Patent ID: 8913903
Filing Date: 2014-12-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main casing; a process cartridge configured to be mounted in and removed from the main casing; a voltage applying unit configured to generate a voltage and to apply the voltage to the process cartridge when mounted; a contact configured to be switched between an ON state and an OFF state based on a usage state of the process cartridge when mounted; an electric line configured to electrically connect the voltage applying unit to the process cartridge when mounted; a detection unit configured to be electrically connected to the electric line via the contact and to provide either one of a first detection output corresponding to the ON state of the contact and a second detection output corresponding to the OFF state of the contact; and a control unit configured to execute a determination process in a determination mode for determining the usage state of the process cartridge when mounted based on either one of the first detection output and the second detection output of the detection unit, wherein, when the process cartridge is mounted in the main casing, the control unit enters the determination mode prior to starting an image forming operation, and wherein the voltage to be applied by the voltage applying unit to the process cartridge when mounted in the determination mode is set to be lower than the voltage to be applied by the voltage applying unit to the process cartridge during the image forming operation.