Patent ID: 9037021
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image; a transfer member whose rotatable endless peripheral surface is disposed facing the image bearing member, a transfer-bias applying unit configured to apply a transfer bias voltage so that an electric field for transferring the toner image is generated between the transfer member and the image bearing member; a cleaning member that is disposed in contact with the peripheral surface of the transfer member and that is configured to remove toner adhered to the peripheral surface of the transfer member; a cleaning-bias applying unit configured to apply a cleaning bias voltage between the cleaning member and the transfer member; a transfer-toner-amount estimating unit configured to estimate an amount of toner to be transferred from the image bearing member to the transfer member during a period when the recording medium does not pass between the image bearing member and the transfer member; and a cleaning-bias controller configured to adjust a magnitude of the cleaning bias voltage to be applied by the cleaning-bias applying unit in response to the amount of toner estimated by the transfer-toner-amount estimating unit.