Image forming apparatus having a detachably mounted processing unit

摘要

An image forming apparatus has a detachably mounted processing unit on a main body of the apparatus. The processing unit includes the image bearing member and a processing device for acting on the image bearing member to form an image on the image bearing member. The processing unit is replaced with a new processing unit when the service life of the processing unit expires. The image forming apparatus also has a first memory for storing the amount of use of the processing unit, a second memory for storing maintenance message information for replacing the processing unit with a new processing unit when the service life of the mounted processing unit expires and a causing device for causing the processing device of the processing unit to form the maintenance message information stored in the second memory on the image bearing member when the amount of use reaches a predetermined value. Thus, the maintenance message information stored in the second memory is printed on a recording medium when the service life of the mounted processing unit expires.