Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus for executing an image forming operation for forming an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• a rotatable image bearing member;
• a charging member configured to electrically charge a surface of the image bearing member at a charging portion where the charging member is provided in contact with the image bearing member;
• a developing member configured to form a toner image on the image bearing member by supplying a developer to a developing portion where the developing member is provided in contact with the image bearing member;
• a transfer member configured to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto a transfer-receiving material in a transfer portion;
• an exposure unit configured to expose, to light, the surface of the image bearing member at a position downstream of the transfer portion and upstream of the charging portion with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member;
• and
• a controller configured to control a charging voltage applied to the charging member and a developing voltage applied to the developing member,
• wherein during execution of the image forming operation, toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member without being transferred in the transfer portion is collected by the developing member,
• wherein the controller executes a preparatory operation in which, before the image forming operation, rotation of the image bearing member is started and the charging voltage and the developing voltage are increased stepwisely, and
• wherein in the preparatory operation, the controller carries out control so as to start application of the charging voltage at a voltage value not less than a discharge start voltage of the charging member before a surface region of the image bearing member positioned in the developing portion at a time of a start of the rotation of the image bearing member reaches the charging portion in a state in which the surface of the image bearing member is exposed to the light by the exposure unit.