Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir. A paddle is mounted on the shaft. A sensor is positioned on the housing outside of the reservoir and positioned to sense a rotational motion of the paddle when the shaft rotates. A processor is mounted on the housing and in electric communication with the sensor. An electrical contact is in electric communication with the processor and exposed on an exterior of the housing unobstructed to mate with a corresponding electrical contact when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having an inner volume forming a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir. A paddle is mounted on the shaft and rotatable independent of the shaft. A driving member is rotatable with the shaft and positioned to push the paddle when the shaft rotates. The paddle is free to fall ahead of the driving member. The paddle includes a magnetic element rotatable with the paddle and detectable by a magnetic sensor when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device for detecting the motion of the paddle.

Abstract: Electronic systems, such as printing systems, often use components that have integral memory. The integral memory can be used to store information about the component. In some printing systems this memory includes a portion that stores a value indicative of a print yield. Disclosed is a method and system for allowing the memory to have data indicative of an increased print yield.

Abstract: System and methods for controlling toner properties in a two component development system through the toner shape factor. In particular, the present embodiments provide a method for controlling toner concentrations by tailoring the circularity value ranges of the toner particles to prevent dysfunctions and provide a more robust and optimized xerographic system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a developing device including: a developer housing section configured to house a developer including toner and carrier; a carrier replenishing section configured to supply the carrier to the developer housing section; a carrier concentration detecting section provided at a position near a carrier replenishment position at which the carrier is received from the carrier replenishing section in the developer housing section, the carrier concentration detecting section being configured to detect a carrier concentration in the developer housing section; and a carrier replenishment determination section configured to determine whether the carrier is properly supplied to the developer housing section on the basis of a result of detecting by the carrier concentration detecting section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image forming device that forms a latent image, a latent image carrier that carries the latent image, a development device that develops the latent image, and a controller. The development device includes a developer carrier that faces the latent image carrier and carries toner on a rotary surface thereof that rotates in a rotation direction perpendicular to a width direction of the developer carrier, and a regulation member that regulates the thickness of a layer of the toner on the surface of the developer carrier. The controller moves the toner on lateral end regions in the width direction of the surface of the developer carrier toward the latent image carrier. The end regions are located outside a maximum image forming region within a regulation member facing region of the surface of the developer carrier facing the regulation member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body settable to any of at least first and second modes; a replacement part detachably attachable to the apparatus body; a first storage provided in the apparatus body and configured to store ID information for at least a selected one of the first and second modes; a second storage provided in the replacement part and configured to store ID information of the replacement part; and a determination section configured to compare the ID information of the apparatus body stored in the first storage with the ID information of the replacement part stored in the second storage to determine whether to permit use of the replacement part, wherein the second storage of the replacement part shipped with the image forming apparatus stores at least first ID information for the first mode and second ID information for the second mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit with a supply roller that supplies toner to a developing roller located such that of a contact region between the developing roller and the supply roller, the uppermost stream position in the rotating direction of the supply roller during image formation is located higher than the lowermost stream position, wherein the supply roller rotates in a reverse direction during image formation if the developing unit is new.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an information rewrite unit that rewrites information stored in a storage if an empty detector detects that a toner container is empty and the toner container is at least allowed to be released, and then if the empty detector detects that the toner container is not empty.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detachably replaceable image forming unit for forming an image on a medium, the image forming unit including a component for forming the image on the medium and a first storage section for storing life information, use amount information, and use purpose information of the component; a read-write section for reading and writing information in the first storage section; a life management section for managing life of the image forming unit; and a second storage section for storing the life information and the use amount information read from the first storage section by the read-write section; the life management section rewriting the life information stored in the first storage section by the first storage section in accordance with the use purpose information stored in the first storage section and the use amount information stored in the second storage section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit configured to print an input print job including a plurality of pages, wherein, if it is determined that a remaining amount of a recording agent in a cartridge is less than or equal to a threshold value, the printing unit prints a portion of print data in the print job, temporarily stops printing, and displays a toner out message on a display unit to prompt a user to replace the cartridge, and repeats, if the user does not replace the cartridge after the toner out message is displayed, printing a portion of print data in the print job that is different from the print data that the printing unit has already printed, temporarily stopping printing, and displaying on the display unit the toner out message.

