Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a transfer unit, a voltage supply circuit, and a controller. The transfer unit is configured to transfer developer onto a printing medium from the photosensitive drum. The voltage supply circuit is configured to supply voltage to the transfer unit. The controller is electrically connected to the voltage supply circuit. The controller is configured to: calculate a cumulative voltage value, the cumulative voltage value being a total of supplied voltage to the transfer unit from the voltage supply circuit after using the transfer unit is started; and determine how long a lifetime of the transfer unit remains based on the calculated cumulative voltage value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge, a main memory and a controller. The controller is configured to perform determining whether the developing cartridge is reached a lifetime on a basis of: at least one of s developing maximum printable number of sheets which corresponds to developing identification information, a maximum developing roller rotation number which corresponds to the developing identification information, and a maximum dot count which corresponds to the developing identification information; and at least one of a developing cumulative number of printed sheets, a cumulative developing roller rotation number and a cumulative dot count.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main frame; a developing cartridge including a casing, a storage medium having an electrical contact surface, and developing roller; a photosensitive drum contactable with the developing roller; an electrical connector contactable with the electrical contact surface; a separation mechanism; and a controller configured to communicate with the storage medium via the electrical connector. The separation mechanism is configured to move the casing relative to the main frame in a separating direction in which the developing roller separates from the photosensitive drum. The controller is configured to perform: moving, by controlling the separation mechanism, the casing relative to the main frame in the separating direction; determining, in response to performing the moving, whether communication with the storage medium is established; and outputting, when determining in the determining that the communication with the storage medium is not established, an error.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge; a display; and a controller. The drum cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the main casing. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum memory. The toner cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The toner cartridge includes a toner memory. The controller is configured to: determine whether an error occurs in the drum cartridge through a communication with the drum memory; determine whether an error occurs in the toner cartridge through a communication with the toner memory; and when determining that an error occurs in the drum cartridge and determining that an error occurs in the toner cartridge, display on the display an error relating to the drum cartridge in preference to displaying on the display an error relating to the toner cartridge.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a toner cartridge configured to accommodate toner; a drum cartridge for use with the toner cartridge; and a controller. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, and a drum memory storing a first type information indicating a type of the drum cartridge. The controller is configured to communicate with the drum memory. The controller is configured to perform: reading the first type information from the drum memory; and changing an operation of the image-forming apparatus based on the type indicated by the first type information.

Abstract: In an image-forming device, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge are detachably attached to a frame. A controller is configured to perform: a drum replacement necessity determination process; and a mode switch process. The drum replacement necessity determination process determines, based on life information for the drum cartridge, whether replacement of the drum cartridge is necessary. The mode switch process switches a mode of a printing process between a normal printing mode and an extended printing mode. The normal printing mode allows the image-forming device to perform the printing process when the replacement of the drum cartridge is determined to be unnecessary. The extended printing mode allows the image-forming device to perform the printing process on a condition that the developing cartridge attached to the frame is not replaced with another developing cartridge in a state where the replacement of the developing cartridge is necessary.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge and a controller. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger and a drum cartridge memory storing a life count value and discharge history information. The controller includes a voltage applying circuit, and an abnormal discharge detection circuit. In a case where the abnormal discharge detection circuit detects an abnormal discharge, the controller does not permit printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than a first reference value and a number of abnormal discharges which is included in the discharge history information read from the drum cartridge memory is equal to or more than a particular threshold value, or permits printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than the first reference value and the number of abnormal discharges is less than the particular threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing and a controller. A cartridge is to be attached to the main casing. The cartridge includes a memory stores usage status information indicating whether the cartridge is a new cartridge or an old cartridge which indicates a used product. The controller reads the usage status information stored in the memory in a case that attachment of the cartridge to the main casing is detected. The controller determines, based on the usage status information, whether the cartridge is the new cartridge or the old cartridge. The controller rewrites the usage status information to information indicating that the cartridge is the old cartridge in a case that the cartridge is determined to be the new cartridge. The rewriting is performed before the controller receives a print instruction and before the material or the part of the cartridge is consumed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge and a controller. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger and a drum cartridge memory storing a life count value and discharge history information. The controller includes a voltage applying circuit, and an abnormal discharge detection circuit. In a case where the abnormal discharge detection circuit detects an abnormal discharge, the controller does not permit printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than a first reference value and a number of abnormal discharges which is included in the discharge history information read from the drum cartridge memory is equal to or more than a particular threshold value, or permits printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than the first reference value and the number of abnormal discharges is less than the particular threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cover, a cartridge, and a controller. The cartridge includes a second memory storing lifetime information indicating lifetime of the cartridge and identification information unique to the cartridge. In a case where the lifetime information indicates the initial value for the lifetime, the controller is configured to perform setting the cartridge to be usable in the image forming apparatus. In a case where the controller determines that the lifetime information does not indicate the initial value for the lifetime of the cartridge, the controller is configured to perform judging whether the identification information stored in the second memory matches a registration identification information stored in a first memory of the apparatus