Patent ID: 8509652

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image on a photoreceptor is to be primarily transferred; a primary transfer section for primarily transferring the toner image on the photoreceptor to the intermediate transfer member; a first movement mechanism for moving the primary transfer section between a first position at which the intermediate transfer member is brought into pressure contact with the photoreceptor and a second position at which the intermediate transfer member is spaced apart from the photoreceptor; a secondary transfer section for secondarily transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member to a sheet, wherein the intermediate transfer member is moved from a position at which the primary transfer section is disposed to a position at which the secondary transfer section is disposed; a preliminary charger disposed in the motion direction of the intermediate transfer member and downstream of the position at which the primary transfer section is disposed and upstream of the position at which the secondary transfer section is disposed, the preliminary charger being disposed at a predetermined position relative to the intermediate transfer member, and the preliminary charger applying a charge to the toner image on the intermediate transfer member; and a second movement mechanism for moving the preliminary charger as the primary transfer section is moved by the first movement mechanism, while maintaining the preliminary charger at the predetermined position relative to the intermediate transfer member.