JP2001134144A - Image forming device and imag forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device and image forming method, by which a proper amount of toner being suitable for the state of a photoreceptor body or a blade is supplied to a cleaning member as a lubricant, stain owing to the scattering of toner or its useless consumption in the device is eliminated and the cleaning member is not damaged nor rolled-up by a friction with the photoreceptor body. SOLUTION: The device is characterized in that a control means executes control to form a non-transfer toner image not transferred onto a transfer sheet of paper by changing the toner amount in accordance with image information and to scratch the non-transfer toner image by the cleaning member and a method employs the device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and an image forming method, and more particularly, to an image characterized by maintenance of a cleaning member for scraping off toner adhered to a photoreceptor. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus and an image forming method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like using an electrophotographic system, a toner image formed on a surface of a photoreceptor is not completely transferred to a transfer sheet, and toner remains. In order to continuously form an image, it is necessary to completely remove and clean the residual toner by a cleaning member. As the cleaning member, a blade formed of an elastic body such as polyurethane is often used. In this configuration, the edge of the blade is brought into contact with the photoreceptor to scrape off residual toner.However, if the contact between the edge and the photoreceptor is poor and the frictional resistance is too large, the blade may be damaged or turned up. Problems arise.

In order to solve this problem, a method has been proposed in which the developing means is operated to cause toner to adhere to the photoreceptor and is sent to a blade to reduce the frictional resistance between the photoreceptor and the blade by a lubricating action of the toner. . Specifically, in a continuous transfer mode in which a toner image is continuously formed on a photoreceptor and transferred to transfer paper, a fixed amount of the toner image is periodically provided in a gap between the transferred toner image and the transferred toner image. This is a method in which a non-transferred toner image is formed and scraped off with a blade.

However, in such a method, a constant amount of toner is always fed to the blade as a lubricant regardless of the state of the photoconductor and the blade. Then, if there is a lot of residual toner from the beginning, or if the blade or the photoconductor has been replaced for a long time and the blade has enough toner, a certain amount of toner is periodically applied to the blade as a lubricant. If the toner is fed, the toner may be excessive, and the excess toner may be scattered to contaminate the inside of the image forming apparatus, or wasteful toner may be consumed, which is not preferable in terms of cost.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an appropriate amount of toner suitable for the condition of the photosensitive member and the cleaning member is sent to the cleaning member as a lubricant, and the toner is scattered in the image forming apparatus, and the toner is wastefully consumed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method in which a cleaning member is not damaged or turned up by friction with a photoreceptor while eliminating the problem.

[0006]

The above object of the present invention has been achieved by the following method.

[0007] 1. A photoconductor, a driving unit that drives the photoconductor, an exposure unit that exposes the photoconductor based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image, and develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image Developing means, transfer means for transferring the toner image to transfer paper, a cleaning member which comes into contact with the photoreceptor and scrapes off toner adhered to the photoreceptor, and at least the driving means or the exposing means or the developing means An image forming apparatus having control means for controlling the operation of the means, wherein the control means forms a non-transferred toner image which is not transferred onto transfer paper by changing a toner amount in accordance with the image information, and An image forming apparatus, wherein the toner image is controlled to be scraped off by the cleaning member.

[0008] 2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is changed according to a blackening ratio of the image information, presence or absence of image information other than characters, or presence or absence of a solid density portion.

3. The non-transferred toner image is formed in a gap between the continuously formed transfer toner images in a continuous transfer mode in which a transfer toner image is continuously formed and transferred. Image forming device.

[0010] 4. The toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is changed according to the number of transfer toner images formed after replacing the cleaning member with a new cleaning member or after replacing the photosensitive member with a new photosensitive member. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above items 1 to 3.

5. The amount of toner of the non-transferred toner image is changed by changing the length of the non-transferred toner image in the driving direction of the photoconductor.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

6. The amount of toner of the non-transferred toner image is changed by changing the length of the non-transferred toner image in the width direction of the photoconductor.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.

7. 7. The image forming apparatus according to 6, wherein the non-transferred toner image is formed over the entire length of the photoconductor in the width direction.

8. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the non-transferred toner image is formed at an end in a width direction of the photoconductor.

9. Forming an electrostatic latent image by exposing the photosensitive member based on image information, forming a transfer toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image, and a transfer image forming step of transferring the transfer toner image to transfer paper; Forming a non-transferred toner image by exposing the photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image, developing the electrostatic latent image to form a non-transferred toner image, and scraping the non-transferred toner image with a cleaning member; Wherein the amount of toner in the non-transferred toner image is changed in accordance with the image information.

