Image forming system, image forming method, and determination apparatus

An image forming method comprising:

• forming an image by using toner supplied by a toner cartridge;
• acquiring identification information from the toner cartridge;
• first determining in a first determination whether or not the toner cartridge satisfies a first condition, based on the identification information;
• second determining in a second determination whether or not a second condition is satisfied when a determination result of the first determining indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the first condition;
• and
• controlling image formation to be permitted to the image, when a determination result of the first determining indicates that the toner cartridge satisfies a predetermined condition, or when the determination result of the first determining indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the predetermined condition and when a determination result of the second determining indicates that the second condition is satisfied,
• wherein the second condition is within a predetermined period, and
• wherein the method further comprises permitting formation of an image only for the predetermined period when the determination result of the first determination indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

A determination apparatus comprising:

• an acquisition unit configured to acquire identification information from a toner cartridge that supplies toner used to form an image, to an image forming unit that forms an image;
• a first determination unit configured to determine whether or not the toner cartridge satisfies a first condition, based on the identification information;
• a second determination unit configured to determine whether or not a second condition is satisfied when a determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the first condition;
• and
• a controller configured to permit the image forming unit to form an image, when the determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge satisfies a predetermined condition, or when the determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the predetermined condition and when a determination result of the second determination unit indicates that the second condition is satisfied,
• wherein the acquisition unit is configured to acquire a predetermined amount that is used in forming an image using the image forming unit,
• the second condition is a condition in which the predetermined amount that is acquired by the acquisition unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value.