Patent ID: 8538310

Claim:
An image transfer apparatus, comprising: a first rotating body configured to rotate, by a rotating drive force provided by a drive source, the first rotating body having a non-zero variation width; a second rotating body opposite the first rotating body, the second rotating body configured to move freely in a pressing direction by a distance no less than the variation width of the first rotating body; a pressing unit configured to press the second rotating body onto the first rotating body with a pressing force; and a retaining unit configured to maintain a distance between the first rotating body and the second rotating body while the thickness of a transfer material that passes through a nipping portion between the first rotating body and the second rotating body remains the same, wherein at least a portion of the retaining unit is movable in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction relative to the second rotating body, wherein the retaining unit includes a one-way clutch mechanism configured to regulate movement of the second rotating body by the pressing unit in the pressing direction, the retaining unit configured to allow the second rotating body to move freely in a direction opposite the pressing direction.