Patent ID: 7308214
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: image carriers, on whose surfaces electrostatic latent images are formed; a plurality of development units having developing-agent carriers which are provided in correspondence to three or more developing agents and which carry the respective developing agents, and developing the electrostatic latent images on the surfaces of the image carriers by the developing-agent carriers to form developing-agent images on the image carriers; and recovery units that recover the developing agents adhering to the developing-agent carriers during non-development operation, wherein an image is formed by sequentially transferring the developing-agent images formed on the image carriers to a transfer-target material, the recovery units are provided for at least the development units that are other than first in sequence of formation of a developing-agent image among the plurality of development units, and when one of the plurality of development units performs development by the developing agent whose charge capability is higher than that of the developing agent of the development unit whose sequence of formation of the developing-agent image is later, a recovery unit starts recovery of the developing agent or performs recovery operation for improving recovery capability of the developing agent.