Patent ID: 7979003

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable photoconductor that is provided with a charge generation layer and an overcoat layer; a charging unit that charges the rotating photoconductor before an image is formed; an exposure unit that irradiates the rotating photoconductor with light having a wavelength to which a relative sensitivity of the charge generation layer is larger than a relative sensitivity of the overcoat layer, the relative sensitivity of the charge generation layer being a sensitivity to light having a wavelength range normalized by a maximum sensitivity of the charge generation layer in the wavelength range and the relative sensitivity of the overcoat layer being a sensitivity to light having a wavelength range normalized by a maximum sensitivity of the overcoat layer in the wavelength range; a development unit that applies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the rotating photoconductor by the charging unit and the exposure unit; a transfer unit that transfers an image developed on the rotating photoconductor to a medium; a first light irradiation unit that irradiates the rotating photoconductor with light having a wavelength to which the relative sensitivity of the overcoat layer is larger than the relative sensitivity of the charge generation layer, the first light irradiation unit irradiating the rotating photoconductor with light before formation of the electrostatic latent image; and a reverse charging unit that charges the rotating photoconductor having been irradiated with light by the first light irradiation unit to a polarity opposite to a polarity of the rotating photoconductor initially charged by the charging unit, the reverse charging unit charging the rotating photoconductor before formation of the electrostatic latent image.