Patent ID: 7236713

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoreceptors on which toner images are formed; a traveling intermediate transfer member to which a primary transfer is carried out such that a plurality of toner images are transferred to the traveling intermediate transfer member so as to be laminated thereon; a secondary transfer roller disposed so as to be in contact with a side of the intermediate transfer member on which the toner images are laminated; a secondary transfer counter roller disposed so as to confront the secondary transfer roller with the intermediate transfer member disposed inbetween, wherein a secondary transfer of the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium which is being conveyed is carried out so that the recording medium and the traveling intermediate transfer member are sandwiched between the secondary transfer roller and the secondary transfer counter roller, further comprising: switching means for switching the secondary transfer counter roller between grounded state and floating state; and a peeling member for applying an electric field to the recording medium so that the recording medium to which the toner image is transferred can be peeled off the intermediate transfer member.