Abstract: An example image forming apparatus includes a main body having a guide frame to guide a toner cartridge on a path for detachment and attachment, a sensor to sense a remaining toner level of the toner cartridge, and a shutter member disposed to move along the guide frame in association with the attachment and detachment of the toner cartridge. In response to separation of the toner cartridge from the guide frame, the shutter member is movable to a first position covering the sensor and, in response to the toner cartridge being mounted on the guide frame, the shutter member is movable to a second position to open the sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting fraud. One method includes providing an input device, the input device having processing circuitry, a memory, and at least one information receiving module for receiving information associated with a user of the input device. The method also includes providing a sensor in electronic communication with the processing circuitry. The sensor has a sensor coil, and the sensor coil is disposed proximate the at least one information receiving module. Further, the method includes flowing alternating electrical current through the sensor coil to generate a magnetic field, measuring at least one electrical characteristic of the sensor, and providing first information representative of the at least one electrical characteristic to the processing circuitry. Finally, the method includes storing in the memory second information representative of at least one predetermined value of the at least one electrical characteristic and comparing the first information with the second information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a developing device forms a toner image on a photoconductive image carrier with toner supplied from a toner cartridge. A toner supply motor supplies the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device based on the toner concentration. A processor detects an empty toner based on a toner supply rate, a print rate of the image data, and toner characteristics that are characteristics of the toner supplied from the toner cartridge to the developing device, the toner supply rate being calculated based on a pixel count value that is an integrated value of pixel values of the image data and a toner supply motor count value that is an integrated value of drive times of the toner supply motor.

Abstract: An example operation method of an image forming apparatus includes obtaining, through a sensor in the image forming apparatus, toner data corresponding to an amount of toner remaining in a developing apparatus, obtaining, based on the toner data in every predetermined period, a linear prediction model predicting the amount of toner remaining in the developing apparatus according to a time at which the toner is supplied to the developing apparatus, predicting, based on the linear prediction model, an expected supply time required for the amount of toner remaining in the developing apparatus to reach a target level, and controlling an operation of supplying the toner to the developing apparatus according to a result of comparing the expected supply time with a predetermined reference supply time.

Abstract: A resonance circuit (2) includes a capacitor (C1) and an inductor (L1, L2) of which an inductance is changed depending on developer including toner, and generates an output voltage corresponding to the inductance. A detecting circuit (3) detects the toner on the basis of the output voltage. An adjustment-purpose closed circuit (4) includes a semi-fixed resistor (VR1) and an adjustment inductor (L3) that forms magnetic coupling with the inductor (L1, L2), and causes an inductance of the inductor (L1, L2), a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit (2), an amplitude of the output voltage and a detected toner amount to be adjustable with a variable resistance value of the semi-fixed resistor (VR1).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus measures, using a toner concentration sensor installed in a developing apparatus of the image forming apparatus, a toner concentration of a developer stored in the developing apparatus to obtain an output waveform. The image forming apparatus calculates, based on the output waveform, a first characteristic value corresponding to a volume of the developer. Based on a result of comparing the first characteristic value with a reference value calculated from a reference output waveform obtained in an initial state of the developing apparatus, the image forming apparatus determines whether to execute a discharge mode for discharging the developer from the developing apparatus and to control an amount of the developer. The image forming apparatus discharges, according to a result of the determining, a portion of the developer from the developing apparatus by controlling a driving speed of the developing apparatus when the discharge mode is executed.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing housing, a developing unit, and a transport unit. The developing housing includes a container chamber containing a developer. The developing unit rotates around a first rotation axis while carrying the developer on a surface thereof to deliver the developer. At least a partial region of the developing unit is exposed from the developing housing in a developing region below the first rotation axis such that the developing unit faces an image carrier. The developing unit develops an electrostatic latent image. The transport unit is disposed in the container chamber. The transport unit rotates around a second rotation axis to transport the developer. A part of an inner wall surface of the container chamber on a developer lifting side in which the surface of the developing unit moves toward the transport unit is located between a first plane and a second plane.

Abstract: The fixing device includes a cylindrical heated member and a heating part. The cylindrical heated member is long in a width direction of a sheet, and is supported in a rotatable manner with coming into contact with a fixing face of the sheet. The heating part is provided in an inner space of the heated member and heating an inner circumferential face of the heated member. The heating part includes a plurality of heaters disposed side by side in a longitudinal direction of the heated member; and a first temperature sensor measuring a first heater of the plurality of heaters or a heated area of the heated member heated by the first heater. The plurality of heaters and the first temperature sensor are connected in series by a first power supply line.

