IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD
First Claim
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image carrier on which a developer image is formed, and which transfers the formed developer image to a material to be transferred at a transfer position;
a plurality of developing units that supplies developer of corresponding colors to the image carrier;
a cleaner that is disposed downstream of the transfer position in the rotating direction of the image carrier with respect to the image carrier, removes the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier, and recovers the removed developer;
a recycle developer storage unit that stores the developer recovered by the cleaner therein;
a recycle developer developing unit that supplies the developer stored in the recycle developer storage unit to the image carrier; and
a control unit that controls a recycle developer adjustment by supplying the developer from at least any one of the plurality of developing units to the image carrier, forming a developer image on the image carrier, allowing the developer image to pass through the transfer position without being transferred onto the material to be transferred, and allowing the developer of the developer image to be recovered in the cleaner to supply the developer to the recycle developer storage unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An image forming apparatus forms an excellent-quality image by using a recycle developer obtained by recovering a developer remaining on an image carrier. The apparatus includes: an image carrier on which a developer image is formed, and which transfers the formed developer image to a material to be transferred at a transfer position; plural developing units supplying developer of corresponding colors to the image carrier; a cleaner disposed downstream of the transfer position in the rotating direction of the image carrier with respect to the image carrier, removing the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier, and recovering the removed developer; a recycle developer storage unit storing the developer recovered by the cleaner therein; a recycle developer developing unit supplying the developer stored in the recycle developer storage unit to the image carrier; and a control unit controlling a recycle developer adjustment by supplying the developer from at least one of the plural developing units to the image carrier, forming a developer image on the image carrier, allowing the developer image to pass through the transfer position without being transferred onto the material to be transferred, and allowing the developer of the developer image to be recovered in the cleaner to supply the developer to the recycle developer storage unit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
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an image carrier on which a developer image is formed, and which transfers the formed developer image to a material to be transferred at a transfer position; a plurality of developing units that supplies developer of corresponding colors to the image carrier; a cleaner that is disposed downstream of the transfer position in the rotating direction of the image carrier with respect to the image carrier, removes the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier, and recovers the removed developer; a recycle developer storage unit that stores the developer recovered by the cleaner therein; a recycle developer developing unit that supplies the developer stored in the recycle developer storage unit to the image carrier; and a control unit that controls a recycle developer adjustment by supplying the developer from at least any one of the plurality of developing units to the image carrier, forming a developer image on the image carrier, allowing the developer image to pass through the transfer position without being transferred onto the material to be transferred, and allowing the developer of the developer image to be recovered in the cleaner to supply the developer to the recycle developer storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An image forming method for an image forming apparatus including:
- an image carrier on which a developer image is formed thereon, and which transfers the formed developer image to a material to be transferred at a transfer position;
a plurality of developing units that supplies developer of corresponding colors to the image carrier;
a cleaner that is disposed downstream of the transfer position in the rotating direction of the image carrier with respect to the image carrier, removes the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier, and recovers the removed developer;
a recycle developer storage unit that stores the developer recovered by the cleaner therein; and
a recycle developer developing unit that supplies the developer stored in the recycle developer storage unit to the image carrier, the method comprising;controlling a recycle developer adjustment by supplying the developer from at least any one of the plurality of developing units to the image carrier, forming a developer image on the image carrier, allowing the developer image to pass through the transfer position without being transferred onto the material to be transferred, and allowing the developer of the developer image to be recovered in the cleaner to supply the developer to the recycle developer storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- an image carrier on which a developer image is formed thereon, and which transfers the formed developer image to a material to be transferred at a transfer position;
Specification