Abstract: A developing cartridge having a memory unit and an image forming apparatus in which the developing cartridge is separably installed. Once the developing cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus, the memory unit of the developing cartridge is arranged to face a recording medium delivery path. The memory unit is connectable to a connection unit of a board placed in a lower region of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: a plurality of image forming apparatus each having a storage section; a density conversion data registering section obtaining density conversion data composed of a combination of a voltage value and a density value as colorimetry results of a color sensor and an external colorimeter, respectively, and storing the data into the storage section of the apparatus which forms a density correcting chart to be used for the colorimetry; a paper setting section storing a tray paper profile or a paper profile into a paper setting storage section, with the profiles correlated with at least one piece of the data obtained by the density conversion data registering section; and a correction controlling section making the plurality of image forming apparatus perform printer ? correction based on the data correlated with the paper profile or the tray paper profile at a time of the image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an operation panel has, as a configuration of the operation panel, a display portion including a function to display environmental label information of the image forming apparatus. The environmental label information includes information on a type of greenhouse effect gases (CO2) and a total emission amount of the greenhouse effect gases in a life cycle of the image forming apparatus. On the display portion, there is provided a selective display portion for displaying an environmental label as list display or thumbnail display, as well as selectively displaying detailed information of the environmental label according to the environmental label.

Abstract: A dot-count calculation section counts the number of dots that are printed, and calculates an amount of toner consumed in a developing device (toner consumption amount). A toner supply amount calculation section calculates an amount of toner supplied to the developing device by the toner supply mechanism (toner supply amount). A cumulative toner supply amount holding section holds a cumulative toner supply amount. A correction toner supply amount calculation section calculates a used amount of the toner in the toner case (correction toner supply amount), based on the toner consumption amount and the toner supply amount. A cumulative toner supply amount updating section adds the correction toner supply amount and the cumulative toner supply amount, and stores a value resulting from the addition in the cumulative toner supply amount holding section, as a new cumulative toner supply amount.

Abstract: A toner transportation device includes a first toner case that contains toner; a second toner case including a main body containing toner transported from the first toner case, a second discharge port located in the main body that discharges toner, and a second transportation unit rotatably positioned in the main body, and that transports toner to the second discharge port; a second driving unit that drives the second transportation unit; a detecting unit that detects the number of rotations of the second transportation unit and outputs a rotation detection signal; and a control unit that estimates the amount of toner remaining in the first toner case based on an accumulated number of rotations represented by the rotation detection signal.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a control device obtains an amount of toner in a first area and an amount of toner in a second area. The first area is defined on a conveying member that is in contact with a photosensitive member. The transfer of toner is assured in the first area of the conveying member, but is not assured in the second area. The control device determines a toner condition based on a difference in the amount of toner between the first area and the second area. When the difference in the amount of toner is larger, the control device determines that the toner is in a deteriorated condition. When the difference in the amount of toner is smaller, the control device determines that the toner is not in the deteriorated condition.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide materials, apparatus, and methods for forming an image. Exemplary imaging apparatus can include one or more light sources configured to treat toner images after they are transferred on an image receiving substrate (e.g., a copy sheet). The toner images can be formed of an opto-thermal toner containing opto-thermal elements in a toner composition. The fuser subsystem may or may not be configured in the disclosed imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A toner container including a first electrode disposed within the toner container, a second electrode electrically connected to the first electrode and disposed within the toner container, and a sense electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The sense electrode and the first electrode form a first capacitor having a first capacitance that changes in response to a change in toner amount existing therebetween. The sense electrode and the second electrode form a second capacitor having a second capacitance that changes in response to a change in toner amount existing therebetween.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a toner cartridge which includes a storage section; a toner motor; a toner-motor driving section; a count measuring section configured to measure a driving time of the toner motor and calculate a consumption count value of the toner; an event detecting section configured to detect operation events; a main body counter configured to sequentially update a main body counter value with the consumption count value and stores the main body counter value; a toner counter configured to store a toner counter value in the storage section; a counter comparing section configured to perform counter comparison of the main body counter value and the toner counter value; and an event processing section configured to perform processing for keeping consistency of the main body counter value and the toner counter value on the basis of the counter comparison.

Abstract: A printing device includes a receiving part receiving print job data, an analysis part, a memory part, an image forming part that executes a print process of image information using first and second consumable products and that includes a remaining amount detecting part, and a print control unit that controls the print process. When the remaining amount of the first consumable product is detected to be lower than a predetermined amount, the print process using the first consumable product is temporarily suspended, the memory part stores the image information and the print information of the print job data that are sequentially received by the receiving part. When the print information for another print process not using the first consumable product is stored in the memory part, the print control unit deletes information relating to the print job data of the suspended print process.