Abstract: A printer including a body, a developer cartridge, and a developer level sensor. The body includes a printing unit to print an image on a print medium based on electrophotography. The developer cartridge is attachable to the body and includes a developer container including a developer, and a developer outlet provided at a length-direction side of the developer container to supply the developer from the developer container to the printing unit. The developer level sensor is installed on the body near the developer outlet to generate an electrical detection signal based on a developer level in the developer container.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a control unit. The developing device includes a rotator for rotating to cause a developer contained in a container to flow, and performs development using the developer. The control unit has a first control for rotating the rotator in a first direction during development. The control unit has a second control that rotates the rotator in a second direction opposite to the first direction at a predetermined timing when development is not performed. When the second control is performed a plurality of times during a predetermined period, the control unit gradually reduces an interval at which the second control is performed.

Abstract: A toner container including non-volatile memory is mounted to a first mounting section, and a toner container already used is mounted as a waste toner bottle to a second mounting section. Every time a supplied amount of toner is calculated, a writing section writes an integrated value of the supplied amount as a current value and a maximum value in the non-volatile memory. Every time the generated amount of waste toner is calculated, an updating section updates the current value stored in the non-volatile memory by subtracting the generated amount from the current value. A detecting section detects fullness of the waste toner bottle when the current value stored in the non-volatile memory of the toner container mounted as the waste toner bottle to the second mounting section becomes no greater than a value obtained by subtracting an initial remaining space of the toner container from 0.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion having an image carrying member, a charging device, an exposing device, and a developing device; a developing voltage power supply; a control portion; and an image density sensor. The developing device has a developer carrying member that carries two-component developer and a toner concentration sensor. The control portion senses toner concentration during calibration or during first image formation after calibration for correcting image density based on the sensing result from the image density sensor. If the difference Vtarget?V between the output value V of the toner concentration sensor actually sensed and a target value Vtarget of the toner concentration sensor to be observed when the toner concentration equals a reference concentration is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the control portion performs calibration again when the amount of toner consumed after calibration reaches a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer case and a developer detection sensor. The developer detection sensor is disposed in contact with a contacted portion located near a developer in the developer case, and detects magnetic permeability of the developer. The developer detection sensor includes a substrate and one or more contact portions that are formed in a facing region on a first surface of the substrate that faces the contacted portion, and configured to come in contact with the contacted portion. A first contact portion that is one of the one or more contact portions includes a detection portion that detects magnetism of the developer. The detection portion is formed in a spiral shape extending from its center part outward. A first magnetic member is provided on the first surface, or on both the first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface, at a position corresponding to the center part.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, a developing apparatus includes a developer container, a conveyance screw, and an inductance sensor. The conveyance screw further comprises a rib, protruding in a radial direction from the shaft portion, provided at a position opposed to the inductance sensor, and a second blade portion provided continuously to an upstream end portion of the rib with respect to the conveyance direction and configured to convey the developer to the conveyance direction by rotation. The second blade portion is formed to extend not more than one-third of a turn from the upstream end portion of the rib downstream in a direction of rotation of the conveyance screw when viewed in an axial direction of the conveyance screw.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, configured to operate in first and second modes of which color gamut is different from each other, includes an exposure unit configured to expose a photosensitive drum; a developing roller configured to form a toner image; a detection unit configured to detect density of the toner image transferred to an intermediate transfer member; and a controller configured to adjust the density based on a value of input image data. A dithering process for the controller's controlling of the exposure unit is different depending on whether the operation is in the first mode or the second mode, and in at least a part of the input image data, the density of the toner image formed by the dithering process in the first mode is higher than the density of the toner image formed by the dithering process in the second mode.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer housing, a toner concentration detection sensor, and a cover member. The developer housing stores a developer containing toner and a carrier. The toner concentration detection sensor is attached to a lower surface of the developer housing and is configured to detect a toner concentration of the developer stored in the developer housing. The cover member is attached to the lower surface of the developer housing to cover the toner concentration detection sensor. The cover member includes a pressing section for pressing a part of the toner concentration detection sensor against the lower surface of the developer housing.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer holding member that holds a developer, a supplying member that supplies the developer to the developer holding member, a transport member that transports the developer while passing the developer onto the supplying member through a passing member, the transport member including a discharge unit that discharges excess developer and that is provided downstream of the passing member in a transport direction, a detecting unit that is provided upstream of the discharge unit in the transport direction and that detects a toner concentration, and a retaining member that includes a non-application portion that prevents action of a force for transporting the developer radially outward and that retains the developer in a region corresponding to the detecting unit of the transport member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member, a developing frame member to rotatably supporting the developer carrying member, and a regulating member provided on the developing frame member and regulating developer carried on the developer carrying member. The regulating member includes a projecting part projected towards the developer carrying member and having an abutting part that abuts the developer carrying member, and an opposing surface facing the developer carrying member. The opposing surface is positioned on an upstream side of the projecting part and arranged to connect the projecting part with a distal end of the regulating member at a free end side of the regulating member. In addition, the opposing surface is a surface having no point of reverse curve, and the distance between the opposing surface and the developer carrying member is constant or decreasing with distance from the projecting part.

