Patent ID: 6990309
Filing Date: 2006-01-24
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrying member configured to rotate and carry a toner image on a rotating surface thereof, an intermediate transfer member, facing and in contact with said image carrying member, configured to rotate and receive said toner image from said image carrying member during a first transfer operation which is performed one time in a mono color mode and which is repeated a plurality of times in a multiple color mode to overlay a plurality of mono color toner images in turn on said intermediate transfer member; a ground member positioned at a first side of the intermediate transfer member; a charging member configured to apply a charge to said intermediate transfer member to generate an electric field at a region where said image carrying member and said intermediate transfer member contact each other, said electric field generating a force for initiating said first transfer operation; a transfer mechanism, facing and in contact with said intermediate transfer member, configured to perform a second transfer operation for transferring said toner image from said intermediate transfer member to a transfer sheet; and a discharging member, in contact with said intermediate transfer member at a second side of the intermediate transfer member opposite to the ground member, and connected to a discharge power supply configured to apply a discharge bias to the discharging member, the discharging member including a discharging brush roller made of rolled conductive-fabric, configured to discharge a charge remaining on said intermediate transfer member after a completion of said second transfer operation, said rolled conductive-fabric made of acrylic fiber dispersed with carbon and having a size of 6.5 demiers, having a hair implant density of at least 20,000 pieces per square inch, and wherein said intermediate transfer member has a volume resistivity of 10