10. The toner amount of the non-transferred toner image,
10. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein the image forming method is changed according to the blackening ratio of the image information, the presence or absence of image information other than character information, or the presence or absence of a solid density portion.

11. 12. In the continuous transfer mode in which the non-transferred toner image is continuously formed and transferred as a transfer toner image, the non-transferred toner image is formed in a gap between the continuously formed transfer toner images. Image forming method.

[12] The toner amount of the non-transferred toner image,
9. The method according to claim 9, wherein the number of transfer toner images is changed after the cleaning member is replaced with a new cleaning member or after the photosensitive member is replaced with a new photosensitive member. Item.

13. The image according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein a toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is changed by changing a length of the non-transferred toner image in a driving direction of the photoconductor. Forming method.

[14] The amount of toner of the non-transferred toner image is changed by changing the length of the non-transferred toner image in the width direction of the photoconductor.
14. The image forming method according to any one of items 13 to 13.

15. The non-transferred toner image is formed over the entire length of the photoconductor in the width direction.
5. The image forming method according to item 4.

16. 15. The image forming method according to the above 14, wherein the non-transferred toner image is formed at an end in a width direction of the photoconductor.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming unit of the copying machine.

In FIG. 1, a copying machine 101 stores a transfer paper 105 inside a main body, and feeds the transfer paper 105 to be used for image formation one by one to a paper feed unit 109 by a paper feed roller 106 having a double feed prevention mechanism. Bring in. The paper feeding unit 109 is disposed immediately before the image forming unit 1 and includes a loop roller 110 and a registration roller 111.

On the other hand, in the image forming section 1 in FIG. 2, the photosensitive drum 2 serving as a photosensitive member is rotated in the direction of an arrow C by a driving means described later, and a uniform potential is applied by the charging electrode 3. The scanner unit 112 is the original placing glass 1
Image information is acquired as digital data from a document (not shown) on the document 13, and a scanning exposure unit 114, which is exposure means, irradiates the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 2 based on the digital data obtained by performing image processing on the image information. Then, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information of the document is formed. Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit
To form a toner image on the surface of. Here, the toner image refers to an image on the photoconductor which is developed by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor and attaching toner to the image. Among them, a toner image to be transferred to a transfer paper is referred to as a “transferred toner image”, and a toner image that is scraped by a cleaning member without being transferred and sent to the cleaning member as a lubricant is referred to as a “non-transferred toner image”. Called. The image information is information for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor using an exposure unit, and includes an image for forming a transfer toner image such as an image read from a document. The information may be particularly referred to as “transfer image information”.

When a transfer toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 2, the registration roller 111 is driven in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 2, and the transfer paper 105 is transferred to the transfer electrode 7 serving as a transfer unit. Sent in. The transfer toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 is transferred to the transfer paper 105 sent to the transfer electrode 7, and then the transfer paper 10 is transferred.
5 is separated from the photosensitive drum 2 by the separation electrode 8 and the separation claw 9, and is transported by the transport unit 117 to the fixing unit 118. A cleaning unit 11 disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 2 with respect to the separation claw 9
The surface of the photosensitive drum 2 after the transfer is cleaned to remove foreign matters, residual toner, and the like. In the cleaning unit 11, a blade 11b as a cleaning member is provided. Residual toner is removed by the blade,
In preparation for the next image forming operation.

When a non-transferred toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 2, the transfer electrode 7 is not operated, and the photosensitive drum 2 is rotated as it is, and the cleaning unit 11 disposed downstream is used. The non-transferred toner image is scraped, and the toner is sent to the blade as a lubricant.

The recycle pipe 6 conveys the residual toner collected by the cleaning unit 11 to the developing unit 5. The transported toner is used again for development.
The developing unit 5 incorporates new toner supplied from a toner cartridge (not shown), and consumes the new toner by executing an image forming operation. The collected toner is mixed with the new toner. The toner in which the collected toner is mixed with the new toner is also referred to as new toner.

In the fixing unit 118, the transfer paper 105
Is heated and pressurized to fix the transferred toner image. In the case of single-sided copying, the toner image is nipped by the conveyance roller 119 and sent to the paper discharge tray 123. In the case of double-sided copying, the fixed transfer paper 105 is sent to the stacker 120 via the escaping conveyance path 121 by the conveyance rollers 119 and temporarily evacuated. The transfer paper 105 temporarily evacuated into the stacker 120 is sent out again, and
The transfer toner image is conveyed to the paper supply unit 109 via the transfer paper 2 and is again transferred and fixed.

