Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit that controls each component, a first storage unit that is a non-volatile and rewritable storage unit mounted on the control unit, a toner containing unit that contains toner to be used for an image forming, a second storage unit that is a non-volatile and rewritable storage unit mounted on the toner containing unit, and a detecting unit that detects an amount of the toner remained in the toner containing unit. The control unit stores count information into the second storage unit, the count information is copied from the second storage unit to the first storage unit, when the detecting unit detects that the amount of the toner remained in the toner containing unit is not enough, and the count information is kept on being stored into the first storage unit, until the toner containing unit is replaced with a new one.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a forced toner consumption controller which executes a forced toner consumption control; a toner supply controller which executes a toner supply control; and a pre-job controller which, upon receipt of an image forming job, and before the start of the job, acquires a toner consumption index value, determines a specific target image density based on the acquired index value, executes a previous toner consumption and supply control including the forced toner consumption control and the toner supply control that makes a toner concentration in a developer of a development device subjected to the forced toner consumption control approach a specific target toner concentration, and then executes a previous image density adjustment control that adjusts one or more image forming conditions to make an image density after the previous toner consumption and supply control approach the specific target image density.

Abstract: A developer collecting device includes a collecting box that accommodates developer discharged from a developing unit, the developing unit accommodating developer including toner and a carrier, the developing unit developing an electrostatic latent image on a development member using the toner in the developer; a guide cylinder that connects the developing unit and the collecting box to each other, the guide cylinder guiding movement of the developer discharged from the developing unit to the collecting box; a transporting member that is disposed in the guide cylinder and extends in a developer transport direction, the transporting member transporting the developer towards the collecting box by rotation of the transporting member; and a rotation controller that controls rotation speed of the transporting member in accordance with conditions that affect a capability of developing the electrostatic latent image on the development member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing chamber; a toner carrier disposed in the developing chamber; a toner supply part configured to supply toner to the toner carrier; a toner amount detecting part configured to change its rotational position according to the amount of toner near the toner supply part to detect the amount of toner remaining in the developing chamber; and a toner flow restricting part configured to block movement of the toner around the toner amount detecting part which is caused by a flow of the toner in the developing chamber generated by the rotation of the toner supply part and the toner carrier.

Abstract: The systems, methods and apparatuses described herein provide a chip for a cartridge with dispensable material may be provided. In one aspect, the chip may comprise a non-volatile memory for storing a number tracking amount of dispensable material in the cartridge, a circuit with permanently and irreversibly changeable state and circuit components configured to receive and process a first message, and receive a second message. The first message may comprise a first command and an operation input value for a print job at the cartridge, and to process the first message may comprise decreasing the amount of dispensable material. The second message may comprise a second command to increase the amount of dispensable material. The circuit components may be further configured to ignore the second command if the circuit has permanently and irreversibly changed its state to prevent responding to requests to increase the number tracking amount of dispensable material.

Abstract: A cartridge plug for a CRUM-enabled ink or toner cartridge includes a CRUM device seated in an annular position, secured in a recess at a center of the cap. The recess is formed in a mounting surface of the cap that extends above a peripheral surface of the cap that the surrounds the mounting surface. The mounting surface is contiguous with the peripheral surface, being interposed by flexible walls that compress under load. The mounting surface is compressible under load by way of the flexible walls, and springs back to a resting position as a load is decreased.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container, an agitation conveyance member, a toner detection sensor, and a scraper. Agitation conveyance member agitates and conveys a developer in developer container. Toner detection sensor detects a toner concentration or a remaining amount of toner in developer container. Scraper is provided in agitation conveyance member, and cleans a detection surface of toner detection sensor when agitation conveyance member rotates. Scraper includes a first member that comes into contact with detection surface of toner detection sensor when agitation conveyance member rotates forward, and a second member that comes into contact with detection surface of toner detection sensor when agitation conveyance member rotates reversely. First member has a wear resistance higher than that of second member, and a coefficient of friction between second member and detection surface is higher than a coefficient of friction between first member and detection surface.

