Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charging section, an exposure section, a developing section, an ion-conductive transfer roller, a transfer bias applying section configured to apply a transfer bias of reverse polarity to charge of toner to the transfer roller, a conveyance section, and a control section. The control section is configured to, during double-sided printing, cause the transfer bias applying section to apply a reverse bias of the same polarity as the charge of the toner to the transfer roller while a recording medium is reversed and conveyed again to a toner image transfer position.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has an image carrier for carrying a toner image, a transfer element for electrostatically transferring the toner image on the image carrier to a sheet, and a guide element for guiding the sheet. The image carrier and the transfer element form a nip portion for nipping the sheet, the guide element includes a main guide configured to guide the sheet toward the nip portion and a sub-guide protruding from the main guide toward the nip portion, and the sub-guide is conductive.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charging section, an exposure section, a developing section, an ion-conductive transfer roller, a transfer bias applying section configured to apply a transfer bias of reverse polarity to charge of toner to the transfer roller, a conveyance section, and a control section. The control section is configured to, during double-sided printing, cause the transfer bias applying section to apply a reverse bias of the same polarity as the charge of the toner to the transfer roller while a recording medium is reversed and conveyed again to a toner image transfer position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member configured to bear the toner image; a transfer element configured to transfer the toner image to the sheet; a first application element configured to apply a transfer voltage to the transfer element; a separator configured to separate the sheet from the image bearing member, the separator including a separation electrode configured to discharge an electrical current and the separation electrode including first and second separation electrodes aligned along the transfer element; and a partition configured to project between the transfer element and the separator so as to allow a current to flow from the transfer element to the first separation electrode while the partition suppresses a current flowing from the transfer element to the second separation electrode.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has an image carrier for carrying a toner image, a transfer element for electrostatically transferring the toner image on the image carrier to a sheet, and a guide element for guiding the sheet. The image carrier and the transfer element form a nip portion for nipping the sheet, the guide element includes a main guide configured to guide the sheet toward the nip portion and a sub-guide protruding from the main guide toward the nip portion, and the sub-guide is conductive.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member configured to bear the toner image; a transfer element configured to transfer the toner image to the sheet; a first application element configured to apply a transfer voltage to the transfer element; a separator configured to separate the sheet from the image bearing member, the separator including a separation electrode configured to discharge an electrical current and the separation electrode including first and second separation electrodes aligned along the transfer element; and a partition configured to project between the transfer element and the separator so as to allow a current to flow from the transfer element to the first separation electrode while the partition suppresses a current flowing from the transfer element to the second separation electrode.

Abstract: An image forming device 30 is constituted capable of executing a refresh mode, including: a toner discharge process that transports toner on a developing sleeve 4a inside a developing unit 4 to a photoreceptor drum 1 side when starting up the image forming device from the power supply off state, the sleep (energy saving) mode, and the like, to the copy start state; a transfer roller refresh process that transports the toner transported to the photoreceptor drum 1 side by the toner discharge process to a transfer roller 5 side; and a return process that once again transports the toner transported to the transfer roller 5 side by the transfer roller refresh process to the photoreceptor drum 1 side.

Abstract: An image forming device sheet conveyance and guide mechanism 6 has a first pre-transfer guide plate 61 and a second pre-transfer guide plate 62. The first pre-transfer guide plate 61 is provided on the transfer roller side upstream of the transfer nip in a transfer sheet conveying direction, and guides a transfer sheet into the transfer nip. The second pre-transfer guide plate 62 is provided opposite to the first pre-transfer guide plate 61 and on the photoconductive drum side upstream of the transfer nip in the transfer sheet conveying direction, and guides a transfer sheet into the transfer nip. The first pre-transfer guide plate 61 is provided with contact portions 64 protruding toward the second pre-transfer guide plate 62, and the second pre-transfer guide plate 62 is provided with semiconductor members 63 in contact with the contact portions 64.

Abstract: An image forming device 30 is constituted capable of executing a refresh mode, including: a toner discharge process that transports toner on a developing sleeve 4a inside a developing unit 4 to a photoreceptor drum 1 side when starting up the image forming device from the power supply off state, the sleep (energy saving) mode, and the like, to the copy start state; a transfer roller refresh process that transports the toner transported to the photoreceptor drum 1 side by the toner discharge process to a transfer roller 5 side; and a return process that once again transports the toner transported to the transfer roller 5 side by the transfer roller refresh process to the photoreceptor drum 1 side.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance and guide mechanism 6 is used in an image forming device that includes a photoconductive drum 30 and a transfer roller 33 arranged so as to form a transfer nip with the photoconductive drum 30 and to which a bias voltage is applied. The sheet conveyance and guide mechanism 6 has a first pre-transfer guide plate 61 and a second pre-transfer guide plate 62. The first pre-transfer guide plate 61 is provided on the transfer roller side upstream of the transfer nip in a transfer sheet conveying direction, and guides a transfer sheet into the transfer nip. The second pre-transfer guide plate 62 is provided opposite to the first pre-transfer guide plate 61 and on the photoconductive drum side upstream of the transfer nip in the transfer sheet conveying direction, and guides a transfer sheet into the transfer nip.