Abstract: A controlling system comprising an image forming device and a controlling device for the image forming device, the image forming device having an indicating device which can indicate that a toner cartridge is in a toner near empty state and a communication part for communicating with the controlling device via a communication network, and when the toner near empty state of the toner cartridge is detected, the communication part transmits the information to the controlling device. The controlling device has a controlling condition table in which a controlling condition set for each image forming device to be controlled is recorded, and when a toner near empty signal is received from the image forming device to be controlled, the controlling device refers to the controlling condition of the image forming device recorded in the table, and outputs or does not output a toner near empty indication instruction signal depending on the controlling condition.

Abstract: A toner supply control system for an image forming apparatus includes a supply controller to compute a toner supply amount required for a toner supply operation to cancel a toner concentration fluctuation in the developing agent. The supply controller includes an image-information-based consumption prediction unit to predict toner consumption amount based on image information used for forming an image; a toner-concentration-based consumption prediction unit to predict toner consumption amount based on a detection result of a toner concentration detector; and a toner supply determination unit to determine a toner supply timing and amount and initiate a toner supply operation based on the toner consumption amount predicted by the toner-concentration-based consumption prediction unit right after the toner consumption occurs.

Abstract: When a stirring member that stirs developer in a developer containing portion rotates at high speed, toner flies and the detection accuracy of light transmission type toner remaining amount detection is degraded. A developing apparatus including a developer containing portion that contains developer, a stirring member that stirs the developer in the developer containing portion, and a partition member which is disposed to separate the developer containing portion from a space adjacent to the developer containing portion and which bends to block at least a part of a light path, which is formed in the space and used to detect an amount of the developer, when being pressed by the stirring member via the developer.

Abstract: A toner supply device includes: a toner cartridge; a cartridge driving source; a toner detection sensor; a conveyance member which conveys toner; a rotating member driving source which drives the conveyance member; a driving controller which controls the rotating member driving source; and a controller which controls a series of replenishment operations of the toner cartridge based on a detection result of the toner detection sensor, and controls whether to continue a series of replenishment operations of the toner cartridge based on information about driving of the conveyance member which is acquired at every predetermined period after the starting of the series of replenishment operations of the toner cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, an exposing device, a developing device, a transfer device, a fixing device, a container mounting portion demountably mounted with a toner container, a toner supply unit supplying the toner to the developing device from the toner container, a first estimation unit estimating an amount of toner used on the basis of the image data, a second estimation unit estimating the amount of toner used on the basis of a toner supplying operation of the toner supply unit, and an emptiness determining unit determining emptiness of the toner container on the basis of only the amount of toner used estimated by the first estimation unit in a first state and both the amounts of toner used estimated by the first and second estimation units in a second state.

