Patent ID: 8064783

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner cartridge supporting member provided to support a toner cartridge, the toner cartridge supporting member being movable between (i) an insertion position in which a toner cartridge on the toner cartridge supporting member is in a working position and (ii) a draw-out position in which a toner cartridge can be mounted on or dismounted from the toner cartridge supporting member; a detection device which detects a movement of the toner cartridge supporting member in a direction pointing from the insertion position toward the draw-out position; a connector which is provided so as to be detached from or fitted to an information storage device on a toner cartridge, the connector being provided on a connector attaching member on the image forming apparatus that is movable in a moving direction of the toner cartridge supporting member; and an information processing device which is capable of communicating with an information storage device of a toner cartridge via the connector, which carries out writing and readout of inherent information stored on an information storage device of a toner cartridge, and which carries out a communication stop process for causing a communication between the information processing device and an information storage device of a toner cartridge to be stopped when the detection device detects movement of the toner cartridge supporting member, wherein the information processing device is configured to obtain the inherent information of a toner cartridge which is stored in the information storage device of a toner cartridge before the communication stop process is carried out, and wherein when a toner cartridge is mounted on the toner cartridge supporting member, and the toner cartridge supporting member is in the insertion position, the connector will move with and remain in contact with an information storage device on the toner cartridge as the toner cartridge supporting member and the toner cartridge move away from the insertion position and towards the draw-out position.