Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed; a developer carrying member configured to carry developer; a conductive member paired with one of the developer carrying member and the image bearing member to form a capacitor; a contact-separation member configured to assume a first position for bringing the developer carrying member into contact with the image bearing member and a second position for separating the developer carrying member from the image bearing member; a detecting unit configured to detect a capacitance of the capacitor applied with a voltage; and a control unit configured to detect whether the apparatus is ready for image formation based on a first detected result detected by the detecting unit when the contact-separation member assumes the first position and a second detected result detected by the detecting unit when the contact-separation member assumes the second position.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a support member movable between an accommodated position within a main casing and a pulled-out position outside the main casing, developing units, toner cartridges, and a cover member. Each toner cartridge includes a casing and a shutter. The casing accommodates toner therein and is formed with an opening for supplying the toner to the corresponding developing unit. The opening faces in a first direction when the toner cartridge is accommodated in a corresponding cartridge accommodating section in the support member. The shutter is movable between an opening position for exposing the opening and a closing position for closing the opening. The cover member is movable between an opening posture for exposing a first side of the corresponding cartridge accommodating section in the first direction and a closing posture for opposing the first side of the corresponding cartridge accommodating section.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming device including: plural image formation sections, a second exposure section, a transfer body, a reading section and an identification section. Each image formation section includes a control section that controls a first exposure section to form an identification image of a color represented by color information in accordance with an image formation instruction. The second exposure section performs exposure onto a charged image-bearing body and forms an electrostatic latent image. An image is formed at the transfer body. The reading section reads an image. The identification section outputs to the plurality of image formation sections an image formation instruction and, on the basis of a duration from the output until the identification image is read by the reading section, identifies a position of the image formation section forming the image of the color instructed by the image formation instruction.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus which includes a main body, a driving unit and a detecting unit, includes: a housing that is configured to accommodate a developer therein, and includes a first side wail and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall in a longitudinal direction; a passive unit that is configured to receive a driving force from the driving unit, is mounted on the first side wall, and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction; and a detected body mounted on the first side wall and including a detected part which is detected by the detecting unit. The detected body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall by the driving force received by the passive unit.

Abstract: An augmented reality system and method for diagnosing and fixing a fault in a device. A mobile communication device can be operatively connected with a networked rendering device by reading a two-dimensional bar code associated with the rendering device. An image with respect to the rendering device can be captured by an image-capturing unit associated with the mobile communication device. The image can be augmented with additional information and a target area can be highlighted in order to indicate a fault component. An action to be taken with respect to the target area can be displayed on the mobile communication device. Such an approach permits an end user to address the device issue with increased quality of information and accuracy.

Abstract: An fixing apparatus of the present invention includes: a developer image forming section that is provided to an apparatus main body and forms a developer image on a recording medium; a fixing section that is provided to the apparatus main body and fixes the developer image that has been formed on the recording medium by the developer image forming section; an identification section that is provided to the fixing section and allows a type of recording medium for being fixed by the fixing section to be identified; and a banning section that is provided to the apparatus main body, identifies the type of recording medium for being fixed by the fixing section using the identification section and bans image forming on a recording medium that has a different type from the type of recording medium for being fixed by the fixing section.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods of replenishing at least one consumable in a printer system having at least one channel with a lockout device and an indicator. The embodiments incorporate a solenoid latch on the channel, a channel closed switch and an attention light. When a consumable needs to be replaced, the user scans the new consumable label against a CRUM reader. If it is valid consumable for the printing system, the attention light above the low or empty channel is lit and its solenoid latch is released. The attention light and solenoid latch would be wired in parallel so that whenever the solenoid is energized to allow the channel to be opened, the attention light will illuminate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus mounted with a toner cartridge having a memory unit includes a toner cartridge which stores a plurality of control data depending on toner in the memory unit, an acquisition unit which selects one of the plurality of control data in the memory unit and acquires image formation-related information and a setting unit which sets image formation parameters on the basis of the image formation-related information.

