Patent ID: 8554100
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of image bearing members on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a plurality of developing units which includes toner storage containers respectively containing a different color of toner, and which respectively develops the toner contained in the toner storage container onto each of the plurality of image bearing members; and a belt which is capable of rotating, and which transfers toner images developed on the plurality of image bearing members onto a transfer material, the image forming apparatus being capable of executing a first cleaning mode and a second cleaning mode to move the toner adhering onto the belt from the belt onto the image bearing members and to collect the adhering toner moved onto the image bearing members into the toner storage containers of the developing units, wherein, in the first cleaning mode, the adhering toner is moved onto the image bearing member corresponding to the developing unit developing a black toner and the moved adhering toner is collected into the toner storage container of the developing unit developing the black toner, and in the second cleaning mode, a portion of the adhering toner is moved to the image bearing member that corresponds to the developing unit developing a toner other than the black toner and is located at a most upstream position in a rotation direction of the belt among the plurality of image bearing members, the portion of the adhering toner is collected into the toner storage container of the development unit corresponding to the image bearing member located at the most upstream position, and the rest of the adhering toner is moved to the image bearing member corresponding to the developing unit developing the black toner to collect the rest of the adhering toner into the toner storage container of the developing unit developing the black toner.