Abstract: A chip for a cartridge with dispensable material may be provided. In one aspect, the chip may comprise a non-volatile memory for storing a number tracking amount of dispensable material in the cartridge, a key storage for storing an encryption key, a signature verification module and circuit components. The circuit components may be configured to receive and process a first message, receive and validate a second message, and update the amount of dispensable material if the validation of the second message succeeds. The first message may comprise a first command and an operation input value for a print job at the cartridge, and to process the first message may comprise decreasing the amount of dispensable material. The second message may comprise a second command to increase the amount of dispensable material, and may be validated using the signature validation module and the encryption key.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a developing device to develop with developer a latent image formed on the image bearer, a developer container to contain developer, a temporary reservoir to temporarily store developer supplied from the developer container and having an outlet to discharge the temporarily stored developer to the developing device, a first conveyance device to transport developer from the developer container to the temporary reservoir, a second conveyance device to transport developer from the temporary reservoir to the developing device, a first developer amount detector to detect an amount of developer in the temporary reservoir, and a controller to control driving of the first conveyance device based on a detection result generated by the first developer amount detector and data relating to driving of the second conveyance device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus rotationally moves a plurality of recording material storage units that store a recording material and includes a moving unit configured to move the recording material storage unit to a replacement position, and a detection unit configured to detect an in-motion status in which the recording material storage unit is moving to the replacement position. In addition, a determination unit determines either a first state or a second state of the image forming apparatus as the state of the image forming apparatus that is to replace the in-motion status and should be reported to a user when the detection unit detects the in-motion status should not be reported to a user.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a toner supplying unit to supply the toner to a storage unit. A mixer supplies developer in the storage unit to a developing roller, and a developer sensor detects the amount of developer on the surface of the developing roller. A toner concentration sensor detects toner concentration in the developer stored in the storage unit, and a control unit adjusts at least one of a developing bias and a rotation speed of the mixer based on a value detected by the developer sensor and a value detected by the toner concentration sensor, such that a printed image has uniform density.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, and a rotation device having image-forming devices each containing a toner and forming a toner image on the image carrier with the toner. The apparatus further includes: a detector attached to at least one of the image-forming devices to detect a quantity of the toner, thereby outputting an analog signal representing the quantity; and a transmission path transmitting the analog signal to the outside of the rotation device. The transmission path includes: a rotation terminal mounted on and rotating with the rotation device; and a contact terminal provided outside the rotation device, and maintaining continuity with the rotation terminal by contacting a surface of the rotation terminal even when the rotation terminal rotates. The apparatus further includes a correction section correcting the analog signal transmitted by the transmission path, according to a contact resistance between the rotation terminal and the contact terminal.

Abstract: A controller which controls a replenishing operation of the first replenishing device based on the first sensor, and controls a replenishing operation of the second replenishing device based on the second sensor; wherein the controller prohibits the replenishing operation of the first replenishing device when the developer concentration in the first replenishing device reaches a first upper limit set to the first developing device; wherein the controller prohibits the replenishing operation of the second replenishing device when the developer concentration in the second replenishing device reaches a second upper limit set to the second developing device; and wherein the controller corrects the second upper limit based on the developer concentration in the second developing device when the developer concentration in the first developing device reaches the first upper limit.

Abstract: Either a first developer cartridge or a second developer cartridge is attachable to an image forming device. The second developer cartridge has capacity for accommodating developer larger than capacity for accommodating developer of the first developer cartridge. The control device determines whether the attached cartridge is the first developer cartridge or the second developer cartridge; determines that the replacement of the attached cartridge is needed upon comparison of a consumed amount of developer based on the image data that is inputted with a first threshold value when the first developer cartridge is attached; and determines that replacement of the attached cartridge is needed upon comparison of a detection value with a second threshold value when the second developer cartridge is attached. The detection value is obtained based on the detection information outputted by the detection device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a latent image, a developer carrying member for developing the latent image with a developer, a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, and a detecting device including a light emitting element and a light receiving element for detecting a remaining developer amount in the developer accommodating portion. In addition, a stirring member stirs the developer by rotating in the developer accommodating portion. The stirring member is rotated in a first period in which the stirring member crosses an optical path of light from the light emitting element toward the light receiving element and a second period in which the stirring member does not cross the optical path of the light.

