Patent ID: 7031627

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a developer image holding member which receives developer images developed by supplying a developer to electrostatic latent images formed on a photoconductor, at a first position where the photoconductor and the developer image holding member contact each other; a transfer unit which transfers the developer images held by the developer image holding member to a transfer medium supplied between the developer image holding member and the transfer unit, when being positioned at a second position where the transfer unit contacts the developer image holding member at a predetermined timing and the transfer unit capable of being positioned at a third position where the transfer unit is not in contact with the developer image holding member; a fixing unit which fixes the developer images to the transfer medium with heat and pressure; a driving unit which moves the optional positions of the developer holding member, the transfer unit and the fixing unit at respective predetermined speeds, and changes each of the respective predetermined speeds based on the kind and thickness of the transfer medium; and speed control units which set the speeds of the driving unit for moving the predetermined positions of the developer image holding member, the transfer member and the fixing unit, wherein the speed control unit changes the speed of moving the optional positions of the developer image holding member, the transfer unit and the fixing unit from a first speed to a second speed less than the first speed, in a period from a moment when a part of the developer image holding member corresponding to a rear end of the developer image transferred last to the developer image holding member passes the first position to a moment when a part of the developer image holding member corresponding to a front end of the developer image transferred at the first position reaches the first position; the transfer unit is located at the third position while the speed control unit is changing the speeds of the driving unit for moving the predetermined positions of the developer holding member, the transfer unit and the fixing unit; and when a predetermined time elapses after the front end of the developer image has passed the second position, the developer image holding member holding developer images is moved from the third position to the second position.