Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a photoreceptor;
• a charging roller configured to rotate in contact with the photoreceptor and charge the photoreceptor;
• a developer carrier configured to carry a developer and develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor;
• a motor configured to drive rotationally the photoreceptor and the developer carrier;
• a coupling provided in at least one of a first drive train configured to transmit drive from the motor to the developer carrier and a second drive train configured to transmit drive from the motor to the photoreceptor, the coupling including play in a rotation direction of the coupling;
• a controller configured to control the motor such that the motor rotates in a first rotation direction and a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction;
• and
• a separating member configured to separate the charging roller from the photoreceptor in accordance with the rotation of the motor in the second rotation direction,
• wherein the developer carrier is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the motor in the first rotation direction to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor, and is rotated in a direction opposite to the rotation in a state the electrostatic latent image is developed in accordance with the rotation of the motor in the second rotation direction,
• wherein the controller is able to be rotate the motor in the second rotation direction by a predetermined amount to rotate the developer carrier in the direction opposite to the rotation in the case where the electrostatic latent image is developed without causing the separating member to operate to separate the charging roller from the photoreceptor, and
• wherein the controller rotates the motor in the first rotation direction so as to maximize the play of the coupling from a state in which the rotation of the motor is stopped, and then rotates the motor in the second rotation direction.