Abstract: A developer replenishing device includes a container mount to hold a developer container to contain developer used in image formation, an installation completion detector to detect completion of installation of the developer container in the container mount, a replaceable containing portion to contain developer, a conveyance channel to which the containing portion is removably connected and through which developer is transported from the developer container held in the container mount to the containing portion, and a conveyance pump to transport developer from the developer container through the conveyance channel to the containing portion. In a state in which the developer container is not held in the container mount according to a detection result by the installation completion detector, the conveyance pump transports developer from the conveyance channel to the containing portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner carrier, a region setting unit, a printing-rate detecting unit, a discharge-region determining unit, and a region redividing unit. The region setting unit is configured to set a plurality of regions divided along an image width direction on the image carrier. The printing-rate detecting unit is configured to detect a printing rate when forming the image for each of the plurality of regions. The discharge-region determining unit is configured to determine necessity of a toner discharge for each region based on the detected printing rate. The region redividing unit is configured to redivide a region determined to require the toner discharge into a plurality of regions in which respective printing rates during subsequent image formation are individually detected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a counting unit which counts the number of pixels at each tone level in a halftone image corresponding to an input image; a determination unit which determines a halftone region in the halftone image; an acquisition unit which acquires tone characteristic information of an output density of the image forming apparatus; a correction unit which obtains a density in a region to be formed by using a developing material from the number of pixels at each of the tone levels and information of the halftone region and correct the density in accordance with the tone characteristic information; and a first prediction unit which predicts a consumption amount of the developing material by using the density corrected by the correction unit.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: a developing unit which develops, with a developer, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member based on image data; a replenishing unit which replenishes the developing unit with the developer; a detecting unit which detects presence/absence of the developer in the replenishing unit; a counting unit which counts a number of dots according to the image data; a calculating unit which calculates an integrated value of the number of dots; and a control unit which performs a determination process of determining the presence/absence of the developer based on a detection result of the detecting unit, and which stops an image forming operation in a case where the control unit determines that the developer is present and that the integrated value exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a toner image, a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, and a moving device controller to control a moving device that moves the transfer device such that the moving device moves the transfer device to contact the image bearing member during transfer of the toner image on the image bearing member to the recording medium; separates the transfer device from the image bearing member as a toner patch on the image bearing member passes through the transfer area; and maintains the transfer device in contact with the image bearing member from a preceding transfer of a toner image to a succeeding transfer of a toner image during continuous printing, as at least one of areas between successive toner images on the image bearing member without the toner patch passes through the transfer area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a detection mode execution unit, and a notice signal generating unit. The developing device supplies a toner bearing member with toner in a container by rotating a toner supply member in a contact manner with the toner bearing member. The detection mode execution unit executes a detection mode in which a predetermined period for changing a toner amount in the foam layer by rotating the toner supply member is provided, a capacitance C1 between the first and second electrode members is detected before the predetermined period, and a capacitance C2 between the first and second electrode members is detected after the predetermined period. The notice signal generating unit generates a low toner amount notice signal in response to an absolute value |C1?C2| of a difference between the capacitances C1 and C2 being smaller than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control portion. The control portion determines a developer near end when the residual amount of a developer is in a range from a first predetermined amount to a second predetermined amount, and determines a developer end when the residual amount of the developer is equal to or lower than the second predetermined amount. Besides, in a case where the control portion determines the developer end after a predetermined number of printings are executed in a developer near end state, the control portion supplies the developer from a developer supply device to a development device via a first supply opening, and in a case where the control portion determines the developer end after more than the predetermined number of printings are executed, the control portion supplies the developer from the developer supply device to the development device via a second supply opening.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an image carrier, a developing device which uses a developer including a toner and a carrier and to develop the electrostatic latent image and forms a visible toner image, plural toner supplying devices each of which supplies the toner in which mass ratio of an additive against the toner is different, and a control section which controls a ratio of a toner supplying amount to be supplied from each of the plural toner supplying devices, under a condition that toner consumption per a single print is low, the control section is configured to increase the toner supplying ratio of the toner including a high ratio of the additive, and under a condition that the toner consumption per the single print is high, the control section is configured to decrease the toner supplying ratio of the toner including a high ratio of the additive.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner container; a developing unit; a detection unit detecting toner in the developing unit; a measurement unit measuring as to whether there is a full amount of toner or no toner in the developing unit by using a detection history of the detection unit with regard to the toner; a supplying unit supplying the toner from the toner container to the developing unit; a toner-amount calculation unit calculating, using image data to be printed, an amount of toner consumption needed during printing; an accumulation unit calculating an accumulated amount of toner consumption by accumulating the amount of toner consumption every time printing is conducted; and a fault determination unit determining, using the accumulated amount of toner consumption, whether a measurement result by the measurement unit is normal or not as to whether there is a full amount of toner or no toner.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a sub hopper (toner container), a toner detection sensor, an agitator, and a paddle. The sub hopper contains toner. The toner detection sensor is located on a wall surface in the sub hopper and detects whether toner remains at a height at which it is located. The agitator rotates in the sub hopper to clean the detection surface of the toner detection sensor. The paddle serves as a toner collecting unit that collects toner to the vicinity of the detection surface of the toner detection sensor in the sub hopper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an optical writing unit to writing an electrostatic latent image on the image bearer, the optical writing unit including multiple optical writing elements arranged in a longitudinal direction of the image bearer and a frame to hold the multiple optical writing elements, a development device to develop the electrostatic latent image on the image bearer with developer, a developer container for containing the developer supplied to the development device, and a developer amount detector to detect an amount of developer contained in the developer container based on a light transmission amount between a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. At least one of the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of the developer amount detector is attached to the optical writing unit.

