JPH10133510A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of stably obtaining an image of high quality over a long period by removing materials stuck to the surface of an image carrier, such as corona products and talc, so as to prevent a deterioration in image quality caused by the stuck materials and further, preventing the occurrence of the rolling up and tracks of a cleaning blade. SOLUTION: The image forming device is constituted in such a manner that a reflected light quantity of image carrier surface measuring/detecting sensor 31 for measuring the quantity of light reflected from the surface of the photoreceptor drum (image carrier) 2 is installed in a position nearer to the downstream side than a cleaning device 7, in the rotational direction of the drum 2 and a magnetic brush (image carrier surface grinding means) 6 for grinding the surface of the drum 2 is installed in the position nearer to the upstream side than the cleaning device 7 and the downstream side than a transfer electrifier (transfer means) 11, in the rotational direction of the drum 2, so that the magnetic brush 6 can be operated at timing except the formation of an image, in accordance with the value of the quantity of the light reflected from the surface of the drum 2, which is measured by the reflected light quantity of image carrier surface detecting sensor 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine and an electrostatic printer using an electrostatic transfer process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A known image forming apparatus which repeats a process of supplying toner to an electrostatic latent image electrostatically formed on the surface of an image carrier to form a toner image and transferring the toner image to a transfer material such as paper. In this case, it is difficult to transfer all the toner from the image carrier to the transfer material at the time of transfer, and it is inevitable that some toner remains on the image carrier. For this reason, it is necessary to sufficiently clean the residual toner every time transfer is performed.

Therefore, a cleaning means for removing residual toner from the image bearing member is provided. Various proposals have been made for this cleaning means, but a cleaning blade made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber is used. A configuration in which the formed sharp edge is viewed in the running direction of the image carrier and pressed against the surface of the image carrier downstream of the transfer portion to scrape off the residual toner has been widely used in the past. Has advantages such as simple structure, small size, and advantageous in cost.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional cleaning means has the following disadvantages.

That is, it is very difficult to completely remove the corona product or the like generated by corona discharge performed for forming an image by the cleaning means, and the corona product on the image carrier absorbs moisture in the air. May disturb the image. Similarly, it is very difficult to completely remove talc and the like generated from a recording material such as paper by the cleaning means.
The talc or the like absorbs moisture in the air and disturbs the electric potential on the image carrier, so that the image may be disturbed.

In particular, corona products, talc, and the like adhere to and adhere to circumferential grooves for reducing friction between the cleaning blade and the image carrier and grooves (scratches) on the image carrier by continuous operation. In some cases, the image quality may be degraded due to a corona product or an adhering substance such as talc. Moreover, the viscosity of the surface increases due to the corona product or talc attached to the image carrier, and the cleaning blade slips, causing the cleaning blade itself to be turned up or the cleaning blade to vibrate. Therefore, there is a problem that the mark remains on the image carrier.

Conventionally, when the image quality is deteriorated due to the attached matter, a drum heater is installed inside the image carrier to remove the influence of the attached matter, and the temperature of the image carrier is increased by the drum heater. Evaporating the water on the surface of the image carrier,
A method of preventing the image quality from being deteriorated due to the absorption of moisture from the attached matter, or a method of taking out the image carrier from the apparatus body, wiping the surface of the taken out image carrier with water, and wiping the attached matter from the surface of the image carrier. Was.

However, there is a problem that the drum heater is expensive and consumes a large amount of power. In addition, when the image carrier is directly taken out of the apparatus body and the surface thereof is wiped, the downtime becomes long, and the image carrier is not wiped when wiping. There is a possibility that the surface of the body may be damaged or another impurity may be attached to the image carrier.

In addition, since the turning of the cleaning blade and the trace of the cleaning blade can be known after the occurrence thereof, there is no other method except to replace the photosensitive drum as the image carrier and the cleaning blade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to remove adhering substances such as corona products and talc adhering to the surface of an image carrier to prevent image quality deterioration due to the adhering substances. At the same time, an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of the turning of the cleaning blade and the trace of the cleaning blade, eliminating the replacement of the image carrier, and extending the life of the cleaning blade to stably obtain a high quality image over a long period of time. To provide.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image bearing member, a charging means for charging the image bearing member, and exposing the charged image bearing member. Exposure means for developing, a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier by exposure, a transfer means for transferring the developed image to a recording material, and In an image forming apparatus having a cleaning unit for removing a developer remaining on an image carrier and a fixing unit for fixing an image to a recording material, the image forming apparatus is provided for measuring a surface reflected light amount of the image carrier. The image carrier surface reflected light amount measuring means is installed downstream of the cleaning means with respect to the image carrier rotation direction, and the image carrier surface polishing means for polishing the image carrier surface is rotated in the image carrier rotation direction. Against The image carrier is disposed upstream of the leaning means and downstream of the transfer means, and is provided with the image bearing member in accordance with the value of the surface reflected light amount of the image carrier measured by the image carrier surface reflected light quantity measuring means. The body surface polishing means is operated at a timing other than image formation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the image carrier surface reflected light amount measuring means is provided after every predetermined number of image formations or every predetermined number of rotations of the image carrier. It is characterized in that measurement is made at least for one rotation of the image carrier during rotation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the image carrier surface polishing means includes a surface reflected light quantity of the image carrier measured by the image carrier surface reflected light quantity measuring means. Is operated when the deviation amount from the reference value exceeds ± 3%.

