IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

To perform a detection operation necessary for usability accurately at low cost.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: a cartridge that has a memory 130; a control unit that controls an image forming operation based on information read out from the memory 130; a memory terminal 131 that is provided in an apparatus body, and is brought into contact with the memory 130 in a state where the cartridge is mounted in the apparatus body and separated from the memory 130 in a state where the cartridge is removed from the apparatus body; a member for determination 132 that is provided in the apparatus body, and is separated from the memory terminal 131 in the state where the cartridge is mounted and brought into contact with the memory terminal 131 in the state where the cartridge is removed; and a memory communication circuit that performs communication between the memory 130 and the control unit through the memory terminal 131 in the state where the cartridge is mounted and cuts off communication with the memory 130 in the state where the cartridge is removed. The control unit determines the presence or absence of mounting of the cartridge in the apparatus body based on a signal output from the memory communication circuit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3 【課題】ユーザビリティ上必要な検知動作を低コストで精度よく行うこと。【解決手段】メモリ１３０を有するカートリッジと、メモリ１３０から読み込んだ情報に基づいて画像形成動作を制御する制御部と、装置本体に設けられ、カートリッジが装置本体に装着された状態でメモリ１３０と当接し、カートリッジが装置本体から取り外された状態でメモリ１３０から離間するメモリ端子１３１と、装置本体に設けられ、カートリッジが装着された状態でメモリ端子１３１から離間し、カートリッジが取り外された状態でメモリ端子１３１と当接する判断用部材１３２と、カートリッジが装着された状態でメモリ端子１３１を介してメモリ１３０と制御部との間の通信を行い、カートリッジが取り外された状態でメモリ１３０との通信が切断されるメモリ通信回路と、を備え、制御部は、メモリ通信回路から出力される信号に基づいてカートリッジの装置本体への装着の有無を判断する。【選択図】図３