Image forming apparatus administration system with developer density detection and developer lifetime information communication features

An image forming apparatus administration system comprising:

• an image forming apparatus including:
• electrostatic image forming means for forming an electrostatic image on an image bearing member;
• a developing apparatus provided with a developer carrying member disposed opposite to said image bearing member and carrying a developer, said developing apparatus performing a development of the electrostatic image by a development bias being applied to said developer carrying member;
• distance changing means for changing a closest distance between said image bearing member and said developer carrying member;
• and
• density detecting means for detecting a density of a developer image for detection formed, by said developing apparatus;
• controlling means operable to execute a developer lifetime detecting mode for detecting the developer image for detection formed with the closest distance changed by said distance changing means, by said density detecting means, and transmitting information regarding a lifetime of the developer based on a detection result by said density detecting means to an administration device through communicating means;
• and
• a terminal device for informing the information regarding the lifetime of the developer transmitted from said administration device through said communicating means.