Abstract: A plurality of control boards can be connected to each other via a high-speed bus. An image forming unit performs an image forming process, which is housed in a casing. A slot is arranged on any one of a plurality of side surfaces perpendicular to a bottom surface of the casing, which is elongated in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface and guides the control boards to inside of the casing. The control boards are connected in parallel to each other.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner container that stores toner, a toner replenishing device that supplies toner from the toner container to a developing device, and a toner condition detector that detects an aggregated condition of the toner stored in the toner container. A toner softening device is provided to soften toner stored in the toner container. A controller is also provided to drive the toner softening device for a prescribed time period in accordance with a detection result obtained by the toner condition detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image holding bodies that hold latent images and toner images, developer units that form toner images by developing the latent images, a transfer unit that transfers the toner images to a recording medium, a fixing unit that fixes the transferred toner images to the recording medium, container mounting portions on which toner containers are replaceably mounted, and remaining toner amount calculating units that calculate the amount of toners remaining in the toner containers, wherein the remaining toner amount calculating unit includes a primary calculator that calculates plural primary remaining amounts on the basis of bases different from each other, a storage unit that stores empty area data of a remaining amount space, and a secondary calculator that refers to the empty area data stored in the storage unit, and calculates a ratio of a distance.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that contains developer and that is detachable; a detection member that includes a detected electrode and that moves around a rotation shaft in the developing unit, an electrostatic capacitance sensor electrode that is provided on an outer side of the developing unit, an electrostatic capacitance sensor that detects an electrostatic capacitance between the detected electrode and the electrostatic capacitance sensor electrode and that outputs data related to the detected electrostatic capacitance, and a CPU that determines an amount of the developer in the developing unit based on the data output from the electrostatic capacitance sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a powder container containing powder used for image forming and including an inlet through which the powder is supplied, a powder supply unit including an outlet that is removably connected to the inlet and supplying the powder to the powder container with the outlet connected to the inlet of the powder container, a powder amount detector detecting whether a present powder level in the powder container is equal to or greater than a threshold, and a controller controlling an amount of powder supply from the powder supply unit and controlling the present powder level in the powder container after replenishment to remain in a range from the threshold and a position corresponding to an upper edge of the inlet. A powder transport unit includes a transport decelerating part to decelerate the speed of powder transport and a detection area in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developer accommodating apparatus includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; developer detecting means, including a light receiving element for receiving light emitted by a light emitter, for detecting the developer in said developer accommodating portion; a cylindrical light guide member, provided projected from a side surface of said developer accommodating portion, for guiding the light emitted from said light emission element to said light receiving element; a rotatable member provided on a peripheral surface of said light guide member and rotatable about said light guide member; and driving means for rotating said rotatable member.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that is detachable and contains a developer, a detection member that includes an electrode to be detected and is rotatable around a rotation axis in the developing unit, an agitator that moves around the rotation axis in the developing unit; an electrostatic capacitance sensor electrode provided on an exterior of the developing unit, an electrostatic capacitance sensor that detects electrostatic capacitance between the electrode to be detected and the electrostatic capacitance sensor electrode, and outputs data on the detected electrostatic capacitance, and a CPU that determines an amount of developer in the developing unit based on the data output from the electrostatic capacitance sensor.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a calculation unit configured to calculate, based on attribute information of a print job, a supply time point at which supply of consumables becomes necessary due to execution of the print job; and a notification unit configured to notify a user of necessity of the supply of the consumables at a time point obtained by subtracting a transit time it takes for the user to move to the image forming device and a supply time necessary for supplying the consumables from the supply time point.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner supply section that supplies toner to a plurality of developing sections; a carrier supply section that supplies carrier to the plurality of developing sections; and a control section that controls an operation of the carrier supply section. The carrier supply section includes: a carrier housing section; a carrier distributing section that receives a predetermined amount of carrier that has freely fallen from the carrier housing section and guides the predetermined amount of carrier to each of the plurality of developing sections; a support frame section that slidably supports the carrier distributing section; and a vibration exciter section that vibrates the carrier distributing section.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a plurality of container units containing a recording material. In a case where it is determined that a container unit is lacking in the recording material when printing is executed based on print data, the printing apparatus moves the container unit determined to be lacking in the recording material to a replaceable position. In a case where the container unit determined to be lacking in the recording material is not a specific container unit among the plurality of container units and the printing based on the print data is canceled without replacing the container unit determined to be lacking in the recording material, the printing apparatus moves the specific container unit to a specific position in preparation for printing using the specific container unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for estimating usage of a print substance. The method comprises receiving a plurality of pixels of a page to be printed, and generating, for one of the plurality of pixels, a look-up address based on (i) pixel bits of the one of the plurality of pixels, and (ii) pixel bits of one or more other pixels proximal to the one of the plurality of pixels. The method further comprises estimating an amount of print substance deposited on the page at a location associated with the one of the plurality of pixels based on reference to a print substance amount in a table of print substance amounts, wherein the reference to the print substance amount in the table is made using the look-up address.

Abstract: Printers are provided for printing using large particle toner. One printer has a printer controller causing a first imaging module to form first toner image using a first toner particle having a first charge-to-mass ratio and a median volume weighted diameter between 3 um and 9 um and having a first charge-to-mass ratio and, a second imaging module to form a second toner image using second toner particles having a median volume weighted diameter that is greater than 20 um and a charge-to-mass ratio that is between ? to ½ of the first charge to mass ratio of the first toner times the ratio of the median volume weighted diameter of the first toner to the median volume weighted diameter of the second toner. The first toner image is transferred to a receiver using a first electrostatic field and the second toner image is transferred using a second electrostatic field.

Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of reducing the frequency of detection of a recording agent remaining amount and obtaining accurate information of the recording agent remaining amount. When a printed sheet is discharged, a CPU of a printer updates information representing the number of discharged sheets and stores the information into a memory of a print engine. The CPU refers to toner remaining amount information stored in a memory of a cartridge and determines whether there is a sufficient toner remaining amount in the cartridge. If there is no sufficient toner remaining amount, toner remaining amount detection is executed each time printing of one page has been performed. If there is a sufficient toner remaining amount, the toner remaining amount detection is executed when the number of discharged sheets coincides with a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a light-receiving element that receives a light having passed through a cartridge. An image forming unit has a first mode for forming images while rotating an agitator at a first speed and a second mode for forming images while rotating the agitator at a second speed that is lower than the first speed. If a value regarding image forming amount counted while the image forming unit is in the second mode is determined to be greater than a predetermined value, the image forming unit changes a rotation speed of the agitator from the second speed to the first speed, and it is determined whether the cartridge should be replaced based on a time ratio, which is a ratio of time duration, in which the light-receiving element receives the detection light within a predetermined duration, to the predetermined time duration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier; an image information obtaining unit; a latent image forming unit; a developer carrier; a developing device to develop the latent image by adhering toner onto the latent image carried on a latent image carrier; a toner replenishing device to replenish toner to the developing device; and a controller to adjust a toner replenishment amount by controlling drive of the toner replenishing device based on the image information. When the drive of the developing device is stopped, information relating to unreplenished portion of the toner replenishment amount excluding the already replenished amount from the toner replenishment amount based on the image information is stored in a nonvolatile memory, and the drive of the toner replenishing device is controlled using the stored information relating to the unreplenished portion of the toner replenishment amount when the drive of the developing device is resumed.

Abstract: A replacement toner cartridge management apparatus is provided with: a receiver which receives first information indicating that a toner cartridge has been replaced with a new one and second information indicating that the remaining amount of toner contained in a toner cartridge reaches a predetermined value, from one or more than one image forming apparatus which the replacement toner cartridge management apparatus can access via a communication circuit; 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 or the second information, depending on which is received by the receiver, the first information or the second information; and a transmitter which outputs an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge of the type determined by the determiner.

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 processing apparatus includes: an image processing unit that executes an image process in accordance with an instruction by a user; an accumulating unit that accumulates electric energy consumed in a preparation process of the image processing unit for each user; and a control unit which, if the image processing unit is made usable by the preparation process and executes image processes in accordance with a plurality of instructions by a plurality of users, controls the accumulating unit to allot and accumulate the electric energy for each of the plurality of users.

Abstract: A management server receives a notification from an image forming apparatus as to an operation mode of the image forming apparatus in response to an operation performed by a service person. The management server detects a status change in the image forming apparatus from the received notification. The management server then produces a replacement part list in accordance with management information stored in the management server and in accordance with the notified operation mode of the image forming apparatus and the detected status change. The management server transmits the produced replacement part list to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is characterized by including a first developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image using a developer, a second developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image using a developer, a common driving source unit configured to commonly drive the first developing device and the second developing device, and an execution unit configured, in a case where only the first developing device is a new developing device, to execute a predetermined initialization operation to drive the first developing device and a toner discharge operation to discharge toner from the second developing device during the initialization operation.

Abstract: For each of N imaginary regions divided at predetermined intervals in the direction of the rotation shaft of a developer roller (12), the amount of toner consumed when an image is formed is previously calculated. Then, the same amount of toner as a toner consumption amount calculated for each imaginary region is supplied to a development device (2) earlier by a time in which the toner supplied from a toner hopper (5) is transported to each imaginary region than at the time of the development. Thus, it is possible to maintain a toner concentration within the development device within a predetermined range without the toner being dispersed and an image formation speed being reduced even if an image having a high print rate is formed.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer holding member that holds a developer on a surface thereof to transport the developer to a developing region in which a latent image is developed as a visible image, an accommodating section that accommodates the developer supplied to the developer holding member, a supply section that is connected to the accommodating section and disposed above the developer holding member in the direction of gravity to supply the developer to the developer holding member from above, and a first transport member that is disposed in the supply section to transport the developer, and transports a predetermined or greater amount of a developer in the developer accommodated in the supply section to the outside of a region corresponding to the developer holding member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a loading unit on which a toner cartridge is loaded, the toner cartridge having a first storage unit in which first information indicating at least a date of manufacture of toner is stored; an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet; a counting unit which counts time; and a determination unit which determines whether the toner cartridge is a genuine product or not, based on how large a difference is between the first information and second information specified on the basis of a count result from the counting unit.

