Patent ID: 8682183

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photosensitive member; an exposure unit configured to expose the photosensitive member based on image data in order to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing device configured to supply toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member by generating a potential difference between said developing device and the electrostatic latent image; a toner replenishment unit configured to replenish the developing device with toner including a developer; an image density detection unit configured to detect a density of a reference toner image which is formed by developing a reference electrostatic latent image, by said developing device; a toner density detection unit configured to detect a toner density including developer in the developing device; and a control unit configured to control the developing device and the toner replenishment unit, wherein, in a case where the density of the reference toner image detected by the image density detection unit is less than a predetermined density and the toner density detected by the toner density detection unit is more than a first threshold value, the control unit controls the toner replenishment unit to replenish the toner based on the density of the reference toner image and controls the developing device to increase the potential difference, and wherein a limit value based on which the control unit controls the developing device to increase the potential difference is less than the first threshold value.