Electrophotographic apparatus having plural image forming modes, and a process cartridge applied to such electrophotographic apparatus

A method for controlling an image forming apparatus comprising:

• a first image forming step for forming a toner image on a first image bearing member in accordance with an image formation mode;
• a transferring step for transferring the toner image on the first image bearing member to a second image bearing member different from the first image bearing member;
• a cleaning step for cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the first image bearing member after the transferring step;
• a containing step for containing the toner cleaned in the cleaning step in a container;
• a detecting step for detecting the amount of the toner contained in the container having arrived at a predetermined amount;
• a controlling step for controlling the image forming apparatus in accordance with a predetermined value stored on a non-volatile storing medium after the detecting step, wherein the predetermined value is used in the controlling step for controlling the image forming apparatus together with a first count value for counting in a first image formation mode, and a second count value, different from the first count value, for counting in a second image formation mode;
• and
• the maximum waste toner amount for the image formation in the first image formation mode is different from the maximum waste toner amount for the image formation in the second image formation mode.

A cartridge detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus comprising:

• a container for containing toner to be cleaned from the surface of an image bearing member for bearing toner thereon;
• and
• non-volatile storing medium for storing a predetermined value for controlling the image forming apparatus,
• wherein the predetermined value stored on the non-volatile storing medium is the value used for controlling the image forming apparatus together with a first count value for counting in a first image formation mode, and a second count value, different from the first count value, for counting in a second image formation mode.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a first image bearing member for bearing a toner image;
• transferring means for transferring the toner image on the first image bearing member to a second image bearing member different from the first image bearing member;
• cleaning means for cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the first image bearing member after the transferring by the transferring means;
• a container for containing the toner cleaned by the cleaning means;
• and
• non-volatile storing medium provided to a detachably mountable unit provided with the container for storing a predetermined value for controlling a main body of the image forming apparatus,
• wherein the predetermined value stored on the non-volatile storing medium is used for controlling the image forming apparatus together with a first count value and a second count value different from the first count value.