The invention according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that the means for polishing the surface of the image carrier comprises a magnetic brush, a fur brush or toner and particles for polishing the image carrier.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the image carrier surface polishing means comprises a magnetic brush, the magnetic brush having a magnet roller and a magnetic carrier, and a DC bias or AC bias. A superimposed DC bias is applied.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the corona products and talc adhered to the surface of the image carrier are removed by the image carrier surface polishing means, the image quality is degraded by the corona products and the like. Is prevented, and the occurrence of the turning of the cleaning blade and the trace of the cleaning blade are prevented, and a high-quality image can be stably obtained over a long period of time.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a full-color copying machine 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. A drum 2 is rotatably supported in a direction indicated by an arrow, and a primary charger 3, a developing device 4, and a transfer device (hereinafter, referred to as a transfer device) are provided around the drum 2.
Process devices such as a transfer drum 5 and a cleaning device 7 are provided.

After the photosensitive drum 2 is uniformly charged by the primary charger 3, a light image or a light image corresponding thereto is color-separated by exposure means (not shown) using, for example, a laser beam exposure apparatus. Irradiation causes an electrostatic latent image to be formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 4 using a developer (toner) and is visualized as a toner image.

The developing device 4 stores four color toners of magenta, cyan, yellow and black separately.
Built-in developing units 4M, 4C, 4Y, 4Bk,
A desired developing unit (4M, 4C, 4Y, 4Bk) is brought into contact with or separated from the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2 so that the photosensitive drum 2
The electrostatic latent image formed above is developed.

The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 is transferred onto a transfer material P, which is a recording material carried on the transfer drum 5 and conveyed in the direction of the arrow. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2 after the transfer of the toner image is removed by the cleaning device 7 disposed downstream in the drum rotation direction.
Will be recovered by

The transfer drum 5 has a transfer sheet 8 adhered to the outer peripheral surface thereof, and has a transfer material suction means for holding the transfer material P on the transfer sheet 8 by suction. . This transfer material adsorbing means is a photosensitive drum 2
And a conductive roller 10 provided on the outside of the transfer drum 5 for applying a charge having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the opposite side of the transfer sheet 8. The conductive roller 10 is grounded, serves as a counter electrode of the attraction charger 9, and injects charge into the transfer material P to transfer the transfer sheet 8.
And has a function of electrostatically attracting the transfer material P.

A transfer charger 11 for applying a charge of a polarity opposite to that of the toner to the transfer sheet 8 is provided at a position in the transfer drum 5 corresponding to a pressure contact position with the photosensitive drum 2. A pair of AC corona dischargers 12 and 13 are arranged inside and outside the transfer drum 5 so as to oppose each other with the transfer sheet 8 interposed between them to weaken the attraction force of the transfer material P to the transfer sheet 8 after the transfer of the toner image. . And the AC corona discharger 1
A separation claw 14 is provided downstream of the transfer drum 5 in the rotation direction of the transfer drums 5 and 7.

Further, an AC corona discharger 15 is provided adjacent to the outer AC corona discharger 13, and the AC corona discharger 15 is provided with an image formed by peeling discharge generated when the transfer material P and the transfer sheet 8 are separated. AC corona discharge is performed to prevent disturbance.

On the other hand, the transfer material P stored in the cassette 16
Are fed one by one from a top roller by a pickup roller 17, and are conveyed by a pair of registration rollers 18 in synchronization with the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 2. Then, the transfer material P conveyed to the transfer drum 5 is adsorbed and held on the transfer sheet 8 when passing between the conductive roller 10 and the attraction charger 9, and the transfer drum 5 and the photosensitive drum 2 are pressed against each other. At this time, the toner image is transferred by the transfer charger 11. Then, the transfer material P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed while being carried on the transfer drum 5, and
When passing through the AC corona dischargers 12 and 13, the attraction force is weakened, and the separation claw 14 separates the transfer drum 5 from the transfer sheet 8.

