Patent ID: 8891986
Filing Date: 2014-11-18
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable image bearing member configured to bear a toner image; a charging member configured to charge the image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member onto which the toner image formed on the image bearing member is transferred; a primary transfer unit configured to primarily transfer the toner image that the image bearing member bears to the intermediate transfer member in a primary transfer portion; a secondary transfer unit configured to secondarily transfer the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer object in a secondary transfer portion; and a control unit; wherein a mode in which the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member passes through the primary transfer portion without a toner image being transferred from the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member is provided, and wherein in the mode, an area of the image bearing member that passes through the primary transfer portion while the toner image is passing through the primary transfer portion is defined as a first area, and wherein the control unit controls a voltage applied to the charging member so that electrical discharge does not occur between the image bearing member and the charging member when the first area reaches a position of the charging member, and wherein an absolute value of the voltage applied to the charging member when the first area reaches the position of the charging member is lower than an absolute value of the potential of the image bearing member.