G03G21/1875

Displaying current colorant supply status information responsive to opening of printing device door

A printing device includes a door, a display, and a colorant supply. The printing device detects that the door has been opened. In response to detecting that the door has been opened, the printing device displays, on its display, current status information of the colorant supply within the printing device.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20230244173 · 2023-08-03 ·

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a first accommodating container and a second accommodating container, a feeding device, and a controller. The controller carries out control so that: (i) in a case that the first accommodating container is kept in a removed state, the controller controls the feeding device so as not to feed residual toner to the second accommodating container while continuing a stop of feeding of the residual toner to the first accommodating container and controls the image forming portion so as to continue an image forming operation, and (ii) in a case that the first accommodating container is removed and is kept removed, the controller controls the feeding device so as to start feeding of the residual toner to the second accommodating container and controls the image forming portion so as to continue the image forming operation.

Information storage system including a plurality of terminals

A toner container includes a container body, an opening, a cover, a toner discharge port, a shutter, a cylindrical structure, protrusions, and an identifier. The shutter is attached to the cover and includes a main shutter covering the toner discharge port. The main shutter moves between a closed position to close the toner discharge port and an open position to open the toner discharge port. The protrusions are on both sides of the cover and protrude in a direction orthogonal to a toner container mounting direction. The identifier is on the cover to indicate a toner color. The cylindrical structure's leading end is downstream of leading ends of the protrusions in the mounting direction. The main shutter's leading end is downstream of the protrusions' leading ends in the mounting direction when the main shutter is in the closed position. The protrusions are downstream of the identifier in the mounting direction.

Image forming apparatus that determines whether cartridge can be used in the image forming apparatus
11762310 · 2023-09-19 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cover, a cartridge, and a controller. The cartridge includes a second memory storing lifetime information indicating lifetime of the cartridge and identification information unique to the cartridge. In a case where the lifetime information indicates the initial value for the lifetime, the controller is configured to perform setting the cartridge to be usable in the image forming apparatus. In a case where the controller determines that the lifetime information does not indicate the initial value for the lifetime of the cartridge, the controller is configured to perform judging whether the identification information stored in the second memory matches a registration identification information stored in a first memory of the apparatus body. In a case where the identification information matches the registration identification information, the controller is configured to perform determining that the cartridge is usable for the image forming apparatus.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING CONTROLLER CAPABLE OF DETERMINING WHETHER DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE, DRUM CARTRIDGE AND BELT UNIT ARE REACHED THEIR LIFETIMES
20220019174 · 2022-01-20 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge, a main memory and a controller. The controller is configured to perform determining whether the developing cartridge is reached a lifetime on a basis of: at least one of s developing maximum printable number of sheets which corresponds to developing identification information, a maximum developing roller rotation number which corresponds to the developing identification information, and a maximum dot count which corresponds to the developing identification information; and at least one of a developing cumulative number of printed sheets, a cumulative developing roller rotation number and a cumulative dot count.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF DETERMINING WHETHER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONTROLLER AND STORAGE MEDIUM OF DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE IS ESTABLISHED
20220019173 · 2022-01-20 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes: a main frame; a developing cartridge including a casing, a storage medium having an electrical contact surface, and developing roller; a photosensitive drum contactable with the developing roller; an electrical connector contactable with the electrical contact surface; a separation mechanism; and a controller configured to communicate with the storage medium via the electrical connector. The separation mechanism is configured to move the casing relative to the main frame in a separating direction in which the developing roller separates from the photosensitive drum. The controller is configured to perform: moving, by controlling the separation mechanism, the casing relative to the main frame in the separating direction; determining, in response to performing the moving, whether communication with the storage medium is established; and outputting, when determining in the determining that the communication with the storage medium is not established, an error.

INFORMATION STORAGE SYSTEM INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF TERMINALS

A toner container includes a container body, an opening, a cover, a toner discharge port, a shutter, a cylindrical structure, protrusions, and an identifier. The shutter is attached to the cover and includes a main shutter covering the toner discharge port. The main shutter moves between a closed position to close the toner discharge port and an open position to open the toner discharge port. The protrusions are on both sides of the cover and protrude in a direction orthogonal to a toner container mounting direction. The identifier is on the cover to indicate a toner color. The cylindrical structure's leading end is downstream of leading ends of the protrusions in the mounting direction. The main shutter's leading end is downstream of the protrusions' leading ends in the mounting direction when the main shutter is in the closed position. The protrusions are downstream of the identifier in the mounting direction.

Image forming apparatus that controls a fixing temperature of a toner cartridge
11175614 · 2021-11-16 · ·

According to one example, an image forming apparatus includes a detection unit that detects temperature information on a temperature of a toner stored in a toner cartridge, an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a sheet with the toner supplied from the toner cartridge, a fixing unit that fixes the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit, and a control unit that controls a fixing temperature in the fixing unit according to the temperature information detected by the detection unit and an accumulated time in which the temperature information is detected.

Developer cartridge with a cover covering a memory on an outer surface of a toner housing

A developer cartridge includes a housing, a developing roller, an agitator, a memory, and a cover. The housing is configured to store toner therein and has one end portion and the other end portion in a first direction. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction. The agitator is rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction. The agitator is positioned spaced apart from the developing roller. The memory includes an electrical contact surface. The electrical contact surface is positioned at an outer surface of the housing and at the one end portion of the housing in the first direction, and is disposed between the developing roller and the agitator in a second direction from the first axis toward the second axis. The cover has an opening open in the second direction and covers the electrical contact surface.

Developing cartridge capable of releasing meshing between gear and rack gear
RE049689 · 2023-10-10 · ·

A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a developing electrode; a gear; a rack gear including a protrusion; and a cam having first and second cam surfaces. The rack gear meshes with the gear and is movable in a direction from one end toward another end of the casing. The cam is movable from a first position to a second position. The first cam surface of the cam at the first position contacts the protrusion, and causes the cam to move to the second position as the rack gear moves in the direction in a state where the first cam surface is in contact with the protrusion. A second cam surface moves the developing electrode in a direction away from the cam different from moving directions of the rack gear and the cam while contacting the developing electrode as the cam moves to the second position.