Patent ID: 7758180
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus which uses an electrostatic force to flatly hold a recording medium during conveyance, comprising: a rotary belt for carrying a recording medium; an image forming mechanism configured to perform an image forming operation to form an image on the recording medium carried by the rotary belt; a driving mechanism configured to drive the rotary belt; a contact member movably held near the rotary belt; a charging mechanism configured to apply a charging voltage superimposed on a bias voltage to the rotary belt, to cause a suction force from the rotary belt to the recording medium; and a controller configured to cause a cleaning operation to be performed to the rotary belt only after a print job that includes one page or multiple pages has been completed, the cleaning operation including causing the contact member to be held in contact with the rotary belt, causing the driving mechanism to drive the rotary belt when the contact member is held in contact with the rotary belt, and reducing the bias voltage applied to the rotary belt by the charging mechanism from the charging voltage that causes the suction force from the rotary belt to the recording medium, to a reduced voltage that does not cause the suction force from the rotary belt to the recording medium, before performing the cleaning operation.