| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve residual-toner removal performance by providing a second process in which residual developer is moved from the surface of a first developer-carrier onto a second developer-carrier by means of an electric field, thereby removing the residual developer from the surface of the first developer- carrier. SOLUTION: A specific overlap voltage is applied to the developing sleeve 2 and, on the hand, a residual-toner removal roller 7 is grounded, therefore a toner-removal electric field is generated in a removal area. Additionally, because the shortest distance between the developing sleeve 2 and the removal roller 7 is maintained at, for example, 300μm, the residual-toner-removal electric field which is intense compared to a development electric field is generated in the removal area. As a result, in the removal area, the toner T' remaining on the developing sleeve 2 moves onto the roller 7 from the sleeve 2. Thus, the residual toner T' on the sleeve 2 can be removed without applying stress to it, and this prevents image irregularity and fog of an image halftone part and character part which result from a difference in an amount of electrification between the residual toner and fresh toner caused by the mixing of them.
|
