A process unit is removably attached inside a main body of an image forming apparatus. The process unit includes a casing and a latent image carrier housed inside the casing. The latent image carrier can rotate in a forward direction and a reverse direction. An ID chip is provided in the process unit for storing various information. A communication unit arranged in the main body can communicate with the electronic-information storage unit to write information in or read information from the ID chip. A control unit provides control so that the communication unit does not communicate with the ID chip when the latent image carrier is rotating in the reverse direction.