Abstract: The invention is a replacement printed circuit board or chip that allows a printer to utilize a replacement printer cartridge. The printed circuit board has an encrypted memory device and a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to intercept the request from the printer for the unique lot number data and to provide the appropriate unique lot number data to the printer in response to the request. The encrypted memory device is programmed just like the custom original equipment manufacturer encrypted memory device, and, with the exception of providing the unique lot number data to the printer, communicates with the printer just as the original equipment manufacturer encrypted memory device would.

Abstract: A printing device includes at least one printing engine that has many sensors (first sensors and second sensors) and at least one engine controller operatively connected to the printing engine. The engine controller uses software to control operations of the printing engine. Also, at least one non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. At least one adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the first sensors and second sensors. The first sensors correspond to the design of the controller and are items designed as original equipment of the printing device. To the contrary, the second sensors correspond to the design of the adapter card and are items designed to be installed in the printing device after the printing device is in post production, customer service.

Abstract: A cartridge includes an engagement gear which includes a first engaging portion and is configured to selectively rotate. The cartridge also includes a rotational body which includes a second engaging portion, and a center axis of the rotational body is aligned with a center axis of the engagement gear. Moreover, the cartridge includes an extension portion which is positioned offset from a center of rotation of the rotational body. The engagement gear and the rotational body are configured to selectively be positioned in one of a first state in which the second engaging portion and the first engaging portion are separated from each other, and a second state in which the second engaging portion engages the first engaging portion. The rotational body is configured to rotate with the engagement gear when the engagement gear rotates and the engagement gear and the rotational body are in the second state.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus, includes: a photoconductive drum; a developing container having a first chamber that contains a developer made of toner and a toner additive therein, and a receive port that communicates with the first chamber; a developing roller that develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum with toner in the developing container; a toner cartridge having a second chamber that contains a supply of toner to the developing container therein, and a discharge port that communicates with the second chamber and transports the supply of toner to the receive port; a storage medium fixed to the toner cartridge, and is rewritable and stores specific data therein; a sensor that detects a toner concentration in the toner cartridge; and a controller that rewrites specific data stored in the storage medium by random data upon detecting the toner empty by the sensor.

Abstract: A replacement toner cartridge management apparatus is provided with: a receiver which receives toner cartridge replacement information indicating a toner cartridge loaded on an image forming apparatus which the replacement toner cartridge management apparatus can access via a communication circuit, has been replaced with a new one; an information obtainer which obtains remaining toner information of the toner cartridge removed from the image forming apparatus, when the toner cartridge replacement information is received by the receiver; a time determiner which, if the remaining toner information obtained by the information obtainer indicates a value smaller than a predetermined value, determines that an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge should be outputted when the toner cartridge replacement information is received, or if the remaining toner information indicates a value larger than or equal to a predetermined value, determines that an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge s

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the image processing apparatus has a sheet feeding unit that feeds sheets for printing thereon, an image forming section that forms a developer image, including a developer supply section for supplying a developer a identification element that stores image forming information containing information about whether the accommodated developer is an erasable developer and arranged in the developer supply section, a identification element detecting unit that reads the image forming information from the identification element, and a control section that forms the image on the basis of the image forming information read from the identification element.