Abstract: An image developing device includes a developer supporting body; a first conveyance path in which a first conveyance member is arranged; a second conveyance path in which a second conveyance member is arranged; and a partition member that partitions the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path and that has a first communication port and a second communication port. The first communication path and the second communication path communicates with each other through the first communication port and the second communication port. The image developing device includes a developer amount detection unit that includes an optical detection unit arranged in the second conveyance path and that optically detects an amount of the developer in the image forming device. The developer is caused to accumulate in the vicinity of the developer amount detection unit.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that consumes toner to form an image, including a first calculation portion, a second calculation portion, and a third calculation portion. The first calculation portion calculates a toner consumption by a first calculation method. The second calculation portion calculates the toner consumption by a second calculation method according to a predetermined calculation formula after a predetermined switching criterion is satisfied. The third calculation portion calculates a value of a parameter in the predetermined calculation formula of the second calculation method based on the toner consumption calculated by the first calculation method.

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 receiving by processing circuitry pulses from a magnetic sensor. Each pulse is indicative that the magnetic sensor detected a magnet on a moving paddle positioned in the reservoir. The processing circuitry counts the number of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor. Upon receiving a request from a controller of the image forming device, the processing circuitry sends to the controller of the image forming device the count of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor and resets the count of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor.

Abstract: An electro-photographic print system or method for regulating a supply of toner based on a required toner amount.

Abstract: A developing device includes an agitating member agitating and rotating a developer, a developer amount detecting part detecting the developer amount, and a cleaning member being attached to the agitating member to have has an attachment part, a first cleaning part and a second cleaning part and to clean a detecting surface of the developer amount detecting part. The attachment part is formed by an end part of a wire and attached to the agitating member. The first cleaning part is formed by an intermediate part of the wire, and extends from an end part of the attachment part to reach the detecting surface. The second cleaning part is formed by an another end part of the wire, and is constructed by closely winding the wire, protruded to a location in front of the detecting surface and has a greater width than the detecting surface.

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 rotating a shaft positioned in the reservoir and measuring an amount of revolution of the shaft. A paddle mounted on the shaft and free to fall ahead of the rotation of the shaft is pushed by the rotation of the shaft. An estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir is decreased based on the measured amount of revolution of the shaft. The paddle is sensed near a lowest center of gravity of the paddle. The estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir is adjusted when the number of times the paddle is sensed near the lowest center of gravity of the paddle per revolution of the shaft increases.

