Image forming apparatus which can optimize cleaning time of transfer member contacting inter-image area of image bearing member

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a movable image bearing member; a toner image forming unit which repeatedly forms plural toner images in the image bearing member; a detection toner image forming unit which forms a detection toner image in an inter-image area between the toner image and the toner image on the image bearing member; a transfer member which is in contact with an area in the image bearing member through intervention of a recording material, the toner image being formed in the area, the transfer member being in contact with the inter-image area with no recording material, the transfer member electrostatically transferring the toner image formed in the image bearing member to the recording material; a detecting unit which detects the detection toner image on the image bearing member; a controlling unit which variably controls a toner image forming condition of the toner image forming unit based on the detection result; and a toner removing unit which forms a cleaning electric field to remove toner adhering to the transfer member, the cleaning electric field electrostatically moving the toner adhering to the transfer member to the image bearing member while the transfer member is in contact with the inter-image area, wherein, letting a time when the toner removing unit forms the cleaning electric field be T1 in the case where the detection toner image is formed prior to the formation of the cleaning electric field in the inter-image area with which the transfer member is in contact, and letting a time when the toner removing unit forms the cleaning electric field be T2 in the case where the detection toner image is not formed in the inter-image area with which the transfer member is in contact, T1 is longer than T2.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.