Patent ID: 7349639

Claim:
A management system for managing an image forming apparatus, includes: a developing device for developing an electrostatic image, formed on an image bearing member, with toner; a developer supply container which contains developer containing toner and a carrier and is detachably mountable to a container mounting portion provided to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, wherein one of a plurality of kinds of developer supply containers containing developers having different carrier ratios in the developers is selectively mountable to the container mounting portion; a developer supply device for supplying the developer contained in the developer supply container to the developing device; and a developer discharge opening, provided in the developing device, for causing the developer in the developing device to overflow to an outside of the developing device; the management system, comprising: a communication management device for transmitting management data for managing the image forming apparatus; an information management device which is connected with said communication management device in a communicable manner and manages information from said communication management device; and a notification device for providing notification of information from said information management device, a carrier deterioration information detection device for detecting information pertaining to deterioration of the carrier contained in the developer in the developing device; wherein said information management device judges the kind of the developer supply container to be selected on the basis of the information pertaining to deterioration of the carrier when the developer supply container is replaced and notifies said notification device of information pertaining to the developer supply container to be selected.