Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member into a developer image; a transferring device for transferring the developer image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material; a temperature detecting sensor in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, for detecting a temperature; and a controller for controlling a forced consumption operation in which toner is forcedly consumed by the developing device without transferring the developer image from the image bearing member onto the transfer material. The controller is capable of executing the forced consumption operation when toner consumption is below a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold is higher with higher temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a photosensitive drum, an exposure head, a developing cartridge, and a light shielding member. The photosensitive drum is rotatably disposed inside the casing. The exposure head is configured to expose the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum to light. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller configured to supply the developer onto the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum. The developing cartridge is mountable in and dismountable from the casing. The developing cartridge has an uppermost point and is disposed beneath the exposure head when mounted in the casing. The light shielding member has a first portion disposed between the exposure head and the developing roller and intersecting with an imaginary plane defined by inclusion of the axial line of the photosensitive drum and the uppermost point of the developing cartridge.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a toner supply device includes a motor and an estimating unit. The motor rotates a toner container that supplies a toner to an image forming apparatus. The estimating unit estimates a toner residual amount in the toner container at a second point in time on the basis of a total rotation time representing time in which the motor rotates in a period of use from a first point in time when the toner container is attached to the image forming apparatus to the second point in time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device that has a supply port through which developer is supplied, the developing device developing an image with developer; a developer supply device to which the developing device is removably attached, the developer supply device having a discharge port to be connected to the supply port when the developing device is attached to the developer supply device, the developer supply device supplying the developer to the developing device through the discharge port; a seal member that seals between the supply port and the discharge port; and a guide portion that guides attachment of the developing device to the developer supply device or removal of the developing device from the developer supply device so as not to rub the seal member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a storage portion, a density measurement portion, a calibration portion, and a correction portion. The image forming portion is configured to form an image by using a developer. The storage portion is configured to store a relationship between a number of pixels formed by the image forming portion and a usage amount of the developer. The density measurement portion is configured to perform measurement of a density of a patch image formed by the image forming portion. The calibration portion is configured to perform calibration based on the measured density. The correction portion is configured to perform correction of the relationship between the number of pixels and the usage amount of the developer, the relationship being stored in the storage portion, by using differences in number of pixels at a plurality of previously set densities between before and after the calibration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide I/O systems, methods, and devices for interfacing pump controller(s) with control device(s) which may have different interfaces and/or signaling formats. In one embodiment, an I/O interface module comprises a processor, a memory, and at least two data communications interfaces for communicating with a pumping controller and a control device. The I/O interface module can receive discrete signals from the control device, interpret them accordingly and send the packets to the pump controller. The pump controller reads the packets and takes appropriate actions at the pump. The I/O interface module can interpret packets of data received from the pump controller and assert corresponding discrete signals to the control device. The I/O interface module is customizable and allows a variety of interfaces and control schemes to be implemented with a particular multiple stage pump without changing the hardware of the pump.

Abstract: A developer amount detector to detect an amount of developer inside a developer container includes a light-emitting element; a light-receiving element; a first light guide including a first end disposed to face the light-emitting element and a second end disposed inside the developer container, covered with a translucent cover including a light-emitting face; a second light guide including a first end disposed to face the light-receiving element, a second end disposed inside the developer container, covered with a translucent cover including a light-receiving face to face the light-emitting face across a gap; and a cleaner including a sliding portion to slidingly contact the light-emitting face and the light-receiving face. The cover of each of the first and second light guides includes a material lower in chargeability with the sliding portion than a material of a body of each of the first and second light guides.

Abstract: The present application discloses a container including: a housing including a primary portion for storing developer, and a secondary portion, which projects from the primary portion and is connected to a developing device; a conveying mechanism which conveys the developer in the primary portion to the secondary portion; and a detector which detects a state of the developer. The primary portion includes a facing wall which is situated at a boundary between the primary and secondary portions so that the facing wall faces a flow of the developer moving toward the secondary portion. The developer includes a flowing portion under the conveyance to the secondary portion by the conveying mechanism, and an adhering portion defined by an adhering layer made of developer adhered to the facing wall. The detector detects a decrease of the flowing portion and a decrease of the adhering portion individually.

