Patent ID: 7218872

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier charged upon application of a first voltage; an exposure unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on said charged image carrier; a developing member for developing, upon application of a second voltage, a developer corresponding to said electrostatic latent image formed on said image carrier; a developer supplying member for supplying said developer to said developing member upon application of a third voltage; a developing current detecting unit for measuring a current amount flowing through said developing member; a development controller for controlling a developing process in a manner to apply said voltage to each member substantially without implementing exposure operation with said exposure unit for a first prescribed period and subsequently to implement development operation upon implementing said exposure operation with said exposure unit for a second prescribed period; and a voltage setting unit for adjusting said voltage to be applied to at least one of said members based on said current amount detected with said current detecting unit during said development operation.