Patent ID: 8811834

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member to bear a toner image based on image information on a surface thereof; a transfer device disposed opposite the image bearing member to form a transfer area there between to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium in the transfer area; a sheet transport device to transport the recording medium to the transfer area; a moving device coupled to the transfer device to move the transfer device to alternately separate from and contact the image bearing member, the moving device moving the transfer device to contact the image bearing member when the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium; a toner patch forming device to form a toner patch comprising toner not to be transferred onto the recording medium between successive toner images during continuous printing; and a moving device controller operatively connected to the moving device to control the moving device, such that the moving device: moves the transfer device to contact the image bearing member during transfer of the toner image on the image bearing member to the recording medium; separates the transfer device from the image bearing member as the toner patch on the image bearing member passes through the transfer area; and maintains the transfer device in contact with the image bearing member from a preceding transfer of a toner image to a succeeding transfer of a toner image during continuous printing, as at least one of areas between successive toner images on the image bearing member without the toner patch passes through the transfer area, wherein the moving device moves the transfer member to one of at least two different separation positions as the transfer member is separated from the image bearing member, wherein the moving device controller controls the moving device to move the transfer device to one of the at least two different separation positions during a time other than continuous printing, and wherein as the toner patch passes through the transfer area and the transfer member is separated from the image bearing member, a first distance between the transfer device and the image bearing member at a first separation position when the toner patch passes through the transfer area is shorter than a second distance at a second separation position different from the first separation positions.