Abstract: When a toner cartridge is mounted to an image forming apparatus, if the toner cartridge is new, the image forming apparatus sets a value calculated from cartridge capacity as an initial value of a toner remaining amount. If, when the toner cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, the toner cartridge is not new, the image forming apparatus sets a value calculated from a page count number as the initial value of the toner remaining amount. Furthermore, when the toner cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus acquires a sensor value, and if the acquired sensor value is an indefinite value, the image forming apparatus determines an alternative value according to sensor ability as the initial value of the toner remaining amount.

Abstract: Control is performed so that a current value gradually shifts, corresponding to a sensor value. More specifically, when a predicted value of a remaining toner amount is calculated, processing for correcting a consumed toner amount corresponding to the sensor value is performed for a consumed toner amount.

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: A cartridge comprises a housing configured to hold a color erasable material which is erasable by heating to a color erasing temperature. The cartridge further comprises a temperature sensing unit configured to detect a temperature of the housing and a recording section configured to record the detected temperature of the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a dot count unit configured to count a number of dots of print data, a first toner remaining amount value calculation unit configured to, in a case where received print data satisfies a printing condition, calculate a toner remaining amount value for the print data based on the number of dots obtained by the dot count unit, and a second toner remaining amount value calculation unit configured to, in a case where the received print data does not satisfy the printing condition, set a predetermined toner remaining amount value as the toner remaining amount value for the print data.

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 unit includes an image forming part forming an image, and a developer containing part containing a developer, removably installed to the image forming part, and supplying the developer to the image forming part. The image forming part includes a first memory part storing first usage information indicating usage information of the image forming part and second usage information indicating usage information of the developer in the image forming part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device; a developer conveyance device including a developer container, a developer reservoir to receive developer discharged from the developer container, and a positive-displacement pump to discharge, from the developer reservoir, developer supplied to the developing device by alternately generating positive pressure and negative pressure due to volume changes; and a controller to control driving of the positive-displacement pump. When the controller recognizes a developer end state of the developer container, the controller lowers a developer conveyance capability of the positive-displacement pump from a setting used before the developer end state is recognized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet; a printing unit configured to drive a developing device accommodating developer therein, supply the developer from the developing device to a photosensitive member having an electrostatic latent image formed thereon to thus form a developer image, and transfer the developer image onto the sheet, in accordance with the conveyance of the sheet by the conveyance unit; a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a remaining life span of the developing device based on a driving amount of the developing device; and an adjusting unit configured to adjust a distance between the sheets being conveyed by the conveyance unit based on the remaining life span of the developing device acquired by the first acquisition unit.

Abstract: An image test apparatus includes a color-image-data acquiring unit that acquires color image data being data of an image to be formed with a color material; a master-image-data generating unit that converts the color image data depending on transparent image data being data of an image to be formed with a transparent color material, thereby generating master image data; and an image testing unit that tests, using the master image data, a test image data which is generated by optically reading a print image from a printed matter on which the print image based on the color image data and the transparent image data has been printed.

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: 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 plurality of image bearing members, replaceable development units, replaceable toner replenishing members, toner supply units, and a control unit. The development units are each provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of image bearing members. The toner replenishing members are each provided for a corresponding one of the development units. The toner supply units are arranged between the respective toner replenishing members and the development units. The control unit causes the image forming apparatus to execute a toner supply unit cleaning mode to convey a last-used toner inside the toner supply unit into the development unit which is last used and to be replaced to empty the toner supply unit, when replacement of the development unit and the corresponding toner replenishing member is designated to use a toner of a type different from the last-used toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier configured to carry an electrostatic latent image, a toner carrier configured to carry a toner and develop the electrostatic latent image, a switching member configured to perform a switching operation between a contact state where the toner carrier contacts the image carrier and a separation state where the toner carrier is separated from the image carrier, a first electrode member, a second electrode member arranged such that the electrostatic capacity between the first and second electrode members in the contact state is different from the electrostatic capacity therebetween in the separation state, a detection device configured to detect the electrostatic capacity between the first and second electrode members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section including a developing section, a toner container mountable to and removable from the image forming apparatus, an intermediate hopper for replenishing toner supplied from the toner container to the developing section, a toner remaining amount detection sensor for detecting a remaining amount of the toner in the intermediate hopper, a cover to be opened and closed when the toner container is mounted and removed, an opening/closing detection sensor for detecting an operation of opening and closing the openable and closable cover, and a main control section. During a print job, the main control section continues image formation when the cover is opened and an amount of the toner is less than a predetermined amount. Further, the main control section halts the image formation when the cover is opened and the amount of the toner is the predetermined amount or more.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus including: a developing unit; a developer supply unit; a toner density detecting unit; a mode setting unit; a first supply control unit; a second supply control unit; and a second standard value setting unit. The toner density detecting unit detects toner density. The mode setting unit, when toner density detected by the toner density detecting unit is less than a first standard value and a second standard value that is lower than the first standard value or more, sets a first developer supply mode as a mode for supplying developer to the developing unit and when the toner density detected by the toner density detecting unit is less than the second standard value, sets a second developer supply mode as a mode for supplying developer to the developing unit.

