Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a rotatable photosensitive member;
• a charging member configured to form a charging portion in contact with the photosensitive member and configured to electrically charge a surface of the photosensitive member which rotates;
• a charging voltage applying portion configured to apply a charging voltage to the charging member;
• an exposure unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member by exposing, to light at an exposure portion, the surface of the photosensitive member charged by the charging member;
• a developing member configured to form a developing portion in contact with the photosensitive member and configured to form a developer image on the surface of the photosensitive member by supplying a developer, charged to a predetermined polarity, to the electrostatic latent image in the developing portion;
• a developing voltage applying portion configured to apply a developing voltage to the developing member;
• a transfer member configured to form a transfer portion in contact with the photosensitive member;
• a transfer voltage applying portion configured to apply a transfer voltage to the transfer portion;
• and
• a controller configured to control the charging voltage applying portion, the developing voltage applying portion, the transfer voltage applying portion, and the exposure unit,
• wherein, with respect to a rotational direction of the photosensitive member, the exposure portion is located downstream of the charging portion and upstream of the transfer portion,
• wherein rotation of the photosensitive member is stopped in a state in which the developing member contacts the photosensitive member after image formation in which the developer image is transferred from the photosensitive member onto a developer image receiving member in the transfer portion,
• wherein the controller carries out controls so as to execute a discharging operation for electrically discharging the surface of the photosensitive member before the rotation of the photosensitive member is stopped after the image formation, and
• wherein in the discharging operation, an exposure surface is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member by exposing the surface of the photosensitive member to light by the exposure unit, and the controller carries out controls so that:
• during passing of the exposure surface through the developing portion, to the developing member, the developing voltage on a side of the predetermined polarity relative to a potential of the exposure surface is applied,
• during passing of the exposure surface through the transfer portion, to the transfer portion, the transfer voltage is applied such that an absolute value of a potential difference between the transfer voltage and the potential of the exposure surface is less than a discharge start voltage between the photosensitive member and the transfer member, and
• during passing of the exposure surface through the charging portion, to the charging member, the charging voltage on the side of the predetermined polarity relative to the potential of the exposure surface is applied.