Abstract: A powder container includes a housing configured to house powder therein, the housing including a hole connecting between inside and outside of the housing. The powder container also includes a cover member detachably attached to the housing to close the hole; and a signal exchanging unit configured to transmit and receive a signal to and from an apparatus to which the powder container is mounted. The signal exchanging unit is provided in the cover member.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided systems, computer readable media, and methods to authenticate a customer replaceable unit (CRU) in a printer system by comparing a validation code in the CRU with a printer generated validation code. The Validation Code is a string of numbers and/or characters that can be referred to as a value. The validation code will be comprised of a value string including programmed characters representing a combination of all or portions of a market program designator or code, consumable identification (ID) information and a randomly generated value, which may be hidden from view. The code is independently established by the printing system or device using the same algorithm and information and validates the resulting Code when they match. The printing system or device must confirm the Validation Code and ID applicability of the consumable to deem it appropriate for use.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a main body and a genuine toner cartridge without a memory device that is supplied with the main body. The apparatus includes a cartridge installation part configured to receive at least two different types of toner cartridges, including the genuine cartridge without a memory device and a genuine toner cartridge with a memory device that is to be supplied as a replacement for the genuine toner cartridge without a memory device. Also, the apparatus includes a reader configured to retrieve data from the memory device of the genuine toner cartridge with the memory device received in the cartridge installation part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes: a cartridge, detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, including a memory and an image forming process member actable on an image bearing member; and current detecting portion, provided in the main assembly, for detecting a value of current passing through the process member. The current detecting portion detects the value of the current passing through the process member when a voltage is applied to the process member, and the memory stores information for discriminating a state of the process member on the basis of the detected value of the current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with: an obtainer which obtains first information indicating a new toner cartridge having just been loaded thereon or a toner cartridge to be replaced with a new one and second information indicating the current condition under which a fusing process is performed for image forming; a determiner which determines the right type of a replacement toner cartridge to be loaded in place of the toner cartridge causing the first information obtained by the obtainer, based on the second information also obtained by the obtainer; an output portion which outputs an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge of the type determined by the determiner; a detector which detects a new toner cartridge having just been loaded thereon; and a fusing processor which performs a fusing process under the optimal condition based on the amount of the toner supplied from the detector's detected new toner cartridge which is a replacement toner cartridge delivered according to the delivery i

Abstract: A magnet is arranged on an RFID tag to be attached to a cartridge. A Hall element is arranged on a printer-side RFID board in a position corresponding to the magnet. When the cartridge is mounted, a printer-side RFID communication section identifies whether or not the mounted cartridge is a certified product according to classification information stored on the RFID tag and a presence/absence of a detection signal from the Hall element.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording material, the cartridge includes: a frame for accommodating a developer; and a discriminating member molded of a material having a similar color to a color of the developer. The discriminating member is marked with discriminating information for discriminating the cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a plurality of developing cartridges including respective toner accommodating portions for accommodating toners for forming an image on the image bearing member; a discriminating portion for discriminating color of the toner accommodated in each of the plurality of developing cartridges; a controller capable of controlling an image forming operation in a state in which the developing cartridges, of the plurality of developing cartridges, accommodating the toners of the same color are mounted; and a storing portion for storing lifetime information of the plurality of developing cartridges, respectively. When the developing cartridges accommodating the toners of the same color are mounted, the controller determines the developing cartridge, of the developing cartridges accommodating the toners of the same color, to be used for performing the image forming operation, on the basis of the lifetime information.

Abstract: A toner replenishing container includes a storage chamber, a hole and an identification member. The storage chamber stores a toner for replenishment. The hole is engaged with the toner replenishing container identifying portion of the mounting portion when the toner replenishing container is mounted on the mounting portion, is formed at a predetermined position on a front surface of the toner replenishing container in a mounting direction, and has a polygonal cross-section. The identification member is detachably inserted into the hole in a form corresponding to the polygonal shape of the hole when an orientation of the identification member is rotated about a center line of the hole.

