JPH0550788B

In a counter apparatus for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, which counts and manages the number of image forming operations, data which is ultimately written is retrieved from data stored in an EEPROM, and the retrieved data is set in a RAM counter as an initial value. The RAM counter performs a count-up operation for each printing operation for production of new data. The new data is written in the EEPROM for each production, so that a count value when a power source is turned off is held therein. In the EEPROM, a plurality of unit areas are continuously provided and are used as data write areas. The new data is sequentially written for each unit area. Thus, the number of write operations for the unit areas is decreased, so that the EEPROM which has a limited number of times of write access can constitute the counter apparatus together with the RAM counter.