Next, details of the image forming section 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the image forming section 1 of the copying machine 101, a charging electrode 3, a scanning exposure section 114,
A developing unit 5, a transfer electrode 7, a separation electrode 8, a separation claw 9, a cleaning unit 11, and a pre-charging exposure unit (PCL) 12 are arranged in this order. These are connected to a CPU 13 as control means built in the copying machine 101. Based on information input by the user from an instruction input unit (not shown), the CPU 13 includes a driving unit described below,
Alternatively, the copier 101 is operated by operating the scanning exposure unit 114 as the exposure unit or the developing unit 5 as the development unit.
Execute the overall sequence control of.

In the image forming section 1, a uniform negative charge is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the charging electrode 3, and then the scanning exposure section 11 is performed based on digital data subjected to image processing.
4 irradiates the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 2 to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing unit 5 includes a sleeve 5 a having a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 2, and the electrostatic latent image is stored in the developing unit 5. The reversal development is performed by the charged toner, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2.

In the case where the toner image is a transfer toner image, when the transfer paper 105 is fed in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 2, the transfer electrode 7 applies a positive charge to the back surface of the transfer paper 105, The transfer toner image on the surface of the drum 2 is transferred to the transfer paper 105. The transfer paper 105 on which the transfer toner image has been transferred is neutralized by the discharge of the separating electrode 8, the adsorption force with the photosensitive drum 2 is reduced, the separation is completed by the separation claw 9, and the transfer paper 105 is sent to the fixing unit 118. It is.

On the other hand, the untransferred toner remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 after passing through the separation claw 9, but the residual toner is collected by the cleaning unit 11 and the pre-charging exposure unit 12 is cleaned. The exposed photosensitive drum 2 is exposed to uniform light to eliminate / uniform the residual potential and prepare for the next charging.

When the toner image is a non-transferred toner image, the toner image is collected by the cleaning unit 11 without being transferred to a transfer sheet. At this time, the toner spreads to the edge of the blade.

The recycling pipe 6 is a pipe-shaped member provided with a screw for transporting toner therein, and connects the cleaning unit 11 to the developing unit 5 to remove the toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 to remove the toner. Is sent to the developing unit 5. The toner sent to the developing unit 5 by the recycling pipe 6 is used again for development.

The drum driving motor 40 as a driving means is C
Starting rotation of the photosensitive drum 2 in accordance with the control of the PU 13;
Perform a stop. A non-transferred toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 2 in order to form a transfer toner image on the photosensitive drum 2 from image information read from a document or to feed toner as a lubricant to a blade in the cleaning unit 11. Then, when the non-transferred toner image is scraped off by a blade, the photosensitive drum 2 is rotated by the drum drive motor 40.

Next, the formation of a non-transferred toner image in the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portion for controlling a toner amount when forming a non-transferred toner image.

In the figure, DI is an "image information acquisition unit" for acquiring image information as digital data, such as a scanner unit for reading the original, a personal computer for issuing a print instruction, or a modem for receiving a facsimile.
It is. The image information is original data for performing image formation, and includes information such as a blackening ratio, characters, images other than characters, and the presence or absence of a solid density portion. Here, the blackening ratio is a ratio of the area of the portion on which the toner is placed, when the total area constituting the image is 100%. Although referred to as the blackening ratio, the color of the toner is not limited to black. The image information other than characters is graphic data, such as original characters other than text, photographs, patterns, designs, and the like. The solid density portion refers to an area in which the highest density portion continuously exists. For example, assuming that the entire area forming the image is 100%, the area of the highest density portion has an area of 10% or more. It is conceivable to set so as to determine that "solid density portion exists" if exists.

GS is an "image processing unit" for performing image processing on the image information sent from the image information acquisition unit DI.
Image processing such as scaling, image density, image rotation, and frame erasing is performed, and the photosensitive member is actually irradiated with exposure means to convert the photosensitive member into digital data for forming an electrostatic latent image. OP is the above-mentioned "instruction input unit", which is configured by a liquid crystal touch panel, push buttons, and the like, and is a part where the operator inputs setting information such as the number of output sheets, image density, and magnification. OI is an “other information acquisition unit”, which is information that affects the toner amount control of the non-transferred toner image other than image information and setting information, for example, how many sheets are formed after a cleaning member or a photoconductor is replaced. It is a transfer paper counter or the like that measures the warmth.

The CPU 13 is a part for controlling the entire image forming apparatus. The CPU 13 acquires image information from DI, setting information from OP, and other information from OI. This is control means for operating the developing means and the like to form a non-transferred toner image on the photoreceptor, and controlling the cleaning member to scrape off the toner image.

