Image forming apparatus and image forming method

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a developing unit that includes a developing part which stores oil-impregnated particles on an image carrier which is electrically charged to a polarity that is opposite a polarity of a developer which is electrically charged to a positive polarity or a negative polarity, a charging device electrically charging the image carrier to a first potential which has a potential difference from a developing potential in a same polarity direction as the polarity of the developer based on the potential of the developing part, then forming, based on image information, an electrostatic latent image at a second potential which has a potential difference from the developing potential in a polarity direction that is opposite the polarity of the developer based on the potential of the developing part, and thus transferring the developer to the electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image;
• and
• a supply amount increasing unit that increases an amount of supply of the oil-impregnated particles to the image carrier by electrically charging the image carrier to a third potential which has a potential difference from a developing potential greater than the first potential, while a developing operation is not being performed by the developing unit.

(canceled)

An image forming method comprising:

• storing oil-impregnated particles on an image carrier which is electrically charged to a polarity that is opposite a polarity of a developer which is electrically charged to a positive polarity or a negative polarity, electrically charging the image carrier to a first potential which has a potential difference from a developing potential in a same polarity direction as the polarity of the developer based on the potential of a developing part, then forming, based on image information, an electrostatic latent image at a second potential which has a potential difference from the developing potential in a polarity direction that is opposite the polarity of the developer based on the potential of the developing part, and thus transferring the developer to the electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image;
• and
• increasing an amount of supply of the oil-impregnated particles to the image carrier by electrically charging the image carrier to a third potential which has a potential difference from a developing potential greater than the first potential, while a developing operation is not being performed.