Patent ID: 7039333

Claim:
An image forming apparatus having a developing gap detecting function, comprising: a photosensitive medium forming an electrostatic latent image: a developer conveyer depositing a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive medium to form a visual image while rotating the photosensitive medium opposite thereto; a power supply supplying one of DC voltage and the DC voltage overlapped with AC voltage to the developer conveyer; a current detecting unit detecting a value of a DC current flowing on the developer conveyer when the voltage of the power supply is outputted; and a controller obtaining a developing gap formed between the photosensitive medium and the developer conveyer based on the DC current value detected by the current detecting unit, wherein when the electrostatic latent image formed on the area of the photosensitive medium is developed using the developer transferred from the developer conveyer, the current detecting unit detects the DC current flowing on the developer conveyor.