Patent ID: 8041243
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of image forming devices configured to form respective toner images; a rotating intermediate transfer member configured to receive the toner images from the plurality of image forming devices; a transfer device configured to apply a bias to the intermediate transfer member to transfer the toner images formed on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer sheet; a first degradation degree detector configured to detect a first degradation degree of one of the plurality of image forming devices provided at an extreme downstream position in a direction of rotation of the intermediate transfer member; a first degradation degree judgment device configured to judge whether or not the first degradation degree of the extreme downstream image forming device detected by the first degradation degree detector reaches a first level of deterioration; and a bias controller configured to decrease the bias to be applied by the transfer device to a value smaller than a value of the bias to be applied when the first degradation degree judgment device judges that the first degradation degree of the extreme downstream image forming device detected by the first degradation degree detector does not reach the first level, when the first degradation degree judgment device judges that the first degradation degree of the extreme downstream image forming device detected by the first degradation degree detector reaches the first level.