Abstract: A developer container includes a stirring member that stirs a developer and a conductive resin sheet that comes into contact with the stirring member when the stirring member rotates. Wherein, the developer container detects developer quantity using capacitance from the conductive resin sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image forming portions. A first conveying pipe conveys a first developer discharged from a first developing unit to a collection portion, and a second conveying pipe conveys a second developer discharged from a second developing unit to the collection portion. A first detection unit detects a toner content of the first developer in the first conveying pipe, and a second detection unit detects a toner content of the second developer in the second conveying pipe. The first developing unit can be removed from the image forming apparatus in a state that the first conveying pipe and the first detection unit remain in the image forming apparatus, and the second developing unit can be removed from the image forming apparatus in a state that the second conveying pipe and the second detection unit remain in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developing device includes a housing for housing therein a developer containing toner and magnetic carrier, and a first sensor including an oscillation circuit and a coil board which is part of the oscillation circuit and on which a coil pattern is formed. A fitting portion formed by recessing an outer surface of the housing is provided in the housing so as to allow the coil board to be fitted at a position closer to the developer than the outer surface of the housing. The coil board is fitted into the fitting portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first condition section that derives, from the density of the image detected by an image density detector, a forming condition in forming an image such that the density of the image formed comes close to a predetermined target density, a second condition section that derives, from the environmental state detected by the environmental detector, a forming condition such that the density of the formed image becomes the target density, and a stabilization section that causes, when a difference between the two forming conditions exceeds a predetermined degree, the image forming section to perform a stabilization operation which stabilizes a developing property of the developer in the developing device as compared to the current environmental state, and thereafter causes the formation of an image, the density detection, and the derivation of the forming condition by the first condition section to be performed again.

Abstract: A developing device includes N number of containers, N number of conveying members, N number of first sensors, stirring portions, a switching unit, and a control unit. The N number of conveying members stir and convey respective developers inside the N number of containers. The N number of first sensors are located at the N number of containers to detect toners remaining amount inside of the N number of containers. The stirring portions are located at the respective N number of conveying members to stir the developers at detecting regions opposed to detecting surfaces of the N number of first sensors by rotations of the N number of conveying members. The switching unit selects any one of outputs of the N number of first sensors to output. The control unit receives the selected output to detect the remaining amounts of the developers inside the N number of containers.

Abstract: A developer supply container is detachably mountable to a developer supplying apparatus and includes a pump portion provided to act at least on a developer discharging chamber. The pump portion has a volume changeable with expansion and contraction with reciprocation. A cam groove is provided for converting a rotational force received by a gear into a force for decreasing the volume of pump portion, a cam groove is provided for converting the received force into a force for increasing the volume of the pump portion, and a cam groove is provided for not converting the received force for operation of the pump portion. The supplying apparatus includes a phase detecting portion for stopping the rotation of a feeding portion of the developer supply container using one of the cam grooves.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing roller, and a control unit. The image carrier has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing roller is arranged to face the image carrier to form a development nip between the image carrier and the developing roller. The developing roller supplies toner in a two-component developer carried on a surface of the developing roller to the image carrier in the development nip so as to develop the electrostatic latent image. The control unit drivingly controls the image carrier and the developing roller. The control unit discharges the toner in the development nip to the image carrier in a state where the developing roller is stopped, so as to calculate a toner concentration in the two-component developer based on an amount of discharged toner.

Abstract: If a cartridge is a predetermined cartridge, change of a toner LOW threshold value is permitted. On the other hand, if the cartridge is not the predetermined cartridge, change of the toner LOW threshold value is inhibited.