Abstract: A replacement toner cartridge management apparatus is provided with: a receiver which receives toner cartridge replacement information indicating a toner cartridge loaded on one or more than one image forming apparatus which the replacement toner cartridge management apparatus can access via a communication circuit has been replaced or needs to be replaced with a new one; a life information obtainer which obtains the life information of a consumable unit other than the toner cartridge causing the toner cartridge replacement information received by the receiver, a replacement consumable unit for which will be delivered to the same delivery address as a replacement toner cartridge for the toner cartridge causing the toner cartridge replacement information; a determiner which determines a right type of replacement toner cartridge for the toner cartridge causing the toner cartridge replacement information, based on the life information obtained by the life information obtainer; and a transmitter which outputs an

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which has an improved follow-up property indicating how a toner supply amount follows a toner consumption amount to prevent a defective image, including: a photosensitive drum; a developing device; a toner replenishing device; a toner sensor configured to detect a toner amount inside the developing device; and a controller configured to drive the toner replenishing device to replenish the developing device with toner based on a detection result of the sensor during a developing device driving time and to stop the toner replenishing device during a non-image forming period to stop replenishing the developing device with toner, wherein if the toner amount inside the developing device detected by the sensor is reduced to a level equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, the controller drives the developing device and the toner replenishing device even during the non-image forming period.

Abstract: A toner consumption calculator includes a plurality of line memories; a recorder that sequentially records image data including a plurality of pixels into the line memories; a skew correction unit that performs skew correction on the image data by sequentially reading the image data from the line memories while controlling read timing; and a counter that sequentially reads the image data from the line memories and counts toner consumption of a target pixel on the basis of light amounts of surrounding pixels of the target pixel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that includes an image forming unit including an agitation unit for agitating developing agent contained in a container unit, and a sensor which includes a light emitting unit configured to emit light and a light receiving unit configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitting unit and passing through the container unit. The sensor generates an output in accordance with an amount of light received by the light receiving unit while the agitation unit agitates the developing agent. The image forming apparatus also includes has a medium with instructions stored therein that when executed perform steps including calculating a measurement result based on the output generated by the sensor, and determining, after the agitation is started, whether a current period is an unstable period in which the measurement result is unstable or a stable period in which the measurement result is stable.

Abstract: In the image processing device, the color conversion part converts the input value to an output value by using a color profile. The correction part corrects the output value to a corrected value by using a correction table. The update part updates the correction table based on a density patch. The first and second amount is an estimated amount of the color material to be consumed when corrected image data corrected by either using the updated correction table or using an initial correction table, respectively, is printed. When the amount determining part determines that the first amount is greater than the second amount, the modifying part modifies the color profile such that the output value in the modified color profile specifies a less amount of color material than an amount of color material specified by the output value in the unmodified color profile.

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

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image forming section configured to form an electrostatic latent image on an image carrying body based on a print job including a number of sheets to be printed and a pixel count. A developing device develops the electrostatic latent image with a two-component developer containing toner and a carrier. A toner transporting section transports replenishment toner to the developing device. A toner replenishment time is based on the pixel count of the print job, and a job duration is based on the number of sheets to be printed. A drive control section controls transportation of replenishment toner during each of a plurality of divided replenishment times. The total of the plurality of divided replenishment times is equal to the toner replenishment time, and the plurality of divided replenishment times are uniformly spread across the job duration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a printing unit configured to perform printing on a recording medium; a multiple-sheet-feed detecting unit configured to detect a multiple sheet feed of the recording medium; an image holding unit configured to hold an image expected to print on the recording medium on which the multiple sheet feed is detected (i.e. the multi-fed medium); and a print control unit configured to control the printing unit. The print control unit is further configured (a) to cancel printing on the multi-fed medium, and (b) to cause the printing unit to print the held image on another recording medium, which (b1) is in transfer after the multi-fed medium, (b2) is nearest in a transferring order to the multi-fed medium, and (b3) has a property same as that of the multi-fed medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detachably-mounted cartridge including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer and an operation member, a remaining amount detector for detecting a remaining amount of developer in the developer accommodating portion, an operation amount detector for detecting a cumulative operation amount of the operation member, and a setting device for setting timing of subsequent remaining amount detection of the remaining amount detector. The remaining amount detector provides a remaining amount ratio of the developer remainder to a maximum accommodation capacity of the developer accommodating portion, and the operation amount detector provides an operation amount ratio of a remaining operation amount until the end of the service life from the detection of the cumulative operation amount to a total operation amount until the end of the service life from an initial state of the operation member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming an image on a recording material, a sensor to detect a toner image formed by the image forming portion, and a correcting portion to correct an image forming condition of the image forming portion on the basis of a result of detection, by the sensor, of a first control toner image formed by the image forming portion. In addition, a supply controller controls a developer supplying operation on the basis of a result of detection, by the sensor, of a second control toner image formed by the image forming portion. A controller controls an image forming condition such that the first control toner image is formed at the image forming speed of a second image forming mode, and the second control toner image is formed after the image forming speed is changed to a third image forming speed which is higher than the second image forming speed.

