Patent ID: 7177586
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a photosensitive member; exposure means which forms an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive member; developing means, including a plurality of developer units and a holder which holds said plurality of developer units and rotates about a predetermined rotation shaft, in which one of said plurality of developer units is selectively positioned facing said photosensitive member so that this developer unit makes toner adhering to said electrostatic latent image and accordingly develops said electrostatic latent image; an intermediate transfer medium which transports a toner image primarily transferred from said photosensitive member to a predetermined secondary transfer position while carrying said primarily transferred toner image; a transfer paper housing which is disposed below said secondary transfer position and house at least one transfer paper; primary paper feeding means which is disposed over said transfer paper housing and at a start of a transfer paper transportation path which runs approximately in the vertical direction from said transfer paper housing to said secondary transfer position and guides a transportation of a transfer paper; secondary paper feeding means which is disposed on said transfer paper transportation path and between said primary paper feeding means and said secondary transfer position; and paper feeding control means which controls an operation of said primary paper feeding means, wherein said primary paper feeding means picks up a transfer paper from said transfer paper housing and primarily feeds the transfer paper to said secondary paper feeding means along said transfer paper transportation path, said secondary paper feeding means secondarily feeds the transfer paper primarily fed by said primary paper feeding means toward said secondary transfer position along said transfer paper transportation path after temporarily holding the transfer paper in a bent state, and said paper feeding control means makes said primary paper feeding means start picking up the transfer paper after said exposure means starts said electrostatic latent image forming operation.