Abstract: A printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus that performs printing using a recording material, and includes a plurality of storage units configured to store a recording material, a reception unit configured to receive designation information for specifying a storage unit to which the recording material is supplied, and a moving unit configured to move the storage unit that the designation information specifies, into a position at which the recording material can be supplied, according to an instruction.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for performing printing using a recording material includes a plurality of storing units, a movement unit, and an execution unit. The plurality of storing units store the recording material. The movement unit moves one storing unit of the plurality of storing units to a replaceable position. The execution unit execute check processing for checking an operation of a storing unit if all of one storing unit or a plurality of the storing units determined to be lacking the recording material are moved to the replaceable position by the movement unit.

Abstract: A developer container includes a conductive member containing a resin configured to detect a developer amount using capacitance, and a frame member having the conductive member configured to store the developer. The conductive member is provided on a first side of the frame member contacting the developer and on a second side of the frame member, the second side is the back of the first side, and the conductive member provided on the first side and the conductive member provided on the second side are connected with each other within the frame member.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing 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, the method including: holding a conductive resin member constituting the second electrode on a mold configured to mold the frame, a surface of the conductive resin member being in contact with a surface of the mold configured to mold a surface of the frame on a side of the developer containing portion; injecting a resin to be formed into the frame, into the mold on which the conductive resin member is held; and curing the resin to form the frame to which the second electrode is fixed.

Abstract: A development apparatus and an image forming apparatus wherein optical high-precision detection of the toner amount of a toner layer formed on a toner carrying member is ensured even when the great amount of the toner is deposited on the toner carrying member by transferring all or a part of the toner on the surface of the toner carrying member onto a detecting roller, and wherein stable images are provided at all times.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling the width of one or more image objects in a digital image are provided which determine if one or more image objects include a line or an edge. If the image includes a line, it is processed using a line width control algorithm to modify its width. If the image includes an edge, it is processed using an edge growth control module which processes it differently than a line to modify the edge in the image object.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus on which a toner accommodation container accommodating toner is insertably/removably mounted to discharge the toner from the toner accommodation container by rotating the toner accommodation container includes a phase detection sensor that detects a rotation phase of the toner accommodation container by detecting a phase detection portion provided in the toner accommodation container and detects removal/mounting of the toner accommodation container from/on the image forming apparatus through the phase detection sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus determines a remaining recording material amount based on a sensor value and a predicted value. When a sensor falsely detects the remaining recording material amount, the image forming apparatus appropriately determines the remaining recording material amount. Upon acquisition of a new sensor value, the image forming apparatus does not update a current value with the new sensor value if a difference between the new sensor value and the current value is a predetermined value or greater.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a buffer configured to temporarily store in the buffer toner supplied from a toner cartridge and to be fed to a developing unit; a magnetic reed switch configured to sense magnet variation occurring in a sensing range and sequentially output signals each indicating a result of the sensing; a toner level indicator plate disposed within the buffer to swing up and down about a fixed edge in response to a change in a level of the toner that remains in the buffer, the toner level indicator plate having a magnet on a free edge thereof, the magnet being made to reach the sensing range in a state where the toner level indicator plate has swung down.

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: A developing device includes a developer container, a developer bearer, a partition to divide an interior of the developer container into a first compartment to which developer is supplied and a second compartment in which the developer bearer is disposed, main communication openings provided at both ends of the partition, a sub-communication opening provided in an intermediate portion of the partition, developer conveyance members provided in the first compartment and the second compartment to circulate developer between the first compartment and the second compartment, and a developer amount detector to detect an amount of developer in a detection area positioned in the first compartment and adjacent to the sub-communication opening.

