Patent ID: 8543036

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member; a primary transfer section to transfer a toner image, formed on said image bearing member, onto an intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer section, which is provided with a secondary transfer member to secondarily transfer the toner image, formed on said intermediate transfer member, onto a recording medium while said secondary transfer member rotates, and is configured so as to be capable, by rotating around a fulcrum point as a rotation center, of bringing said secondary transfer member into contact with said intermediate transfer member under pressure and then releasing the contact, and of generating a nip between said intermediate transfer member and said secondary transfer member under a pressure contact condition; a motor to drive said secondary transfer member to rotate; a driving section which is configured to drive said secondary transfer section so as to bring said secondary transfer member into contact with said intermediate transfer member under pressure, and to release the contact; and a gear which rotates around said fulcrum point as a rotation center; wherein said motor is not provided inside said secondary transfer section; and wherein the driving force of said motor is transmitted to said secondary transfer member via said gear.