Patent ID: 8220894

Claim:
An image forming apparatus to which a plurality of cartridges having memories for storing information are detachably mounted, wherein the image forming apparatus communicates with the respective memories of the plurality of cartridges, the apparatus comprising: a data transmission unit adapted to transmit a data signal to the memories of the plurality of cartridges; a plurality of transmission signal lines adapted to output the data signal from said data transmission unit to the memories of the plurality of cartridges; a control unit adapted to output the data signal to said data transmission unit; switching units adapted to connect said data transmission unit to one of said plurality of transmission signal lines in accordance with a signal output from said control unit so as to transmit the data signal from said data transmission unit to one of the memories of the plurality of cartridges; a data reception unit adapted to receive a data signal transmitted from one of the memories of the plurality of cartridges; and a plurality of reception signal lines adapted to transmit a data signal from the memories of the plurality of cartridges to said data reception unit, wherein transmitting the data signal to said data reception unit is performed using one of the plurality of reception signal lines which is connected to the memory of the cartridge which can communicate with said data transmission unit in accordance with a connection, performed by said switching units, of said data transmission unit to one of said plurality of transmission signal lines.