An image-forming apparatus includes: a main body; a toner cartridge having a first opening; a process cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a second opening; a positioning part; a transfer unit; and an urging member. The toner cartridge and process cartridge are attachable to and detachable from the main body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The positioning part and transfer unit are positioned above the process cartridge attached to the main body. The positioning part fixes the attached process cartridge in position relative to the main body. The urging member urges the attached process cartridge toward the positioning part and urges the process cartridge such that the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge to the process cartridge through the first opening and the second opening when the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the main body.

A developer supply container supplies a developer through a developer receiving opening displacably provided in a developer receiving apparatus to which the developer supply container is detachably mountable. The developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion to accommodate a developer, and a discharge opening to permit discharge of the developer in the developer accommodating portion toward the developer receiving opening. An engaging portion, engageable with the developer receiving apparatus, displaces the developer receiving opening toward a position of the discharge opening at the time when the developer supply container is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus, with a mounting operation of the developer supply container.

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a rotatable developer carrying member, a rotatable toner supplying member, and a toner accommodating unit. A developing unit including the developer carrying member and the toner accommodating unit are capable of being independently exchanged. The image forming apparatus further includes a current detector and a controller configured to execute a process for notifying information on a lifetime of the developing unit, on the basis of a detection result of the current detector at predetermined timing after use of a fresh toner accommodating unit is started.

An image forming apparatus is capable of being attached with a toner supply container. The toner supply container stores a toner that is to be supplied to a developing portion. An attachment location of the toner supply container isbelow a light scanning portion in a vertical direction.

In a communication device, a processor identifies first and second group printing devices in accordance with device information on each printing device, and outputs device information corresponding to the first and second group printing devices in a distinguishable manner. A printing device having a tank accommodating printing agent greater than or equal to a first reference is identified as the first and second group printing devices. A printing device having a tank accommodating printing agent less than the first reference is identified as the second group printing device. A printing device without tank and in which a cartridge accommodating printing agent less than a second reference and greater than or equal to a third reference is identified as the first group printing device. A printing device without tank and in which the cartridge accommodating printing agent less than the third reference is identified as the second group printing device.

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.

Toner replenishment units include an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a first vertical conveyance pipe, a second vertical conveyance pipe, a third vertical conveyance pipe, a first horizontal conveyance pipe, a second horizontal conveyance pipe, and a confluence section. A first conveyance screw is included in the horizontal conveyance pipe and a second conveyance screw is included in the second horizontal conveyance pipe. A first inter-axis distance between a first horizontal rotation axis of the first conveyance screw and a third vertical pipe axis of the third vertical conveyance pipe, and a second inter-axis distance between a second horizontal rotation axis of the second conveyance screw and the third vertical pipe axis are set to take a different value.

A cartridge includes a casing including a toner storage chamber storing toner and a toner discharge chamber having an outlet, a conveyance member conveying the toner from the toner storage chamber to the toner discharge chamber, an action member attached to the conveyance member and repeating an action of shifting between an entering state of entering the outlet and a retraction state of retracting from the outlet, and a pump expanding and contracting to be shifted between a first state and a second state in which the internal space is smaller in volume than in the first state, the pump putting air into the toner discharge chamber by being shifted from the first state to the second state, thereby discharging the toner from the toner discharge chamber through the outlet, and the pump taking in air by being shifted from the second state to the first state.

An image forming apparatus which can be replenished with toner using a replenishment cartridge and communicates with a memory device of the replenishment cartridge via a first electric contact portion and a second electric contact portion after a replenishment cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus in an installation portion. The replenishment cartridge is prevented from being detached by a regulation unit when it is in the replenishment position.

An image forming apparatus includes a toner container, a first conveyance unit, and an apparatus main body. The apparatus main body includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller, a second conveyance unit, a toner conveyance passage, light sensor, an acquisition unit, and a control unit configured to execute an abnormality detection mode. In an abnormality detection mode, the acquisition unit acquires a first acquired value after the driving of the second conveyance unit with the driving of the first conveyance unit stopped. When the first acquired value satisfies a first condition, the acquisition unit further acquires a second acquired value after the driving of the second conveyance unit with the driving of the first conveyance unit stopped. The apparatus main body further includes a notification unit to make notification of the abnormality when the second acquired value satisfies a second condition.