| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which a void defective image without a toner and waste are eliminated by exactly detecting the remaining toner quantity in a developing device, indicating appropriate replacement period of a process cartridge and the process cartridge attachable/detachable to the image forming apparatus, to replace an image forming apparatus in the middle of use, to reduce a detection error of the remaining quantity when its toner is used and to reduce costs of a remaining detection circuit. <P>SOLUTION: The cartridge is provided with a toner remaining quantity detection member and a memory and a main body ID and developer quantity information (the maximum, minimum values or difference between them) are stored in the memory. The quantity of the developer is determined by integrating pieces of the developer information by every main body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI |
