Patent ID: 7646994

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an attach/detach section to and from which a developing unit having an element into which information can be written and a developer containing section can be attached and detached; a photoconductor on which a latent image can be formed; a writing member for writing information into said element; and an AC voltage supply section for supplying an AC voltage, wherein: during a period from a start to an end of an image forming process, said writing member writes information into said element of the developing unit attached to said attach/detach section when said AC voltage supply section is not supplying an AC voltage, said image forming apparatus further comprises: a moving body provided with a plurality of the attach/detach sections, and an attach/detach opening through which said developing unit is attached to and detached from said attach/detach section; in a state in which said developing unit is positioned at an opposing position where said developing unit is in opposition to said photoconductor due to movement of said moving body, said latent image can be developed with the developer contained in said developing unit; in a state in which said developing unit is positioned at a detaching position that is different from said opposing position due to movement of said moving body, said developing unit can be detached from said attach/detach section via said attach/detach opening; during a period from when said developing unit arrives at said opposing position until when said developing unit arrives at said detaching position due to movement of said moving body, said writing member writes information into said element of said developing unit; and during a period from when said developer bearing body provided in the developing unit that has arrived at said opposing position ends developing said latent image until when said developing unit arrives at said detaching position, said writing member writes information into said element of said developing unit.