Patent ID: 8335462

Claim:
An image forming apparatus configured to form a toner image on a sheet, comprising: an image bearing member configured to bear the toner image; a transfer element configured to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member to the sheet; a first application element configured to apply a transfer voltage to the transfer element in order to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member to the sheet; a separator configured to separate the sheet after transfer of the toner image thereon from the image bearing member, the separator including a separation electrode configured to discharge an electrical current to separate the sheet after the transfer of the toner image thereon from the image bearing member and the separation electrode including first and second separation electrodes aligned along the transfer element; and a partition configured to project between the transfer element and the separator so as to allow a current to flow from the transfer element to the first separation electrode while the partition suppresses a current flowing from the transfer element to the second separation electrode.