Tandem color image forming device capable of forming high-quality color images

A color image forming device comprising:

• a plurality of electrostatic latent image bearing members aligned in a predetermined direction, each having a surface;
• a plurality of charging units disposed separated from the corresponding electrostatic latent image bearing members, the charging units uniformly charging the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing members;
• a plurality of exposing units that selectively emit a light onto the surface of the corresponding electrostatic latent image bearing members which has been univormly charged by the charging units, thereby forming electrostatic latent images on the electrostatic latent image bearing members;
• a plurality of developing agent bearing members disposed in confrontation with the corresponding electrostatic latent image bearing members, the developing agent bearing members bearing developing agent of different color;
• a plurality of layer regulating units for regulating a thickness of a layer of developing agent on the corresponding developing agent bearing members into a two-layer thickness or less, wherein each layer of developing agent contacts at least one of the developing agent bearing member or a developing agent thickness regulation blade, thereby charging each layer of developing agent;
• an intermediate recording medium movable in the predetermined direction, wherein the developing agent bearing members selectively supply the developing agent onto the corresponding electrostatic latent image bearing members, thereby developing visible images corresponding to the electrostatic latent images on the electrostatic latent image bearing members;
• a plurality of transfer units that transfer the visible images from the electrostatic latent image bearing members onto the intermediate recording medium at transferring positions thereby forming a color image on the intermediate recording medium;
• a plurality of cleaning rollers for collecting a residual developing agent from the corresponding electrostatic latent image bearing members and for releasing the collected residual developing agent back onto the electrostatic latent image bearing members after the transfer unit has transferred the visible images from the electrostatic latent image bearing members onto the intermediate recording medium, wherein
• the electrostatic latent image bearing members moves in a moving direction;
• the developing agent bearing members confront the corresponding electrostatic latent image bearing members at confronting positions;
• and
• the cleaning rollers are positioned downstream from the corresponding transferring positions and upstream from the corresponding confronting positions in the moving direction of the corresponding electrostatic latent image bearing members.