Patent ID: 6947682

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier on which a toner image is to be formed; a recording medium support member configured to convey a recording medium, carrying the toner image thereon, in cooperation with said image carrier; and a voltage applying device interposed between a surface of said image carrier and a surface of the recording medium and configured to apply a voltage identical in polarity with a toner. wherein said image carrier and said recording medium support member are driven such that the surface of said image carrier and the surface of said recording medium support member move in a same direction as each other, as seen at a contact position where the surfaces contact each other via the recording medium, said voltage applying device is positioned upstream of the contact position in a direction of movement of said recording medium, and an electric field, forcing the toner image toward said image carrier, and an electric field, forcing said toner image toward the recording medium, are formed between the surface of said image carrier and the surface of said recording medium at positions upstream and downstream, respectively, of the contact position in a direction of movement of said recording medium.