Patent ID: 8923709

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a main casing; a cartridge configured to be attached to and detached from the main casing and to accommodate therein developing agent, the cartridge having a cartridge electrode configured to receive electric power from the main casing; and a processing unit provided in the main casing and configured to determine a condition of the cartridge, the main casing comprising: a first main electrode configured to be electrically connected to the cartridge electrode and configured to supply electric power to the cartridge electrode; and a second main electrode configured to be electrically connected to the cartridge electrode and configured to receive electric power from the cartridge electrode, the cartridge comprising: a moving member configured to be moved from a first position where an electrical connection is interrupted between the cartridge electrode and at least one of the first main electrode and the second main electrode to a second position where an electrical connection is established between the cartridge electrode and the first main electrode and between the cartridge electrode and the second main electrode, and then, from the second position to a third position where an electrical connection is interrupted between the cartridge electrode and at least one of the first main electrode and the second main electrode, the third position being different from the first position, wherein the processing unit determines that the condition of the cartridge is new when, in sequence after the cartridge has been attached to the main casing, the electrical connection is established between the cartridge electrode and the first main electrode and between the cartridge electrode and the second main electrode after the electrical connection is interrupted between the cartridge electrode and at least one of the first main electrode and the second main electrode, and then the electrical connection is once again interrupted between the cartridge electrode and at least one of the first main electrode and the second main electrode.