Patent ID: 7444107

Claim:
An image forming apparatus using a developer including toner particles and carrier particles, said apparatus comprising: a developing unit configured to contain the developer and to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member as a toner image with the toner particles; a cleaning unit configured to collect toner particles left on the image carrying member after the toner image is transferred and mix unused carrier particles with the collected toner particles; a toner bottle configured to store unused toner particles; a carrier bottle configured to store the unused carrier particles; a first supply line connecting the toner bottle at least to the developing unit; a second supply line, connecting the carrier bottle at least to the cleaning unit, through which the unused carrier particles are supplied to the cleaning unit; and a conveying unit configured to convey a mixture of the collected toner particles and the unused carrier particles from the cleaning unit to the developing unit; wherein the cleaning unit is further configured to mix unused toner particles with the unused carrier particles and the collected toner particles, and wherein the conveying unit is configured to convey the mixture of the collected toner particles, the unused carrier particles, and the unused toner particles from the cleaning unit to the developing unit.