Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is primarily transferred; a driving roller configured to supply a driving force to the belt; a tension roller provided to be movable with respect to the driving roller to apply tension to the belt; a secondary transfer roller configured to transfer the toner image transferred to the belt onto a sheet; and a guide member configured to guide the sheet to a nip position between the secondary transfer roller and the belt. The driving roller is provided to support a downstream end of the belt in a direction in which the toner image is conveyed. The secondary transfer roller opposes the tension roller. The guide member is connected to the tension roller so as to follow a movement of the tension roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a visible image detecting unit, a shielding part, a conveying passage, and a medium contact part. The visible image detecting unit includes a detecting part and detects a visible image, and the detecting part is disposed to face the image holding member. The shielding part is supported to be movable between a shielding position where the detecting part is shielded, and a detection permitting position where the detecting part is exposed. The medium contact part is supported to be movable between an entry position where the medium contact part enters a conveying passage, and a medium contact position where the medium contact part comes into contact with a medium and recedes from the entry position. The image forming apparatus moves the shielding part while interlocking with the movement of the medium contact part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, a toner image carrier, a transfer unit, and a contact-separate mechanism. The image forming mechanism forms a toner image. The toner image carrier carries the toner image. The transfer unit includes a transferor, a pre-transfer guide, and a post-transfer guide. The transferor opposes the toner image carrier to form a transfer nip at which the toner image on the toner image carrier is transferred onto a recording medium. The pre-transfer guide and the post-transfer guide are respectively disposed on upstream and downstream sides from the transfer nip relative to a recording medium conveyance direction. The contact-separate mechanism moves the transfer unit including the transferor, the pre-transfer guide, and the post-transfer guide to contact and separate the transferor to and from the toner image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carrier unit including an intermediate transfer member, a detachable waste toner container, and a recording-medium directing member provided to the carrier unit. The recording-medium directing member guides a recording medium, and also prevents the waste toner container from contacting the intermediate transfer member when the waste toner container is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: When a TAB assembly is used in the transfer station of an electrostatic marking system, the blade used in the TABs becomes deformed or improperly aligned due to lateral movement of the clamp, held by rivets, which is used to maintain proper blade alignment. Provided herein is a simple, yet effective, way to secure this clamp with embedded burrs so that the useful life of the TAB is more than doubled over prior art TABs.

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 device includes a casing, a photosensitive drum, a transfer roller, a first guide member, and a second guide member. The first guide member is disposed upstream of the transfer point between the photosensitive drum and the transfer roller in a conveying direction of the recording medium and selectively movable between a first position and a second position. The second guide member is disposed between the first guide member and the transfer point and selectively movable between a third position and a fourth position farther from the photosensitive drum than the third position. The second guide member is movable in association with the movement of the first guide member in such a manner that when the first guide member is disposed in the first position, the second guide member is disposed in the third position for guiding the recording medium received from the first guide member to move toward the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a transfer roller; two registration rollers feeding a recording medium to a transfer nip where the transfer roller is in contact with an image bearing member; a transfer conveying-path through which the recording medium is fed from a registration nip formed by the registration rollers to the transfer nip; a lower guide defining a lower side of the transfer conveying-path and having an uppermost portion protruding upwardly at a position upstream of the transfer nip; and a biasing member provided at an upper side of the transfer conveying-path and between the uppermost portion and the registration rollers, and biasing the recording medium downwardly when it is fed through the registration rollers. The biasing member is movable upwardly relative to a pressing force of the recording medium that is fed through the transfer conveying-path.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner image formed on an intermediate transfer belt is transferred to a transfer sheet by a transfer electric field generated between a secondary transfer roller and a driving roller. A guide surface of a pre-transfer guide and a flat portion of the intermediate transfer belt form an angle of no less than 13° and no greater than 17°, and a distance from a tip of the guide surface and the flat portion is no less than 1.0 mm and no greater than 3.0 mm.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for transporting a recording medium on which an image is formed includes a guide plate. The guide plate guides the recording medium to a predetermined position in the image forming apparatus and includes a flexible sheet member and a rigid holding member. The rigid holding member holds the flexible sheet member such that the flexible sheet member projects from a front end of the rigid holding member. The projecting portion of the flexible sheet member includes at least three flexible sub-portions having a different bend-stiffness per unit area from each other, and the bend-stiffness per unit area is reduced toward a downstream side in a sheet guide direction.

Abstract: A structure for a transport path for a recording material within a transfer portion varies between a margin-less print mode and a normal print mode. A necessity of cleaning of a transfer member also varies between both modes. Thus, provided is an image forming apparatus in which the structure of the transfer portion is switched between the normal print and the margin-less print, and the margin-less print cannot be carried out with a structure of the transfer portion for the normal print. This is because, when the so-called margin-less print is carried out with the structure of the transfer portion for the normal print, there is a possibility that an image defect of a print image to be outputted is caused, or a stain of toner on a rear surface of the recording material is caused.

