An example operation method of an image forming apparatus includes determining a state of a toner refill operation of injecting toner from a toner reload kit (TRK) into a cartridge in the image forming apparatus, based on completion of injecting toner from the TRK into the cartridge, controlling the TRK to store information indicating a toner refill completion in a memory of the TRK, based on completion of injecting toner from the TRK into the cartridge, updating information of an amount of remaining toner of the cartridge based on an amount of the toner injected into the cartridge from the TRK, and based on the information indicating the toner refill completion being stored in the memory of the TRK, unlocking a locking apparatus in the image forming apparatus so the TRK may be removed from the cartridge.

An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member, a cleaning member, and an image forming unit having a developer carrier. During an image forming job, when a ratio of an amount of toner consumed to a distance that the developer carrier is rotationally driven is greater than a threshold value, the image forming unit forms a first toner supply image for supplying toner to the cleaning member in a predetermined period that is from a time at which a first toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member to a time at which a second toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member. When the ratio is less than the threshold value, the image forming unit forms a second toner supply image for supplying toner to the cleaning member in the predetermined period and having a density that is higher than a first toner supply image density.

An image control apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus through a network includes one or more controllers having one or more processors and one or more memories. The one or more controllers are configured to receive, through a network, a shutdown instruction issued to the image forming apparatus, and determine whether the image forming apparatus is connected to a second network other than a first network through which the image forming apparatus is connected to the image control apparatus. When the one or more controllers determine that the image forming apparatus is connected to the second network other than the first network, the one or more controllers do not issue the shutdown instruction to the image forming apparatus even when the one or more controllers receive the shutdown instruction through the network.

An automatic detection method for a paper size is disclosed. a plurality of mark points is set on a paperweight along a paperweight direction that is different from a feeding direction. The disclosure senses a plurality of row images combining into a scan image during a paper passing between the paperweight and an image sensor, determines an edge length of the paper based on a range of the mark points covered by the paper, and determines a paper size based on the edge length. The disclosure can effectively detect the paper size without any additional sensors.

An image forming apparatus includes a light scanning device, a developing portion, a control portion and a storage portion. An evaluation chart includes a first evaluation pattern, a second evaluation pattern, a third evaluation pattern and a fourth evaluation pattern. The first evaluation pattern includes a first dot row and a second dot row, and the third evaluation pattern includes a fifth dot row and a sixth dot row. The fourth evaluation pattern is formed by arranging a plurality of fourth evaluation patches. The fourth evaluation patch includes a seventh dot row and an eighth dot row.

An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, an exposure unit, a developing unit including a developing member, a motor, a contact and separation unit, a controller, an acquiring portion for acquiring information on a switching time which is a time required for switching a state of the developing member from a separated state to a contact state by executing a contact operation by the contact and separation unit, and a setting portion for setting, on the basis of the information on the switching time acquired by the acquiring portion, a start timing which is a timing when the contact operation by the contact and separation unit is started in a preparation operation and which is a timing before a region on the photosensitive member exposed to light in a light emission period reaches a developing position.

Printing apparatuses include a photoreceptor adapted to print an image by applying marking material to print media, a fuser adapted to heat the marking material on the print media, and a controller. The controller determines the amount of marking material per unit area of the image before the fuser heats the marking material on the print media. The controller rasterizes the image to produce a bitmap of the image, but the amount of marking material per unit area for the image is determined before completion of rasterization and marking of the image. The controller also adjusts the operating temperature of the fuser to a fusing temperature based on the amount of marking material per unit area of the image, causes the photoreceptor to print the image on the print media using the bitmap of the image, and causes the fuser to fuse the marking material to the print media.

An image forming device includes: a conveyance path that conveys a printing medium; an image former that is arranged in a first place in the middle of the conveyance path, forms an image on one surface of the printing medium, and fixes the formed image by heating; a cooler that is arranged in a second place downstream in a conveyance direction from the first place in the middle of the conveyance path, and cools the printing medium by blowing air for cooling to the printing medium; and a reader that is arranged in a third place downstream in the conveyance direction from the second place in the middle of the conveyance path, and reads the image formed on the printing medium, wherein between the first place and the second place of the conveyance path, one or a plurality of guide members is provided, and a guide member is not provided.

A holder holds a heater. A connector includes a connection terminal. The connector is configured to be attached to the holder by sandwiching a part of the holder and a part of the heater. The connection terminal is configured to be connected to a power supply terminal in a state where the connector is attached to the holder. The connector includes a body part and a claw. The body part sandwiches the part of the holder and the part of the heater in a state where the connector is attached to the holder. The claw protrudes in a direction away from the body part. The holder includes an engagement part. The engagement part is configured to engage with the claw from an upstream side in an attaching direction. The attaching direction is a direction in which the connector is attached to the holder.

A power source apparatus including: a transformer including a primary coil, a secondary coil, and an auxiliary coil, and has a primary side and a secondary side which are insulated from each other; a rectifier circuit including a first output terminal and a second output terminal; a smoothing capacitor; a switching element; a first series circuit having a capacitor and a first rectification element connected in series; and a second series circuit having a second rectification element and the auxiliary coil connected in series. The number of turns of the auxiliary coil is smaller than the number of turns of the primary coil. A product a ratio between the number of turns of the auxiliary coil and the number of turns of the secondary coil and an output voltage on the secondary side of the transformer is equal to or lower than a voltage of the smoothing capacitor.