Abstract: A method for providing a page countdown for a replaceable toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes, upon detecting a toner cartridge that is out of usable toner, determining a number of pages remaining for a page countdown associated with the toner cartridge. Whether a toner sump of an imaging unit positioned to receive toner from the toner cartridge contains sufficient toner to print the number of pages remaining is also determined. If the toner sump of the imaging unit contains sufficient toner, the page countdown continues from the number of pages remaining. If the toner sump of the imaging unit does not contain sufficient toner, the number of pages remaining for the page countdown is reset based on the amount of toner available in the toner sump of the imaging unit and the page countdown continues from the reset number of pages remaining.

Abstract: A differential transformer type magnetic sensor includes a board, a drive coil, a first differential coil, and a second differential coil. The drive coil includes a planar coil in which a dimension of a first direction which is one of longitudinal and transverse dimensions is smaller than that of a second direction which is the other of the longitudinal and transverse dimensions, and is disposed on the board. The first differential coil includes a planar coil having the same shape as the drive coil, and is disposed on the board. The second differential coil includes a planar coil having the same shape as the drive coil, and is disposed on the board. The first differential coil and the second differential coil are electrically connected so that a direction of induced current flowing along the first differential coil and a direction of induced current flowing along the second differential coil are opposite to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a developing device corresponding to a color component, comprises: a conversion unit configured to accumulate, for each color component, values of respective pixels for each color component that fall within a predetermined range of image data, and to convert the accumulated value into a count value of the color component; an addition unit configured to add, to the image data, the count value of each color component that has been converted by the conversion unit; and a control unit configured, when forming an image based on the image data, to supply toner to the developing device of each color component in accordance with the count value of the color component that has been added by the addition unit.

Abstract: In a rotary-type image forming apparatus in which detection of electrostatic capacitance is performed when a developing apparatus is in a posture less affected by a toner density within the developing apparatus, a toner in the developing apparatus, which is located at a development position during the detection of the electrostatic capacitance, is avoided from being uselessly consumed. The image forming apparatus has a remaining amount detection mode of detecting a toner remaining amount on condition that a developing roller of one developing apparatus positioned opposite to another developing apparatus, for which the toner remaining amount is to be detected, stands by in a state spaced from a drum.

Abstract: An apparatus to control a printing density in an image forming device and a method thereof, capable of controlling the printing density of a printed matter according to an amount of pages for a single page and a print rate. The apparatus and method solve a problem wherein the printing density is recognized as being degraded due to an increase of pages for a single paper or a reduced print rate. The printing density is set automatically or manually, and a bias voltage applied to a developing roller is controlled according to set-up information so that the printing density is controlled.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a moving member configured to support a first process cartridge and move the first process cartridge to a position for forming an image, and a detection unit configured to detect a state of a second process cartridge, in which the moving member holds the detection unit.

Abstract: Electronic systems, such as printing systems, often use components that have integral memory. The integral memory can be used to store information about the component. In some printing systems this memory includes a portion that stores a value indicative of a print yield. Disclosed is a method and system for allowing the memory to have data indicative of an increased print yield.

Abstract: In a disclosed developing device, a developing part includes a developer carrier for circulating a developer inside the developing part and for supplying the developer to an image carrier, a developer supply member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier, and a developer collection member for collecting the developer which is not used. A developer stirring part is arranged at a different position from a position of the developing part. A developer conveyance part carries the developer by an air conveyance in a developer conveyance path from the developer stirring part to the developing part. A developer detection part includes an opening which communicates between the developer supply member and the developer collection member, is arranged at a downstream side in a flow direction of the developer below and near the developer supply member, and detects whether the developer exists in a vicinity of the developer supply member.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer storage chamber configured to store a developer, a developer carrying member configured to carry the developer, a light transmission member capable of transmitting detection light for detecting a remaining amount of a developer in the developer storage chamber, a shaft member which is provided to the developer storage chamber and configured to rotate, a conveyance unit which is provided to the shaft member and configured to convey the developer, and a cleaning unit which is provided to the shaft member and configured to rub and clean the light transmission member, wherein the shaft member includes an opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of correcting image density promptly. A developing device supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum by development contrast potential to form a toner image. An image density sensor detects the density of a patch image on the photosensitive drum. A toner density sensor detects the toner density of developer in the developing device. The amount of toner supplied for replenishment is adjusted when the detected toner density is above a predetermined upper limit value or below a predetermined lower limit value. Further, when the detected patch image density is above a predetermined upper limit value, toner replenishment control is switched to development contrast control to increase image density. When the detected patch image density is below a predetermined lower limit value, the toner replenishment control is switched to the development contrast control to reduce image density.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developing unit; an intermediate hopper including a toner detector, for replenishing the developing unit with toner; a container that replenishes toner to the intermediate hopper and includes a replenishment amount storage unit for storing an accumulated toner replenishment amount; a control unit for determining whether or not the container is empty and whether or not the container has been replaced; a reader/writer for causing the replenishment amount storage unit to update the accumulated toner replenishment amount; and a storage unit for storing an integrated value of toner replenishment amounts in a container empty mode, and the reader/writer causes the replenishment amount storage unit of the container after being replaced to store the accumulated toner replenishment amount.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer storage chamber configured to store developer to be supplied to the development chamber, a partition configured to separate a development chamber and the developer storage chamber and having an opening allowing communication between the developer storage chamber and the development chamber, and a protruding portion configured to protrude toward the inside of the developer storage chamber from the partition on a downstream side of the opening in the rotation direction of a rotating shaft, and within one turn of rotation of the rotating shaft, a receiving member moves while contacting the protruding portion according to the rotation of the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A developer storage unit includes a receiving portion which is provided on a rotating shaft, and configured to receive a developer falling from a conveyance member.

