An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a print engine to perform a print job by using a toner filled in a toner cartridge, a communication apparatus to communicate with a memory chip attached to a toner refill apparatus refilling the toner in the toner cartridge, and a processor to, based on an error being found in a toner injection process for the toner cartridge by using the toner refill apparatus, store information related to the error in the toner cartridge.

An image forming apparatus includes a storage container in which toner is stored, a replenishment port configured to allow replenishment of toner from a replenishment container outside the image forming apparatus to the storage container therethrough, a replenishment restriction portion, and a drive source configured to supply a driving force A drive transmission portion is configured to take a first operation state, in which the drive transmission portion transmits the driving force of the drive source to the replenishment restriction portion to switch the replenishment restriction portion between a restricting state and an allowing state, and a second operation state, in which the drive transmission portion transmits the driving force of the drive source to a toner conveyance portion to cause the toner conveyance portion to convey toner.

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.

A toner cartridge includes a hollow body having an inner space in which toner is received and a toner discharge portion through which the toner is discharged, a plunger accommodated in the inner space to be movable in a longitudinal direction along the inner space and configured to push the toner through the toner discharge portion to outside of the body, a first hook provided on the body, and a second hook. The second hook has a shape complementary to a shape of the first hook, is provided on the plunger, and is elastically coupled to the first hook when the plunger reaches a bottom dead position.

A developing apparatus includes a developing container, a lid that is fixed to the developing container and defines a storage space for developer, a developing roller, and a conveyance member for conveying the developer toward the developing roller. The conveyance member includes a sheet and a support member that supports the sheet and is rotatable about a rotation axis together with the sheet. The sheet has a first distance between the rotation axis and an edge of the sheet in a state in which the sheet is unbent. The lid includes a corner portion that extends the storage space outward of an imaginary circle with a radius of the first distance centered on the rotational axis, and a contact portion that protrudes from the corner portion to the inner side of the imaginary circle and is configured to come into contact with the rotating sheet.

An attached portion of an image forming apparatus includes: a rotating member of which at least a part is exposed outside the image forming apparatus when the developer container is attached; and a rotation restricting mechanism that is movable between a restricting position to restrict rotation of the rotating member and an allowable position to allow rotation of the rotating member, and includes a restricting member that is at the restricting position when the developer container is not attached. The developer container is attached to the attached portion so that the discharging portion engaging portion and the shutter engaging portions are engaged with the frame engaged portions and the rotating member engaged portions respectively when the container shutter is in the close state, and the restricting member moves from the restricting position to the allowable position when the developer container is attached to the attached portion.

A developing device includes a frame having an accommodation chamber where a developer is accommodated, and a replenishing port replenishing a developer to the accommodation chamber from outside, and a stirring member stirring the developer in the accommodation chamber. The stirring member includes a rotating shaft portion rotatably supported by the frame and a sheet member having one end fixed to the rotating shaft portion and another end as a free end and being rotatable with the rotating shaft portion. When the stirring member is rotated, the free end of the sheet member is capable of contacting an inner wall surface of the accommodation chamber in which the replenishing port is formed, and a through hole penetrating in a thickness direction of the sheet member is provided in a region of the sheet member that comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the accommodation chamber.

A toner conveying apparatus includes a frame body, a conveyance member, a light transmission portion, a light emission portion, a light reception portion, and a rubbing member. The frame body forms a conveyance passage surrounded by a wall portion and is provided with a reception inlet for receiving toner from outside. The conveyance member is provided in the conveyance passage and rotates around a first rotation axis to convey the toner. The light transmission portion that is provided in the wall portion and has translucency. The light emission portion emits light toward an inside of the conveyance passage through the light transmission portion. The light reception portion receives the light emitted from the light emission portion through the light transmission portion. The rubbing member rubs on the light transmission portion by being rotated around a second rotation axis extending in a direction crossing the first rotation axis.

In one example, a detachable adapter to adapt a drive shaft on a printer to a drive mechanism on a toner cartridge and to transmit rotation of the drive shaft to the drive mechanism. The adapter includes a cylindrical part having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end configured to detachably receive and engage an end of the drive shaft so that the part will rotate with the drive shaft when the part is attached to the drive shaft, and a driver mounted to or integral with the second end and configured to drivingly connect the part to the drive mechanism on the toner cartridge when the part is attached to the drive shaft and the toner cartridge is installed in the printer.

An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a development cartridge supplying toner accommodated in a toner accommodating portion to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor to form a toner image, a toner refilling portion in the development cartridge and on which a toner refill cartridge for refilling toner in the toner accommodating portion is mounted, and a controller controlling operations of the image forming apparatus based on a connection between the development cartridge mounted on the main body and the toner refill cartridge mounted on the toner refilling portion. The toner refilling portion connects the toner refill cartridge to the main body through an interface between the development cartridge and the main body.