Patent ID: 8837996

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer belt having a first surface on which a toner image is primarily transferred, the transfer belt rotating in a predetermined direction; a pressure receiving roller over which the transfer belt is stretched; a secondary transfer roller that presses the transfer belt against the pressure receiving roller; and a belt movement restricting section disposed in a vicinity of a second surface of the transfer belt, the second surface being opposite from the first surface, wherein when the transfer belt is pressed between the pressure receiving roller and the secondary transfer roller, and paper is nipped between the transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller for secondary transfer of the toner image onto the paper, an angle defined by a portion, upstream from the secondary transfer roller, of the first surface and an imaginary line connecting an axis of the pressure receiving roller with an axis of the secondary transfer roller is less than 90 degrees; when the secondary transfer is not performed, the belt movement restricting section is separated from the transfer belt with a predetermined amount of space therebetween; and during the secondary transfer, the belt movement restricting section holds the transfer belt to restrict a movement of the transfer belt toward the pressure receiving roller when the transfer belt is pushed by the paper.