Patent ID: 6374073
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming machine comprising:image bearing means moved sequentially through a charging zone, an exposure zone, a development zone, a transfer zone, and a cleaning zone; charging means for charging the image bearing means in the charging zone; exposure means for selectively static-eliminating the image bearing means in the exposure zone to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing means; reversal development means for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image in the development zone; transfer means for transferring the toner image on the image bearing means onto an image receiving member in the transfer zone; and cleaning means for removing a toner remaining on the image bearing means in the cleaning zone after transfer, the transfer means including a rotationally driven transfer belt, and transfer voltage applicator means for applying a transfer voltage to a back side of the transfer belt, and wherein the charging means charges the image bearing means over a predetermined effective charging width, the transfer voltage applicator means applies the transfer voltage to the transfer belt over a predetermined effective transfer width, a face side of the transfer belt is brought into contact with the image bearing means via the image receiving member and directly over a predetermined effective contact width, and the effective contact width is larger than the effective charging width and larger than the effective transfer width.