Patent ID: 6029033
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A color image forming apparatus comprising:a plurality of image forming units serially arranged in a straight line, each image forming unit comprising an image carrier, electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, and developing means for forming a toner image by applying toner to the electrostatic latent image;an intermediate transfer member to which the toner images from the plurality of image forming units are sequentially transferred in a superimposed fashion; andtransferring means for transferring the superimposed toner images from the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium; and whereinat least one of said image forming units is configured as a cleanerless image forming unit having a developing means of a jumping development system to which a development bias including an AC component is applied, said cleaner less image forming unit having a toner holding means for temporarily holding residual toner that remains on the image carrier after transfer of the toner image to the intermediate transfer member, and discharging the held residual toner at a predetermined timing, andwherein the AC component is switched off before residual toner discharged from said toner holding means onto the image carrier reaches a development position.