Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearer, a transfer rotator, a detector, and circuitry. The image bearer bears an image. The transfer rotator transfers the image from the image bearer onto a recording medium sandwiched and conveyed between the image bearer and the transfer rotator. The detector detects length information indicating a length, in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, of the image on the recording medium. The circuitry corrects a correction value, based on the length information detected by the detector and a target value of the length information, to correct an image magnification, in the direction of conveyance of the recording medium, of the image to be formed on the recording medium. The circuitry controls an image forming operation of forming the image on the recording medium with the correction value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; a pair of conveyance rotary members arranged downstream of the image forming portion in a sheet conveyance direction and configured to convey the sheet, on which the image is formed, by a conveyance nip; and a guide portion configured to guide the sheet to the conveyance. The guide portion includes a first guide member formed into a sheet shape and having a first stiffness and an abutment surface configured to abut the sheet and a second guide member formed into a sheet shape and having a second stiffness higher than the first stiffness and arranged on a side opposite to the abutment surface of the first guide member, wherein a downstream edge of the first guide member is closer to the conveyance nip than a downstream edge of the second guide member.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a transfer unit and a development unit. The transfer unit includes a first guide member being a conveyance guide that guides a paper sheet to a transfer nip portion. The first guide member is formed of a conductive metal or the like, and is electrically connected to a grounding current path. The development unit includes a second guide member being a conveyance guide that guides the paper sheet to the transfer nip portion. The second guide member is formed of a conductive metal or the like. The second guide member has an elastic portion that abuts against the first guide member. The elastic portion is elastically deformable in an attaching and detaching direction of the development unit and in an attaching and detaching direction of the transfer unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a contact unit, and a constant-current controller. The transfer unit nips a recording medium using an image retaining unit and a transfer member and generates a transfer electric field in a transfer region therebetween so as to electrostatically transfer the image onto the recording medium. The contact unit is provided upstream and downstream of the transfer region in a recording-medium transport direction and comes into contact with the recording medium while the recording medium passes through the transfer region, so as to function as an electrode leading to a ground. The constant-current controller performs constant-current control on a transfer current to be fed to the transfer region by using a transfer voltage when the recording medium is a low-resistance recording medium having a predetermined resistance value or lower or having an electrically-conductive layer along a medium base surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer member, a registration roller pair, and a conveyance guide. The conveyance guide includes a first conveyance guide which faces an image-carrier-side surface of the recording medium, and a second conveyance guide which faces a transfer-member-side surface of the recording medium. The second conveyance guide has a main body portion which has a projecting portion which projects toward the first conveyance guide most in a recording-medium conveyance path, and a step portion which is formed adjacent to the projecting portion on a downstream side of the projecting portion, an elastic member which projects toward the first conveyance guide beyond a plane passing through a downstream-side end of the projecting portion and a downstream-side end of the step portion, and a film member which covers the main body portion together with the elastic member.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image carrier, a transfer device, a face-forming member, and a reducing element. The image carrier carries an image. The transfer device is disposed in contact with the image carrier, transports a recording medium, and applies a transfer voltage to a transfer region between the transfer device and the image carrier to transfer the image on the image carrier to the recording medium. The face-forming member is disposed in contact with a back face of the image carrier further upstream than the transfer region, is provided grounded along a direction intersecting the movement direction of the image carrier, and includes a conductive member forming a movement track face of the image carrier leading to the transfer region. The reducing element is provided on a current path going through the face-forming member, and reduces an amount of current leading from the face-forming member to ground.

Abstract: A sheet guiding device includes: a first guiding unit that is grounded and guides a sheet transported; and a second guiding unit that is disposed on a downstream side of the first guiding unit and grounded with a resistance higher than a resistance with which the first guiding unit is grounded, and that guides the sheet transported to the first guiding unit to a transfer position interposed between an image carrier that carries a toner image and a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto the transported sheet by pinching the sheet between the image carrier and the transfer unit and applying an electric field across the image carrier and the transfer unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a plurality of feeding and delivering paths through which a printing medium is delivered to the developing device, a feeding roller unit which forms a developing and delivering path in which the plurality of feeding and delivering paths are joined and delivers the printing medium to the developing device, and a guide unit which guides the printing medium passing through the plurality of feeding and delivering paths to the feeding roller unit and is rotatably provided to expose the plurality of feeding and delivering paths to the outside. In the above configuration, the printing medium jam problems inside the image forming apparatus are easily cleared.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer having an image bearing face to bear an image thereon; a transferer disposed opposing the image bearer, to transfer the image from the image bearing face onto a recording medium at a transfer section between the transferer and the image bearer; a first guide disposed upstream from the transfer section in a direction of delivery of the recording medium, to guide the recording medium to the transfer section; and a second guide upstream from the first guide and spaced away from the first guide, to guide the recording medium to the transfer section. Each of the first guide and the second guide extends in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of delivery. A leading end of the second guide in the direction of delivery is inclined from one end to the other end of the second guide in the lateral direction.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted for presenting a sheet of media to an image transfer structure. The apparatus includes a registration baffle positioned in an offset relationship relative to the image transfer structure and a pre-transfer baffle assembly including a first baffle oppositely disposed to a second baffle, the pre-transfer assembly generally forms an “S” shape and is adapted for guiding the sheet of media from the registration baffle to the image transfer structure. The pre-transfer baffle assembly is arranged in a first position adapted for guiding the sheet of media toward the image transfer structure at an angle of less than ninety degrees, and the pre-transfer baffle automatically begins rotation to a second position as the sheet of media reaches a pre-determined position within a paper path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer section, a transfer bias applying section, a conveyance section, an element, a current measurement section, and a control section. The transfer section forms, in conjunction with the image bearing member, a pressing part where a recording medium is pressed. The transfer bias applying section supplies transfer current to the transfer section to apply a transfer bias to the transfer section. The element conducts when a voltage equal to or greater than a prescribed value is applied thereto. The current measurement section measures a value of leak current. The leak current is a current flowing through the element. The control section controls a value of the transfer current. The control section changes the absolute value of the transfer current based on the absolute value of the leak current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a resistor in a sheet shape configured to ground a sensor member electrically; a first contact member configured to form a current path between the resistor and the sensor member; and a second contact member configured to form a current path between the resistor and an electrical ground portion. A first contact portion and a second contact portion are arranged so as not to overlap in a thickness direction of the resistor.

Abstract: Described is a transfer assist blade for an electrostatographic machine. The electrostatographic machine includes a charging station for charging a copy sheet to attract a developed image from an image bearing surface to a copy sheet wherein said charging station includes a corona generating device. The transfer assist blade includes a wear layer having a surface resistance of greater than about 1010 ohms. The transfer assist blade includes an interior layer having a thickness of from about 150 microns to about 500 microns. The transfer assist blade includes a back layer including a polyethylene terephthalate film having an outer layer including cross-linked aziridine/carboxylated polyester at a weight ratio of from about 0.5/99.5 to about 40/60 and a conductive component, wherein an outer surface of the back layer has a surface resistance of from about 1×108 ohms to about 9.99×108 ohms.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a pushing member pushing an image carrying belt from an inner circumferential side and a guide member guiding a recording medium toward a transfer nip portion formed with an inner-side roller and an outer-side roller. The guide member includes first and second guides and the second guide is provided such that a tip end on the side of the transfer nip portion is positioned further away from the image carrying belt than a reference line that connects a point at which a line connecting the rotational center of the inner-side roller and the rotational center of the outer-side roller intersects with the image carrying belt, and a furthest downstream contact point of a contact area in which the pushing member contacts with the image carrying belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable transfer member rotatably driven while carrying a toner image thereon; a rotary transfer member to form a transfer nip for transferring the toner image to a recording medium; a housing rotatable about a first rotation center together with the rotary transfer member and switching between a closed state and an open state by the rotation about the first rotation center; a guide member to guide the recording medium conveyed through a conveyance path toward upstream in the direction of rotation of the rotatable transfer member than the transfer nip; a support frame to support the rotatable transfer member; a biasing member to bias the guide member; and a receiving part, disposed on the support frame, configured to contact the guide member biased by the biasing member and position the guide member in the closed state of the housing.

Abstract: A recording medium conveying mechanism includes a conveying guide, a guide member, and a rotating mechanism. The conveying guide conveys recording paper to a nip zone between a mountable/demountable intermediate transfer unit and a secondary transfer roller. The guide member acting as a part of the conveying guide is rotated by the rotating mechanism so that a tip thereof is disposed up to a position just adjacent to the nip zone when the intermediate transfer unit is mounted in the apparatus main body. When the intermediate transfer unit is mounted/demounted in/from the apparatus main body, the guide member is rotated up to a position at which the tip thereof does not exceed an arrangement position of the intermediate transfer belt portion in a conveying direction of the recording paper, in a movement direction of the intermediate transfer unit during the mounting/demounting.

Abstract: A transfer assist member comprising a plurality of layers, one of the layers being a check film layer comprised of a thermoplastic layer present on a polymer layer.

Abstract: There is described a transfer assist blade for an electrostatographic machine. The transfer assist blade includes a wear layer for contacting a copy sheet, an interior layer having a thickness of from about 150 microns to about 500 microns and a back layer comprising a thermoset polyimide having dispersed therein carbon particles such that an out surface of the back layer has a surface resistance of from about 1×108 ohms to about 9.99×108 ohms.

Abstract: A drum cartridge including: a photosensitive drum; and a guide member configured to guide a recording medium towards the photosensitive drum and including, a first guide member having flexibility, extending towards the photosensitive drum, and having a guide surface configured to guide the recording medium, and a second guide member having flexibility, contacting a surface of the first guide member opposite to the guide surface, and supporting the first guide member, the second guide member including, a first part extending towards the photosensitive drum, and a second part bent continuously from a downstream end of the first part in a guide direction and extending towards a transfer position side, wherein, in the guide direction, a downstream end of the first guide member is arranged downstream of the downstream end of the first part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding body on which a toner image is formed; a transfer unit that functions to transfer the toner image formed on the image holding body onto a recording medium; and an adjusting unit that adjusts a gap between the transfer unit and the image holding body based on the rigidity of the recording medium, the recording medium being conveyed through the gap with respect to the image holding body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier on which a developer image is formed, a transfer roller disposed to be in contact with the image carrier to form a transfer nip and to transfer the developer image formed on the image carrier onto a print medium, a print medium guide member to guide the print medium that has passed through the transfer nip to a fixing unit, and a print medium supporting member rotatably disposed between the transfer roller and the print medium guide member, and comprising a first contacting portion to be in contact with the print medium that has passed through the transfer nip and a second contacting portion that, when the first contacting portion is rotated by the print medium, is rotated integrally with the first contacting portion so as to be in contact with a rear surface of the print medium.

Abstract: A transfer assist member comprising a plurality of layers, one of the layers being a check film layer comprised of a crosslinked mixture of urea-glyoxal resins, and polyester polyols present on a support polymer layer.

Abstract: There is described a transfer assist blade for an electrostatographic machine. The transfer assist blade includes a wear layer for contacting a copy sheet, an interior layer having a thickness of from about 150 microns to about 500 microns and a back layer comprising a thermoset polyimide having dispersed therein carbon particles such that an out surface of the back layer has a surface resistance of from about 1×108 ohms to about 9.99×108 ohms.

Abstract: A transfer assist member comprising a plurality of layers, one of the layers being a check film layer comprised of a crosslinked mixture of aminoplast resins, and polyester polyols present on a support polymer layer.

Abstract: A transfer assist member comprising a plurality of layers, one of the layers being a check film layer comprised of a thermoplastic layer present on a polymer layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus member, a toner image forming unit including a housing that accommodates at least one of a toner image retainer to retain a toner image and a toner retainer to supply a toner to the toner image retainer, and a recording medium transport unit including a transport belt, having an endless shape, that is openably and closably mounted to the image forming apparatus member and transports a recording medium with being wound between a pair of support rollers provided along a transport direction of the recording medium, and a regulation member that faces the transport belt to regulate a posture of the recording medium, wherein when the recording medium transport unit is closed with respect to the image forming apparatus member, the regulation member is positioned to come into contact with the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a transfer member, which form a transfer nip portion, and a guide member for guiding a sheet to the transfer nip portion. The guide member includes a rigid restricting member including a guide surface, a cut portion formed at a leading edge part of the guide surface, and a sheet-like elastic restricting member to cover the cut portion. The elastic restricting member includes an end edge portion extending straight in the sheet width direction on a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction. A ridge defining the leading edge part of the guide surface is a ridge extending straight in the sheet width direction, and the end edge portion of the elastic restricting member is arranged at a position shifted toward an upstream side in the sheet conveying direction from the ridge of the guide surface.

Abstract: In a transfer device, a flexible guide plate is disposed in a position upstream relative to a transfer position along a medium conveyance path, such that a first side of the guide plate faces to a recording medium being conveyed along the medium conveyance path. The guide plate has a downstream end portion that is angled by bending the guide plate. A support frame supports an upstream end portion of the guide plate and extends in a downstream direction beyond the downstream end portion to form an extension portion which is disposed opposite to a second side of the guide plate and toward which the downstream end portion extends obliquely downstream. The extension portion has a recess/hole formed in a position separated in an upstream direction from a first edge of the extension portion, to allow the downstream end portion to be moved without being blocked by the extension portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a transfer roller configured to form a nip portion; and a sheet guide that is configured to guide a recording sheet. The sheet guide comprises: a conductor configured to face the recording sheet, and insulating ribs that are arranged corresponding to a printing area of the recording sheet in a width direction and are configured to protrude from the conductor to guide the recording sheet. The conductor comprises: a central portion, and a pair of end portions and are configured to protrude towards the recording sheet from a virtual plane extending from the central portion in the width direction. Protrusion amounts of the end portions with respect to the central portion are smaller than a protrusion amount of each rib from the central portion of the conductor.

Abstract: In a transfer device, a first side of a flexible guide plate faces to a recording medium being conveyed along a medium conveyance path to guide the recording medium toward an image carrying member. A support frame supports an upstream end portion of the guide plate, and includes an opposite portion disposed from and opposite to a second side (reverse to the first side) of the guide plate and a rib configured to protrude from the opposite portion toward the medium conveyance path. The rib has a first edge which is positioned at an upstream side and beyond which the guide plate protrudes downstream. The rib has an inclined surface extending from the first edge in a direction obliquely downstream toward the image carrying member. The guide plate includes an indentation to allow the guide plate to be deflected without being blocked by the rib.

Abstract: A paper stripping member is removably supported by a supporting member disposed facing a circumferential surface of a photoreceptor drum, and strips a paper sheet off the circumferential surface. The paper stripping member includes an acute-shaped stripping nail, a holding member and a cover member. The holding member is configured removably from the supporting member, and holds the stripping nail in such a manner that the stripping nail extends toward the circumferential surface. The cover member is configured removably from the holding member, and covers at least part of the stripping nail in the extending direction of the stripping nail in a state where the cover member is attached to the holding member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a primary transfer body that bears a developer image, a secondary transfer portion for transferring the developer image from the primary transfer body to a medium, and an introduction portion provided on an upstream side of the secondary transfer portion in a conveying direction of the medium. The introduction portion introduces the primary transfer portion and the medium toward the secondary transfer portion. The introduction portion has a gap having a predetermined distance therebetween.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a plurality of rollers, a rotatable intermediate transfer belt wound around and stretched between the rollers, a transfer member disposed in the inner loop of the belt and facing an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus disposed at an outer circumference of the belt, to transfer an image formed onto the surface of the image bearing member when contacting the intermediate transfer belt, and a position adjuster to adjust the position of the intermediate transfer belt at different positions relative to the image bearing member. The positions include a contact state in which the intermediate transfer belt applied with a predetermined tension contacts the image bearing member, a first separation state in which the tensioned intermediate transfer belt separates from the image bearing member, and a second separation state in which the intermediate transfer belt separates further away from the image bearing member.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a transfer roller which transfers developer on an image carrier onto a recording medium conveyed along a conveyance path, a supporting frame which is provided at an upstream of a transferring portion where the image carrier and the transfer roller are closest, in the conveyance path, and is provided at a side of the transfer roller with respect to the conveyance path, a flexible guide member which has a thin plate shape, and is attached to the supporting frame at an upstream of the transferring portion in the conveyance path to guide the record medium to the transferring portion, and a inflexible protrusion supporting member which is provided on the supporting frame between the transferring portion and the guide member in the conveyance path, and which protrudes toward the conveyance path to support a trailing edge of the record medium after passing the guide member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet guide to guide a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image with toner having a flow beginning temperature of equal to or less than 130° C. to a transfer nip between an image bearing member and a transfer roller. The sheet guide is disposed to satisfy the following relation: Y1·?1??2?Y2·?1, where Y1=0.5 and Y2=3, and ?1 is a central angle of a first arc corresponding to a width of the transfer nip on the image bearing member, and ?2 is a central angle of a second arc of the outer circumference of the image bearing member with a beginning point of the second arc being a place at which the recording medium comes into contact with the image bearing member and an end point of the second arc being a start of the transfer nip.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a transfer roller which transfers developer on an image carrier onto a conveyed recording medium at a transferring portion, a supporting frame, a flexible guide member attached to the supporting frame to guide the record medium to the transferring portion, and a inflexible protrusion supporting member which is provided on the supporting frame between the transferring portion and the guide member and protrudes to support a trailing edge of the record medium after passing the guide member. The guide member includes a swing portion which is provided at one end side at a downstream thereof. The protrusion supporting member is provided to abut the guide member while the guide member does not protrude from the protrusion supporting member to a side of the transferring portion when the swing portion of the guide member swings by abutting the record medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image carrier; a first image forming unit that forms an image; an intermediate transfer belt; a primary transfer unit that primarily transfers the image onto the intermediate transfer belt; a secondary transfer unit that secondarily transfers the image transferred further onto a recording medium; a second image carrier that transfers the image onto the recording medium; a second image forming unit that forms an image on the second image carrier; a direct transfer unit that directly transfers the image onto the recording medium; a recording medium carriage belt, and a driving roller that drives the recording medium carriage belt; a speed fluctuation detecting unit; and a drive control unit that controls driving of the driving roller so as to reduce the cyclic speed fluctuation of the carriage belt based on a detection result of the speed fluctuation detecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus include a main body and a conveyance unit. The main body includes an image carrier forming a toner image on a surface, a roller locating portion formed on both axial ends of the image carrier, and a guide locating portion formed in proximity to the roller locating portion. The conveyance unit is mounted to open and close on the main body, and includes a transfer roller unit, a conveyance guide, and a biasing member. The transfer roller unit has a transfer roller forming a transfer nip portion with the image carrier, and a separation lever configured to provide pivotal support for the transfer roller and being disposed to rotate. The conveyance guide is configured to guide a sheet of paper to the transfer nip portion, includes a regulating portion. The biasing member is configured to bias the conveyance guide toward the guide locating portion.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention includes a curved sheet conveying path provided between an upstream rotating member pair and a downstream rotating member pair, an elastic member, provided between the upstream rotating member pair and the downstream rotating member pair, configured to guide the sheet and to deform by being pressed by a rear end portion of the sheet conveyed by the downstream rotating member pair, a fixing portion configured to fix the elastic member, and a supporting portion, provided downstream of the fixing portion in the conveying direction, configured to support the elastic member from an opposite side of a guide surface of the elastic member guiding the conveyed sheet so that a portion of the elastic member between the fixing portion and the support portion is deflected along the curved sheet conveying path.

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 can form a high-quality image without a toner image being rubbed with and transferred onto a sheet.

Abstract: An imaging forming device and a constrained transfer assist blade (CTAB) that provides for faster printing speeds, with an improved image-to-edge border specification is disclosed. An upper blade layer constrains pressure blades towards a lifter assembly in order to prevent the lower lying pressure blades from delaminating and a wear layer is formed around outer edges of the blade. Faster response times and improved trail edge flip defects as well as printing closer to the sheet edges is enabled.

Abstract: A structure to guide a take-in direction of a print medium to be taken in a carrying part where the print medium is carried, the structure includes: a guide unit which changes a travel direction of the print medium from a feeding direction, in which the print medium is supplied from a medium feeding unit, to the take-in direction of the print medium; and a vibration damper which prevents a bottom part of the print medium from shaking and vibrating when the print medium is free from the guide unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image onto a recording material, a fixing unit that fixes the toner image to the recording material, a transport unit that includes a rotary member that transports the recording material from the transfer unit to the fixing unit and a recording material guiding portion that has first protruding portions extending along a recording material transport direction, and a charge eliminating unit that is disposed between the transfer unit and transport unit and eliminates charge on the recording material. The charge eliminating unit includes a first charge eliminating portion having pointed projections, and a second charge eliminating portion that is disposed on a downstream side of the first charge eliminating portion in the recording material transport direction and is disposed to be out of contact with the recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photosensitive members which each carry a developer image, transfer members which attract the developer images from the photosensitive members; a sheet housing unit which houses recording sheets; a recording sheet feeding mechanism, which feeds out a recording sheet from within the sheet housing unit and a guide member, which guides the sheet fed out by the recording sheet feeding mechanism towards a position between the photosensitive member and the transfer member. The guide member has a conductive member, which is brought into abutment with a leading end portion of a recording sheet while the recording sheet still remains in the sheet housing unit, and which is grounded electrically and insulation members which the recording sheet is brought into abutment when the leading end portion of the sheet reaches the transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt member which bears a toner image, a transfer portion for forming a transfer nip portion, a changing unit for changing an advancing angle of the belt member advancing into the transfer nip portion, a guide member which is arranged at an upstream side of the transfer nip portion in a recording material conveying direction and face to a untransfered face of the recording material and guide a recording material to the transfer nip portion, and a controller for controlling the changing unit so that a belt face advancing into the transfer nip portion and conveying a recording material having a first thickness is at a position farther from the guide member than the belt face advancing into the transfer nip portion and conveying a recording material having a second thickness smaller than the first thickness.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image carrier, provided to a main body of the image forming apparatus, that carries a toner image; an opening and closing member provided to be openable and closable against the main body; a transfer unit movably provided against the opening and closing member, the transfer unit including: a transfer body transferring the toner image onto a transfer receiving medium; and a holding member holding the transfer body and having a contact portion that is in contact with a counterpart contact portion provided to the main body when the opening and closing member is closed; and a maintaining unit maintaining a posture of the transfer unit against the opening and closing member when the contact portion is brought into contact with the counterpart contact portion during the course of transition of the opening and closing member from an opened state to the closed state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; an endless rotatable intermediary transfer belt onto which the toner image is to be transferred from the image bearing member; a transfer device disposed at a position in which the transfer device opposes the image bearing member through the intermediary transfer belt, the transfer device including a sheet member surface-contacted to an inner surface of the intermediary transfer belt and including an urging member for urging the sheet member toward the intermediary transfer belt; and a primary transfer voltage source for applying a voltage to the sheet member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that directly transfers an image onto a transfer sheet; an intermediate transfer member onto which an image is transferred; a secondary image forming unit that transfers an image onto the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer unit that transfers the image on the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet; a fixing unit that fixes an image on the transfer sheet at a fixation position; and a guide member that guides the transfer sheet to the fixation position.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus and method to use a fuser speed algorithm to engage a web print media to a rotatable image carrier (PR) during transfer of toner to paper without additional parts or tight web requirement. The fuser speed algorithm can drive the web through a sheet fed printer efficiently by only using the fuser nip as the main drive. The fuser speed algorithm leverages the advantage of fuser speed to enable the required speed and tension at transfer for proper engagement, then release tension to create slack web at transfer so the PR drives create a buckle zone prior to the fuser system. The fuser speed algorithm drives the fuser at the nominal desired speed which is slower than PR speed to maintain the buckle zone.