Patent ID: 9471011
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier provided so as to be rotatable upon reception of a driving force and including a photosensitive layer portion having a first end portion at one side in a rotational axis direction and a second end portion at another side in the rotational axis direction, the first end portion having a larger layer thickness than the second end portion; a charging portion configured to charge the photosensitive layer portion at a potential having predetermined polarity; a light irradiation portion configured to apply light to the photosensitive layer portion charged by the charging portion, to form an electrostatic latent image thereon; a developing portion configured to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive layer portion, by toner charged with the same polarity as the predetermined polarity; an intermediate transfer medium including a surface layer portion having a third end portion at one side in a width direction which is the same as the rotational axis direction and a fourth end portion at another side in the width direction, the third end portion having a larger layer thickness than the fourth end portion, the third end portion being opposed to the second end portion of the photosensitive layer portion, the fourth end portion being opposed to the first end portion of the photosensitive layer portion; and a transfer portion opposed to the image carrier across the intermediate transfer medium and configured to transfer a toner image developed on a surface of the photosensitive layer portion, onto the surface layer portion of the intermediate transfer medium when a voltage having polarity opposite to the predetermined polarity is applied to the transfer portion.