Abstract: A system and method have been developed that enable a printer user to exhaust completely the useful life of a customer replaceable unit. The system and method also ensure that a user of the printer knows how to remove a persistent reorder message.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method for refurbishing a web cartridge includes separating a web extending between first and second spools from the first spool and winding the separated web onto the second spool. The first and second spools are removed from a housing. A replacement first spool having a replacement web is obtained, and an end of the replacement is fed web through a web guide. A portion of the replacement web is then affixed to a replacement second spool.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion with a plurality of image bearing members and a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of cartridges, a maintenance door allowing access to the image forming portion for a maintenance operation, a plurality of first doors, remainder detecting means for detecting information relating to amounts of the developers in the cartridges, locking means for locking the first doors, a controller, a moving mechanism, and a second door capable of opening and closing to cover the first doors. The first doors open and close respective openings for insertion of the cartridges into the main assembly independently from each other, without access via the maintenance door. The controller controls the locking means to release a locking of a first door corresponding to a cartridge which requires exchange, on the basis of a detection result of the remainder detecting means.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a main body, and a support unit. The main body is provided with a first force receiving portion. The support unit is configured to receive a developer cartridge and be pulled out from the main body in a horizontal direction. The developer cartridge is configured to accommodate therein developer. The developer cartridge has a first force applying portion. The support unit has a transmitting member. The transmitting member includes a second force receiving portion configured to receive a force from the first force-receiving portion and a second force applying portion configured to apply the force received by the second force receiving portion to the first force receiving portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including: a toner cartridge including a memory to provide first authentication information, and an authentication key circuit to provide a second authentication information; and a controller to authenticate the toner cartridge when the first authentication information and the second authentication information are identical. Furthermore, the controller intentionally destroys the first authentication information or the second authentication information when there is no toner in the toner cartridge. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an unauthorized use of the toner cartridge, and thus to perform an ideal print operation.

Abstract: A developer storage unit includes first and second rotary members. The first rotary member includes: first contacting portion capable of contacting with the second rotary member, first non-contacting portion not in contact with the second rotary member, and first stopper portion offset from the first contacting portion in an axial direction of the first rotary member. The second rotary member includes: second contacting portion capable of contacting with the first rotary member, second non-contacting portion not in contact with the first rotary member, second stopper portion offset from the second contacting portion in an axial direction of the second rotary member, and detected portion detected by detector. The second stopper portion comes into contact with the first stopper portion when the detected portion is moved from used product detecting position to new product detecting position while the first non-contacting portion is positioned to face the second rotary member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a process cartridge; a voltage applying unit; a contact; an electric line; a detection unit; and a control unit. The voltage applying unit generates a voltage and applies the voltage to the process cartridge. The contact is switched an ON state and an OFF state based on a usage state of the process cartridge The electric line electrically connects the voltage applying unit to the process cartridge. The detection unit is electrically connected to the electric line via the contact and provides either one of a first detection output corresponding to the ON state and a second detection output corresponding to the OFF state. The control unit executes a determination process in a determination mode for determining the usage state of the process cartridge based on either one of the first detection output and the second detection output of the detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller on the apparatus body to control supply of developers from developer containers to the development devices. The controller includes a storage that reads and stores identification information pieces of all the development devices attached to the apparatus body. When any of the development devices is removed from the apparatus body, and thereafter attached at a position where the removal took place, the controller reads an identification information piece of the development device attached at the position, and when the read identification information piece disagrees with an identification information piece of the development device at the position stored, and agrees with an identification information piece of another one of the development devices at another position, the controller determines that the development device is mistakenly attached and prohibits the supply of the corresponding developers.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a frame; a rotation body; a driving force transmission unit; a closing member; and a moving member. The frame is formed with a filling port for filling an internal space of the cartridge with a developing agent therethrough. The closing member is configured to close the filling port. The moving member is configured to be irreversibly moved to one of a covered position and an exposed position by an external driving force transmitted through the driving force transmission unit. The moving member covers at least a portion of the closing member when the moving member is at the covered position. The moving member exposes the closing member when the moving member is at the exposed position. The exposed position provides an exposing degree greater than that at the covered position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reading a unique pattern of a toner bottle without using an expensive device, and of preventing the delay of the toner replenishment. A control unit controls a driving unit to rotate a toner bottle for replenishing toner and controls a reading unit to read a unique pattern of the toner bottle in conjunction with the rotation of the toner bottle, when receiving a toner replenishment signal in N-th time from a toner remaining amount detection unit after receiving the bottle detection signal from a bottle mounting detection unit.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a frame; a rotation body; a driving force transmission unit; and a moving member. The rotation body is provided at the frame and rotatable about its rotation axis relative to the frame. The driving force transmission unit is provided at the frame and transmits an external driving force to the rotation body. The moving member is irreversibly movable to one of a covered position and an exposed position by the external driving force transmitted through the driving force transmission unit. The moving member covers at least a portion of the driving force transmission unit when the moving member is at the covered position. The moving member exposes the driving force transmission unit when the moving member is at the exposed position. The exposed position provides an exposing degree greater than that at the covered position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a holding unit configured to change a developing device to first and second orientations. Whether a developer in the developing device is unevenly distributed in a longitudinal direction of the developing device is detected based on a capacitance C1 between first and second electrode members in the first orientation and a capacitance C2 between the first and second electrode members in the second orientation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that is to be detachably attached by a detachable unit, wherein the detachable unit includes a unit side connector that fits a main body side connector disposed in a main body of the image forming apparatus by an attaching operation for attaching the detachable unit to the main body of the image forming apparatus, wherein one of the detachable unit and the main body of the image forming apparatus includes a concave portion extended in an attaching direction in which the detachable unit is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the other one of the detachable unit and the main body of the image forming apparatus includes a convex portion disposed at a position corresponding to the concave portion.

