Patent ID: 9207623
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a circular transfer belt that rotates in a predetermined direction; and a plurality of image forming units arranged at intervals in a rotational direction of the transfer belt, wherein each of the plurality of image forming units includes: wherein, in at least one of the plurality of image forming units, the neutralizing unit is configured to: the neutralizing unit includes: wherein an apex of a first adjacent pair of sides and an apex of a second adjacent pair of sides respectively project toward a center of the irregular octagon in a cross-sectional view, and the first reflective part is located corresponding to a side that orthogonally joins a first side of the first adjacent pair of sides and the second reflective part is located corresponding to a side that orthogonally joins a second side of the first adjacent pair of sides, wherein the first side of the first adjacent lair of sides is configured to be parallel with a first side of the second adjacent pair of sides and the second side of the first adjacent pair of sides is configured to be parallel with a second side of the second adjacent pair of sides, wherein an end of the first reflective part is disposed on an extension line of the first side of the second adjacent pair of sides and an end of the second reflective part is disposed on an extension line of the second side of the second adjacent pair of sides, wherein side faces of the light guiding body located corresponding to the first adjacent pair of sides and side faces of the light guiding body located corresponding to the second adjacent pair of sides are each coated with a reflective layer, and the remaining side faces except for the side faces coated with the reflective layer and the side faces at which the first reflective part and the second reflective part are located are configured to be optically permeable, wherein the first reflective part forms the first neutralization light by reflecting the light from the neutralization light source to the shorter direction and the second reflective part forms the second neutralization light by reflecting the light from the neutralization light source to the shorter direction, wherein the first neutralization light reaches a surface of the image supporting body corresponding thereto without a change caused by other structural elements in a course in which the first neutralization light travels, and the second neutralization light reaches a surface of the image supporting body corresponding thereto without a change caused by other structural elements in a course in which the second neutralization light travels, wherein the first reflective part and the second reflective part are positioned such that an angle at which the first neutralization light is incident upon the surface of the image supporting body corresponding thereto is smaller than an angle at which the second neutralization light is incident upon the surface of the image supporting body corresponding thereto, wherein an intensity of the first neutralization light is greater than an intensity of the second neutralization light, and wherein the elongated light guiding body having a cross-sectional shape of an irregular octagon is configured to be symmetric with respect to a line which passes through an intersection between a ray of the first neutralization light and a ray of the second neutralization light and bisects an angle therebetween, the ray of the first neutralization light being reflected off a center of the first reflective part in the shorter direction and the ray of the second neutralization light being reflected off a center of the second reflective part in the shorter direction, when viewed in a cross section.