Abstract: An apparatus has a controller that controls a first supply mode in which a drive portion is driven under a first drive condition based on a detection result of a developer detection portion in an executable manner, in a case where the controller detects the absence of developer even when the container main body is driven for a predetermined time after the developer detection portion detects the absence of developer, the controller changes the mode from the first supply mode to a second supply mode in which the container main body is driven under a second drive condition in which a quantity of rotation of the container main body per unit time is less than the first drive condition.

Abstract: System and methods for controlling toner properties in a two component development system through the toner shape factor. In particular, the present embodiments provide a method for controlling toner concentrations by tailoring the circularity value ranges of the toner particles to prevent dysfunctions and provide a more robust and optimized xerographic system.

Abstract: An image forming system includes at least one toner cartridge, an image forming unit, and a cartridge life determination module. The toner cartridge may include toner and at least one component. The image forming unit may selectively form an image in one of a low coverage mode and a high coverage mode such that a greater amount of the toner is used in the high coverage mode than the low coverage mode in a formation of the respective image. The cartridge life determination module may determine an amount of remaining life of the toner, an amount of remaining life of the at least one component, and an effective amount of remaining life of the at least one toner cartridge based on the amount of remaining life of the toner and the amount of remaining life of the at least one component.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a consumable supply detachably attached to an apparatus main body; a detection unit for detecting that the consumable supply is exchanged; a display unit for displaying the consumable supply detected with the detection unit; and an input unit for receiving an input operation for confirming whether the consumable supply detected with the detection unit is correctly exchanged.

Abstract: A toner transportation device includes a toner case and a drive section. The toner case includes a main body containing toner, and an agitating unit rotatably mounted in the main body that agitates the toner. The drive section includes a driving unit driving the agitating unit, a detection unit detecting a driving unit driving state, and a control unit able to transmit a drive instruction signal to the driving unit and receive a detection signal regarding the driving unit driving state from the detection unit. The control unit determines whether the toner case is in an overload state in accordance with a detection signal reception state. The control unit performs a retry control, causing the driving unit to repeatedly rotate the agitating unit forward and backward when the control unit determines that the toner case is in an overload state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first cartridge configured to contain developer of a first color; a second cartridge configured to contain developer of a second color; a processor; and memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, causing the image forming apparatus to: indicate the necessity to replace the first cartridge by using at least information based on a first use amount and information based on a number of printed sheets; and indicate the necessity to replace the second cartridge by using at least information based on a second use amount without using the information based on the number of printed sheets.