Abstract: A developer container including a frame configured to define a developer containing portion, a first electrode, and a second electrode arranged on a surface of the frame and having a surface opposed to the first electrode, a developer amount in the developer containing portion being detected based on a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A detecting system for detecting a developer remainder in a developer container accommodating a developer to be used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member. The detecting system includes first, second and third electrode members provided in the developer container, an AC voltage source for applying an AC voltage to the third electrode member, a first electrostatic capacity detector for detecting a first electrostatic capacity between the first electrode member and the third electrode member, and a second electrostatic capacity detector for detecting a second electrostatic capacity between the second electrode member and the third electrode member. In addition, a developer remainder detector corrects the first electrostatic capacity on the basis of the second electrostatic capacity and detects a developer remainder of the developer container from a result of correction of the first electrostatic capacity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image bearing member, and a development cartridge which has a developer bearing member that is detachable and attachable against the apparatus body. In addition, a supply portion supplies a developer to the development cartridge and is configured to connect and separate from the development cartridge in the apparatus body in the vertical direction, and a movement mechanism moves the development cartridge away from a surface of the image bearing member by supporting the development cartridge and moving it from an attached position in a substantially vertical direction. A seal portion is configured around a connecting portion between the supply portion and the development cartridge and can seal the connecting portion by compressing with movement of the development cartridge by the movement mechanism.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a 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 compositions are different.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of devices driven by power and configured to be operated in: 1) a standby mode in which the image forming apparatus stands by a start of an image formation; or 2) a power saving mode in which power supply to a part of the plurality of devices is stopped so that the power consumption of the image forming apparatus in the power saving mode is reduced compared with that of the image forming apparatus in the standby mode. The image forming apparatus further including a door which is opened when consumable material is supplied, and a door opened/closed sensor configured to detect the door opening or door closing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention performs, at a predetermined timing, first gradation correction including forming a patch image on an image carrier, and correcting gradation characteristics of a formed image using a correction amount corresponding to the result of measurement of the patch image. The image forming apparatus further performs, at a predetermined frequency, second gradation correction including correcting the light power of laser light output from an exposure apparatus based on the result of detection or estimation of the charge amount of toner used in image formation, and correcting gradation characteristics using a correction amount corresponding to the result of the detection or estimation of the toner charge amount.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating an image forming device in a first processor-controlled toner control operating mode to maintain a substantially constant dispense rate of toner material from a toner source or bottle. The disclosed systems and methods improve toner material dispensing from the toner source or bottle in the image forming device by transitioning to a second processor-controlled toner control operating mode as an amount of toner material in the toner source or bottle is determined to be in a depleted, or nearly-exhausted, state. The disclosed systems and methods compensate for a determined decrease in a toner dispense rate occurring as an amount of toner material remaining in the toner source or bottle is nearly depleted. One or more toner control parameters, including a pixel count gain, are modified in the second processor-controlled toner control operating mode.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image bearing body, a developer bearing body that supplies a developer to the image bearing body, a developer storage portion for storing the developer, a developer reserving portion that reserves the developer, a replenishing member that replenishes the developer from the developer reserving portion to the developer storage portion, and a guide member provided between the replenishing member and the developer bearing body. The guide member temporarily holds the developer replenished by the replenishing member and regulates falling of the developer. A conveying member conveys the developer held by the guide member in an axial direction of the developer bearing body along the guide member. A detecting portion is provided between the guide member and the developer bearing body for detecting the developer. The replenishing member replenishes the developer to the developer storage portion based on a result of detection using the detecting portion.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a developing device which includes a developing unit storing a developer containing a first carrier and a toner and a toner concentration detection unit detecting a toner concentration within the developing unit; and a supply container which stores a supply developer containing a second carrier and the toner, and supplies, based on a detection value by the toner concentration detection unit, the supply developer to the developing unit and discharges an excessive amount of the developer within the developing unit from the developing unit. Then, the setting value of the toner concentration detection unit is corrected based on the presence proportion of the second carrier within the developing unit detected by a calculation unit.

