Patent ID: 6591072
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus, comprising:an image bearing member; charging means for electrically charging said image bearing member; electrostatic image forming means for forming an electrostatic image by selectively discharging said image bearing member charged by said charging means; developing means for developing the electrostatic image formed on said image bearing member into a toner image with toner; transfer means for transferring the toner image from said image bearing member onto a transfer material, wherein said charging means is capable of collecting residual toner from said image bearing member after an image transfer operation is performed; electric field forming means for forming an electric field between said charging means and said image bearing member to transfer the residual toner from said charging means to said image bearing member; and control means for controlling a length of time during which said electric field forming means forms the electric field, wherein said control means controls the length of time substantially in accordance with wear of a surface of said image bearing member.