Abstract: This invention is to provide a technique of always obtaining a stable output image in image formation using toner. A supplier (1217) supplies toner in a decided toner supply amount. A developing device (1206) agitates the supplied toner and supplies the agitated toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum (1203), thereby developing a toner image on the photosensitive drum (1203). A correction amount calculation unit (1106) estimates the toner charge amount by calculating a function model that approximates the variation characteristic of the toner charge amount using the toner consumption necessary for printing a print target image, the toner supply amount necessary for printing the print target image, and the toner agitation time. At least one of an image processing condition and a process condition is controlled using the estimated toner charge amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a developing device, a toner cartridge to supply toner to the developing device, a toner remaining amount sensor to detect a toner remaining amount in the developing device, a toner use amount detection mechanism to detect a parameter value for obtaining a use amount of toner, a first memory which is provided in the toner cartridge and to which a threshold of the parameter indicating a near empty state is previously inputted, and a control mechanism which determines necessity of a forcible toner supply operation based on a comparison between the detected parameter value and the threshold, and the toner remaining amount detected by the toner remaining amount sensor, and controls the image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a development unit which develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier to form a visible image and includes an input unit adapted to accept input of a print job, an analysis unit adapted to analyze the print job, and a prediction unit adapted to predict, based on an analysis result by the analysis unit, a consumption amount of a developing material for printing the print job.

Abstract: In a new printer, a toner cartridge is mounted in the state where there is no toner in a reserve tank, and toner of the amount of filling toner D therein is supplied with the amount of full accommodation toner E for filling up the reserve tank by a toner supply mechanism. The toner of the amount of remaining surplus toner F remains in the toner cartridge. The amount of toner consumption G is measured by a dot counter during a printing execution. In the case where a toner density sensor detects a toner decreasing, the toner is supplied to a developing unit from the reserve tank. When it becomes G>F, it display-informs a user of “toner cartridge exchange is allowed”. Hereby, it enables to exchange the toner cartridge without stopping operation of the main body of the image forming apparatus using a two-component developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing part, a storing part and an adjusting part. The image carrier includes a surface. An electrostatic latent image formed on the surface is developed by a toner, thereby forming a toner image on the surface. The developing part contains the toner supplied from a toner cartridge and supplies the toner to the image carrier. The storing part stores information relating to a replacement rate when a first toner in the developing part is replaced by a second toner, in a case where kinds of the first toner contained in the developing part and the second toner being supplied from the toner cartridge are different. The adjusting part adjusts density of the toner image on the basis of the replacement rate when a toner cartridge containing the first toner is replaced by another toner cartridge containing the second toner.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a developer containing case containing a developer includes a first storage storing developer information indicating a composition of the developer. A developing part receives the developer from the developer containing case. An acquiring part acquires the developer information in the first storage, when the developer containing case is installed to an installed part. A decision part decides whether or not a composition of the developer in existing developer information in a second storage is different from another composition of the developer in newly acquired developer information. An electric charge amount measuring part measures an electric charge amount of the developer in the developing part. A developer replacement controlling part controls discharge and replenishment of the developer in the developing part on the basis of the measured electric charge amount, when the decision part decides that both the compositions are different.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus and method to detect when a consumable such as a toner bottle is replaced before end of life (EOL), throwing out toner that could be used for future printing incurs a cost. In metered accounts, the supplier incurs the cost of this waste. This disclosed process proposes monitoring the approximate rate of toner and then calculating the average amount of consumption per bottle since the last time the bottle was detected as empty. This then determines the toner consumption per bottle yield rate. Yield rate (YR) is calculated based on the estimated amount of toner delivered from a known bottle quantity at the point when the current bottle goes empty. The yield rate is displayed as a gauge on the user interface of the printer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an optical emitter positioned to emit a light beam through a window into a reservoir holding toner toward a reflective surface in the reservoir as a paddle positioned within the reservoir rotates. An optical receiver is positioned to sense an amount of the light beam reflected by the reflective surface. At least one processor is configured to receive a signal related to the amount of light sensed by the optical receiver.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a toner cartridge which includes a storage section; a toner motor; a toner-motor driving section; a count measuring section configured to measure a driving time of the toner motor and calculate a consumption count value of the toner; an event detecting section configured to detect operation events; a main body counter configured to sequentially update a main body counter value with the consumption count value and stores the main body counter value; a toner counter configured to store a toner counter value in the storage section; a counter comparing section configured to perform counter comparison of the main body counter value and the toner counter value; and an event processing section configured to perform processing for keeping consistency of the main body counter value and the toner counter value on the basis of the counter comparison.

Abstract: A toner container includes a toner accommodating portion: a rotatable toner stirring member; a sensor for detecting a remaining amount of the toner; wherein the sensor includes a first flexible sheet portion, a second sheet portion, a first opening, a first electroconductive portion, a second electroconductive portion, wherein the first sheet portion flexes by a stirring operation of the stirring member, and the first electroconductive portion is contacted to the second electroconductive portion, by which the remaining toner amount is detectable, and wherein the toner accommodating portion is provided with a second opening for communicating the first opening and an outside of the toner accommodating portion with each other.