body. In a case where the identification information matches the registration identification information, the controller is configured to perform determining that the cartridge is usable for the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A printing device, including: a cartridge storing developer; a memory provided in the cartridge; and a controller configured to execute a printing process of operating the cartridge form a developer image on a sheet by use of the developer in the cartridge, a first access process of performing access to the memory when the printing process is not being executed, and a second access process of performing access to the memory in a period in which the printing process is being executed, in response to a predetermined operation of the printing device, wherein, when an access failure occurs in the first access process, the controller notifies an error, and wherein, when an access failure occurs in the second access process, the controller continues the printing process and executes the second access process again in response to a next timing of the predetermined operation of the printing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a toner cartridge, a replaceable part, an apparatus body memory, and a controller. The replaceable part includes a replaceable part memory storing therein extended-use allowance-and-restriction information. The extended-use allowance-and-restriction information indicates one of allowance information and restriction information. The extended use is defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory. The apparatus body memory stores life information indicating remaining life of the replaceable part. In a case where the controller determines that the extended-use allowance-and-restriction information indicates the restriction information, the controller is configured to restrict the extended use of the replaceable part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a toner cartridge, a replaceable part, a controller and an apparatus body memory. An operating mode of the controller is set to one of a subscription mode and a normal mode. The controller is configured to perform processes in accordance with the set operating mode. The apparatus body memory is configured to store life information indicating a remaining life of the replaceable part attached to the apparatus body. The controller is configured to switch a control between: a control for allowing an extended use of the replaceable part; and a control for restricting the extended use of the replaceable part, according to the set operating mode. The extended use is defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drum cartridge to which one of a first toner cartridge and a second toner cartridge is attachable; a frame including a first slot and a second slot; and a controller including a control memory and a processor. The drum cartridge to which the one of the first toner cartridge and the second toner cartridges is attached is attachable to one of the first slot and the second slot. The control memory stores first color information allocated to the first slot, and second color information allocated to the second slot. In a state where the drum cartridge is attached to one of the first slot and the second slot and when the drum memory does not store any color information, the processor is configured to perform: writing, into the drum memory, one of the first color information and the second color information which is appropriate.

Abstract: A printing device, including: a cartridge storing developer; a memory provided in the cartridge; and a controller configured to execute a printing process of operating the cartridge form a developer image on a sheet by use of the developer in the cartridge, a first access process of performing access to the memory when the printing process is not being executed, and a second access process of performing access to the memory in a period in which the printing process is being executed, in response to a predetermined operation of the printing device, wherein, when an access failure occurs in the first access process, the controller notifies an error, and wherein, when an access failure occurs in the second access process, the controller continues the printing process and executes the second access process again in response to a next timing of the predetermined operation of the printing device.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus a toner cartridge includes a toner memory storing toner identification information. The toner cartridge is detachably attachable to a drum cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a drum memory storing drum identification information. The drum cartridge is detachably attached to the main-body casing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a frame, a drum cartridge mountable to the frame, and including a photosensitive drum and a drum memory in which drum identification information identifying the drum cartridge is stored, and a control unit including a main body memory in which the drum identification information is to be stored. The control unit reads out the drum identification information from the drum memory, determines whether the drum identification information read out from the drum memory coincides with the drum identification information stored in the main body memory, and enables to execute resister pitch measuring processing of measuring variations in printing pitch due to the photosensitive drum. In a case where it is determined that the drum identification information read out from drum memory coincides with the drum identification information stored in the main body memory, the control unit does not execute the resister pitch measuring processing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge and a controller. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger and a drum cartridge memory storing a life count value and discharge history information. The controller includes a voltage applying circuit, and an abnormal discharge detection circuit. In a case where the abnormal discharge detection circuit detects an abnormal discharge, the controller does not permit printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than a first reference value and a number of abnormal discharges which is included in the discharge history information read from the drum cartridge memory is equal to or more than a particular threshold value, or permits printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than the first reference value and the number of abnormal discharges is less than the particular threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drum cartridge to which one of a first toner cartridge and a second toner cartridge is attachable; a frame including a first slot and a second slot; and a controller including a control memory and a processor. The drum cartridge to which the one of the first toner cartridge and the second toner cartridges is attached is attachable to one of the first slot and the second slot. The control memory stores first color information allocated to the first slot, and second color information allocated to the second slot. In a state where the drum cartridge is attached to one of the first slot and the second slot and when the drum memory does not store any color information, the processor is configured to perform: writing, into the drum memory, one of the first color information and the second color information which is appropriate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner cartridge; a drum cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attachable; and a controller. The toner cartridge is configured to accommodate toner therein. The toner cartridge includes a toner memory. The drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; and a drum memory. The controller is configured to perform: a first determination process to determine whether communication with the drum memory is established; and after determining in the first determination process that the communication with the drum memory is established, a second determination process to determine whether communication with the toner memory is established.