An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, and a separating mechanism configured to separate an irregular charge toner from a residual toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member after a completion of an image forming process, to provide an extra travel passage to give a time delay to the irregular charge toner, and to return the irregular charge toner with the time delay to the surface of the image bearing member.