Patent ID: 8660464
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image-forming apparatus comprising: a circulating transfer belt that rotates in a predetermined direction; a plurality of image-forming units disposed at predetermined distances in a direction of transfer belt rotation, each including an image carrier disposed opposite to a primary transfer position at an outer surface side of the transfer belt, configured to rotate around a rotating axis; a charging unit for uniformly charging the image carrier; an exposure unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; a developer unit that uses toner to form a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure unit; a neutralization light source that neutralizes an electric charge on the image carrier by radiating light onto the image carrier; and a cleaning unit that cleans away residual toner on the image carrier; wherein in at least one image-forming unit of the plurality of image-forming units, the neutralization light source comprises: a substrate; and a first neutralization light and a second neutralization light, the neutralization light source being attached to the substrate and irradiating the first neutralization light on one side of the substrate and the second neutralization light on the other side of the substrate, the neutralization light source is disposed between a primary transfer position and the cleaning unit, in a direction of rotation of a first image carrier that composes the one image-forming unit; irradiates the first neutralization light from a position opposing the primary transfer position on the first image carrier up to a position opposing the cleaning unit; and irradiates the second neutralization light from a position opposing the developer unit for a second image carrier that composes another image-forming unit disposed adjacent to the one image-forming unit at a downstream side in the direction of transfer belt rotation, up to a position opposite the primary transfer position.