Abstract: A developer conveyance apparatus includes a developer storage portion configured to store developer, a developer conveyance portion arranged inside the developer storage portion and configured to convey the developer through rotation, a drive input portion configured to input a drive force to the developer conveyance portion, and a clutch arranged inside the developer storage portion and configured to transmit the drive force from the drive input portion to the developer conveyance portion, wherein the clutch is arranged inside the developer storage portion and includes at least one clutch side conveyance portion which, when receiving the drive force from the drive input portion, conveys the developer in a developer conveyance direction in which the developer conveyance portion conveys the developer.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a first detection unit, a first determination unit, a second detection unit, a second determination unit, a correction unit, and a transmitting unit. The acquisition unit acquires image information having multiple pixels. The first detection unit detects sub-scanning-direction boundary pixels in accordance with the image information. The first determination unit determines whether or not a development-related defect occurs in a preset number of pixels downstream of the sub-scanning-direction boundary pixels in the sub-scanning direction. The second detection unit detects an end pixel in the main scanning direction. The second determination unit determines whether or not each of sub-scanning-direction boundary pixels arranged in the main scanning direction is close to the end pixel in the main scanning direction. The correction unit corrects the image information.

Abstract: A developing device includes multiple developing units, and multiple toner concentration sensors. The multiple developing units contain respective developers. The multiple toner concentration sensors have respective LC oscillator circuits and are disposed at the respective multiple developing units. A capacitor constituting the LC oscillator circuit differs in capacitance at each of the toner concentration sensors installed on the multiple developing units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing an image defect even when an container is rotated for checking. A development unit forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member. A drive unit rotates the container mounted to a mounting portion for replenishing the toner to the development unit. An output unit outputs a specified signal when detecting a predetermined portion of the container. A determination unit determines whether the container is mounted to the mounting portion according to the specified signal. A decision unit decides a toner replenishing amount based on image data. A controller controls the drive unit to execute a detecting operation that rotates the container when the determination unit does not determine that the container is mounted. A correction unit corrects the toner replenishing amount based on the output of the output unit when the detecting operation is executed.

Abstract: A developer conveyance apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a developer storage portion, a developer conveyance portion arranged inside the developer storage portion and, a drive input portion configured to input a drive force to the developer conveyance portion, and a clutch arranged inside the developer storage portion and configured to transmit the drive force from the drive input portion to the developer conveyance portion, the clutch stopping or decelerating a rotation of the developer conveyance portion when a requisite torque for rotating the developer conveyance portion exceeds a predetermined magnitude, wherein the clutch is arranged inside the developer storage portion and includes at least one clutch side conveyance portion which, when receiving the drive force from the drive input portion, conveys the developer in a developer conveyance direction in which the developer conveyance portion conveys the developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including rotary members to form a toner image corresponding to image data, in which the image forming unit forms a toner pattern for detecting image density fluctuation; and an image forming condition determination controller to perform image forming processing to ultimately transfer the toner image onto a recording medium. In the image forming apparatus, the controller measures a periodic image density fluctuation occurring in a rotation cycle of the rotary members based on a detection result of a toner pattern; performs image forming condition determination processing to determine an image forming condition to reduce the image density fluctuation based on measured image density fluctuation data; and determines whether or not the image density fluctuation data measured multiple times satisfies a predetermined control termination condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a body frame having an opening, a cartridge being configured to be removably mounted to the body frame through the opening; and a cover configured to open and close the opening, wherein the cover includes a metallic reinforcement plate that is configured to face the cartridge mounted to the body frame when the cover is closed, and wherein the reinforcement plate includes a first recess part configured to receive therein a part of the cartridge mounted to the body frame when the cover is closed.

Abstract: An image forming device provided in a management system manages remaining amount information of consumable contained in a loaded consumable container, detects identification information of a new consumable container to be loaded upon replacing the consumable container, and transmits a replacement notification including identification information, counter information indicating the operation status of the image forming device upon replacement, and remaining amount information of consumable contained in the previously loaded consumable container which has been removed by the replacement to a management device. The management device receives a replacement notification, associates identification information of a consumable container, counter information relating to the replacement of the consumable container, and the remaining amount information with each other based on the replacement notification, and stores the same as management information.

