Patent ID: 8725021
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member for carrying a developed image; a developer carrying member for carrying a developer to be supplied to said image bearing member; a cleaning blade for removing the developer from said image bearing member; control means for executing, at predetermined timing during a non-image-formation period, sequence controls for moving a developer from said developer carrying member to said image bearing member and removing a developer from said image bearing member by said cleaning blade; removing means capable of removing the developer at a position before the developer, moved to said image bearing member by the sequence control, reaches said cleaning blade, wherein the sequence controls includes a first sequence control and a second sequence control, and when an image forming operation is continuously carried out on a predetermined number of recording materials, and the predetermined timing comes in a state that there still remains recording material on which the image forming operation is to be effected, said control means effects a first sequence control, and wherein when the predetermined timing comes in a state that there does not remain recording material on which the image forming operation is to be effected, said control means effects a second sequence control, and wherein an amount of the developer removed by said cleaning blade is controlled to be smaller in the first sequence control than in the second sequence control.