IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a use control of special consumables whose use should be restricted to a specific use, with a simple configuration in an image forming apparatus in which the image forming apparatus main frame forms an image in a recording medium using the consumables to be attachably/detachably equipped to the image forming apparatus main frame. SOLUTION: As the consumables 20, the special consumables preliminarily holding identification information for use control and consumables for registering permission information preliminarily holding permission information indicating one or more pieces of identification information are provided in addition to regular consumables. The apparatus main frame 10 acquires, registers and holds the permission information from the consumables for registering permission information when the consumables are attached. In addition, the apparatus main frame 10 acquires identification information from the special consumables when the consumables are attached, judges whether the identification information is matched with any of one or more pieces of identification information indicated by the registered and held permission information, performs predetermined function restriction when they are not matched, and does not perform the predetermined function restriction when they are matched with each other. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT