Patent ID: 6356720
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:an image carrier; an electrostatic charging device for causing the image carrier to be electrostatically charged; an exposure device for forming an electrostatic latent image by exposing the electrostatically charged image carrier to light; a developing device for developing the formed electrostatic latent image with toner; a transfer device for transferring a toner image formed by development, to a recording material which is in contact with a peripheral surface of the image carrier, by generating the corona discharge directed to the recording material; and a current controller for controlling a transfer current for corona discharge applied to the transfer device so as to be applied stepwise to the transfer device at a time of start-up of the transfer, wherein the current controller controls the transfer current so as to be applied stepwise, by adjusting on and off time durations of a current applying control signal composed of on and off signals.