Patent ID: 7330690

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrier which has an axis and holds a developer image formed of a developer; a developing device which provides the developer to the image carrier; a transfer device which transfers the developer image held by the image carrier to a transfer member; an image carrier cleaning mechanism including a cleaning member which removes the developer remaining on the image carrier from the image carrier, after the developer image is transferred from the image carrier to the transfer member; and a recycle developer carrying mechanism which is connected with the image carrier cleaning mechanism and carries the developer, removed from the image carrier by the image carrier cleaning mechanism, to the developing device, the recycle developer carrying mechanism including: a first recycle developer carrying member which is convoluted and carries the removed developer in a first direction in parallel to the axis of the image carrier; an opening provided on an extended line of the first direction which ejects the developer carried in the first direction by the first recycle developer carrying member to a recycle developer carrying mechanism; a second recycle developer carrying member which is arranged in a position below the opening, and is convoluted and carries, by rotation, the developer dropped from the opening to the developing device, the second recycle developer carrying member being arranged perpendicular to the first direction and having an axis of rotation that is not aligned in a vertical direction with a position at which the developer drops from the opening; and a paddle which is arranged in a position below the opening and between the opening and the second recycle developer carrying member and which loosens and carries, by rotation, the developer dropped from the opening to the second recycle developer carrying member, the paddle having an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the axis of the image carrier is aligned in a vertical direction with the opening and is not vertically aligned with the axis of rotation of the second recycle developer carrying member.