Intermediate transfer unit and image forming apparatus with replaceable cleaning device

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming section configured to form a toner image;
• an intermediate transfer unit including an intermediate transfer member, the intermediate transfer member being configured to be rotated and to bear the toner image;
• a unit main body disposed to be attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body and configured to rotatably support the intermediate transfer member;
• a cleaning device disposed to be attachable to and detachable from the unit main body and including a cleaning member configured to clean the intermediate transfer member;
• a storage section disposed in the cleaning device and configured to store first information regarding whether the cleaning device is new, and second information regarding whether the intermediate transfer member attached to the intermediate transfer unit is new, when the intermediate transfer unit to which the cleaning device that is new is attached, is attached to the image forming apparatus main body;
• a first counting section configured to count an index value regarding a usage of the cleaning device from when the cleaning device is new;
• a second counting section configured to count an index value regarding a usage of the intermediate transfer member from when the intermediate transfer member is new;
• and
• a control section configured to perform, in a case where the control section determines that the cleaning device is new based on the first information stored in the storage section, control so that the image forming section executes an operation for supplying toner to an abutment portion between the cleaning member and a surface of the intermediate transfer member,
• wherein, when the intermediate transfer unit is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the control section performs control (a) to reset a counted value of the first counting section to an initial value and so as not to reset the counted value of the second counting section in a case where the first information indicates that the cleaning device is new and the second information indicates that the intermediate transfer member attached to the intermediate transfer unit is not new, and (b) to reset the counted value of the first counting section to the initial value and reset the counted value of the second counting section to an initial value in a case where the first information indicates that the cleaning device is new and the second information indicates that the intermediate transfer member attached to the intermediate transfer unit is new, and
• wherein the control section is configured to perform control so that supply control for supplying a predetermined toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member to the abutment portion between the cleaning member and the surface of the intermediate transfer member is executed during a non-image forming time, and performs, based on the counted value of the second counting section, control to change an amount of toner to be supplied to the abutment portion through the supply control per predetermined period correlated with the usage of the intermediate transfer member.