Image forming apparatus and image forming system

An image forming system comprising:

• an image forming apparatus which includes a cartridge including an accommodating portion configured to accommodate a developer, and a main assembly to which the cartridge is detachably mountable;
• and
• a server connected to the image forming apparatus via a network,
• wherein the image forming system includes:
• an acquiring portion configured to acquire an acquisition value on a use amount of the cartridge;
• a detecting portion configured to detect abnormality of the cartridge;
• an image forming portion configured to form an inspection image which includes a first region and a second region, the first region being a region in which reference images are formed with a plurality of color images, respectively, on a recording material, the second region being a region in which a discrimination image is formed by superimposing a plurality of color images on the recording material;
• a reading portion configured to read the reference images and the discrimination image formed on the recording material by the image forming portion;
• and
• at least one controller,
• wherein the main assembly includes a switching mechanism capable of switching between a restricted state in which detachment of the cartridge from the main assembly is restricted and a non-restricted state in which the detachment is not restricted;
• wherein the at least one controller controls the switching mechanism;
• so that in a first period until the acquisition value reaches a threshold, switching from the restricted state to the non-restricted state is not permitted in a case that the abnormality of the cartridge is not detected by the detecting portion, and the switching from the restricted state to the non-restricted state is permitted in a case that the abnormality of the cartridge is detected by the detecting portion, and
• so that in a second period after the acquisition value has reached the threshold, the switching from the restricted state to the non-restricted state is permitted, and
• wherein the case that the abnormality of the cartridge is detected by the detecting portion is that a density change amount between the discrimination image and the reference images on the basis of information read from both the reference images and the discrimination image by the reading portion is greater than a density threshold.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge accommodating a developer;
• and
• a main assembly to which the cartridge is detachably mountable,
• wherein the main assembly includes:
• a notifying portion configured to notify of first information on a lifetime or an exchange of the cartridge and second information on abnormality of the cartridge;
• a switching mechanism capable of switching between a restricted state in which detachment of the cartridge from the main assembly is restricted and a non-restricted state in which the detachment is not restricted;
• an image forming portion configured to form an inspection image which includes a first region and a second region, the first region being a region in which reference images are formed with a plurality of color images, respectively, on a recording material, the second region being a region in which a discrimination image is formed by superimposing a plurality of color images on the recording material;
• a reading portion configured to read the reference images and the discrimination image formed on the recording material by the image forming portion;
• and
• a controller configured to control the switching mechanism,
• wherein the controller controls the switching mechanism;
• so that in a first period until notification of the first information, switching of the switching mechanism from the restricted state to the non-restricted state is not permitted in a case that notification of the second information does not occur, and the switching of the switching mechanism from the restricted state to the non-restricted state is permitted in a case that the notification of second information does occur, and
• so that in a second period after notification of the first information, the switching from the restricted state to the non-restricted state is permitted, and
• wherein the case that the abnormality of the cartridge is detected by the detecting portion is that a density change amount between the discrimination image and the reference images on the basis of information read from both the reference images and the discrimination image by the reading portion is greater than a density threshold.