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 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 fixing device includes a light irradiation portion that irradiates a recording medium transported to a predefined position with light, a power supply member that is disposed at a position which is irradiated with light with a first intensity of light emitted from the light irradiation portion in a state in which the recording medium is disposed at the predefined position and which is irradiated with light with a second intensity larger than the first intensity of light in a state in which the recording medium is not disposed at the predefined position, and that changes a physical property thereof so as to reduce the supply of power when the power supply member is continuously irradiated with the light with the second intensity for a predefined time or more, and a power supply portion that supplies power to the light irradiation portion via the power supply member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus concerned about global environment, which enables its user to be convinced of his/her commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions accompanying power consumption by letting the user purchase a consumable goods/replacement part to lead the user to join greenhouse gas emissions reduction. The electronic apparatus is configured as a printer, etc. that operates with attached a refill cartridge (consumable goods), which is replaceable in the apparatus body and affixed with information by which a greenhouse gas emission right accordance is identified.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to implement an automated scheme by which a vendor can advantageously employ remotely-monitored information on a status of non-managed office devices, gathered as part of the vendor's customer support effort regarding the office devices that the vendor manages for a customer organization under a managed service agreement or the like, to the benefit of the customer organization and the vendor. The vendor remotely monitors a status of non-managed office devices, including a status of consumables in the non-managed devices, at a customer organization's site, and upon being made aware of a change in status on one of the non-managed devices, including pending exhaustion of one or more consumables on a non-managed device, immediately offers assistance in correcting a problem with the non-managed device to include replenishment service of the nearly-exhausted consumable in the non-managed device.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a memory to store image data including objects each having information on a type and densities of colors of the object, a developer-remaining-amount sensor to sense and output remaining-amount information indicating a color of a developer having a small remaining amount among colors of respective developers for image formation, a controller to transform first pixel values of the densities of the colors of each object included in the image data stored in the memory into second pixel values indicating use amounts of the colors of the developers, for each object based on the type of the object and the remaining-amount information, an image formation unit to form images on a recording medium for the objects included in the image data by using the developers in accordance with the use amounts of the developers corresponding to the second pixel values transformed by the controller.

Abstract: A developing device includes developer storage container, remaining amount detecting portion, agitating portion, contact member, and support portion. Developer storage container has sensing surface therein. Remaining amount detecting portion is configured to detect, via the sensing surface, amount of developer remaining. Agitating portion is configured to be rotated to thereby agitate developer. Contact member is attached to agitating portion, and is configured to, when agitating portion is rotated in predetermined first rotational direction, move in first rotational direction and make contact with sensing surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems of filtering non-actionable alerts are disclosed. A processing device receives an alert from a printing device and determines a page count for the printing device. The processing device compares the page count with at least one threshold value associated with the alert and the printing device. In response to the page count satisfying the at least one threshold value, the processing device identifies the alert as a valid alert.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer storage unit, a developer bearing member, an agitation member, a flexible member, and a magnet member. The developer storage unit stores a developer. The developer bearing member develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member with the developer. The agitation member agitates the developer in the developer storage unit. The flexible member, disposed in the developer storage unit, is distorted by pressure applied by the agitation member via the developer. The magnet member, disposed on the flexible member, is displaced in response to the flexible member being distorted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a container storage that is installed on a toner container and stores first information relating to a use amount of a toner in the toner container and stores second information relating to a use amount of an image holding portion, which is a component not including the toner container and including at least an image holding body from among components installed in a cartridge; a housing storage that stores at least the second information and remains in the housing when the cartridge is removed from a housing; and an information write unit that writes the second information stored in the housing storage into the container storage if the first information stored in the container storage indicates that the toner in the toner container is unused and the second information stored in the container storage indicates that the image holding portion is used.

Abstract: A method of estimating a quantity of toner remaining in a toner cartridge includes using an adaptive term, a value of which is adjusted based on actual printer toner usage. A printer configured to produce an estimate of an amount of toner remaining in a toner cartridge installed in that printer includes a toner remaining algorithm; and an adaptive term, a value of which is adjusted based on actual printer toner usage rate. The algorithm uses the adaptive term to produce the estimate of an amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge.

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: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier to carry a latent image on a surface thereof, a developing device to develop the latent image with toner to form a toner image on the surface of the latent image carrier, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, and a controller. The controller executes an image density adjustment control of adjusting a developing bias to obtain a target image density. The controller further executes a forced toner consumption control of forcibly consuming the toner contained in the developing device by attaching the toner to the latent image carrier to form a toner pattern on the surface of the latent image carrier. The controller executes the forced toner consumption control to forcibly consume a smaller amount of toner in response to a higher developing bias as adjusted by the image density adjustment control.

