Patent ID: 6021301
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:(a) an image forming body for forming toner images;(b) an intermediate transfer body for carrying a first toner image transferred from the image forming body, and for conveying a transfer material;(c) a first transfer unit for transferring the first toner image from the image forming body onto the intermediate transfer body, and for transferring a second toner image from the image forming body onto a front side of the transfer material;(d) a second transfer unit for transferring the first toner image on the intermediate transfer body onto a back side of the transfer material;(e) a fixing device for fixing the first and second toner images transferred onto the transfer material;(f) a curved portion provided on the intermediate transfer body at a side of the fixing device for separating the transfer material from the intermediate transfer body;(g) a transfer material guiding portion provided between the curved portion and the fixing device, said transfer material guiding portion having a separation claw which contacts a leading edge of the transfer material transferred along the curved portion and a rotatable spurred wheel having a plurality of protrusions on a circumferential surface thereof for guiding the back side of the transfer material; and(h) a guiding member, provided facing the curved portion downstream of a moving direction of the intermediate transfer body, for allowing air caused by movement of the intermediate transfer body to flow along an outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer body;wherein the second transfer unit comprises a corona discharger having a discharging electrode and a shielding member for shielding an electric field when the discharging electrode discharges,and wherein the shielding member includes openings on an upstream side and a downstream side thereof through which air flows along the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer body from upstream to downstream in a conveyance direction of the transfer material.