Patent ID: 7593675

Claim:
A color image forming apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of image carriers each on which a toner image having a color different from each other is formed; (b) an intermediate transfer member; (c) a plurality of a primary transfer units each transferring a toner image formed on each of the plurality of image carriers onto the intermediate transfer member; (d) a discharging unit provided between two adjoining image carriers in a moving direction of the intermediate transfer member, which discharges an electrical charge of a toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer member; (e) a secondary transfer unit transferring a plurality colors of toner images which have been superimposed on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer material, and wherein the discharging unit discharges an electric charge of the toner image corresponding to a lower layer of a plurality of layers which have been superimposed on the intermediate transfer member.