Patent ID: 7031629
Filing Date: 2006-04-18
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming means; an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic latent image formed thereon by said image forming means; a charging member for electrically charging said image bearing member; developing means for developing with a developer the electrostatic latent image formed on said image bearing member, said developing means including a developer carrying member for carrying the developer, wherein a gap is formed between said developer carrying member and said image bearing member; and bias voltage applying means for applying a bias voltage to said developer carrying member, wherein said bias voltage applying means applies an AC bias voltage when the electrostatic latent image is developed, wherein said developing means is capable of collecting the developer from said image bearing member, and a peak-to-peak voltage of an AC bias voltage applied to said developer carrying member by said bias voltage applying means when the developer is collected and the electrostatic latent image is not developed, is larger than a peak-to-peak voltage of an AC bias voltage applied to said developer carrying member when the developer is collected and the electrostatic latent image is developed.