Patent ID: 8934800
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A transfer device, comprising: a plurality of image bearing members each driven and rotated and configured to bear a toner image made of toner which is charged to a predetermined polarity; an intermediate transfer belt arranged to face the plurality of image bearing members and driven and rotated to transfer the toner images from the plurality of image bearing members to a surface thereof in a superimposed manner; a plurality of transfer members configured to form a plurality of transfer nips in cooperation with the plurality of image bearing members by sandwiching the intermediate transfer belt and configured to cause the toner images to be transferred from the image bearing members to the intermediate transfer belt; a transfer bias applying unit configured to apply a transfer bias to the transfer member during a transfer process in which the toner image is transferred from the image bearing member to the intermediate transfer belt and a non-transfer process different from the transfer process; and a bias control unit configured to cause a transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner to be applied to a first transfer member, out of the plurality of transfer members, configured to form a first transfer nip out of the plurality of transfer nips during the transfer process in the first transfer nip and during an adjacent transfer process which is the non-transfer process in the first transfer nip and the transfer process in a second transfer nip adjacent to the first transfer nip and causing a transfer bias having the same polarity as that of the toner to be applied to the first transfer member during an adjacent non-transfer process which is the non-transfer process in the first transfer nip and the non-transfer process in the second transfer nip.