Image forming apparatus, control method thereof, and process cartridge

An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge including an image bearing body, developing means provided with a developer containing portion for containing a developer and a developer carrying body for supplying the developer to said image bearing body, charging means for charging said image bearing body, and memory means is detachably attachable, said image forming apparatus comprising:

• determining means for determining a state of use of said process cartridge, based on information stored in said memory means;
• supplying means for supplying an electroconductive charging accelerating particle to a charging portion formed by said image bearing body and said charging means, according to a result of determination by said determining means;
• and
• charge giving means for giving charge to the developer in said developing means in a state in which said image bearing body is charged and elimination of charge is not effected on said image bearing body.

A process cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:

• an image bearing body;
• developing means provided with a developer containing portion for containing a developer and a developer carrying body for supplying the developer to said image bearing body;
• and
• memory means having an area for storing information for determination on whether a predetermined initial operation for giving charge to the developer is effected, in a state in which said image bearing body is charged and elimination of charge is not effected on said image bearing body.

A process cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:

• an image bearing body;
• charging means for charging said image bearing body;
• and
• memory means having an area for storing information for determination on whether a predetermined initial operation for supplying an electroconductive charging accelerating particle to a charging portion formed by said image bearing body and said charging means is effected.

A process cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:

• an image bearing body;
• developing means provided with a developer containing portion for containing a developer and a developer carrying body for supplying the developer to said image bearing body;
• charging means for charging said image bearing body;
• and
• memory means having an area for storing information for determination on whether an initial operation for giving charge to the developer in said developing means, in a state in which an electroconductive charging accelerating particle is supplied to a charging portion formed by said image bearing body and said charging means and said image bearing body is charged and elimination of charge is not effected on said image bearing body.

A process cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:

• an image bearing body;
• developing means provided with a developer containing portion for containing a developer and a developer carrying body for supplying the developer to said image bearing body;
• charging means for charging said image bearing body;
• and
• memory means having a first memory area which is updated only once and a second memory area which is updated a plurality of times.

A method of controlling an image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge including an image bearing body, developing means provided with a developer containing portion for containing a developer and a developer carrying body for supplying the developer to said image bearing body, and memory means is detachably attachable, said method comprising:

• a first step of mounting said process cartridge on said image forming apparatus;
• a second step of determining a state of use of said process cartridge, based on information stored in said memory means;
• and
• a third step of carrying out an initial operation for giving charge to the developer in said developing means, in a state in which said image bearing body is charged and elimination of charge is not effected on said image bearing body, based on a result of determination on the state of use of said process cartridge in said second step.

A method of controlling an image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge including an image bearing body, charging means for charging said image bearing body, and memory means is detachably attachable, said method comprising:

• a first step of mounting said process cartridge on said image forming apparatus;
• a second step of determining a state of use of said process cartridge, based on information stored in said memory means;
• and
• a third step of carrying out an initial operation for supplying electroconductive charging accelerating particle to a charging portion formed by said image bearing body and said charging means, based on the result of determination on the state of use of said process cartridge in said second step.

A method of controlling an image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge including an image bearing body, developing means provided with a developer containing portion for containing a developer and a developer carrying body for supplying the developer to said image bearing body, charging means for charging said image bearing body, and memory means is detachably attachable, said method comprising:

• a first step of mounting said process cartridge on said image forming apparatus;
• a second step of determining a state of use of said process cartridge, based on information stored in said memory means;
• and
• a third step of carrying out an initial operation for supplying electroconductive charging accelerating particle to a charging portion formed by said image bearing body and said charging means and giving charge to the developer in said developing means, in a state in which said image bearing body is charged and elimination of charge is not effected on said image bearing body, based on a result of determination on the state of use of said process cartridge in said second step.