A communication method is provided between a chip and an imaging device. Accordingly, the chip receives a clock pulse signal from the imaging device via a clock line; and receives a READ instruction from the imaging device via a data line. Within one clock pulse signal period, the chip transmits at least one bit of implicit data and one bit of master data that are stored in an internal memory to the data line within different time slots, respectively, and the imaging device collects data from the data line while the chip is transmitting the master data to the data line. Further, the chip receives a WRITE instruction from the imaging device via the data line, wherein the chip receives master data sent from the imaging device, writes the master data into the memory arranged in the chip, and updates the implicit data stored in the memory.

A management system includes an information processing apparatus that stores management information about cartridges that store consumables and is configured to update the stored management information, and an image forming apparatus configured to print an image on a sheet using the consumables stored in an attached cartridge, storing cartridge information about a cartridge that has been previously attached to the image forming apparatus, and configured to, when a cartridge is attached, retrieve cartridge information from the attached cartridge as first cartridge information and the stored cartridge information as second cartridge information, and transmit the first and second cartridge information to the processing apparatus. Upon receipt of the cartridge information, the processing apparatus determines whether the attached cartridge is a refilled cartridge, and if so, updates the management information so that the cartridge is identified as a refilled cartridge. The processing apparatus transmits a determination result to the image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a cartridge, and a controller. The cartridge is attachable to the main casing. The cartridge includes a cartridge memory configured to store identification information. The controller is configured to perform a rewriting process to rewrite the identification information to information indicating that the cartridge is the normal cartridge, in a case where the controller receives a cancellation instruction to instruct to cancel the service contract and the identification information, which is stored in a cartridge memory of the cartridge attached to the main casing, indicates that the cartridge is the contract cartridge.

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.

A cartridge includes a drum unit and a development unit. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a frame, a transfer roller, and a cleaning member. The development unit includes a development roller, and a memory. The cleaning member is configured to come into contact with the photosensitive drum at a region between a development nip portion and a transfer nip portion in a circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum and at an end portion of the photosensitive drum in a direction of the rotational axis. The frame has an exposing hole through which the memory is exposed from the frame, and a recessed portion that is adjacent to the exposing hole in the direction of the rotational axis, and stores foreign matters removed from the photosensitive drum by the cleaning member.

An image-forming apparatus includes: a toner cartridge configured to accommodate toner; a drum cartridge for use with the toner cartridge; and a controller. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, and a drum memory storing a first type information indicating a type of the drum cartridge. The controller is configured to communicate with the drum memory. The controller is configured to perform: reading the first type information from the drum memory; and changing an operation of the image-forming apparatus based on the type indicated by the first type information.

An image forming apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a memory, a fixing device, and a controller. The temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of an inside of the image forming apparatus. The memory is configured to store temperature history information regarding a history of the temperature of the inside of the image forming apparatus detected by the temperature sensor. The fixing device is configured to fix a toner image onto the paper sheet by heating the paper sheet to a fixing temperature. The toner image is transferred to the paper sheet using a toner stored in a toner cartridge of the image forming apparatus. The controller is configured to control a fixing temperature at the fixing device based on the temperature history information stored in the memory.

A cartridge detachably attachable to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium in which a memory unit is fixed by an inexpensive adhesive member that can control adhesion force. The cartridge includes: a memory; and a memory support member that supports the memory. The memory has a semiconductor device storing information related to a cartridge, a sealing material that protects the semiconductor device, and a cartridge electrical contact configured to be electrically connectable to a body electrical contact of the image forming apparatus body for transferring information on the semiconductor device to the image forming apparatus body. The sealing material and the memory support member contain the same type of a thermoplastic resin, the sealing material and the memory support member have bonding faces, and at least parts of the bonding faces are welded and fixed by a solvent.

A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device and a magnetic sensor electrically connected to the electrical contact. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves from a retracted position to an operative position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the magnetic sensor moves from a misaligned position to an aligned position with a point in a path of movement of a magnet for sensing a magnetic field of the magnet.

A transform wrapper is stored on a memory device and the memory device may be included in a printer cartridge. The transform wrapper may dynamically build a transform map for a printer based on metadata stored at the memory device. The metadata may indicate at least one of a type of depositing material, transform map, print media and printer.