Patent ID: 7593682
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming method, comprising: charging a surface of an image bearing member with a charging device; irradiating a portion of the image bearing member other than an image portion with light by an irradiating device to form a latent electrostatic image; developing an image by supplying a developer to the latent electrostatic image with a developing device; transferring the developed image to a transfer body by a transfer device; fixing the transferred image on the transfer body by a fixing device; discharging the image bearing member with a discharging device; supplying a lubricant to the surface of the image bearing member; removing the developer remaining on the surface of the image bearing member with a cleaning device; controlling a lubricant removing mode to remove the lubricant on the image bearing member; discharging the surface of the image bearing member with the discharging device such that a voltage of the image bearing member is close to 0 V in absolute value, and supplying the developer for removing the lubricant with the developing device to the surface of the image bearing member by applying a bias smaller in absolute value than a development bias applied thereto during image formation.