Patent ID: 7551860

Claim:
An image forming apparatus for recognizing compatibility of an image forming process unit to be removably mounted at a given position within a main body of the apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising: an engaging member mounting portion arranged to mount a recognition engaging member thereon and arranged in a mounting direction front end surface of the image forming process unit; and a projecting member mounting portion arranged to mount thereon a recognition projecting member engageable with a recessed portion provided in the recognition engaging member and arranged in an inner surface of the apparatus main body to be disposed opposite to the engaging member mounting portion in a state in which the image forming process unit is mounted; wherein the projecting member mounting portion and the recognition engaging member mounting portion are respectively capable of mounting the recognition projecting member and recognition engaging member in at least two mounting states; the recognition projecting member and the recognition engaging member are mounted in such a mounting state so as to allow the recognition projecting member and the recognition engaging member to be engaged with each other in the at least two mounting states so as to achieve compatibility recognition; and the engaging member mounting portion includes an opening allowing the developer of the image forming unit to leak therefrom, the recognition engaging member is mounted so as to close the opening and includes a hollow projecting portion in the vicinity of the recessed portion, and when the projecting portion is cut away, the developer leaks to the outside.