| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately recover a deteriorated developer without interruption of image formation and an increase in power consumption so as to improve the efficiency of discharging the deteriorated developer.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: a developing unit including a developing roller that transfers toner to a latent image carrier by a difference in potential, a recovery roller that is arranged on the downstream side of a position at which the developing roller and the latent image carrier face with each other in a direction of surface movement of the developing roller, and switching means for switching between creating a difference in potential between the developing roller and the recovery roller and maintaining the developing roller and the recovery roller to have the same potential to each other; and means for calculating the number of prints, the distance of travel of the developing roller, and an image area ratio, comparing those values with respective thresholds, and issuing instructions of switching of the switching means according to a comparison result. The image forming apparatus recovers the developer by a difference in potential between the developing roller and the recovery roller. |
