Patent ID: 8380097
Filing Date: 2013-02-19
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable transfer belt; a plurality of image carriers configured to carry a toner image; and a plurality of transfer members arranged opposed to respective image carriers across the transfer belt and configured to be brought into contact with and separated from the transfer belt, the transfer members in contact with the transfer belt transferring a toner image from the image carriers onto the transfer belt, wherein a multicolor mode, in which a toner image is transferred from the plurality of image carriers onto the transfer belt while the plurality of transfer members are in contact with the transfer belt, and a mono-color mode, in which a toner image is transferred from the image carriers onto the transfer belt while one of the transfer members is in contact with the movable transfer belt and the other transfer members are separated from the transfer belt, are executable, and wherein, in a case where an operational mode is changed from the multicolor mode to the mono-color mode, after a moving speed of the transfer belt is changed to a speed slower than a moving speed of the transfer belt onto which a toner image is transferred in the multicolor mode, the transfer members are separated from the transfer belt moving at the slower speed.