Patent ID: 7860420
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member; a developing device for developing, into a toner image, an electrostatic latent image formed on said image bearing member with toner charged to a first polarity and for collecting the toner from said image bearing member; an intermediary transfer member for carrying the toner image; a primary transfer member for primarily transferring the toner image from said image bearing member onto said intermediary transfer member by applying a voltage of a second polarity which is opposite the first polarity to said primary transfer member; an electric charge applying member for charging the toner remaining on said image bearing member after the primary transfer of the toner image, by applying a voltage of the first polarity; transfer means for secondarily transferring the toner image from said intermediary transfer member onto a recording material; removing means for contacting said intermediary transfer member to remove the toner remaining on said intermediary transfer member after the secondary transfer; and an executing portion for executing a toner collection mode operation for removing the toner transferred onto said intermediary transfer member during a non-image formation period, said toner collection mode operation including (i) a first step of applying, to said primary transfer member, the voltage of the second polarity to cause electrical discharge at least for one full rotation of said image bearing member, and (ii) a second step, continuing from the first step, of applying, to said primary transfer member, the voltage of the first polarity at least for one full rotation of said image bearing member.