Patent ID: 8805253

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a movable endless transfer belt for transferring the toner image from said image bearing member onto a transfer material; and a transfer device for transferring the toner image from said image bearing member toward said transfer belt, wherein said transfer device includes a transfer member for sliding on an inner surface of said transfer belt in contact with the inner surface, a supporting member for supporting said transfer member, and an urging member for urging said supporting member toward said transfer belt, wherein said transfer member contacts the inner surface of said transfer belt at a contact surface thereof without rotation relative to said supporting member during movement of said transfer belt, wherein said supporting member is rotatable about a center axis during movement of said transfer belt, and wherein the contact surface is convex with a continuous curvature toward said transfer belt over an entire contact surface area as seen in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction of said transfer belt.