The transfer material P after separation is conveyed downstream by the conveyance belt 19, and the toner image is heated and fixed when passing between the fixing roller 20 and the pressure roller 21. Then, at the time of one-sided image formation, the transfer material P after fixing the image is discharged by a discharge roller pair 22 to a discharge tray 2 outside the apparatus.
It is discharged to 3. When forming a double-sided image, the transfer material P after image fixing is temporarily stored in a double-sided cassette 24 in the apparatus by a discharge roller pair 22, and the transfer material P primarily stored in the double-sided cassette 24 is again transferred to a double-sided cassette pickup roller. The uppermost one is fed one by one by 30 and the image forming operation is repeated, so that an image is also formed on the back surface.

Reference numeral 31 in FIG. 1 designates a sensor for detecting the amount of reflected light from the surface of the image carrier. This sensor 31 is provided at least once around the photosensitive drum 2 every time a predetermined number of images are formed (in this embodiment, every 1000 images). The amount of light reflected on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 for more than one minute is measured. In the present embodiment, a sensor which emits light by an LED and absorbs reflected light by a photodiode to measure the sensor 31 is used. The average value of the measured values is calculated, and this is used as the measured value.

In this embodiment, since the diameter of the photosensitive drum 2 is 180 mm and one rotation of the photosensitive drum 2 takes about 4.25 seconds, the measurement is performed 50 times every 0.1 second. The average was determined. When the photosensitive drum 2 is renewed (at the beginning of use of the image forming apparatus or when the photosensitive drum is replaced), the amount of light reflected on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is always measured, and this is used as a reference value of the amount of light reflected on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. To be stored. Only when the amount of reflected light from the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 deviates from that value, the image carrier surface polishing device 6 shown in FIG. 1 is operated at a timing other than the time of image formation.
At this time, the polishing operation by the polishing apparatus 6 is performed until the surface reflected light amount becomes ± 3% of the reference value.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic brush device as an example of the image carrier surface polishing device 6, and the magnetic brush device 6 is arranged close to the photosensitive drum 2. The magnetic brush device 6 has an opening on the side facing the photosensitive drum 2, and a magnet roller 26 is provided in the opening. Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium A sleeve 27 made of a non-magnetic material such as steel is arranged.

The magnetic brush device 6 contains magnetic particles 28 as carriers. The magnetic particles 28 are attracted to the sleeve 27 by the action of the magnet roller 26 and successively reach the polishing portion of the photosensitive drum 2. Then, the polishing portion on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is polished.

Here, the photosensitive layer on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 includes α-Se, CdS, ZnO ₂ , OPC, α-Si
Although various known materials such as OPC photoconductors can be used, it is particularly effective when the present invention is applied to an OPC photoconductor having low mechanical strength.

A DC bias or a DC bias of AC superposition is applied between the sleeve 27 and the photosensitive drum 2. The application of the AC bias causes the toner to reciprocate in the gap between the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 and the surface of the sleeve 27, and the force by which the toner hits the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the electric field is increased compared to the case where the toner is simply traveling in contact. Will be. Further, the magnetic brush device 6 is separated from the photosensitive drum 2 at times other than the polishing operation, and is configured to contact the photosensitive drum 2 only when performing the polishing operation.

Next, the operation of the magnetic brush device 6 configured as described above will be described.

After forming a predetermined number of images, the amount of reflected light on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is measured by the sensor 31, and if the deviation of the measured value from the reference value exceeds ± 3%, the next image forming operation is performed. Before entering (preferably at a timing other than image formation), the polishing operation by the magnetic brush device 6 is started.

That is, first, the magnetic particles 2 on the sleeve 27
The magnetic brush device 6 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 2 to such an extent that the ears 8 come into contact with the photosensitive drum 2 and rub the photosensitive drum 2. Then, while rotating the photosensitive drum 2, the sleeve 27 of the magnetic brush device 6 is also rotated. After performing this operation for a predetermined time, the magnetic brush device 6 is separated from the photosensitive drum 2 to stop the polishing operation. Thereafter, the normal image forming operation is started, and the measured value of the surface reflected light amount of the photosensitive drum 2 after forming the predetermined number of images is again ± 3 with respect to the reference value.
%, The same polishing operation as described above is performed. However, the deviation amount of the surface reflected light amount of the photosensitive drum 2 from the reference value is ±
If it is within the range of 3%, the polishing operation is not performed.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to remove the adhering substances such as corona products and talc adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2, thereby preventing the image quality from being deteriorated by the adhering substances. It is possible to prevent the turning of the cleaning blade or the trace of the cleaning blade, eliminate the replacement of the photosensitive drum 2, and extend the life of the cleaning blade, thereby obtaining a high-quality image stably over a long period of time.

