Image forming apparatus including first and second charge-applying devices disposed between developer transfer and charging positions on an image bearing body

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing body, a charging device for charging the image bearing body, a developing device for forming a developer image by developing an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing body, a transferring device for transferring the developer image to an image-receiving member, and first and second charge-applying devices. The first charge-applying device is provided at a downstream side of the transferring device and at an upstream side of the charging device in a moving direction of the image bearing body, for charging a residual developer remaining on the image bearing body after a transfer effected by the transferring device to a polarity opposite to a normal charging polarity of the developer. The second charge-applying device is provided at a downstream side of the first charge-applying device and at the upstream side of the charging device in the moving direction of the image bearing body, for charging the residual developer charged by the first charge-applying device to a same polarity as the normal charging polarity of the developer, wherein the charging device applies a charge to the residual developer charged by the second charge-applying device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.