Image forming apparatus with electrostatic potential-based developer correction

Abstract

An image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member, developing portion for developing by developer an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member, potential detection portion for detecting the potential of the electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member for detection use, potential control portion for controlling the electrostatic latent image for detection use in accordance with the output of the potential detection portion, and density detection portion for detecting the density of a developer image for detection use. For this image forming apparatus, the density detection portion detects the density of a developer image for detection use obtained by developing by the developing portion an electrostatic latent image for detection use which is potentially controlled by the potential control portion. The structure thus arranged makes it possible to execute the developer replenishing control to the developing device in good condition, and suppress the fluctuation of image density, hence contributing to the maintenance of high quality image significantly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.