Patent ID: 6571078
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A color image forming apparatus comprising:an intermediate transfer belt being supported by a plural rollers including a driving roller and being driven to rotate by the driving roller; a first image forming unit being located below the intermediate transfer belt, and forming a first toner image of a first color on the intermediate transfer belt at a first image forming position; a second image forming unit being located below the intermediate transfer belt and being located downstream of the first image forming unit relative to the movement of the intermediate transfer belt, the second image forming unit forming a second toner image of a second color over the first toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt at a second image forming position; a third image forming unit being located below the intermediate transfer belt and being located downstream of the second image forming unit relative to the movement of the intermediate transfer belt, the third image forming unit forming a third toner image of a third color over the first and second toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt at a third image forming position; a fourth image forming unit being located below the intermediate transfer belt and being located downstream of the third image forming unit relative to the movement of the intermediate transfer belt, the fourth image forming unit forming a fourth toner image of a fourth color over the first, second and third toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt at a fourth image forming position; a transfer roller for transferring the superposed toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt onto a sheet of paper in a transfer area, the transfer roller being disposed so as to press against the part of the intermediate transfer belt supported by the driving roller; and a pair of rotatable conveyance rollers for conveying the paper to the transfer area in synchronization with the superposed toner images on the intermediate transfer belt, wherein a first distance from the fourth image forming position for the fourth image forming unit to the transfer area is longer than a second distance from a nipping area formed by the pair of conveyance rollers to the transfer area.