Patent ID: 7233757

Claim:
A color image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of developing devices, each of said developing devices containing developer that includes a predetermined ratio, in volume of developer particles having a diameter of a predetermined value or less, with respect to an entire volume of toner, and being capable of developing a latent image using said developer contained therein, wherein said image forming apparatus forms a color image by performing development successively with each of said plurality of developing devices to superimpose different kinds of said developer; wherein said plurality of developing devices include a first developing device whose said ratio in volume of said developer particles is R 1 , and a second developing device whose said ratio in volume of said developer particles is R 2 ; and wherein said first developing device and said second developing device satisfy all of the following conditions (1) through (3): (1) the order in which said first developing device and said second developing device perform development is other than first in order; (2) said second developing device performs development later than said first developing device; and (3) R 1 is larger than R 2 .