Patent ID: 8331833

Claim:
An image forming apparatus that is provided with a photoreceptor member that rotates while bearing an electrostatic latent image thereon, and a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor member, comprising: a developer conveyance member, rotatably disposed inside the developing device in such a manner that the developer conveyance member and the photoreceptor member oppose to each other at a first opposing position while placing a first predetermined gap between them, and bearing developer constituted by toner and carriers, thereon, so as to convey the developer to the first opposing position, wherein the electrostatic latent image, borne on the photoreceptor member, is developed at the first opposing position between the photoreceptor member and the developer conveyance member, by shifting the toner included in the developer, borne on the developer conveyance member, onto the photoreceptor member in response to a first electric field generated at the first predetermined gap between the photoreceptor member and the developer conveyance member; a carrier adhering roller, rotatably disposed in such a manner that the carrier adhering roller and the developer conveyance member oppose to each other at a second opposing position while placing a second predetermined gap between them, so as to make at least a part of the carriers, included in the developer currently borne on the developer conveyance member, shift and adhere onto the carrier adhering roller in response to a second electric field generated at the second predetermined gap between the developer conveyance member and the carrier adhering roller; a recollection roller, rotatably disposed in such a manner that the recollection roller and the carrier adhering roller oppose to each other at a third opposing position while placing a third predetermined gap between them, to generate a magnetic field at the third opposing position so as to attract adhered carriers, currently adhered onto the carrier adhering roller, onto a circumferential surface of the recollection roller; and a scraping member, contacting the recollection roller, to scrape the adhered carriers off the circumferential surface of the recollection roller.