Patent ID: 7865120
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus which forms a toner image on a recording material, comprising: an image forming unit which forms an unfixed toner image on the recording material; a rotary fixing member which is brought into contact with the unfixed toner image; a nip forming member which forms a nip portion by coming into contact with said rotary fixing member, the nip portion pinching and conveying the recording material; and a power supply which applies a voltage to said nip forming member, wherein before a leading edge of the recording material enters the nip portion, said power supply applies a first voltage to said nip forming member during the time it takes for said rotary fixing member to complete one rotation or more, the first voltage having the same polarity as a charge polarity of the toner and being equal to or larger than a discharge starting voltage for starting a discharge to said rotary fixing member from said nip forming member, so that a surface of said rotary fixing member in a circumferential direction of said rotary fixing member is charged with the same polarity as the charge polarity of the toner.