US Patent 7440704 Image forming apparatus

A cartridge information managing unit reads a kind of toner cartridge which is detachable to an image forming apparatus main body and ID information stored in a toner cartridge identification information storing unit and manages them. A process switching unit of an image forming unit switches a processing method of received image information on the basis of the read ID information of the toner cartridge. Even if the toner cartridge is incompatible with the apparatus, deterioration in image quality is suppressed.