Process cartridge and process cartridge identification mechanism

Abstract

The low-cost, space-saving process cartridge identification mechanism identifies many types of process cartridge without requiring a new electrical logic circuit. Even if a pressing piece goes into a detection portion, switches are not turned on and hence a mounted process cartridge is not detected as long as the pressing piece does not push down a manipulation lever. Identification pieces are provided in an identification unit separately from the pressing piece. In this manner, a mechanism for mechanically identifying a process cartridge based on whether the identification pieces are interfered with by the interference pieces irrespective of turning-on/off of the switches. As a result, by combining combinations of the pressing piece and the manipulation lever and combinations of the identification piece and the interference piece, many combinations of an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge can be obtained at a low cost with space saving without requiring a new electrical logic circuit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.