Abstract: A toner cartridge comprises a toner container which contains toner, a driving member which rotationally drives a conveying member, an agitating member which agitates a toner in the toner container while being rotated, a driven member which rotates in association with the driving member which is for rotationally driving the agitating member, and a rotational body which rotates according to rotation of the driven member, has a plurality of slits in rotational circumference for identifying a type of the toner cartridge, and has 1/K or more of the slits when a ratio of a rotational speed R1 (rad/s) of the driving member and a rotational speed R2 (rad/s) of the driven member is K=R2/R1.

Abstract: A method may include the steps of providing a printing assembly that includes a plurality of printing modules that each include a specific toner color, wherein a first printing module is failing and at least one second printing module is functioning; determining a toner use demand for the plurality of printing modules; and swapping the first printing module with the at least one second printing module to facilitate reducing a downtime of the printing apparatus, wherein the first printing module has a toner use demand that is substantially greater than the toner use demand of the at least one second printing module.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus which includes a main body, a driving unit and a detecting unit, includes: a housing that is configured to accommodate a developer therein, and includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall in a longitudinal direction; a passive unit that is configured to receive a driving force from the driving unit, is mounted on the first side wall, and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction; and a detected body mounted on the first side wall and including a detected part which is detected by the detecting unit. The detected body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall by the driving force received by the passive unit.

Abstract: In an image forming device, a plurality of objects are detachably disposed, each of the objects having a storage area to store object-related information of the object, and configured to return, in response to an acquisition request, a signal with a voltage in a predetermined range which is distinctly different among the objects, the signal carrying the object-related information of the object. The image forming device includes a transmitting unit that transmits acquisition requests of object-related information to the objects respectively, a receiving unit that receives signals from the objects respectively, a voltage detection unit that detects a range of voltage of each of the signals received, and an identifying unit that identifies each of the objects respectively based on the ranges of voltage detected.

Abstract: A image forming apparatus includes: a motor; a mounting unit for receiving a cartridge including a detection target moved by a rotational driving force of the motor; a printing unit; a detecting unit for detecting the detection target at a detection position on a movement trajectory of the detection target; and a control unit for controlling the motor and the detecting unit. The control unit performs: a rotation control process of: accelerating the motor; rotating the motor at a constant speed in a time period when accelerating a rotational speed of the motor up to a target speed; detecting the detection target by the detecting unit while the motor rotates at the constant speed; and accelerating again the motor after completing the detection; and a determining process of determining a kind and/or a state of the cartridge on the basis of the detection result of the detecting unit.

