Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective stations.

Abstract: Let V1 be a potential difference between a photosensitive member charged by a charging member to which a second charging voltage is applied in a preparation process and a developing member to which a developing voltage is applied. Let V2 be a potential difference between the photosensitive member charged by the charging member to which a first charging voltage is applied in an image forming process and the developing member. Given this definition, a relation of |V1|<|V2| is satisfied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image carrying member, an intermediate transfer belt having conductivity, a toner image on the image carrying member being primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt, a secondary transfer member in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt, the secondary transfer member secondarily transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt to a transfer material, a power supply applying a voltage to the secondary transfer member, the toner image being primarily transferred from the image carrying member to the intermediate transfer belt by having a voltage be applied to the secondary transfer member from the power supply, a contact member in contact with the intermediate transfer belt, and a constant current diode, an anode side thereof being connected to the power supply, and a cathode side thereof being connected to the contact member.

Abstract: In a case where a collection mode in which an exposure unit forms a first potential on a photosensitive member and a developing unit collects discharging toner discharged from the developing unit to a position where the first potential is formed is executed, a potential forming unit forms, on an intermediate transfer member, a potential same as a normal charging polarity of toner and an absolute value greater than an absolute value of the first potential, and a charging power supply applies, to a charging member, a voltage having a polarity same as the normal charging polarity and an absolute value greater than an absolute value of the first potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: first and second image bearing members; first and second charging members; first and second developing members; a transfer member configured to sequentially transfer toner images from the first and second image bearing members to a transfer-receiving member; and a control portion configured to, at a timing determined based on information relating to the toner image formed on the first image bearing member, perform a cleaning operation of decreasing toner that adheres to the second charging member at a time of non-image formation.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt includes a base layer that has ionic conductivity and is a thickest layer out of multiple layers making up the intermediate transfer belt with respect to the thickness direction of the intermediate transfer belt, and an inner layer having electronic conductivity and a lower electrical resistance than the base layer.

Abstract: A charge roller includes, in a surface thereof, recesses that have sizes that are equivalent to or larger than a volume average particle diameter of a toner accommodated in a developing unit and that are capable of collecting the toner retransferred to a photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An exposing unit forms a latent-image electric potential on each photosensitive drum. A detecting toner image of each color is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt using a first potential difference between a latent-image electric potential and the potential of an intermediate transfer belt at each primary transfer portion. When the polarity of voltage to be applied from a transfer power source to a secondary transfer roller is to be switched to an opposite polarity while the detecting toner image of each color is passing through each primary transfer portion, the absolute value of a second potential difference between the potential of the intermediate transfer belt and the background electrical potential of each photosensitive drum is made equal to or greater than the absolute value of the first potential difference by a control unit.

Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective image forming stations.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt includes a base layer that has ionic conductivity and is a thickest layer out of multiple layers making up the intermediate transfer belt with respect to the thickness direction of the intermediate transfer belt, and an inner layer having electronic conductivity and a lower electrical resistance than the base layer.

Abstract: A charged positive toner having a positive polarity that attaches to a charge roller is moved from the charge roller to a photosensitive drum, and the positive toner is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt at a primary transfer portion at which a primary-transfer power supply forms an electric potential having a negative polarity. The primary-transfer power supply forms an electric potential having the positive polarity at the primary transfer portion, and the positive toner transferred to the intermediate transfer belt is moved together with the intermediate transfer belt and is collected by the charge roller in contact with a downstream photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member that rotates at a first speed, an intermediate transfer member that rotates at a second speed lower than the first speed, and a collecting member disposed in a state in which a fixed surface is pressed against the rotating intermediate transfer member. The collecting member collects toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after a toner image is secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt includes at least two layers which are a base layer and an inner surface layer having electric resistance lower than electric resistance of the base layer, and an end portion of the inner surface layer is positioned on an outside of an end portion of a development opening portion in a width direction as a direction orthogonal to a circumferential direction of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: In a case where a collection mode in which a exposure unit forms a first potential on a photosensitive member and a developing unit collects discharging toner discharged from the developing unit to a position where the first potential is formed is executed, a potential forming unit forms, on an intermediate transfer member, a potential same as a normal charging polarity of toner and an absolute value greater than an absolute value of the first potential, and a charging power supply applies, to a charging member, a voltage having a polarity same as the normal charging polarity and an absolute value greater than an absolute value of the first potential.

Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective stations.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt includes a base layer that has ionic conductivity and is a thickest layer out of multiple layers making up the intermediate transfer belt with respect to the thickness direction of the intermediate transfer belt, and an inner layer having electronic conductivity and a lower electrical resistance than the base layer.

Abstract: A controller which causes a light emitting element to continuously perform minute emission for a plurality of dots in a level in which toner is not attached to a non-image section on an image bearing member is provided. The controller controls a first driving current for an image section and controls a second driving current used to perform the minute emission by the light emitting element in the non-image section several times in one job. In the image section, a driving current obtained by adding the first driving current to the second driving current is supplied so that the light emitting element emits light.

Abstract: An exposing unit forms a latent-image electric potential on each photosensitive drum. A detecting toner image of each color is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt using a first potential difference between a latent-image electric potential and the potential of an intermediate transfer belt at each primary transfer portion. When the polarity of voltage to be applied from a transfer power source to a secondary transfer roller is to be switched to an opposite polarity while the detecting toner image of each color is passing through each primary transfer portion, the absolute value of a second potential difference between the potential of the intermediate transfer belt and the background electrical potential of each photosensitive drum is made equal to or greater than the absolute value of the first potential difference by a control unit.

Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective image forming stations.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that adjusts the electric current supplied from a second transfer member to suppress acceleration of abrasion of a photoconductor drum while maintaining the second transfer efficiency at a desired level.