Second Embodiment A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of a full-color copying machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are views for explaining the operation of a fur brush. The same elements as those shown are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, a fur brush 6 'is used as an image carrier polishing apparatus.

The fur brush 6 'is separated from the photosensitive drum 2 as shown in FIG. 4B except during the polishing operation, and only when the polishing operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 2.

The operation timing of the fur brush 6 ′ differs from the reference value of the measured value of the amount of reflected light on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the sensor 31 after forming a predetermined number of images, as in the first embodiment. When the amount exceeds ± 3%, it is set so that the polishing operation by the fur brush 6 ′ is started at a timing other than image formation before starting the next image forming operation.

That is, first, the fur brush 6 ′ comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 2 to such an extent that the fiber of the fur brush 6 ′ comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 2 and rubs the photosensitive drum 2. Then, the sleeve of the fur brush 6 ′ is also rotated while rotating the photosensitive drum 2. After performing this operation for a predetermined time, the fur brush 6 'is separated from the photosensitive drum 2, and the polishing operation is stopped. Thereafter, a normal image forming operation is started, and when the measured value of the amount of reflected light on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 after forming a predetermined number of images deviates from the reference value by ± 3% or more, the polishing operation is performed. However, when the deviation amount of the surface reflected light amount of the photosensitive drum 2 from the reference value is within a range of ± 3%,
No polishing operation is performed.

When the fur brush 6 'rotates, the impurities scattered from the fur brush 6' can be collected by sucking the fur brush 6 'from the suction port in the container 6a'. it can. The container 6a 'is provided with a blade 6b' for removing impurities adhering to the fur brush 6 '.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to remove the corona product and the talc adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. To prevent deterioration of the image quality due to a kimono, prevent the turning of the cleaning blade and the trace of the cleaning blade, abolish the replacement of the photosensitive drum 2, and realize the long life of the cleaning blade to stably obtain a high-quality image for a long period of time. Can be.

Third Embodiment A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of a full-color copying machine according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In this figure, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the present embodiment, a developing device 4 for performing a developing operation is used as an image carrier polishing device. The developing device 4 detects at least one of the photosensitive drums 2 every time a predetermined number of images are formed by the image carrier surface reflected light amount detection sensor 31.
It is configured to measure the amount of reflected light on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 over the circumference and to perform the polishing operation according to the measured value.

In this embodiment, the sensor 31 for measuring the amount of reflected light from the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by emitting light from an LED and absorbing reflected light by a photodiode is used as the image carrier surface reflected light amount detection sensor 31. This sensor 31
The average value of the measured values is determined, and the average value is used as the measured value. When the photosensitive drum 2 is renewed (in the initial stage of use of the image forming apparatus or when the photosensitive drum is replaced), the surface reflected light amount of the photosensitive drum 2 is always measured, and the measured value is used as a reference for the surface reflected light amount of the photosensitive drum 2. Store as a value.
Only when the amount of light reflected from the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 deviates from the reference value by a predetermined value or more, preferably at a timing other than the time of image formation, the developing devices 4Y, 4C, 4M, and 4Bk shown in FIG.
Is operated until the deviation amount of the amount of reflected light from the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is within ± 3% of the reference value, and the ears of the developing sleeve of this developing device (4Y, 4C, 4M, 4Bk) are Developing devices (4Y, 4C, 4) are provided so that toner does not adhere to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 positively.
M, 4Bk) so that the toner on the developing sleeve sweeps over the photosensitive drum 2.

The present embodiment will be described. A SUS material having a diameter of 24.5 mm is used as a developing sleeve of each of the developing units 4Y, 4C, 4M, and 4Bk.
A gap of about 700 μm to about 900 μm is formed between the developing sleeve and the photosensitive drum 2 using a non-magnetic blade made of S, and the gap between the developing sleeve formed at the developing site and the photosensitive drum 2 is set to about 400 μm to about 500 μm. did. Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is charged to −800 V. In the developing device 4, the developing bias is V _DC = −400 V, and the AC component is V _PP = 2 kV with a frequency of 2 to 6 kHz V _PP = 2 kV.
A superimposed DC bias was applied.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 2 other than the developing area is also exposed to a potential of about -550 V, so that the developing units 4Y, 4C, 4
One of M, 4Bk is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 2 to perform a developing operation so that toner does not adhere to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 positively. The application of the AC bias causes the toner to reciprocate in the gap between the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 and the surface of the developing sleeve, and the toner hits the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by an electric field as compared with the case where the toner is simply traveling in contact. Power increases. This operation is performed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 outside the developing range for forming a normal image, and at least the entire area corresponding to one rotation on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is set for each color developing unit 4Y, 4C,
The 4M and 4Bk developing sleeves are operated such that the spikes of the toner on the surface of the developing sleeve abut and run.