Abstract: An image forming unit forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier based on image data converted by a conversion unit, and the image is developed by a developing portion using toner. A replenishment control unit controls an amount of the toner with which the developing portion is replenished based on a toner density in the developing portion so that the toner density in the developing portion reaches a target density. A first determination unit determines a target density based on a result of a first measurement image being measured. A correction unit corrects conversion conditions based on a result of measuring a second measurement image and a correction condition. A second determination unit determines the correction condition based on the target density determined by the first determination unit.

Abstract: A receiving member configured to receive a driving force from outside is mounted on a first side wall on an opposite side from a developer accommodating portion and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction. A rotating member is rotatably provided between the first and second side walls and configured to be rotated by the driving force received by the receiving member. A detection body is mounted on the second side wall on an opposite side from the developer accommodating portion and includes a detected part which is detected by a detecting unit. The detection body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the second side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the second side wall by the driving force received by the receiving member.

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: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a magnetic permeability detecting part and a developer amount measuring part. The developing device develops an image carrier by a contained developer. The magnetic permeability detecting part detects magnetic permeability of the developer in the developing device. The developer amount measuring part calculates a duty ratio of the magnetic permeability of the developer in the developing device on the basis of detected result of the magnetic permeability detecting part and measures a developer amount in the developing device on the basis of the duty ratio.

Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing configured to hold toner. The cartridge may further include a developing roller including a developing roller shaft, a supply roller including a supply roller shaft, a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode and supply electrode may be configured to guide an electrical contact of an image forming apparatus in one or more directions. In some examples, the developing electrode and supply electrode may have angled surfaces that extend toward one another.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a screw shaft, a holing member, a cleaning member, and a drive mechanism. The screw shaft is arranged along a covering. The screw shaft includes a main body portion and two rotary shaft portions provided on opposite ends of the main body portion integrally with the main body portion. A screw groove is formed in the main body portion. A protrusion engaging with the screw groove is formed on the holding member. Rotation of the screw shaft moves the holding member along the screw shaft. The cleaning member is held by the holding member. The drive mechanism drives and rotates the screw shaft, while moving the screw shaft in a direction reverse to a movement direction of the holding member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a replaceable toner cartridge filled with toner, a toner supplying unit, and a control unit. The toner supplying unit supplies toner from the toner cartridge to a developing device of the apparatus. The control unit exerts control so that, when the toner cartridge is mounted in the apparatus, the toner supplying unit is driven based on the amount of toner with which the mounted toner cartridge is filled in advance. The expression T1>T2 is satisfied, where T1 represents a driving time for the toner supplying unit driven based on the amount of toner with which the toner cartridge mounted upon initial installation is filled in advance, and T2 represents a driving time for the toner supplying unit driven based on the amount of toner with which the toner cartridge mounted newly when no toner is detected is filled in advance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms a pattern image for image quality adjustment on an image carrier; a detection unit that detects the pattern image for the image quality adjustment; an image quality adjustment control unit that controls an image quality adjustment process in accordance with a result of detection of the detection unit; a reception unit that receives a color mode selected from among a plurality of kinds of color modes; and a calculation unit that calculates a total pattern length so that a total length of the pattern image for the image quality adjustment in a sub-scanning direction is equal in any of the color modes, wherein the image forming unit forms the pattern image for the image quality adjustment so that the total length of the pattern image for the image quality adjustment is equal to the calculated total pattern length.

Abstract: A developer replenishment container accommodating assembly, in which a developer replenishment container is removably put in a main body of an accommodating apparatus, replenishes a developer while rotating the developer replenishment container and includes a holding portion provided on the main body and configured to hold the developer replenishment container put in the main body of the accommodating apparatus in a replenishment position for replenishing the developer, and an engaging portion configured to engage with the developer replenishment container when it is positioned in the main assembly. In addition, a biasing member is configured to bias the engaging portion in a predetermined direction so that the developer replenishment container rotating while held by the holding portion is pressed against the holding portion by the biased engaging portion.

Abstract: There is provided a developing device including a toner holding member that is rotatably provided to face an image holding member and holds and transports a nonmagnetic single-component toner toward a development region to develop an electrostatic latent image on the image holding member, a supplying member that is rotatably provided in elastic contact with the toner holding member to supply the toner from a contact region therebetween to the toner holding member, a toner replenishing unit that faces a replenishment region at a portion apart from the contact region to replenish a new toner, and a regulating member that is provided on a downstream side of the contact region in a rotation direction thereof and on an upstream side of the development region to triboelectrically charge the toner held on the toner holding member and regulate the amount of toner provided for the development.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit including a developing sleeve and containing developer, and a control portion configured to control a process condition for image formation. The control portion changes the process condition for image formation when, in a case where the developing unit detected to have a developer amount smaller than a predetermined amount is removed from a main body of the image forming apparatus, the removed developing unit is remounted to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A toner consumption amount identifying unit identifies a toner consumption amount of toner consumed in a printing process from the print data. A toner residual amount identifying unit identifies a toner residual amount in a toner container from the toner consumption amount. A toner residual amount data managing unit stores order-timing toner residual amount data into a non volatile memory device at a timing when an ordering process of the toner container succeeds, and deletes the order-timing toner residual amount data in the non volatile memory device if the value of the toner residual amount is larger than a value of the order-timing toner residual amount data. An order processing unit performs the ordering process if the order-timing toner residual amount data is not stored in the non volatile memory device and the value of the toner residual amount is either equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for carrying an electrostatic latent image; a developing device, containing a developer including a toner and a carrier, for developing the electrostatic latent image carried on the image bearing member into a toner image with the developer; a supplying device for supplying the toner to the developing device; a first detecting portion for detecting information on a temperature of the developing device; a second detecting portion for detecting information on a temperature of the supplying device; and a correcting portion for correcting, when detection results of the first and second detecting portions are different from each other, an image forming condition with increase of a supply amount of the supplying device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of predicting the end of life of a consumable. A basic weighted least squares algorithm has been extended and augmented to compensate for observed common consumable/printer behavior. The system uses consumable usage data (such as toner level) acquired from the device to predict the current and future consumable level and to predict the remaining life. The apparatus and method monitors the consumable's usage and updates the prediction so that when the predicted remaining life matches a preset threshold, it automatically triggers an order placement event to ship product to customer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a conveyance mechanism conveying a first pattern formed by a first image forming unit among image forming units, a second pattern formed by a second image forming unit among the image forming units; a detection unit detecting the first pattern and the second pattern; and a control unit controlling, when a first condition is satisfied, a timing of conveying a recording sheet having the image formed by the first image forming unit is transferred based on a first time required after the formation of the first pattern and before detecting the first pattern, and controlling, when a second condition is satisfied, a timing of conveying the recording sheet having the image formed by the second image forming unit is transferred based on a second time required after the formation of the second pattern and before detecting the second pattern.

Abstract: A method for estimating an amount of toner remaining in a reservoir of a replaceable unit for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes measuring an amount of revolution of a shaft in the reservoir of the replaceable unit, decreasing an estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir based on the measured amount of revolution of the shaft, monitoring whether a pattern of widths of digital pulses generated from a magnetic sensor when the magnetic sensor senses a magnetic field of a magnet connected to a paddle mounted on the shaft in the reservoir when the paddle is near a lowest center of gravity of the paddle changes, and adjusting the estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir when the pattern of widths of digital pulses generated from the magnetic sensor changes.