The basic concept of the adjustment of the toner amount of the non-transferred toner image performed by the control means is that the toner amount is inversely proportional to the toner amount adhering to the photosensitive member or the blade before the non-transferred toner image is formed. To form a non-transferred toner image and scrape it off with a blade. By feeding the toner to compensate for the toner adhering to the blade and the photoreceptor, excess toner can be suppressed, and scattering of unnecessary toner in the image forming apparatus and wasteful consumption of toner can be reduced. As an index for estimating the amount of toner adhering to the photoconductor or the blade before forming the non-transferred toner image, first, the toner amount of the transfer toner image formed immediately before forming the non-transferred toner image, This correlates with image information obtained from DI or setting information obtained from OP. Another index is information on how familiar the toner is to the blade or photoreceptor, which correlates with the number of transfer toner images formed after replacement with, for example, a new blade or new photoreceptor obtained from the OI. Specifically, the following toner amount adjustment of the non-transferred toner image is performed.

1) When the blackening ratio of the image information is high (15)
% Or less), and reduce the toner amount (lower than 5%)
2) Decrease the toner amount when the image information includes image information other than characters, and increase the toner amount when the image information includes only text information 3) Decrease the toner amount when the image information includes a solid density portion 4) The toner amount is increased when the image density of the setting information is “dark”, and the toner amount is increased when the image density is “light”. 5) The transfer paper size of the setting information is Large size (B4, A3
Etc.), the toner amount is reduced and a small size (A5,
A6) In the case of (A6), the amount of toner is increased. 6) In other information, the number of formed transfer toner images after replacement with a new blade or a new photoconductor is large (5).
000 sheets) or less (50 sheets or less).
The amount of toner is increased to 0 or less.
It is preferable to adjust the toner amount of the non-transferred toner image by comprehensively judging.

The above is the concept of the relative adjustment of the toner amount of the non-transferred toner image.
The optimum value varies depending on the physical properties (such as friction coefficient) of the photoconductor, the blade, and the toner, the contact load (pressing force) between the photoconductor and the blade, and other conditions.

The non-transferred toner image is formed in a non-image area in a gap between the continuously formed transfer toner images in a continuous transfer mode in which a transfer toner image is continuously formed and transferred. Preferably, it is formed. For example, when the same image information is successively output on ten sheets of transfer paper, a non-transferred toner image may be formed at a total of nine gaps of each transferred toner image, or a total of four images may be formed every two images.
It may be formed at two places. The toner amount of the non-transferred toner image at this time is correlated with the image information, the setting information, and other information. Regardless of the image information, when the power is turned on to the image forming apparatus, a constant non-transferred toner image is always formed when the image forming apparatus is started, and the cleaning member is set to scrape the toner image to maintain stable cleaning performance. Becomes possible.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the adjustment of the toner amount based on the image pattern of the non-transferred toner image. Numeral 2 indicates the photosensitive drum 2 in an unfolded state, and a black arrow indicates a driving direction (rotation direction) of the photosensitive drum 2.
It is. Numerals 105a and 105b denote areas where a transfer toner image is formed, where a transfer paper is adhered, and the transfer toner image is transferred and carried away. S represents a non-transferred toner image. A indicates the length of the non-transferred toner image S in the width direction of the photoconductor, and B indicates the length of the non-transferred toner image S in the driving direction of the photoconductor. By changing the length A in the width direction or the length B in the driving direction, the toner amount of the non-transferred toner image can be appropriately adjusted. In the case of FIG. 4, a belt-shaped pattern is formed over the entire length of the photosensitive member in the width direction. By forming the non-transferred toner image over the entire length of the photoconductor in the width direction, the toner can be uniformly fed to the entire area of the cleaning member, which is preferable. At this time, the length of the non-transferred toner image S in the driving direction of the photoconductor is preferably about several mm to several tens mm.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing another image pattern of a non-transferred toner image. 4 that are the same as those in FIG. 4 are the same as those described in FIG. The non-transferred toner image in FIG. 5 is a band-shaped pattern formed only on both ends in the width direction of the photosensitive drum 2. A1 and A2 represent the widthwise lengths of the two non-transferred toner images S separated in the photoconductor. The end of the photosensitive drum 2 in the width direction is
This is a region where the transfer toner image is not likely to be formed and the toner is hard to adhere. On the other hand, since the cleaning member usually has a length equal to or greater than the width of the photosensitive drum 2,
The cleaning member that abuts on the widthwise end of the photosensitive drum 2 is hardly fed with toner, and is liable to cause friction. Therefore, forming a non-transferred toner image only at the end in the width direction of the photosensitive drum 2 is a preferable mode for solving this problem. The lengths A1 and A2 of the non-transferred toner image S in the width direction of the photoreceptor are determined by the length in the width direction of the photoreceptor drum 2 in the area 105a or 105b where the transfer toner image is formed (depending on the transfer paper size). Should be changed. When the transfer paper size is small, it is long, and when it is large, it is short.

