Patent ID: 6049681
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member;image forming means for forming a toner image on said image bearing member and having a first charge member to charge said image bearing member;an intermediate transfer member;voltage apply means for applying a voltage to said intermediate transfer member to electrostatically transfer the toner image formed on said image bearing member by said image forming means onto said intermediate transfer member at a transfer position;a second charge member for charging residual toner remaining on said intermediate transfer member with polarity opposite to normal polarity of the toner on said image bearing member, after the toner image on said intermediate transfer member is electrostatically transferred onto a transfer material; andcontrol means for variably controlling a voltage applied to said first charge member;wherein at the same time as transferring of a next toner image on said image bearing member onto said intermediate transfer member at said transfer position, said voltage apply means generates an electric field for transferring the residual toner on said intermediate transfer member charged by said second charge member onto said image bearing member, andsaid control means controls voltage applied to said intermediate transfer member by said voltage apply means in accordance with the voltage applied to said first charge member, when said electric field is generated at said transfer position.