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: Provided is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including: a toner buffer unit arranged between a toner cartridge and a developing unit to receive toner from the toner cartridge and supply the toner to the developing unit; and a toner level detection unit. The toner buffer unit includes a first buffer unit connected to the toner cartridge. A first conveyance member including a rotation shaft and a conveyance wing provided in the rotation shaft and transporting the toner in a radial direction is provided in the first buffer unit. The toner buffer unit includes an elevation plate provided in the first buffer unit and elevated according to a toner level, and a sensor unit detecting a location of the elevation of the elevation plate. The elevation plate is located to be spaced apart from the conveyance wing in an axial direction of the rotation shaft.

Abstract: In one example, a cloud-based printing service that calculates cumulative usage data of a consumable.

Abstract: A collection device including: an accommodation part configured to accommodate therein collected adhering substance; and a detection part configured to detect an amount of the adhering substance in the accommodation part and including, a moving member configured to move from a first position to a second position, the accommodation part being capable of accommodating therein the adhering substance when the moving member is arranged at the first position and being full of the adhering substance when the moving member is in the second position, and a restraining member configured to restrain the moving member from moving from the first position to the second position when the moving member is arranged at the first position, and restrain the moving member from moving from the second position to the first position when the moving member is arranged at the second position.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a developer accommodating chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer; a sealing member, provided with an electroconductive portion, for sealing the opening; and a storing element, provided with an electrical contact at a surface thereof, for storing information on the cartridge. The electroconductive portion covers the electrical contact.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided in which, in a case where a calculated value is less than a predetermined value (for example, “low” level, or “out” level), and information indicating that a remaining toner amount is less than the predetermined value has not been acquired from a toner container, the predetermined value or a value a predetermined amount greater than the predetermined value is set as an initial value of the remaining toner amount.

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 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: 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: 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: 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: In a detection device, in a case where toner on a developing material carrier is caused to adhere to an electrode, a controller connects an assembly havin a quartz oscillator to a first capacitor using a first switch and connects the assembly to a second capacitor using a second switch; and in a case where a detection unit detects the oscillation frequency of the quartz oscillator, the controller disconnects the assembly from the first capacitor using the first switch and disconnects the assembly from the second capacitor using the second switch.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing device, a holding unit, and a detection device. The image bearing member supports an electrostatic latent image. The developing device includes a developer bearing member having a first electrode member and supporting a developer to develop the electrostatic latent image. The developing device includes a supply member having a second electrode member and supplying the developer to the developer bearing member at a nip portion. The holding unit holds and change the developing device to a first posture and to a second posture where the deposited developer falls off the first posture. The detection device detects a remaining developer amount in the developing device based on a capacitance C1 between the first and second electrode members in the first posture and a capacitance C2 between the first and second electrode members in the second posture.

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 drive element is exposed on an exterior of the housing unobstructed to receive rotational force. The drive element is operatively connected to the shaft to rotate the shaft upon receiving the rotational force. A sensor is positioned to sense a rotational motion of the shaft. A processor is mounted on the housing and in electrical communication with the sensor. An electrical contact in electrical communication with the processor is exposed on the exterior of the housing unobstructed to mate with a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The processor is programmed to send information related to the rotational motion sensed by the sensor to a controller in the image forming device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conductive member paired with one of a developer carrying member and an image bearing member to form a capacitor. A contact-separation member assumes 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 detects a value relating to a capacitance of the capacitor when a voltage is applied to the capacitor, and a control unit detects whether or not the image forming apparatus is ready for image formation by comparing a first detected result and a second detected result to each other. The first detected result is detected when the contact-separation member assumes the first position, and the second detected result is detected when the contact-separation member assumes the second position.

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: A management apparatus that enhances efficiency of maintenance work of a plurality of image forming apparatuses. An apparatus management server is connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network. Each image forming apparatus includes a storage unit for storing information indicative of wear levels of members for outputting a color image, on a color-by-color basis. The management service acquires the information from each image forming apparatus, and selects an image forming apparatus for outputting an image based on the acquired information such that differences between the wear levels of the members become smaller between the image forming apparatuses.