Patent ID: 6807384
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:an image bearing member; charging means for charging the image bearing member at a charging position, said charging means being capable of being applied with a voltage including a direct current component and an alternating current component; developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed at the image bearing member by a developer; transferring means for transferring an image of the developer formed at the image bearing member to an image receiving member; and charge providing means provided downstream from the transferring means and upstream from the charging means in a direction of moving the image bearing member for providing a charge to the developer remaining on the image bearing member, said charge providing means being applied with a voltage having a polarity the same as a normal charge polarity of the developer; wherein when a developer discharging region of the image bearing member at which the developer is discharged from the charge providing means to the image bearing member is disposed at the charging position, the charging means is applied with a voltage having a direct current component of an absolute value equal to or smaller than an absolute value of the voltage applied to the charge providing means without an alternating current component thereof.