Patent ID: 6907217
Filing Date: 2005-06-14
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an endless photosensitive member that moves in a first direction; an exposure device that performs exposure operations for exposing the photosensitive member at an exposure position to form a latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing device that develops the latent image into a developing-agent image on the photosensitive member at a developing position that is downstream from the exposure position in the first direction; an endless image bearing member that contacts the photosensitive member at a primary transfer position that is downstream from the developing position in the first direction, the image bearing member moving in a second direction, wherein the developing-agent image is transferred from the photosensitive member onto the image bearing member at the primary transfer position in primary transfer operations; a secondary transfer device that performs secondary transfer operations for transferring the developing-agent image from the image bearing member onto a recording medium at a secondary transfer position that is downstream from the primary transfer position in the second direction; a cleaning device that is switched between a contact condition where the cleaning device is in contact with the image bearing member at a cleaning position and a separation condition where the cleaning device is separated from the image bearing member, the cleaning position being downstream from the secondary transfer position and upstream from the primary transfer position in the second direction, the cleaning device in the contact condition removing residual developing agent from the image bearing member after the secondary transfer operations; and a control device that switches the cleaning device between the contact condition and the separation condition during a stopped period where no latent image is being formed.