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: A control unit drives a driving unit for a correction driving time to supply toner to a developing unit from a toner supplying unit, when a detecting unit detects that an amount of toner stored in the developing unit is equal to or less than a threshold value. A calculating unit calculates an amount of toner consumption from when the toner is supplied to the developing unit to when the detecting unit detects that the amount of the toner stored in the developing unit is equal to or less than the threshold value. The control unit calculates a unit amount of toner supply from the correction driving time and the amount of toner consumption, and supplies the toner to the developing unit by driving the driving unit on the basis of the calculated unit amount of toner supply.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer container, a first calculator, and a second calculator. The first calculator calculates an amount of the developer supplied to the image bearing member from the developer container, on the basis of an amount of the developer measured by a measuring device after an image forming operation, and an amount of the developer initially contained in the developer container. A controller outputs an information signal relating to the developer amount accumulated in the collection container on the basis of the amount of the developer calculated by the first calculator and the amount of the developer calculated by the second calculator.

Abstract: A developer detection device includes: a rotating member including a first part and a second part being joined to the first part, the first part having a light-blocking section and a light-passing section, the second part temporarily stopping rotating at a rotation position corresponding to a developer upper surface position of developer stored in an accommodating container; a rotation driving member pushing the rotating member in a predetermined rotation direction; and a detecting unit including a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit; wherein the rotating member is formed so that when the second part is at a lower position in the accommodating container, the light-passing section is positioned on an optical path from the light-emitting unit to the light-receiving unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a driving motor, a gear mechanism including a drive gear rotated by driving force of the driving motor and a slave gear meshed with the drive gear, to transmit the driving force to an object, one of the drive gear and the slave gear including a toothless portion without the gear tooth, formed on a circumferential edge of the corresponding gear, a control unit, a detection unit that detects a driving current for the driving motor when the driving motor is working, a decision unit that decides whether the driving current detected by the detection unit is below a predetermined threshold, and a calculation unit that counts the number of times that the decision unit has decided that the driving current is below the threshold, and calculates an amount of movement of the slave gear on the basis of the number of times counted.

Abstract: A developer accommodation unit includes a developer accommodation part that accommodates a developer, an opening part that communicates with the developer accommodation part, a shutter member that is movable between an opened position and a closed position with respect to the opening part, a rotation body that is provided rotatable in the developer accommodation part, and a drive force transmission mechanism that transmits a drive force to the rotation body so that the rotation body rotates. The drive force transmission mechanism includes an engagement mechanism by which the drive force is transmitted to the rotation body when the shutter member is in the opened position.

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: An image forming device includes a replaceable cartridge, a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element, and a determining unit. The replaceable cartridge accommodates developer therein and includes an agitator and a developing roller rotatable together with the agitator. The light-emitting element is configured to emit a light toward the replaceable cartridge. The light-receiving element is configured to receive the light emitted by the light-emitting element through the replaceable cartridge to output a signal. The determination value is produced based on the signal. The determining unit is configured to determine whether or not the determination value is greater than a predetermined determination threshold upon the agitator having rotated continuously more than a first prescribed number of times. The determining unit determines that the replaceable cartridge should be replaced with a new one when the determination value is greater than the predetermined determination threshold.

Abstract: An attachable/detachable body includes a main body, a positioned portion, a transmitted member a contacting portion. The main body of the attachable/detachable body is supported to be attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus. The positioned portion is positioned at a positioning portion provided at the main body of the image forming apparatus. The transmitted member is connected to a transmission member provided at the main body of the image forming apparatus to transmit a drive thereto, the transmitted member transmitting the drive to a driven member provided at the main body of the attachable/detachable body. The contacting portion comes into contact with a contacted portion that is provided at the main body of the image forming apparatus to be connected electrically thereto.

Abstract: A development device includes a development housing, a first developer conveyance member, a developer bearer, and a developer amount detector to detect an amount of developer in the development housing. The developer amount detector includes a light-emitting element, a right-receiving element, a first light guide including a first end from which light enters and a second end disposed inside the development housing, and a second light guide including a first end positioned inside the development housing across a predetermined distance from the second end of the first light guide and a second end from which the light exits. The second end of the first light guide and the first end of the second light guide are arranged in an axial direction of the first developer conveyance member with a light transmission path therebetween partly inside a locus of rotation of the first developer conveyance member.