Patent ID: 7366458

Claim:
An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on an image carrier and transferring the toner image to a recording medium, comprising; a developing device for forming toner image on the image carrier, a cleaning device for removing toner residing on the image carrier not being transferred to the recording medium, a first toner conveyer for conveying toner removed by the cleaning device to the developing device as recycled toner, a second toner conveyer for conveying toner removed by the cleaning device to a disposal container, a third toner conveyer for conveying toner at least containing new toner to the developing device, and a controller for controlling the second toner conveyer to dispose the toner removed by the cleaning device to the disposal container, when Z <( X×Y ) where “X” means a predetermined period (in minutes) for driving the developing device, “Y” means an amount (in gram/min) of toner consumed during a unit time on a transfer material, and “Z” means an amount (in grams) of toner conveyed by the third toner conveyer during the predetermined period “X” (in minutes).