Abstract: A toner supplying method for supplying toner from a toner container to a developing part that causes toner to adhere to a latent image formed on a latent image carrying member and develops the latent image, includes detecting a toner amount in the developing part as being equal to or less than a predetermined toner amount value; forming a fog detecting image in a case where the toner amount in the developing part is equal to or less than the predetermined toner amount value, and detecting fog; and determining based on the detected fog whether to execute a toner ejecting process of ejecting the toner remaining in the developing part toward the latent image carrying member before supplying the toner to the developing part from the toner container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable member which is provided on and rotatable about a rotation shaft in a detachably mountable developing unit containing a developer and has flexibility so that it is flexed depending on a resistance of the developer; an electroconductive member to be detected which is provided on the rotatable member; a detecting electrode provided in a neighborhood of an outer wall surface of a bottom of the developing unit; a converting portion for detecting an electrostatic capacity between the member to be detected and the detecting electrode and for converting the electrostatic capacity into an electric signal; a measuring portion for measuring a time duration in which the electric signal converted by the converting portion exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a discriminating portion for discriminating an amount of the developer on the basis of the time duration measured by the measuring portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; an image-forming device including a toner and forming a toner image on the image carrier during a first running period; a detector detecting a toner quantity in a set period within the first running period; and a toner supplying device supplying the image-forming device with a toner according to the detected toner quantity. The apparatus further includes a period setting device that causes the image-forming device to stir the toner over a second running duration longer than the first running duration, and causes, during the second running duration, the detector to perform detection plural times over a period longer than the period, thereby measuring a result stable time required to stabilize the result of the detection, and setting in the detector, as the period, a period over which the result of the detection is stable within the first running duration.

Abstract: In the image forming apparatus including a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image on an image carrying member by using toner, a first toner empty stop condition and a second toner empty stop condition for prohibiting printing because of a lack of the remaining amount in the toner are provided. The first toner empty stop condition and the second toner empty stop condition are switched in response to the state of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus that uses plural kinds of consumable items different from each other, the apparatus including a consumption status detecting device to detect a respective consumption status for each of the plural kinds of the consumable items, a memory to store a plurality of settings for each of the plural kinds of the consumable items, each of the settings including presence or non-presence of information output, and an output device to output the consumption status detected by the consumption status detecting unit, according to the setting of the presence or the non-presence of information output stored in the memory.

Abstract: Image recording devices, such as electrophotographic devices, laser printers, copiers, and fax machines, often have a cartridge that utilizes an encoder wheel assembly in addition to or instead of a chip for determining toner load. It may be desirable to alter the encoder wheel or part of the cartridge, either by the printer or the cartridge, to permit a deliberate end of life function situation that requires the replacement of the cartridge, encoder wheel, or encoder wheel assembly components. This thereby controls the remanufacture or replacement of the toner cartridge in a way that is desirable to the manufacturer and prevents unauthorized refilling of the cartridge.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a toner reservoir. A first controller calculates a consumed amount of toner based on image data. A toner bottle is attached to the process cartridge. The toner bottle includes a toner chamber that holds the toner therein and supplies the toner into the reservoir. The toner bottle includes a first memory holding first information on a first amount of toner in the toner chamber and first identification information on the toner bottle. A second memory holds second information on a second amount of toner in the reservoir and second identification information on the toner bottle. If the first and second identification information do not coincide, it is determined that the toner bottle has been replaced and then the first information and the second information are updated based on the first information, the second information, and a capacity of the toner chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus, including: an image bearing member; a development device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed in the image bearing member with a toner; a detection portion that detects information on humidity within the apparatus body; a time measuring portion that acquires a time information; a humidity sensor that detects humidity around the development device; and a controller that sets a parameter about an image density formed in a transfer material, based on history information about the information on humidity within the apparatus body and the time information detecting the information on humidity and based on information acquired by the acquisition portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body storage part, a determination part, and an initial adjustment part. The first image forming unit includes a first storage part storing first information indicative of whether or not an initial adjustment of the first image forming unit has been completed. The determination part determines whether or not the first information stored in the first storage part and the second information stored in the main body storage part satisfy respective prescribed conditions. The initial adjustment part causes the first and second image forming units to perform the initial adjustment when the first information indicates that the initial adjustment of the first image forming unit has not been completed and the second information indicates that the second image forming unit corresponds to an unused state.

Abstract: A toner supply method includes detecting whether a remaining toner amount in the development device is equal to or greater than a first remaining amount, supplying a first supply amount of toner to the development device in a first supply mode when the remaining toner amount is not greater than the first remaining amount, detecting whether the remaining toner amount in the development device is equal to or greater than a second remaining amount smaller than the first remaining amount, and supplying a second supply amount, smaller than the first supply amount, of toner to the development device in a second supply mode when the remaining toner amount is reduced to or below the second remaining amount.

