Patent ID: 9063510
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier configured to carry a toner image thereon; a cartridge configured to accommodate toner therein and to supply the toner to the image carrier; a collection member configured to collect remaining toner which is attached to the image carrier after the toner image has been transferred from the image carrier to a recording medium; and a control device configured to selectively execute a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode is a mode in which an exchange lifespan of the cartridge is a first period, and wherein the second mode is a mode in which the exchange lifespan of the cartridge is a second period that is longer than the first period, wherein in a case of executing the first mode, the control device is configured to control the collection member to return the remaining toner collected by the collection member to the image carrier with a first frequency, and wherein in a case of executing the second mode, the control device is configured to control the collection member to return the remaining toner collected by the collection member to the image carrier with a second frequency that is smaller than the first frequency or to continuously hold the remaining toner collected by the collection member.