Patent ID: 7848666
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is carried; an image carrier driving unit that drives an image carrier motor rotating the image carrier; a container which has a chamber containing a developer and an opening connected to the chamber; a developing roller provided in the container and having its outer circumferential surface exposed from the opening; a transfer device that transfers a developer image generated on the image carrier by the developing roller to a recording target medium; a developing roller driving unit that drives a developing roller motor rotating the developing roller; a developer stirring member that is rotatably provided in the container and stirs the developer; a developer stirring member driving unit that drives a developer stirring member motor rotating the developer stirring member; a duct that has a suction port connected to the chamber in the container and a discharge port opening to outside of the container, and guides air including the developer scattered in the container from the suction port to the discharge port; a fan provided in a path through which air flows; a fan driving unit that drives a fan motor rotating the fan; and a control unit that separately drives the image carrier driving unit, the developing roller driving unit and the developer stirring member driving unit, and causes the fan driving unit to operate if at least one of the image carrier driving unit and the developer stirring member driving unit is operating.