A color laser printer of the invention identifies each object image to be
printed as a color image or a monochromatic image. When the object image
to be printed is identified as a color image, the control procedure of
the invention rotates a developer unit with multiple color toner
cartridges to sequentially move positions of the respective color toner
cartridges to a development position and forms respective color toner
images on a photoreceptor. When the object image to be printed is
identified as a monochromatic image, on the other hand, the control
procedure fixes a specific toner cartridge filled with black toner to the
development position and forms a black toner image on the photoreceptor.
A counter counts up consecutive monochromatic printing operations. After
a preset number of the consecutive monochromatic printing operations in
the fixed state of the developer unit, the developer unit is rotated to
return and fix the specific toner cartridge filled with black toner to
the development position for monochromatic printing.