Thus, in the present embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, it is possible to remove the corona product and the talc attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. In addition to preventing the deterioration of the image quality due to the adhered matter, the prevention of the turning of the cleaning blade and the trace of the cleaning blade, the elimination of the exchange of the photosensitive drum 2 and the prolongation of the life of the cleaning blade are realized, and a high-quality image can be stably obtained over a long period of time. be able to.

[0050]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the image carrier, the charging means for charging the image carrier, and the exposure means for exposing the charged image carrier are provided. Developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier by exposure; transfer means for transferring the developed image to a recording material; and a transfer means on the image carrier which is not transferred by the transfer means. In an image forming apparatus having a cleaning unit for removing a developer remaining on a recording medium and a fixing unit for fixing an image on a recording material, an image carrier surface for measuring a surface reflected light amount of the image carrier The reflected light amount measuring means is provided downstream of the cleaning means with respect to the image carrier rotation direction, and the image carrier surface polishing means for polishing the image carrier surface is cleaned in the image carrier rotation direction. means The image carrier surface is disposed on the upstream side and downstream of the transfer unit, and is provided on the surface of the image carrier according to the value of the amount of surface reflected light of the image carrier measured by the image carrier surface reflected light amount measuring unit. Since the polishing means is operated at a timing other than the image formation, the corona product and the talc adhered to the surface of the image carrier are removed to prevent the deterioration of the image quality due to the adhered matter, and the cleaning blade is turned up or the cleaning blade is turned off. It is possible to stably obtain a high-quality image over a long period of time by realizing the prevention of the occurrence of a trace, the elimination of replacement of the image carrier, and the extension of the life of the cleaning blade.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a full-color copying machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic brush device as an example of an image carrier surface polishing device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of a full-color copying machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a fur brush as an example of the image carrier surface polishing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of a full-color copying machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 full-color copying machine (image forming apparatus) 2 photosensitive drum (image carrier) 3 primary charger (charging means) 4 developing device (developing means) 5 transfer drum (transfer means) 6 magnetic brush (image carrier surface polishing means) Reference Signs List 6 'fur brush (image carrier surface polishing means) 7 cleaning device (cleaning means) 11 transfer charger (transfer means) 20 fixing roller (fixing means) 21 pressure roller (fixing means) 26 magnet roller 27 sleeve 28 magnetism Particle 31 Image carrier surface reflected light amount detection sensor (image carrier surface reflected light amount measuring means)

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image carrier, a charging unit for charging the image carrier, an exposure unit for exposing the charged image carrier, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier by exposure Developing means for developing the image, a transfer means for transferring the developed image to a recording material, a cleaning means for removing a developer remaining on the image carrier without being transferred by the transfer means, and an image forming method. An image forming apparatus having a fixing unit for fixing the surface of the image carrier to a recording material, wherein the image carrier surface reflected light amount measuring unit for measuring the surface reflected light amount of the image carrier is cleaned with respect to the image carrier rotating direction. Means for polishing the surface of the image carrier, and a polishing means for polishing the surface of the image carrier upstream of the cleaning means with respect to the rotation direction of the image carrier; and It is installed on the upstream side, and the image carrier surface polishing means is operated at a timing other than image formation in accordance with the value of the surface reflected light quantity of the image carrier measured by the image carrier surface reflected light quantity measuring means. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit measures the amount of reflected light from the surface of the image carrier.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measurement is performed for at least one rotation of the image carrier during the rotation after the completion of the image formation at every predetermined number of image formations or every predetermined number of rotations of the image carrier. 3. The image carrier surface polishing means according to claim 1, wherein a deviation from a reference value of a surface reflection light amount of said image carrier measured by said image carrier surface reflection light quantity measuring means exceeds ± 3%. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is operated. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier surface polishing means comprises a magnetic brush, a fur brush, or toner and particles for polishing the image carrier. . 5. The image bearing member surface polishing means comprises a magnetic brush, the magnetic brush having a magnet roller and a magnetic carrier, and a DC bias or a DC bias of AC superposition is applied. Item 5. The image forming apparatus according to Item 4.