Abstract: A unit installable in an apparatus and a method of managing a unit installable in an apparatus are provided. The unit includes a processor mountable to a container. The chip includes a first memory to store data that is accessible and decodable by the apparatus to authenticate the unit. The chip includes a second memory to store recycling prevention information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit, which is detachably attachable to a main body of the apparatus and has a portion to be detected, and a detecting device which detects the portion to be detected in the unit. It is determined that the unit is in an unused state since both of a first state in which the portion to be detected is detected by the detecting device and a second state in which the portion to be detected is not detected by the detecting device are confirmed, and thereafter, the first state or the second state is maintained. Furthermore, there is provided a restricting member which inhibits the first state or the second state from being maintained.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a casing for accommodating developer; a rotatable body rotatably provided at the casing; a pivot member; and a biasing member. The rotatable body is rotatable about a rotational axis, the rotatable body having an outer circumference defining a rotational path during rotation. The pivot member is disposed at the rotatable body at a position offset from the rotational axis and is pivotable about a pivot fulcrum extending in a direction parallel to a tangential direction of the rotational path. The pivot member being pivotably movable between an erect position in which the pivot member erects to form a first angle relative to the rotatable body and a collapsed position in which the pivot member pivots toward the rotatable body to form a second angle smaller than the first angle relative to the rotational body. The biasing member biases the pivot member toward the erect position.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a fixing rotating section including a heat generating section, an opposed section configured to form a nip between the opposed section and the fixing rotating section, a first bimetal type thermostat disconnected by heat from the fixing rotating section to cut power supply to a heat generation source that causes the heat generation section to generate heat, and a second bimetal type thermostat present in a position different from the position of the first bimetal type thermostat in a rotating direction of the fixing rotating section and is disconnected by heat from the fixing rotating section to output an indication that the fixing rotating section is in use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus sense the replacement of a used component with a new component within the apparatus using sensors within the apparatus. The method/apparatus can then automatically display a message on a graphic user interface of the apparatus in response to the sensing of the replacement. This message provides information for recycling the used component, and the message provides a shipping option for shipping the used component to an appropriate recycling location. If the shipping option is selected, the method/apparatus retrieves a shipping address from memory within the apparatus and prints a shipping label for shipping the used component to the recycling location using a printing engine operatively connected to the apparatus.

Abstract: A toner cartridge and a printer using the same and a related protection management method are provided. In the present disclosure, by additionally equipping a hardware configuration of identification unit in the toner cartridge, the equipped identification unit would provide a (unique) ID code representing the toner cartridge in response to a setting code (randomly) determined by a controller of the printer. Only when the setting code and the ID code are the same, and when the toners filled inside the toner cartridge are not empty yet, is the printer allowed to normally operate; otherwise, the printer is stopped from using the toner cartridge, and the user is asked to replace a new genuine toner cartridge. Accordingly, it is assured that the internal components of the printer won't be damaged by the unidentified, low-priced dummy toner cartridges, and the print quality and service lifetime of the printer would be maintained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller, an image bearing device with a first memory and one of a first developer material holding device, and a second developer material holding device that are detachably attached to the image bearing device. The first developer material holding device includes a second memory and the second developer material holding device does not includes the second memory. The controller makes a decision to determine whether a developer material holding device attached to the image bearing device has the second memory attached thereto. The controller manages one of the first developer material holding device and the second developer material holding device in accordance with the decision.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is formed with an information-engraved section formed to have a predetermined shape. A cartridge-attachment section, to which the ink cartridge is attached, includes a deformable section, a stress light-emitting section which emits light depending on the shape of the information-engraved section by means of a stress received when the deformable section makes contact with the information-engraved section, and a light-receiving sensor which receives the light emitted by the stress light-emitting section to generate a recognition signal corresponding to the information-engraved section. An attachable member-recognition device is provided, which has a relatively cheap and simple structure, which is capable of setting information about an attachable member including, for example, the ink cartridge and a printing paper tray, and which is capable of recognizing the information.

Abstract: A developer of an image-forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a housing comprising a waste toner container in which waste toner removed from the photoconductor is contained, and a recessed portion depressed downwardly in a center portion of an upper wall of the waste toner container, the center portion corresponding to a center portion of the photoconductor in a lengthwise direction to move toner away from the center portion.