Abstract: An image formation unit includes a developer storage configured to store developer, an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developer carrier being in contact with the image carrier and configured to transfer developer to the electrostatic latent image, a developer housing portion located below the developer storage and above the image carrier and configured to house the developer from the developer storage, a supply port provided above the developer housing portion to communicate with the developer storage and configured to supply the developer in the developer storage into the developer housing portion, a developer amount detection member rotatably disposed in the developer housing portion at a position below the supply port, and protrusions disposed on the developer amount detection member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus detects the presence or absence of a toner seal and whether a cartridge is loaded on a main body of the image forming apparatus without use of an additional redundant detection means, due to the provision of an electrically-conductive layer at the toner seal for sealing and closing an opening in a process cartridge including a developer container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a control portion configured to control a process condition for image formation, wherein the control portion changes the process condition for image formation when, in a case where a developing unit having a developer amount smaller than a predetermined amount is removed from a main body of the image forming apparatus, the developing unit removed is remounted to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes a developer accommodating unit formed by a developer accommodating frame and includes an integrally formed light guide member. The light guide member is mounted through the developer accommodating frame in a state in which an incident portion and an emergent portion are exposed through an incident side opening and an emergent side opening, respectively, and is connected with the developer accommodating frame in a sealed state so that an outside and inside of the developer accommodating chamber are prevented from communicating with each other via the incident side opening and the emergent side opening.

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: Disclosed is a method for processing raster image data and determining via a reference device (e.g., LUT), an amount of marking medium (toner, ink) to be used for printing a document. Then billing costs based on the amount of medium is determined. In particular, a calibration method may be performed on an apparatus to determine the amounts of medium used for that particular apparatus. The calibration method includes printing pages with test patches for a plurality of colors at a particular dot value (or density), and weighing similar printed test pages so that the amount of medium used to print colors at particular dot values is determined by subtracting a weight of the pages before printing from the weight of the printed test pages. The change in weight (or mass) of the medium is used to populate the reference device for that apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the image bearing member. The developing device includes a developer container; a rotatable developer carrying member, including a first electrode member; and a developer supplying member, which includes a surface foam layer and a second electrode member. The apparatus further includes a measuring device for measuring a remaining developer amount in the developer container by detecting electrostatic capacity between the first and second electrode members and a replenishing device for replenishing the developer supplying member by rotating the developer supplying member at a speed slower than a speed during image formation. When the measured remaining developer amount is not more than a threshold, the developer is replenished, and thereafter the remaining developer amount is again measured.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit for accommodating a developer; a ratatable member for paddling in the developing unit, wherein the paddling member includes a pressure-applying portion for applying pressure to a wall surface perpendicular to a rotational axis direction; a pressure-detecting portion for detecting the pressure applied by the pressure-applying portion of the ratatable member, wherein the pressure-detecting portion is provided on the wall surface perpendicular to the rotational axis direction of the ratatable member in the developing unit; and a discriminating portion for discriminating an amount of the developer in the developing unit on the basis of a detection result of the pressure-detecting portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing an effect of variation of specific inductive capacity of toner due to environmental variation with a small detection error when the remaining toner amount is detected. The image forming apparatus forms an image with an electrophotographic system. A container unit stores toner. A toner detection unit has sensor modules that are arranged at positions where the toner is stagnated in the container unit, and that show different electrostatic capacities with respect to the same toner thickness. An electrostatic capacity detection unit detects the electrostatic capacities of the sensor modules. A determination unit determines a remaining toner amount in the container unit based on the electrostatic capacities of the sensor modules that are detected by the electrostatic capacity detection unit.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus including a photoconductor, a latent image forming portion, an image processing portion, a developer, a transferred body, a sensor that detects an image density of a toner image by the amount of toner attached to a surface and has a sensor characteristic in which a sensor output substantially monotonously decreases according to an increase in the amount of toner, a nonlinear amplifier that has a nonlinear amplification characteristic having one or more inflection points, and enlarges and corrects a value read by the sensor in a range where the sensor output monotonously decreases with respect to the amount of toner by amplification, and an image quality control portion that controls a forming condition of an electrostatic latent image using a correction value of a variation amount of the value at a side where the amount of toner is large in the range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus include an image bearing member, a developing container receiving a developer, a developer carrying member for carrying and conveying the developer, a developer feed member for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member, a detection device for detecting an amount of developer in the developing container by detecting an electrostatic capacitance between the developer carrying member and the developer feed member, and a control device for changing a rotational speed of the developer feed member into a plurality of speeds corresponding to the plurality of image forming speeds. The control unit controls the rotational speed of the developer feed member prior to the execution of a detection operation of the detection device so as to be faster than the slowest speed of said plurality of speeds.

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