Wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus and method for controlling collection of developer

Abstract

A wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a development unit for developing an image on a photosensitive medium, a developer cartridge for supplying a developer to the development unit, a developer collection unit disposed between the development unit and the developer cartridge for collecting developer remaining within the development unit into the developer cartridge, and a control unit for controlling the amount of developer to be collected through the developer collection unit to prevent an overflow of the developer at the developer cartridge while the developer is collected. A method for collecting developer remaining in a development unit into a developer cartridge in a wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprises the steps of turning on a pump to supply developer to the development unit, collecting developer remaining in the development unit in both a natural manner and a compulsory manner. The compulsory collection is controlled to prevent developer from overflowing in the developer cartridge when a printing operation is terminated or an error occurs during the printing operation.