Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• a developer bearing member configured to bear lubricant and developer;
• a regulating member configured to regulate a layer thickness of the developer on the developer bearing member;
• a voltage application unit capable of applying a voltage to the regulating member;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the voltage application unit to apply a predetermined voltage to the regulating member, the control unit being capable of executing a lubricant discharge mode for moving the lubricant from the developer bearing member, wherein
• the lubricant has charging characteristics that allow the lubricant to be charged to a polarity opposite to the polarity of the developer as a result of being rubbed between the developer bearing member and the regulating member,
• the control unit controls, in an image forming mode, a potential difference obtained by subtracting a voltage applied to the developer bearing member from the voltage applied to the regulating member so that the potential difference is set to the polarity of the developer, and
• the control unit controls, in the lubricant discharge mode, the potential difference obtained by subtracting the voltage applied to the developer bearing member from the voltage applied to the regulating member so that the potential difference is set to the polarity of the lubricant or “0”.