Patent ID: 6405002
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image formation apparatus comprising:an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed while said image carrier is driven so that its surface moves; a development device which visualizes the electrostatic latent image as a toner image by toner charged to a normal polarity; an intermediate transfer body which is driven so that its surface moves; a primary transfer unit which creates an electric field that shifts the toner charged to the normal polarity from said image carrier towards said intermediate transfer body, and primarily transfers the toner image on said image carrier onto said intermediate transfer body; a first cleaning device which removes any residual toner existing on the surface of said image carrier after the toner image is primarily transferred to said intermediate transfer body; a secondary transfer unit which creates an electric field that shifts the toner charged to the normal polarity from said intermediate transfer body towards a recording medium, and secondarily transfers the toner image on said intermediate transfer body onto said recording medium; and a second cleaning device which removes any residual toner existing on the surface of said intermediate transfer body after the toner image is secondarily transferred to said recording medium, said second cleaning device including a cleaning member positioned opposite to the surface of said intermediate transfer body and to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to the normal polarity is applied; and a cleaning unit which removes the toner shifted to said cleaning member from the surface of said intermediate transfer body, wherein an absolute value of the voltage to be applied to said cleaning member is set to a value greater than the absolute value of the voltage applied to said cleaning member at which toner removal efficiency, when said second cleaning device removes any toner not having received secondary transfer action by said secondary transfer unit on said intermediate transfer body, becomes maximum.