Patent ID: 7242891

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image-forming unit comprising a plurality of photosensitive media to be charged; a transfer belt to rotate along an endless path, and having an outer surface to contact a surface of each of the plurality of photosensitive media; a driving roller and a steering roller to rotate the transfer belt; a transfer voltage applying unit to apply a predetermined transfer voltage to the transfer belt to transfer a toner image formed on a surface of each of the plurality of photosensitive media to the transfer belt by an electrostatic force; and a residual electrical charge removing unit to remove an electrical charge transferred from the plurality of photosensitive media to the transfer belt according to the applied transfer voltage so that the electrical charge does not accumulate on the transfer belt, wherein the residual electrical charge removing unit comprises: a residual electrical charge removing member disposed to be in contact with the outer surface of the transfer belt, and supported by the steering roller used as a back-up roller.