Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising at least: an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising at least a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer provided on the conductive substrate; a charging device; an exposure device; a developing device; and a transfer device, wherein the exposure device is of a multi beam exposure system which has a surface emitting laser array having two or more light-emitting elements as an exposure light source and which scan the electrophotographic photoreceptor with plural light beams thereby forming electrostatic latent image, and wherein the outermost layer in the electrophotographic photoreceptor, positioned most distant from the conductive substrate, contains a silicon-containing resin containing at least a charge transporting compound or a characteristic group derived from a charge transporting compound, and having a structure in which bonds formed by crosslinking of an O atom with neighboring Si atoms are formed three dimensionally.

Abstract: In the formation of a multicolor image for generating a color print by repeating operation for transferring on an intermediate transfer member every color after one color toner image is formed on a photoreceptor drum, when an image of each color is written on the photoconductor, the image writing start position of each color is differentiated in a process direction of the photoconductor on the basis of a position reference mark on the intermediate transfer member detected by a sensor. This prevents a defect on the photoconductor from being enlarged and visually conspicuous.

Abstract: A method for removing an amorphous selenium-containing photosensitive layer from an electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive metallic substrate having thereon the amorphous selenium-containing photo-sensitive layer using a method in which the combination of substrate and selenium-containing photosensitive layer is treated with an aqueous solution of sodium sulfide or sodium thiourea.