DEVELOPER RECOVERING METHOD

PURPOSE:To enhance the carrying efficiency of developer in a developing device, to improve the recovery of the developer and further to shorten the time of recovering the developer by rotating a developing sleeve in the rotating direction of the developer or a reverse direction thereto at the time of recovering the developer. CONSTITUTION:When recovering the developer in the developing device 14 is instructed and the toner concentration of the developer becomes equal to or under aimed toner concentration at the time of ordinary development, a recovering cap is opened by a recovering cap driving part and a developer recovering mode is started. Then, a CPU controls a developing sleeve motor so that the normal rotation and the reverse rotation of the developing sleeve 17 are alternately performed every four seconds, and it controls a paddle motor 47 so that a paddle 23 for stirring is rotated at higher speed than at the time of developing and at the time of standing by developing. Therefore, the developer in the developing device 14 drops to be recovered in a recovering container from an aperture part. Thus, the recovery of the developer is improved and the time of recovering the developer is shortened.