Patent ID: 9354587
Filing Date: 2016-05-31
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member provided in a rotatable manner; a developing unit configured to supply a developer of a first polarity onto the image bearing member; a voltage applying unit configured to apply a transfer voltage; a cleaning unit configured to remove the developer on the image bearing member; and a collecting unit, wherein when the image forming apparatus stops an image forming operation halfway, the image forming apparatus executes a recovery operation so that a part of the developer remaining on the image bearing member is (i) once transferred from the image bearing member to the collecting unit, (ii) transferred again from the collecting unit to the image bearing member, and (iii) then removed by the cleaning unit, and wherein by a first time at which rotation of the image bearing member causes a portion of the image bearing member, which contacted the developing unit when the image forming operation was stopped halfway, to reach a contact area between the image bearing member and the collecting unit in the recovery operation for the first time after stopping the image forming operation halfway, the voltage applying unit applies a voltage having a second polarity opposite to the first polarity to transfer the part of the developer of the first polarity which remains on the image bearing member to the collecting unit.