1 side, the generated display information is transmitted from the controller unit 4 to the host computer 1, and the display is performed by the processing based on the printer program 3 described above. In this way, attribute information display processing is executed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display state on the display panel 71. This figure shows a case where the remaining amount information of each of the four mounted toner cartridges 611 is displayed by the display process described with reference to FIG. 4. First, FIG. It is a display example in case the table 541 is in the state illustrated in FIG. As shown in the figure, an identification name “black A1” for identifying each toner cartridge 611 and the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 611 with the identification name are displayed. As described above, in the printer 2, not only the remaining amount information as the attribute information but also the identification name of each toner cartridge 611 is displayed in the display panel 71. In addition, the identification name to be displayed is an easily understandable and convenient name set by the user. Regarding the display of the remaining amount, the visual expression shown in FIG. 6 is an example, and other expression methods such as a numeral may be used.

  6B and 6C are also display examples in the case of the identification name table 541 illustrated in FIGS. 5B and 5C, respectively. As in the case of FIG. 6A, the display using the identification names stored in the identification name table 541 is performed. Further, when the display information is generated by the processing of step S6 in FIG. 4, that is, when the default name is used without the identification name stored in the identification name table 541, the default name is as described above. For example, in this case, the display as shown in (c) of FIG. 6 is performed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example when attribute information is displayed on the host computer 1 side. This figure is an example when the remaining amount information of each toner cartridge 611 is displayed by the display process described with reference to FIG. Further, this example is a screen displayed when the user requests to display the status of the printer 2 by using the printer program 3 in the host computer 1. Such a screen provides, for example, main information about the current state of the printer 2 under the name of a printer status window. In the example shown in the figure, the remaining amount information of each toner cartridge 611 is displayed together with the availability of printing in the printer 2, the state of the prepared paper, and the like (part a in FIG. 7). Also in this case, the identification name (part b in FIG. 7) stored in the identification name table 541 and the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 611 with the identification name (part c in FIG. 7) are displayed.

  Next, a method for setting a desired identification name in the identification name table 541 will be described. First, it can be set using the operation unit 7 of the printer 2. When the user installs a new toner cartridge 611 or the like, the user selects an identification name setting item from among various operation items displayed on the display panel 71 using the operation buttons 72, and then displays the display panel 71. In accordance with the contents, a desired identification name is input in correspondence with the mounting position where the toner cartridge 611 to which the identification name is to be set is mounted. The input identification name is stored in a location corresponding to the mounting position in the identification name table 541 via the controller unit 4.

  The identification name can also be set from the host computer 1 side. In this case, when a new toner cartridge 611 is mounted, the toner cartridge 611 that the user intends to set an identification name from the identification name setting window provided by the printer program 3 according to the display content. A desired identification name is input in correspondence with the mounting position where the is mounted. The input identification name is transmitted to the printer 2 side and stored in a location corresponding to the mounting position in the identification name table 541.

  Further, the printer 2 may automatically set the identification name. For example, if the identification name corresponding to the mounting position is not set in the identification name table 541 even though the toner cartridge 611 is mounted, the CPU 51 at a predetermined timing such as after a predetermined time has elapsed. Generates a default name and stores the identification name in the identification name table 541. Further, whenever the toner cartridge 611 is replaced, the CPU 51 may generate a default name and store the identification name in the identification name table 541. In this case, the default name is used as the identification name unless the user performs the setting action. As the default name automatically generated, “color + mounting position” or the like is used as in the case of the default name generated at the time of displaying information.

  As described above, by using the printer 2 and the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment, information regarding each toner cartridge 611 mounted on the printer 2 is displayed together with the display panel 71 and the identification name of each toner cartridge. It is displayed on the display device on the host computer 1 side. And it is comprised so that a user can set arbitrary names as the identification name. Accordingly, it is possible to display information regarding each toner cartridge 611 more flexibly and appropriately than in the past. In particular, when the color of the toner cartridge 611 that can be mounted at each mounting position is not limited, the user can display the information. Therefore, it is possible to provide easy-to-understand information and improve the user interface.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which the remaining amount of toner is displayed by the printer 2 in (a) to (c) as described above. FIG. 6 (d) shows a conventional display example. In this example, each toner cartridge 611 is fixedly identified by each color of CMYK, and is suitable when a plurality of black K toner cartridges 611 are mounted as in (a) to (c). In addition, the superiority of the display method in the printer 2 in which the identification name itself is flexibly changed is clear.

