Patent ID: 8238807

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member that is capable of bearing a toner image; a belt that is movable in a moving direction, which is configured to convey a recording material on which a toner image is transferred, or on which a toner image is directly transferred; a transfer device including a contact member that contacts said belt and a support member that supports the contact member; and a power supply that is capable of supplying a voltage to said transfer device, wherein said transfer device to which a voltage is applied transfers a toner image from said image bearing member to said belt or a recording material conveyed by said belt, wherein the contact member is fixed with respect to a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of said belt and contacts said belt without rotating with respect to the support member while said belt moves, and wherein the contact member has a contact surface which includes at least one recess portion extending in a direction which is angled with respect to the moving direction of said belt.