Patent ID: 9116462
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image holding member; a charging unit that charges a surface of the image holding member; an electrostatic charge image forming unit that forms an electrostatic charge image on a charged surface of the image holding member; a developing unit that accommodates an electrostatic charge image developer containing flake shape toner particles and develops the electrostatic charge image, which is formed on the surface of the image holding member, using the electrostatic charge image developer to form a toner image, wherein the flake shape toner particles contain tabular shape pigments, the flake shape toner particles having an average major axis length of from 7 μm to 20 μm, an average thickness of from 1 μm to 3 μm and an average circularity of from 0.5 to 0.9, and the tabular shape pigments having an average major axis length of from 5 μm to 12 μm an average thickness of from 0.01 μm to 0.5 μm; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image, which is formed on the surface of the image holding member, onto a surface of a recording medium; an arranging unit that causes transfer residual toner, which remains on the surface of the image holding member, to rise from the surface of the image holding member, wherein the arranging unit lifts up only one side of the flake shape toner particles of the transfer residual toner; a cleaning unit that includes a cleaning blade for cleaning the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the image holding member; and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image which is transferred onto the surface of the recording medium.