Abstract: A metallic color conversion unit performs color conversion on an input color value so that a color of a colorimetric value of a print result when a printer performs printing by using each of at least one process color toner by each corresponding amount, which is a conversion result obtained by performing the color conversion on the input color value in accordance with a metallic level designated, and by using a toner including a metallic particle by an amount, which is obtained by a metallic amount calculation unit in accordance with the designated metallic level, becomes close to a color of a colorimetric value of a print result when the printer performs the printing by using each of the at least one process color toner by each corresponding amount, which is a conversion result obtained by converting the input color value by a normal color conversion unit.

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 image forming apparatus which forms an image on an image carrier along with rotation of a developing sleeve that carries a toner and carrier contained in a two-component developer, comprises: forming unit configured to form a density detection toner image on the image carrier using the toner; detection unit configured to detect a density of the density detection toner image formed; prediction unit configured to predict a toner charge amount in the two-component developer; correction unit configured to correct the toner charge amount in the two-component developer using a value obtained from a relationship between the toner charge amount predicted by the prediction unit and the density of the toner image that is detected by the detection unit; and control unit configured, when forming the density detection toner image by the forming unit, to control to increase a development efficiency, compared to image formation based on image data.

Abstract: In a method or digital printer to print a recording material with toner particles applied with a liquid developer, toner concentration of the liquid developer is determined via measurement with aid of ultrasonic pulses. At least one ultrasonic pulse is generated by discharging an ultrasound emitter charged with a charge voltage. The ultrasonic pulse permeates the liquid developer and is received by an ultrasound receiver which generates a reception signal corresponding to the received ultrasonic pulse. With a control device, the charge voltage is regulated to a value such that a representative value of the reception signal corresponds to a predetermined desired value. The toner concentration is determined from the regulated charge voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which prohibits an image forming operation based on a detection result of a remaining amount detecting unit, thereafter immediately allows the image forming operation based on a detection result of a replacement detecting unit, performs a supply restriction mode which restricts a toner supply amount such that a toner supply amount in a predetermined initial period after allowance of an image forming is smaller than a normal mode in a case where a detection result of a toner density detecting unit and a target value are under same conditions, respectively.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a development unit configured to supply toner to a photoconductor on which an electrostatic image is formed, a supply unit configured to supply toner to the development unit, a sensor configured to detect a concentration of toner in the development unit, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to, when the detected concentration of the toner is lower than a first value, control the supply unit to perform a toner supply process, control the sensor to detect the concentration of the toner after the toner supply process, count the number of times the sensor detects the concentration of the toner to be higher than a second value that is higher than the first value, and control the supply unit to repeat the toner supply process, when the counted number is less than a predetermined number that is equal to or greater than two.

Abstract: A developing device includes multiple developing units, and multiple toner concentration sensors. The multiple developing units contain respective developers. The multiple toner concentration sensors have respective LC oscillator circuits and are disposed at the respective multiple developing units. A capacitor constituting the LC oscillator circuit differs in capacitance at each of the toner concentration sensors installed on the multiple developing units.

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

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a developing device; a supply device which supplies toner to the developing device; a density detector which detects information about a toner density as a ratio of toner and carrier of the developer of the developing device; and a controller which interrupts an image forming operation and is capable of executing a forced supply mode of performing the toner supply to the developing device from the supply device, based on first information of at least one of detection results of the density detector and information about a toner consumption, second information about the amount of supply operation supplied by the supply device, in which the controller determines whether or not to execute the forced supply mode, and third information about an accumulated value of the amount of toner consumption after the forced supply mode executed last time.

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

Abstract: 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: 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 apparatus includes: a developing device having a developing vessel, a developing roller and a toner supply port; a toner supply device; a toner supply detecting sensor for detecting the toner concentration inside the developing vessel; a toner concentration controller for directing toner supply; a toner empty detector; and a sheet conveyance detecting sensor. The toner concentration controller has a toner supply device control function; and a toner supply stopping function of stopping toner supply when the last sheet of image printout being executed has passed by the predetermined position in the sheet conveyance path.

Abstract: A drive unit drives a wafer stage in a Y-axis direction based on a measurement value of an encoder that measures position information of the wafer stage in the Y-axis direction and based on information on the flatness of a scale that is measured by the encoder. In this case, the drive unit can drive the wafer stage in a predetermined direction based on a measurement value after correction in which a measurement error caused by the flatness of the scale included in the measurement value of the encoder is corrected based on the information on the flatness of the scale. Accordingly, the wafer stage can be driven with high accuracy in a predetermined direction using the encoder, without being affected by the unevenness of the scale.

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.