Patent ID: 8290401

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrying body which has a surface on which a toner image is formed, and rotates about an axis; a charger which charges the surface of the image carrying body in order to form the toner image; and a charge eliminator which removes charge from the surface of the image carrying body after the toner image is transferred from the image carrying body to a transfer material; wherein the charge eliminator includes: a plurality of light sources which are arranged in an axial direction of the image carrying body, and generate charge elimination light; and a light guide member which is disposed between the plurality of light sources and the surface, and guides the charge elimination light onto the surface; the light guide member has a first light guide portion which guides the charge elimination light onto a central portion of the image carrying body in the axial direction, and a second light guide portion which guides the charge elimination light respectively onto both end portions of the image carrying body in the axial direction; the plurality of light sources include a first light source which irradiates light onto the first light guide portion and a second light source which irradiates light onto the second light guide portions; and the second light guide portion has a restrictive structure which allows charge elimination light from the first light source that is incident on the first light guide portion to travel into the second light guide portion, but restricts charge elimination light from the second light source that is incident on the second light guide portion from traveling into the first light guide portion.