When a new developer cartridge is initially mounted in an image-forming
device, a toothed part of a sensor gear disposed in the cartridge is
brought into meshing engagement with an agitator drive gear disposed in
the image-forming device. The sensor gear is driven while its toothed
part is in meshing engagement with the agitator drive gear and driving of
the sensor gear is stopped when its toothless part opposes the agitator
drive gear. One or more contact protrusions are formed on the sensor gear
to be movable therewith. An information-detecting mechanism detects how
many contact protrusions are formed on the sensor gear during driving of
the sensor gear. Based on the detection results, whether the mounted
developer cartridge is a new product or not is determined, and
information on the maximum sheets to be printed with the mounted
developer cartridge is acquired.