| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which is able to uniformize the degree of stresses of the toner in developer, regardless of the image area, without having to provide a discharge mode for deteriorated toner and to able to suppress faults, such as, scattered toner and soiled base. <P>SOLUTION: A developing device 4 includes: a toner recovery roller 46 for recovering toner from developer on a developing roller 43; and a recovered toner conveying means 49 for resupplying the recovered toner to the conveying path of the conveying screw 44b of a developer stir conveyance means 44. The recovered toner conveying means 49 is provided with a toner-recovering screw 48. At a low image area output, a fresh toner is supplied, while toner that has received stress is accumulated in the recovered toner conveying means 49; and when a high image area is output, the toner that has already received stress is recovered during the low image area output is used first for development, thereby decreasing the total weight of the toner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT |
