Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus in which an increase in the service life of the intermediate transfer member is compatible with a reduction in apparatus size and cost and which provides high productivity in image formation.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing device with a developer unit and a photoconductor. The photoconductor is either directly connected to a substrate to be printed in the region of a transfer zone, or is connected by an intermediate circuit of one or several transfer media. At least one charger is provided for the substrate and the substrate may be transported through the transfer zone by a transport device. According to this invention, an effective transfer of toner to the substrate surface can be achieved with such an arrangement, even with a poor electrically-conducting and thick-walled, sheet-like substrate, whereby a charger is arranged as the primary charger in the transport direction and a secondary charger is arranged in the region after the transfer zone and both primary and secondary chargers affect the surface of the substrate to be printed.

Abstract: A component for an electrophotographic device having an intermediate transfer device includes a hopper configured for association with a toner cartridge. The hopper is configured to store residual toner collected from the intermediate transfer device. The hopper includes an opening configured to receive the residual toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image is transferred, a transfer roll for transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto a recording sheet, a brush roll for removing the residual toner from the intermediate transfer member, and a toner collecting device for collecting the toner attached to the surface of the transfer roll. In the apparatus, an axial length of the intermediate transfer member is longer than that of the brush roll, and the axial length of each of the transfer roll and the toner collecting device is longer than that of the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a primary transfer means for bringing one surface of an intermediate transfer body and/or transfer medium into contact with a photosensitive body surface and pressing the surface against the photosensitive body surface to transfer a toner image formed on the photosensitive body surface onto one surface of the intermediate transfer body and/or transfer medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus capable of preventing generation of an excessive difference in potential between a cleaning member and an intermediate transfer member to thereby increase the service life of the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A cleaning device of this invention has a first cleaning member that is provided opposing to a developer image carrier for the scraping of the surface of the developer image carrier and a second cleaning member that is put over the first cleaning member and runs between the surface of the developer image carrier and the first cleaning member for the wiping of the surface of the developer image carrier simultaneously with the scraping of the surface of the developer image carrier by the first cleaning member. This cleaning device is used for cleaning of the developer image carrier of an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A component containing a supporting substrate, and thereover a layer comprised of a alkylimido-monobenzamidazole-perinone-perylene or a bisalkylimido-perinone-perylene of the alternative following formulas wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 are, for example, independently alkyl or aryl.

Abstract: The present invention has an object for preventing toner from adhering to an electrifying member for electrifying the toner remaining on an image bearing member to cause deterioration of electrifying performance, and, to this end, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first image bearing member, a second shiftable image bearing member, a first transferring member for transferring a toner image on the first image bearing member to the second image bearing member at a first transferring portion, a second transferring member for transferring the toner image on the second image bearing member to a transferring material at a second transferring portion, a first electrifying member provided at a downstream side of the second transferring portion and at an upstream side of the first transferring portion in a shifting direction of the second image bearing member, a second electrifying member provided at a downstream side of the second transferring portion and at an upstream side of

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably removing an untransferred residual toner from the surface of an intermediate transfer drum which is covered with an elastic layer, thereby enabling to forma recorded image having a high image quality with no ghost image, and capable of continuing to form recorded images having the high image quality over a long period of time without causing damage to the intermediate transfer drum. The intermediate transfer drum is structured such that the periphery of a metal base is covered with an elastic layer. As a toner discharging member for capturing a toner adhered to the intermediate transfer drum and discharging the toner as waste into a recovery box, there are provided a recovery roll that rotates while being in contact with the intermediate transfer drum and a scraper for scraping off a toner adhered to the surface of the recovery roll.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an intermediate image transfer belt passed over a plurality of support members and movable while carrying a toner image of preselected polarity transferred thereto. An electrode member contacts the inside surface of the belt and is applied with a preselected voltage for transferring the toner image from the belt to a recording medium. A contact member with high electric resistance contacts the belt at a position adjacent the electrode member.

Abstract: A toner which includes at least a colorant and a binder including at least a cyclized polybutadiene and a trans 1,4-polybutadiene, in which the cyclized polybutadiene is mixed with the trans 1,4-polybutadiene at a temperature not lower than a melting point of the trans 1,4-polybutadiene.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, an intermediate transfer member, a charging member, a transfer mechanism, a discharging member, a direct current voltage source, and a direct current voltage controller. The intermediate transfer member is deposited at a position facing and in contact with the image carrying member rotatably carrying a toner image on a rotating surface, and receives the toner image therefrom during a first transfer operation. The charging member applies a charge to the intermediate transfer member to cause an electric field around a region where the image carrying member and the intermediate transfer member contact with each other, where the electric field generates a force for initiating the first transfer operation. The transfer mechanism performs a second transfer operation for transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming portion for forming a toner image on a first image bearing member, a first transferring portion for transferring, onto a second image bearing member, the toner image on the first image bearing member, a second transferring portion for transferring, onto a transferring material, the toner image on the second image bearing member, a cleaning unit including a cleaning member abutting on the surface of the second image bearing member, and a transferring material recognizing portion for recognizing a type of the transferring material. The toner image forming portion forms a toner image for cleaning on the first image bearing member in accordance with information about a type of the transferring material that is recognized by the transferring material recognizing portion.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a belt for sequentially transferring toner images of different colors to a sheet one above the other. A plurality of image forming units face the belt, and each includes an image carrier and a developing device and a cleaning device arranged around the image carrier. The belt is inclined such that one of opposite runs thereof adjoining the image forming units has opposite ends positioned at different levels from each other. The cleaning device of each image forming units is positioned at a higher level than the developing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a process for forming an image is provided whereby problems in an image such as interference fringes can be eliminated even at a higher resolution to improve image quality. An image forming apparatus of this invention has a configuration wherein an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer 18 formed via a undercoating layer 16 on a conductive support 110 with the maximum surface roughness defined by the equation: (0.0006x+0.34) &mgr;m≦Rmax≦2.5 &mgr;m wherein x=a resolution; visualizing the latent image with a toner to give a visualized image; and transferring the visualized image to a transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for sequentially superimposes images formed by a plurality of image forming stations for forming images of different colors, respectively, on a transferring material born and transported by a transferring material transporting member, which forms a misregister detection mark on the transferring material transporting member, illuminates to read the mark, calculates a misregister amount of the read misregister detection mark, and corrects the misregister of an image based on calculated results, wherein the apparatus adjusts an illuminating light amount according to a color of a misregister detection mark.

Abstract: A photosensitive belt cleaning roller is constructed to discharge residual toner, removed from a photosensitive belt onto an intermediate transferring belt. Accordingly, the residual toner on the photosensitive belt is first removed by the photosensitive belt cleaning roller, is discharged from the photosensitive belt cleaning roller onto the intermediate transferring belt, and is then finally removed from the intermediate transferring belt by the intermediate transferring belt cleaning unit. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently collect residual toner remaining on the first and second image bearing bodies into a single, common place.

Abstract: A junction/disjunction unit 38 of the multicolored image forming apparatus joints/disjoints a transfer material holder with/from an image holder, to switch over between a monochromatic image forming mode which uses a specific image forming unit and a multicolored image forming mode which uses a plurality of image forming units. For switching the image forming mode, a driving unit 39 for driving the junction/disjunction unit 38 also drives an auger 37 provided for conveying toner, which has been recovered by a transfer material holder cleaning unit for recovering toner remaining on the transfer material holder, into a recovery container 36. Accordingly, a driving force outputted from the driving unit can be effectively utilized, and thereby good cost performance can be realized.

Abstract: A toner comprising: a plurality of mother particles; and a plurality of external additive particles to be attached to the mother particles, the external additive particles including external additive particles attached to the mother particle and external additive particles liberated from the mother particles, wherein an inclination (particle sizes of the external additives/particle sizes of the mother particles) of an approximation straight line obtained by approximating distribution of particle sizes of the external additives with respect to the particle sizes of the mother particles by a least-square method is not larger than 0.6. Also, disclosed is an image forming apparatus using the toner.

Abstract: Electrodes are embedded in a biased transfer roller for the transfer of a xerographic image. The electrodes, which run the length of the roller, are deposited on an insulating core surrounding the shaft. A conformable semi-conductive layer of a flexible elastomer covers the embedded electrodes. The semi-conductive layer limits current flow between embedded electrodes, relaxes charge deposited on the roller surface, and maximizes the electric field that attracts the toner from the photoconductor to the image receiving surface (substrate or intermediate). The electroded biased transfer roller may tailor the electric fields within the nip, pre-nip, and post-nip regions between the photoreceptor and the image receiving surface of the xerographic device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image forming device for forming an image of a developing agent on a photosensitive belt, an intermediate transfer drum operating as target of transfer of the developing agent image formed by the image forming device and a transfer roller for transferring the developing agent image transferred to the intermediate transfer drum further to a sheet of paper, the intermediate transfer drum including a base pipe and an elastic belt, of which the base pipe is coated with the elastic belt, the photosensitive belt and the intermediate transfer drum being driven to rotate by a same drive source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, an intermediate transfer member, a charging member, a transfer mechanism, a discharging member, a direct current voltage source, and a direct current voltage controller. The intermediate transfer member is deposited at a position facing and in contact with the image carrying member rotatably carrying a toner image on a rotating surface, and receives the toner image therefrom during a first transfer operation. The charging member applies a charge to the intermediate transfer member to cause an electric field around a region where the image carrying member and the intermediate transfer member contact with each other, where the electric field generates a force for initiating the first transfer operation. The transfer mechanism performs a second transfer operation for transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer sheet.

Abstract: A latent image formed on a photosensitive member in exposure operations is developed into a toner image, which is then transferred onto an image bearing member in primary transfer operations. Afterward, the toner image is transferred onto a recording sheet in secondary transfer operations. A cleaning unit for cleaning the image bearing member by removing residual toner therefrom is brought into and out of contact with the surface of the image bearing member at a time when neither the exposure operations nor primary transfer operations are being performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, an intermediate transfer member, a charger, a transfer mechanism, a discharger, a direct current (d.c.) voltage source, and a d.c. voltage controller. The intermediate transfer member faces and contacts the image carrying member carrying a toner image, and receives the toner image therefrom during a first transfer. The charger charges the intermediate transfer member to cause an electric field around where the image carrying member and the intermediate transfer member contact each other, the electric field initiating the first transfer. The transfer mechanism transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer sheet. The discharger discharges charge remaining on the intermediate transfer member. The d.c. voltage source applies a d.c. voltage to the discharger to cause the discharging. The d.c. voltage controller controls the d.c. voltage in accordance with a volume resistivity of the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: An ethylene propylene rubber foam which comprises as the crude rubber, an ethylene propylene rubber having an iodine value of 35 to 45 and a Mooney viscosity ML1+4 at 100° C. of 20 to 50, and which has less compression set and is suitable as a material for a transfer member, a primary transfer member, a secondary transfer member, a cleaning member for image formation bodies, a bias member, a backup member, etc.; an electroconductive ethylene propylene rubber foam which comprises as the crude rubber, an ethylene propylene rubber having an iodine value of 35 to 45 and a Mooney viscosity ML1+4 at 100° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus comprising an intermediate transfer belt onto which the toner image formed on a photosensitive drum by a developing device is temporarily transferred, a drum cleaner for removing the residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum after transfer of the toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt, a transfer roller for transferring the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt onto a paper sheet, a belt cleaner for removing the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt after transfer of the toner image performed by the transfer roller, a first recovery device for recovering the toner removed by the drum cleaner in the developing device, and a second recovery device for recovering the toner removed by the belt cleaner in a recovery container.

Abstract: A color toner composition including at least toner particles including at least a binder resin; a colorant and a release agent dispersed in the binder resin; and a titania as an external additive, wherein the colorant has an average dispersion particle diameter not greater than 0.5 &mgr;m; the release agent and the binder resin are insoluble to each other; the toner particles satisfy the relationship: 0.05≦Dw/D4≦0.4, wherein Dw represents an average dispersion particle diameter of the release agent and D4 represents a weight-average particle diameter of the toner particles; and the titania has a segregation rate of from 0.5 to 5%.

Abstract: A color laser printer includes a second cleaner, that has a second cleaning roller, a second cleaning box, a second removing roller and a waste toner storage portion, in its casing. In the color laser printer, only the second cleaning roller, which captures toner remaining on an intermediate transfer belt, moves to contact and separate from the intermediate transfer belt while the second cleaning box, the second removing roller and the waste toner storage portion are fixed to the casing of the color laser printer. Therefore, the structure of the color laser printer is simplified, thereby reducing its manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A method of transferring an image on a surface to a substrate comprising: a) heating the surface to a first temperature above a temperature at which the image adheres to the substrate; b) heating the substrate to a second temperature above ambient temperature and below the first temperature; c) pressing the substrate to the surface; d) cooling the image while it is in contact with both the surface and the substrate such that it cools during said contact to a third temperature, below a temperature at which its cohesion is greater than its adhesion to the surface; and e) then separating the substrate from the surface, said image being transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image carrier for carrying a toner image thereon while being driven to rotate. A conveyor conveys a recording medium, to which the toner image is to be transferred from the image carrier, to an image transfer position. An image carrier controller controls the linear velocity of the image carrier in rotation. A conveyance controller controls the linear velocity of the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyor. A main controller controls the image carrier controller and conveyance controller such that the mean linear velocity of the image carrier and that of the recording medium are different from each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling image defects associated with overdrive or underdrive, and variations thereof, in an electrostatographic machine. A speed modifying force is transmitted to a conformable member that deforms in a nip, thereby inducing strains in the surface of the member at the nip which cancel or controllably reduce the strains caused by engagement in the nip. The speed modifying force may be an externally applied drag force or torque, and may be applied using an open loop or a feedback system including an electromagnetic brake, a motor, etc. The speed modifying force may be applied to a conformable member forming the nip through a redundant linkage of the system that employs gears or other suitable mechanisms.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises an image forming substrate for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image forming substrate; a developing device supplying liquid developer to the electrostatic latent image to form a developed image on the image forming substrate; an intermediate transfer medium having a primary transferring position to which the developed image on the image forming substrate is transferred primarily by contacting the image forming substrate and a secondary transferring position transferring secondarily the developed image to a paper by contacting the paper; an intermediate transfer medium cleaning device adhering and removing material stuck to a surface of the intermediate transfer medium, which contacts in a place after passing through the secondary transferring position and before passing through primary transferring position; and a paper cleaning device positioned in a conveying path of a conveying device to transport the

Abstract: An image forming device and a belt device therein are provided. Even though the perimeter of the intermediate transfer belt is changed, a good cleaning ability for the intermediate belt can be maintained. The toner image supporting surface of the intermediate transfer belt between the first and the secondary transfer devices is bent to the inner surface side by a bending member, and cleaned by a cleaning device. An opposite member is disposed at a position opposite to the cleaning device to sandwich the intermediate transfer belt. In this way, even though the position of the bending member is changed by the perimeter deviation of the intermediate transfer belt, the position for removing the residual toner to clean the intermediate transfer belt does not change, so as to maintain a good cleaning ability.

Abstract: An intermediate medium for use as a temporary image support in an imaging device, comprising a rubber top layer which contains a rubber and a conductive material and is formed by polymerization of a rubber oil in the presence of the conductive material. As conductive material, the top layer contains an intrinsically conductive polymer so modified that it can be combined with the rubber oil used as the starting material. This results in high miscibility of the polymer in the rubber oil so that the conductivity of the rubber is high. The conductivity of the top layer can thus be adjusted to the correct level while curing of the rubber oil with UV radiation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with an image forming portion for forming an image by a developer, a bearing and conveying member capable of bearing thereon and conveying a transfer material on which the developer image is formed, or the developer image directly transferred thereto, and a cleaning portion for cleaning the bearing and conveying member, the cleaning portion has a cleaning blade abutting against the bearing and conveying member, and a holding member holding the cleaning blade and swingable about a rotary shaft, wherein the angle formed by a tangential line on the abutting portion of the cleaning blade against the bearing and conveying member with a line connecting the center of the rotary shaft and the abutting portion is designed to be equal to or greater than 0° and equal to or smaller than 15°, and the abrasion wear of the surface of the bearing and conveying member when in use of the apparatus, the bearing and conveying member has made 10,000 revolutions is designed to be equal t

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a cleaning device for cleaning an intermediate image transfer body. A cleaning blade included in the image transfer body is formed of fluorocarbon resin or a thin layer of fluorocarbon resin is formed on the surface of the intermediate image transfer body. Further, wax is coated on the intermediate image transfer body or wax or lubricant powder is contained in toner. A moving mechanism holds the cleaning blade spaced from the intermediate image transfer body at least when image formation is not under way.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of image forming means each including an image carrier, a charger for uniformly charging the surface of said image carrier, and a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the charged surface of the image carrier with toner to thereby produce a corresponding toner image. A primary image transferring device transfers such toner images from the image carriers to an intermediate image transfer body one above the other, thereby completing a composite toner image. A secondary image transferring device transfers the composite toner image from the intermediate image transfer body to a recording medium. The primary image transferring device includes the intermediate image transfer body including at least an elastic layer, a cleaning unit for cleaning the intermediate image transfer body, and a coating member for coating a lubricant on the intermediate image transfer body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a plurality of image bearing members which are disposed along the conveying direction of transfer material and on which latent images are formed. Developing devices are disposed corresponding to the plurality of image bearing members and develop the latent images with developers. A transfer material bearing and conveying member and a transfer device to sequentially transfer the developer images developed on the plurality of image bearing members to the transfer material on the transfer material bearing and conveying member are also a part of the image forming apparatus. The apparatus also has a cleaning member which cleans the surface of the transfer material bearing and conveying member. A developer image that is not to be transferred onto the transfer material is formed only onto one image bearing member disposed downstream in the movement direction of the transfer material bearing and conveying member among the plurality of image bearing members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including at least one image carrier for carrying a visual image formed thereon, an intermediate transfer element for carrying the visual image from the at least one image carrier to a recording material, a primary transfer device for transferring the visual image from the at least one image carrier onto the intermediate transfer element, a secondary transfer device for transferring the visual image on the intermediate transfer element onto the recording material, a cleaning device for mechanically removing developer remaining on the intermediate transfer element, and a discharging device for discharging the intermediate transfer element. The discharging device is positioned in downstream of the secondary transfer device and upstream of the cleaning device in a moving direction of the intermediate transfer element.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for adjusting an electrographic printing or copying process, information to be printed is generated as a toner intermediate image on a support for intermediate images and is subsequently transmitted from a reprinting surface to a recording medium at a transfer printing zone. A toner mark is produced on an electrographic support for intermediate images. The toner mark is at least partially scanned on the support for intermediate images and is then removed from the support for intermediate images. The toner Ad concentration is adjusted in a developing station by means of a measured value based on scanning the toner mark. Transfer of the toner intermediate image from the reprinting surface to the recording medium at the transfer printing zone is at least temporarily prevented in the period between the production and the removal of the toner mark.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image is transferred, a transfer roll for transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto a recording sheet, a brush roll for removing the residual toner from the intermediate transfer member, and a toner collecting device for collecting the toner attached to the surface of the transfer roll. In the apparatus, an axial length of the intermediate transfer member is longer than that of the brush roll, and the axial length of each of the transfer roll and the toner collecting device is longer than that of the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A cleaning mechanism for an image forming apparatus has a cleaning roll that contacts an intermediate transfer body under pressure with a predetermined load and rotates with the intermediate transfer body for removing residual ink, toner or impurities on the intermediate transfer body after a transfer process. A sheet member is urged onto the cleaning roll for slip contact with a predetermined load.

