Patent ID: 9086670
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable image bearing member; a charging unit configured to charge a surface of the image bearing member; an electrostatic latent image forming unit configured to perform exposure of a charged surface of the image bearing member to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member; a developing unit configured to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visible image by using a developer bearing member; and a cleaning unit disposed in contact with the image bearing member, and configured to clean the developer remaining on the surface of the image bearing member, wherein the image forming apparatus has first and second image formation execution modes, wherein the first mode is performed by contacting the image bearing member and the developer bearing member and the second mode is performed by not contacting the image bearing member and the developer bearing member, and wherein the image forming apparatus uses a variable threshold, for notifying the life of the image bearing member, the variable threshold being based on (i) life thresholds of the image bearing member for the first and second modes and (ii) a usage rate of the first and second modes.