Patent ID: 6954595
Filing Date: 2005-10-11
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member on a surface of which an electrostatic latent image is formed; developing means, which contains a developer, and which includes a rotatable developer carrying member, which abuts against the surface of the image bearing member, and storage means storing information on image formation history, wherein the developing means is adapted to visualize the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image bearing member as the developer carrying member carries the developer to the electrostatic latent image; a contact/separation mechanism, which enables the developer carrying member to abut against and separate from the surface of the image bearing member; control means, which in a preparation process before image formation of second and subsequent times using the developing means, finds a lapsed time from a finish time of a last image formation until a start time of a current image formation based upon the information on image formation history stored in the storage means and, in a state in which the image bearing member and the developer carrying member are separated from each other by the contact/separation mechanism, and operates the developer carrying member for a predetermined period of time according to the lapsed time; and developer remaining amount detection means, which detects an amount of developer remaining in the developing means, wherein, in the preparation process before image formation of the second and subsequent times using the developing means, in a state in which the image bearing member and the developer carrying member are separated from each other, the control means operates the developer carrying member for the predetermined period of time according to the lapsed time and information on the developer remaining amount detected by the developer remaining amount detection means.