Patent ID: 6324374
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus, comprising:a belt-formed member supported by a plurality of supporting rollers, the belt-formed member being a belt-formed intermediate transfer element;a plurality of opposing members arranged side by side in a line so as to oppose said belt-formed member and to be contacting or in close proximity to said belt-formed member, each of the plurality of opposing members being a latent image bearing member on which a latent image to be transferred onto said intermediate transfer element is formed; anda separation device configured to change a position such that said intermediate transfer element and a part of said plurality of latent image bearing members, contacting or in close proximity each other, are separated; wherein said separation device includes a switching device configured to switch in stages a number of said opposing members to be separated from said belt-formed member.