  In the printer 2, even when the identification name of the toner cartridge 611 is not set by the user, an identification name including information sufficient to identify each toner cartridge 611 is automatically generated and used for display. Therefore, there is no problem caused by not setting the identification name, and there is no inconvenience that the setting operation of the identification name must be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 51 of the engine control unit 5 performs the information display process based on FIG. 4, but the CPU may be provided in the controller unit 4. In the present embodiment, the identification name table 541 is stored in the main body side memory 54 of the engine control unit 5, but may be stored in a memory provided in the controller unit 4.

  Further, in each of the above-described examples, four black K toner cartridges 611 are mounted. However, in any combination of colors and number of toner cartridges, for example, CMYK toner cartridges 611 are mounted. The same information is displayed when 611 is attached.

  Further, various attribute information of each toner cartridge 611 displayed in the printer 2 is stored in a table format, with the mounting position and identification name as key items, and stored in the main body side memory 54 and the memory provided in the controller unit 4. Also good. This makes it possible to efficiently perform processing when displaying information.

  The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram centering on a mechanism of an engine 6 portion of the printer 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operation unit 7. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating information display regarding a toner cartridge. 5 is a diagram illustrating an identification name table 541. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display state on a display panel 71. FIG. It is the figure which showed the example at the time of displaying attribute information on the host computer 1 side.

Explanation of symbols

1 host computer, 2 printer, 3 printer program (host device side display means, image forming apparatus program), 4 controller section (attribute information display means, attribute information transmission means), 5 engine control section, 6 engine, 7 operation Part (attribute information display means), 10 printing system, 51 CPU (identification information recognition means, attribute information display means, attribute information transmission means), 52 ROM, 53 RAM, 54 main body side memory (storage means), 55 I / F 61 Development device (developing unit) 62 Other unit 71 Display panel 72 Operation button 541 Identification name table 611 Toner cartridge (development unit) 612 Toner cartridge side memory

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image using toner as a developer,
Developing means on which a plurality of toner cartridges containing the toner of the same color are mounted simultaneously;
Identification information recognition means for recognizing identification information for identifying each toner cartridge mounted on the development means;
For each toner cartridge mounted on the developing unit, the remaining amount of toner, the type of toner, and the date of manufacture are displayed together with the corresponding identification information recognized by the identification information recognition unit. Attribute information display means for
Identification information recognized by the identification information recognition unit is generated by the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the generated identification information includes information on a color of toner stored in the toner cartridge and a position on the developing unit on which the toner cartridge is mounted. An image forming system comprising a host device that makes a request for image formation and an image forming device that forms an image using toner as a developer in accordance with the request,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Developing means on which a plurality of toner cartridges containing the toner of the same color are mounted simultaneously;
Identification information recognition means for recognizing identification information for identifying each toner cartridge mounted on the development means;
For each toner cartridge mounted on the developing unit, the attribute information on the remaining amount of toner, the type of toner, and the date of manufacture is displayed together with the corresponding identification information recognized by the identification information recognition unit. Attribute information transmitting means for transmitting to the host device,
The host device is
Host device side display means for displaying attribute information and identification information of each toner cartridge transmitted from the attribute information transmission means;
Identification information recognized by the identification information recognition unit is generated by the image forming apparatus,
The image forming system, wherein the generated identification information includes information on a color of toner stored in the toner cartridge and a position of the developing unit on which the toner cartridge is mounted. A program for an image forming apparatus that causes a host device that requests image formation to an image forming apparatus that performs image formation using toner as a developer, and executes processing for displaying information on the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit on which a plurality of toner cartridges containing the toner of the same color are mounted at the same time,
Requesting the image forming apparatus to transmit attribute information on any of the remaining amount of toner, the type of toner, and the date of manufacture for each toner cartridge mounted on the developing unit ;
Receiving identification information for identifying each toner cartridge recognized by the image forming apparatus in response to the transmission request and the attribute information from the image forming apparatus;
Causing the host device to execute a step of displaying the received identification information and attribute information of each toner cartridge in association with each other;
The identification information is generated by the image forming apparatus;
The program for an image forming apparatus, wherein the generated identification information includes information on a color of toner stored in the toner cartridge and a position on the developing unit on which the toner cartridge is mounted.

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