Image forming apparatus featuring a four-step image bearing member controller

A control method for an image bearing member for an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including the image bearing member, a developing member for developing a latent image formed on the image bearing member, a cleaning blade for removing a developer from the image bearing member, the cleaning blade being cooperative with the image bearing member to form a nip in which the cleaning blade is contacted to the image bearing member within a predetermined area, said method comprising:

• a first step of stopping rotation of the image bearing member after completion of an image forming operation for forming an image on the recording material;
• a second step of rotating, after the first step, the image bearing member through a predetermined peripheral distance in a rotational direction which is the same as a direction in which the image bearing member is rotated during the image forming operation;
• a third step of rotating, after the second step, the image bearing member in a rotational direction which is opposite the direction in which the image bearing member is rotated during the image forming operation;
• and
• a fourth step of stopping rotation of the image bearing member after said third step.