Patent ID: 7593669
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a charging device for electrically charging a surface of an image bearing member; an exposure device for exposing the surface of the image bearing member to light to form an electrostatic image; a developing device, comprising a rotatable developer carrying member for carrying a developer, for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member into a developer image; a transferring device for transferring the developer image from the image bearing member onto a transfer medium at a transfer position; wherein said developing device is capable of collecting a developer remaining on the image bearing member without being transferred during the transfer, and a controller for executing, during non-image formation, a developer collecting mode in which a developer of a polarity opposite to a normal polarity remaining on the image bearing member is collected into said developing device by driving the image bearing member and by causing the developer carrying member to stop its rotation or rotate at a speed slower than a rotational speed thereof during image formation while generating a potential difference, between the image bearing member and the developer carrying member, capable of transferring the developer of the polarity opposite to the normal polarity from the image bearing member onto the developer carrying member.