Patent ID: 7873312
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A transfer apparatus comprising a toner image supporting body; a corona transfer means, which is oppositely disposed to a toner image supporting body, wherein an electrostatic toner image formed on the toner image supporting body is transferred to a recording medium transported to a transfer area disposed between the toner image supporting body and the corona transfer means; and a vibrating unit that applies vibration energy to a back side of the toner image supporting body, the vibrating unit being disposed opposite to the corona transfer means with the toner image supporting body intervening therebetween, wherein the vibrating unit has a cantilever structure for holding one end of a piezoelectric bimorph-type actuator having such a structure that a pair of piezoelectric bodies each having an electrodes on the surface thereof are bonded, and a protrusion portion is provided at an end of the cantilever opposite to a supporting and fixing part of the piezoelectric bimorph-type actuator, and reciprocal vibration, which is caused when a voltage is applied to the pair of piezoelectric bodies, is transmitted to the back side of the toner image supporting body through the protrusion portion; wherein an area of the piezoelectric body in said supporting and fixing part is an inactive area where said electrodes does not exist; wherein a non-polarized area is reserved in advance in said inactive area during polarization of the piezoelectric body, or even when an entire surface of the piezoelectric body has been polarized, there is no driving electrode on the surface of the piezoelectric body.