Abstract: A transfer member having a polyimide substrate with polyaniline and two different carbon black electrically conductive fillers dispersed therein for use in electrostatographic apparatuses.

Abstract: The device for applying decorations and characters on glass, glass ceramic or ceramic products includes an image roller (5) provided with an electrostatically chargeable photoconductive layer; a photo-exposure assembly (6) for generating an electrostatic charge image corresponding to at least one of decorations and characters to be applied; a supply container (8) for a toner with a device (8a) for developing the electrostatic charge image with the toner; a dimensionally stable transfer roller (7) for receiving the toner image, which is in direct contact with the image roller on one side and with the product (2) on its other side; at least two coronas (9, 10) including a first corona (9) arranged on the transfer roller (7) and a second corona (10) arranged under the product near the transfer roller (7) and a heater for burning the toner image onto the product, after electrostatically transferring the toner image to the product by means of the coronas.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an optical unit which forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a photosensitive body, a developing device which supplies a liquid developer on the electrostatic latent image formed by the optical unit, and develops the electrostatic latent image into a developer image, a condensing device which condenses the developer image, and a transfer device which transfers the developer image condensed by the condensing device to a recording medium, while applying a shearing stress to the developer image.

Abstract: A process for producing a transfer member to be used in a transfer system in which a toner image formed on a first image-bearing member is transferred to a second image-bearing member includes the steps of melt-extruding an extrusion material from a circular die of an extrusion/forming apparatus into a cylindrical film; and measuring the circumference of the cylindrical film and sending the resultant information to the extrusion/forming apparatus to adjust the circumference of the cylindrical film. A transfer member is produced by such a process, and an image-forming apparatus uses the transfer member. The transfer member can be produced either as an intermediate transfer belt or a transfer belt which has a stable peripheral length.

Abstract: A magnetic toner includes: magnetic toner particles each comprising at least a binder resin and magnetic toner, and inorganic fine powder. The magnetic toner has an average circularity of at least 0.970, and a magnetization of 10-50 Am2/kg at a magnetic field of 79.6 kA/m. The magnetic powder comprises at least magnetic iron oxide. The magnetic toner particles retain carbon in an amount of A and iron in an amount of B at surfaces thereof as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, satisfying: B/A<0.001. The binder resin comprises a resin formed by polymerization of a monomer comprising at least styrene monomer. The magnetic toner has a residual styrene monomer content of less than 300 ppm, and contains at least 50% by number of toner particles satisfying a relationship of: D/C≦0.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning particulate material from the surface of a moving web comprises: (i) a customer-replaceable cleaning cartridge including a pair of spaced, parallel cleaning blades supported by a sump housing having a removable lid assembly with a narrow opening through which the blades project at an angle; (ii) a backup shoe assembly positioned to contact the web surface opposite the cleaning blades and provide resistance to the cleaning blades; and (iii) a bracket assembly for releasably supporting the cleaning cartridge in an operative position in which the cleaning blades contact the web surface to be cleaned and cooperate with the shoe assembly to wipe particulate material from the web. Preferably, the lid assembly comprises a lid member that supports a flexible seal blade that contacts the web surface upstream of the cleaning blades and deflects particulate material wiped from the web by the cleaning blades into the sump housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type sequentially forming toner images of different colors on an image carrier while sequentially transferring them to an intermediate transfer body one above the other, and then transferring the resulting composite toner image from the intermediate transfer body to a paper or similar recording medium. Dot toner images different from desired toner images are formed on the image carrier. The dot toner images are transferred from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer body and then to the recording medium. The individual toner images are transferred from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer body in accurate register with each other.