Patent ID: 8843014
Filing Date: 2014-09-23
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a main casing; a cartridge detachably mountable in the main casing, the cartridge having a cartridge side electrode configured to be supplied with electric power from the main casing, the cartridge configured to accommodate developer therein; and a determining unit that is provided in the main casing, the determining unit configured to determine a cartridge's state, the main casing having a main casing side electrode that is configured to move between a connection position at which the main casing side electrode is located when the main casing side electrode is electrically connected to the cartridge side electrode and a disconnection position at which the main casing side electrode is located when the main casing side electrode is electrically disconnected from the cartridge side electrode, the cartridge including a moving member that is configured to move from a first position through a second position to a third position, the moving member allowing the main casing side electrode to be located at the connection position when the moving member is at the first position, the moving member allowing the main casing side electrode to be located at the disconnection position when the moving member is at the second position, the moving member allowing the main casing side electrode to be located at the connection position when the moving member is at the third position, the determining unit determines that the cartridge's state is new if the determining unit detects that the main casing side electrode is electrically connected to the cartridge side electrode, then the main casing side electrode is electrically disconnected from the cartridge side electrode temporarily, and then the main casing side electrode is again electrically connected to the cartridge side electrode.