Patent ID: 7835651

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a development portion holder that is mounted with a plurality of development portions, each having a memory storing information thereof and that selectively positions the development portions at a development position by holding and moving the mounted development portions; a controller that controls the development portion holder and that performs an image forming process of forming an image using the development portion positioned at the development position; and an access unit that access the memory of the development portion positioned at an access position, which is a position at which one of the other development portions mounted on the development portion holder is located, to read and record the information when one of the development portions mounted on the development portion holder is positioned at the development position, wherein when the access unit is accessing the memory at the time of an image formation of the development portion positioned at the development position in the image forming process, the controller controls the development portion holder to stop the access and to start the switching of the development portions in a state where a non-end indicator indicating that the access has not ended is recorded, and wherein when the access unit is not accessing the memory, the controller controls the development portion holder to start the switching of the development portions in a state where the non-end indicator is not recorded.