Patent ID: 6859631

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier for holding a toner image; a transfer member for transferring the toner image from the image carrier at a transfer position; voltage application means for applying a voltage to a transfer member; and control means for controlling an output of the voltage application means, wherein the control means controls the voltage application means in each of a first mode and a second mode so as to switch the output of the voltage application means from a first voltage value to a second voltage value, wherein the second voltage value is a voltage for transferring the toner image formed on the image carrier, wherein a difference in the first mode between the first voltage value and the second voltage value is larger than a difference in the second mode between the first voltage value and the second voltage value, and wherein a time period of the first mode from a timing of a switching operation controlled by the control means to a timing that a position of the image carrier corresponding to a tip position of a printing member has reached the transfer position is longer than a time period of the second mode from the timing of the switching operation controlled by the control means to a timing that a position of the image carrier corresponding to the tip position of the printing member has reached the transfer position.