There is provided a consumable supply method for supplying a refill consumable stored in a refill consumable container to a consumable container installable in an equipment body. The consumable supply method includes removing a refill information storage device storing information on the refill consumable from the refill consumable container; removing an information storage device storing information on a consumable contained in the consumable container, the information being for exchange with the equipment body, from the consumable container; and attaching the refill information storage device removed from the refill consumable container as an information storage device to the consumable container in place of the information storage device removed from the consumable container.

An image forming apparatus, includes: plural image forming units each including an image holding member and configured to form an image that is to be transferred to a recording medium on the image holding member using a dry toner, the number of the plural image forming units being at least five; and plural developing devices each of which is provided in each of the plural image forming units and supplied with the dry toner and a dry carrier, each of the plural developing devices including a dry toner adhering unit that has a length equal to or longer than a length of a long side of an A3 size and to which the dry toner adheres, the dry toner adhering unit being configured to cause the dry toner adhering to the dry toner adhering unit to adhere to the image holding member.

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.

A developer container is provided with a container body and a covering. The container body has a storage part for containing a developer and a discharge port used for discharging the developer contained in the storage part to outside of the container body. The covering covers a forming surface of a containing space of the developer in the storage part, and is provided so as to be drawable from the discharge port to outside of the container body.

A developer container includes a pouch, a communication member, and a cap. A marking including an arrowhead part and a parting line are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cap. A rear end of the arrowhead part is disposed between a first position that is a position 45° upstream from a reference position in a direction of rotation and a second position that is a position 45° downstream in the direction of rotation. The rear end of the arrowhead part overlaps the parting line.

A toner container includes a container main body, a first toner storage portion, a second toner storage portion, and a gripping portion. The container main body is elongated. The first toner storage portion stores toner in its inside and is provided in one side in a longitudinal direction of the container main body. The second toner storage portion stores toner in its inside and is provided in the other side in the longitudinal direction. The gripping portion is provided between the first toner storage portion and the second toner storage portion, and includes a concave portion which is formed in a side portion of the container main body on one side in a width direction of the container main body, the width direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer bearing member, a discharge unit, a stacking tray including a stacking surface on which the recording material is stacked, a replenishment port, a cover capable of moving between a closed position where the cover covers the replenishment port and constitutes at least part of the stacking surface and an open position where the cover exposes the replenishment port, and an information display unit for displaying information about a procedure for replenishing the developing container with the developer from the replenishment container.

A method of remanufacturing an imaging cartridge comprising a toner hopper having a toner bag and not having a seal port, the method comprising forming a seal port in the toner hopper; disposing a replacement toner container in the toner hopper, the replacement toner container including a removable seal having a seal tail; and inserting a portion of the seal tail through the seal port. A method of remanufacturing an imaging cartridge comprising a toner hopper having a toner bag and not having a seal port, the method comprising providing a replacement toner hopper having a seal port; removing the toner hopper not having the seal port from the imaging cartridge; and attaching the replacement toner hopper having a seal port to the imaging cartridge.

A cartridge includes: a housing; a storage medium; and a holder. The storage medium has an electrical contact surface. The holder is movable relative to the housing. The holder includes: a first holder member; and a second holder member. The first holder member has a pawl portion and is configured to hold the electrical contact surface. The second holder member includes a corner portion. The pawl portion is engageable with the corner portion. The second holder member has a through-hole. An engagement part of the pawl portion engaging with the corner portion is accessible from outside the second holder member through the through-hole in a state where the pawl portion engages with the corner portion.

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 and 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.