As described above, the amount of toner of the non-transferred toner image is changed in consideration of other information based on the image information, and is brought into contact with the blade 2 so that an appropriate amount of toner is always applied to the blade 2 as a lubricant. It is possible to prevent the blade 2 from being damaged or turned up due to spreading and friction, and it is possible to achieve reduction of dirt due to scattering of extra toner and wasteful consumption of toner.

[0050]

According to the present invention, an appropriate amount of toner conforming to the condition of the photoconductor and the blade is sent to the cleaning member as a lubricant, and dirt due to scattering of toner in the image forming apparatus and wasteful consumption of toner are eliminated, and friction with the photoconductor is reduced. As a result, it was possible to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method in which the cleaning member is not damaged or turned up.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming unit of the copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portion for controlling a toner amount when forming a non-transferred toner image in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining adjustment of a toner amount based on an image pattern of a non-transferred toner image.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating another image pattern of a non-transferred toner image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming part 2 Photoreceptor drum 3 Charging electrode 5 Developing unit 7 Transfer electrode 11 Cleaning unit 11b Blade 13 CPU 40 Drum drive motor 105 Transfer paper A Length of non-transferred toner image in width direction of photoreceptor B Non-transfer Length of the toner image in the photoconductor driving direction S Non-transferred toner image DI Image information acquisition unit GS Image processing unit OP Instruction input unit OI Other information acquisition unit

Claims (16)

[Claims] A photoconductor, a driving unit that drives the photoconductor, an exposure unit that exposes the photoconductor based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image, and develops the electrostatic latent image. Developing means for forming a toner image, transfer means for transferring the toner image to transfer paper, a cleaning member for contacting the photoconductor and scraping toner adhered to the photoconductor, and at least the driving means or the An image forming apparatus comprising: an exposure unit or a control unit that controls an operation of the development unit, wherein the control unit forms a non-transferred toner image that is not transferred to a transfer sheet by changing a toner amount according to the image information. And
An image forming apparatus, wherein the non-transferred toner image is controlled to be scraped off by the cleaning member. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is changed in accordance with a blackening ratio of the image information, presence or absence of image information other than characters, or presence or absence of a solid density portion. The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 3. The non-transferred toner image is formed in a gap between the continuously formed transfer toner images in a continuous transfer mode in which a transfer toner image is continuously formed and transferred. 3. The image forming apparatus according to 1 or 2. 4. The toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is determined in accordance with the number of transfer toner images formed after replacing the cleaning member with a new cleaning member or after replacing the photosensitive member with a new photosensitive member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is changed. 5. The toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is changed by changing a length of the non-transferred toner image in a driving direction of the photoconductor.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein 6. The toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is changed by changing a length of the non-transferred toner image in a width direction of the photoconductor.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the non-transferred toner image is formed over the entire length of the photoconductor in a width direction. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the non-transferred toner image is formed at an end in a width direction of the photoconductor. 9. A transfer for exposing a photosensitive member based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image, developing the electrostatic latent image to form a transfer toner image, and transferring the transfer toner image to transfer paper. An image forming step, forming an electrostatic latent image by exposing the photoreceptor, developing the electrostatic latent image to form a non-transferred toner image, and scraping the non-transferred toner image with a cleaning member. An image forming method comprising: an image forming step, wherein a toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is changed according to the image information. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is changed according to a blackening ratio of the image information, the presence or absence of image information other than character information, or the presence or absence of a solid density portion. 2. The image forming method according to 1., 11. In a continuous transfer mode in which a non-transferred toner image is continuously formed and transferred, a non-transferred toner image is formed in a gap between the continuously formed transferred toner images. Item 12. The image forming method according to Item 9 or 11. 12. The toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is determined according to the number of transfer toner images formed after replacing the cleaning member with a new cleaning member or after replacing the photosensitive member with a new photosensitive member. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein the image forming method is changed. 13. The toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is changed by changing the length of the non-transferred toner image in the drive direction of the photoconductor. Item 2. The image forming method according to Item 1. 14. The toner amount of the non-transferred toner image is changed by changing the length of the non-transferred toner image in the width direction of the photoconductor.
14. The image forming method according to any one of items 13 to 13. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-transferred toner image is formed over the entire length of the photoconductor in the width direction.
5. The image forming method according to item 4. 16. The image forming method according to claim 14, wherein the non-transferred toner image is formed at an end in a width direction of the photoconductor.