Patent ID: 9411259
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, comprising: a developer bearing member that bears a developer and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member; a developing bias application unit that applies a developing bias to the developer bearing member; a developer supply member that is provided so as to make contact with the developer bearing member and supplies developer to the developer bearing member; and a supply bias application unit that applies a supply bias to the developer supply member, wherein in a predetermined period before a start of image formation during an image forming operation for an image formed on one recording material, the supply bias application unit applies a supply bias of which the magnitude of an absolute value is smaller than that of a developing bias, to the developer supply member, and in a period between the start of image formation and an end of image formation during the image forming operation for the image formed on one recording material, the supply bias application unit applies a supply bias to the developer supply member so that a difference in the magnitude of the absolute value from the supply bias in the predetermined period before the start of image formation increases gradually.