Patent ID: 7979018

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier that is rotatably disposed in an apparatus body and on whose surface is formed a latent image; a developing unit that forms a developer image by developing the latent image with a developer that includes toner, carrier and additive; a transfer unit that transfers the developer image that has been formed by the developing unit onto a recording medium; a recovery member that is disposed in contact with the surface of the image carrier and recovers the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the developer image is transferred; a supply member that is rotatably disposed in contact with the surface of the image carrier and supplies, to the image carrier, a recovery promoter that promotes the recovery of the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the developer image is transferred; and a voltage application unit that applies, to the supply member, an alternating-current voltage whose amplitude is changed in accordance with a change in percentages of an amount of toner and an amount of carrier per unit area of a developer image forming portion of the developing unit.