Abstract: A developer container unit includes a container containing developer and a piezoelectric film for detecting an amount of developer in the container. A sensitivity of the piezoelectric film to a stress in a direction parallel to a film surface is greater than a sensitivity of the piezoelectric film to a stress in a direction perpendicular to the film surface, and the piezoelectric film is deformable with a movement thereof relative to the developer.

Abstract: An image formation device for use with a consumable removably loaded therein, the consumable including a non-volatile consumable memory, the image formation device including: a non-volatile device memory; an abnormality detection unit detecting an abnormality pertaining to the consumable; a detection registration unit registering abnormality detection data into both memories when the abnormality pertains to the consumable and no relevant abnormality data are registered in either memory, the abnormality detection data representing the detected abnormality; a confirmation registration unit registering abnormality confirmation data after the consumable has been exchanged and new abnormality detection data pertaining to a new abnormality detected by the abnormality detection unit are registered in only one of the memories, the abnormality confirmation data replacing the new abnormality detection data in the appropriate memory; and a confirmation notification unit making a notification of abnormality confirmation

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image including a developer and a developer carrying member, a sensor for detecting information related to a toner charge amount of the developer, and a controller. An image forming period has a first period and a second period, during which different modes are executed by the controller to provide for a lower speed of the developer carrying member in the first period than in the second period. The controller is capable of executing an operation that lowers the potential difference between a non-image-forming portion of the image bearing member and the developing bias applied to the developer carrying member based on detection results of the sensor.

Abstract: A control method of an image forming apparatus which is connected to an external apparatus, supports a resource saving mode, and outputs document data is provided. The control method includes: selecting the document data to be output, selecting an output option to be applied to the selected document data, comparing a resource saving value corresponding to the output option to be applied to the document data and a resource saving set value which is pre-set in the image forming apparatus, displaying at least one suggestion option to save resources of the document data according to a result of comparison, and selecting one of the displayed suggestion option and outputting the document data.

Abstract: A system for measuring a particulate material according to one example embodiment includes a container having a reservoir for storing the particulate material. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir. A paddle is mounted on the shaft and rotatable independent of the shaft. A driving member is rotatable with the shaft and positioned to push the paddle when the shaft rotates. The paddle is free to fall ahead of the driving member. At least one sensor is positioned to sense a rotational motion of the paddle as the shaft rotates. A processor in electronic communication with the at least one sensor is configured to determine an amount of the particulate material remaining in the reservoir based on the sensed rotational motion of the paddle.

Abstract: A printing device (and associated method) comprises a carrier supply, one or more tubes operatively connected to the carrier supply, one or more developer stations operatively connected to the tubes, and at least two sensors connected to each of the tubes. The tubes supply a pulse of the carrier material (“slug”) from the carrier supply to the developer stations. The sensors are positioned a known distance apart along a length of the tubes. The sensors detect the slug of the carrier material passing in the tubes. The processor determines the slug speed based on the timing difference of when the different sensors detect the slug. The processor determines the size of the slug based on the slug speed and determines the dispense rate of the carrier supply based on the size of the slug.

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: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having an inner volume forming a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir. A paddle is mounted to the shaft. The paddle includes a magnet that has a magnetic field detectable by a magnetic sensor for detecting the motion of the paddle.