Patent ID: 6807385
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:an image bearing member; an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a surface of the image bearing member; an intermediate transfer device formed by at least one intermediate transfer member, and which is in contact with the image bearing member; a final transfer member which is in contact with the intermediate transfer member; a cleaning member which is in contact with the intermediate transfer member; and a control unit which applies an intermediate-transfer-member-bias to the intermediate transfer member and applies a cleaning-member-bias to the cleaning member which is in contact with the intermediate transfer member to control a potential gradient between the cleaning member and the intermediate transfer member, wherein when switching the intermediate-transfer-member-bias to be applied to the intermediate transfer member from a first intermediate-transfer-member-bias to a second intermediate-transfer-member-bias and switching the cleaning-member-bias to be applied to the cleaning member from a first cleaning-member-bias to a second cleaning-member-bias, respectively, a surface potential of the intermediate transfer member is changed transitionally, the control unit makes a switching start timing for the intermediate-transfer-member-bias earlier than a switching start timing for the cleaning-member-bias.