Patent ID: 7697856
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus having a structure in which a toner image formed in an electrophotographic process is transferred from an image carrier to a member to be transferred, the apparatus comprising: a density detector for detecting a density of a toner image in the image carrier; a transfer unit that becomes a pressure contact state with respect to the image carrier to make the image carrier perform a transfer process and can move between the pressure contact state and a separated state; and a press and separation driving device for driving the transfer unit to become the pressure contact state and the separated state, wherein the density detector is provided so that a position or a posture thereof with respect to the image carrier is altered along with a movement of the transfer unit by the press and separation driving device, and a pressure contact state or a separated state of the transfer unit is detected by the density detector based on a variation of an detection output of a bare surface state of the image carrier.