Patent ID: 8774698

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier on which a toner image is formed; a developing unit for forming the toner image on the image carrier by driving a developer carrier to deliver to the image carrier a developer including a carrier and a toner, followed by supplying to the image carrier the toner present in the developer; a transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the image carrier to a transfer receiving body; a toner recovery unit for recovering the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image; a recovered toner transporting member for transporting, within the toner recovery unit, the toner recovered by the toner recovery unit; a return transport mechanism for returning to the developing unit the toner transported thereto by the recovered toner transporting member; and a recovered toner reservoir disposed independently from the return transport mechanism and storing the toner transported thereto by the recovered toner transporting member; and a recovered toner supply mechanism for returning to the developing unit the toner stored in the recovered toner reservoir.