Image forming apparatus and cleaning device therefor

An image forming apparatus having a function of removing residual toner remaining on an image carrier after image transfer and collecting said toner, said apparatus comprising:

• a developing device for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on said image carrier to thereby produce a corresponding toner image;
• an image transferring device for transferring the toner image to a recording medium;
• and
• a cleaning device for applying, during a single image forming process using said image carrier, an electric field in one direction in order to attract and retain the residual toner, and then switching the direction of said electric field in order to redeposit said toner in an area of said image carrier which does not effect the next image formation, said image carrier conveying said toner to said developing device, whereby said toner is electrostatically collected by said developing device;
• said cleaning device comprising a cleaning member contacting said image carrier and movable together with said image carrier, and for rubbing the residual toner at a nip between said cleaning member and said image carrier to thereby charge said toner to a same polarity and electrostatically attract said toner, and voltage applying means for applying a voltage to said cleaning member.