Abstract: An improved flag-actuator (actuator) is provided for use in an electrophotographic marking system. This actuator is reversible providing sides 1 and 2, thereby about doubling the useful life of the actuator. Each side 1 and 2 is mounted at different positions on a shaft and permits a much wider range of actuator adjustment than prior art units. Depending upon a tolerance stack-up within the marking system, the user can determine whether to use either side 1 or side 2. The use of this reversible asymmetrical and eccentric actuator allows for the setting of start actuation for nearly double the tolerance stack-up.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: an image forming section to form a toner image on an image carrier; a transfer section to transfer onto a transfer medium the toner image formed on the image carrier; and a pair of opposing transfer guide members to guide the transfer medium into the transfer section, wherein a front edge of one transfer guide member, arranged on a side of the image carrier out of the pair of the transfer guide members, is disposed separately from the other transfer guide member, and one side portion of the front edge of the transfer guide member is more protruded than the other side portion into a conveying direction of the transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming device is disclosed that can control image blurring, image contraction, and the like when resilient transfer media such as cardboard is to be transported upward from a pair of resist rollers and guided to a transfer position, and obtain a suitable transfer image. Transfer media is transported upward by resist rollers, and guided toward a transfer position by a pair of guide plates. Because tip of a resilient transfer medium such as cardboard may spring back to its original shape after it separates from the resist rollers, one guide plate is urged toward the transfer position by spring members, and can absorb the springing of the transfer media back to its original shape by pivoting away from the transfer position, and thus can reduce the occurrences of image blurring or the like.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member. A transfer member forms a nip with the image bearing member and transfers a toner image to a surface of a transfer sheet guided to the nip. A guide is immediately upstream of the nip in a sheet conveying direction. The guide is in sliding contact with one side of the transfer sheet and guides the transfer sheet to the nip. The guide includes a rigid member having a flat surface along the sheet conveying direction. A cutout is formed in the flat surface of the rigid member. The guide also has a flat elastic member placed on the flat surface of the rigid member to cover the cutout and to be held in sliding contact with the transfer sheet.

Abstract: A transferer, including a guide member having a plate-shaped guide face and leading a transfer material after a toner is transferred thereonto, wherein the guide member has an edge pointing to the feeding direction of the transfer material and having plural comb-like structures perpendicular to the feeding direction thereof.

Abstract: Alignment nip regulation may be implemented by controlling the approach of media to an alignment nip. Where media is fed from a plurality of sources and from a plurality of approach angles through a common alignment nip, nip entry may be controlled by focusing the media through a diverter or a jog in an existing path to alter the course followed by the media sheets. The diverter may be configured to direct the media sheets to a contact point at or near the alignment nip, such as on a roller that forms the alignment nip. Alternatively, media sheets arriving at the nip from separate conduits may be separately directed to a common contact point near the alignment nip. In either case, one or more sensors may detect the approach of the media sheets at a time when the sheets are a common, predetermined distance away from the alignment nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a primary transfer section which transfers a toner image formed in an image forming section onto an intermediate transfer belt; a back-up roller arranged on an inner periphery side of the intermediate transfer belt; a secondary transfer roller that is in pressure contact with the back-up roller through the intermediate transfer belt and transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt onto a transfer material while conveying the transfer material; a moving mechanism which moves a position where the secondary transfer roller is in contact with the back-up roller through the intermediate transfer belt; and a controller which controls the moving mechanism based on information relating to a thickness of the transfer material obtained by a thickness information obtaining section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a transfer section for transferring a toner image on an image bearing member onto a transfer material; a conveyor for conveying the transfer material to a transfer position; a first guide for forming a guiding surface in the image bearing member side on a conveyance path between the transfer position and the conveyor; and a second guide for forming a guiding surface opposed to the first guide, wherein the first guide includes a support member and a guiding member, which is supported by the support member and projected from the support member in a down stream side of a conveyance direction, the guiding member having a moving portion capable of elastically being deformed, and wherein the guiding member is formed so that a thickness of the guiding member becomes thin from an upper stream of the conveyance direction to a downstream of the conveyance direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that supports an image, a contact transfer member that sandwiches a transfer medium in a transfer area between the contact transfer member and the image carrier and electrostatically transfers the image on the image carrier onto the transfer medium, and a transfer medium guiding device to guide the transfer medium to the transfer area between the image carrier and the contact transfer member.

Abstract: In an image-forming device including a photosensitive drum, a transfer roller, and a guide plate for guiding a recording sheet toward the photosensitive drum, a sponge is disposed between the guide plate and a transfer position where a developer image on the photosensitive drum is transferred to the recording sheet. The sponge can receive the trailing edge of the paper leaving the guide plate to suppress flapping of the trailing edge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a transfer assist mechanism is disclosed. The transfer assist mechanism includes a first blade holder having a first blade, second blade holders having corresponding second blades, and a first slide engaging member and a second slide engaging member which engage the first and second blade holders. When the first slide engaging member and the second slide engaging member are moved corresponding to the width of a continuous recording medium, the first blade holder and some of the second blade holders are selected corresponding to the width of the continuous recording medium, and the first blade and some of the second blades corresponding to the selected some of the second blade holders press the continuous recording medium.

Abstract: A first guide member and a second guide member, which are flexible, are disposed at an upstream side of a transfer position. The first guide member is fixed at a first base end at an upstream side of a first leading end so that the first leading end is closer to a photosensitive drum at the upstream side of the transfer position. The second guide member is fixed at a second base end at an upstream side of a second leading end so that the second leading end is closer to the photosensitive drum between the first leading end and the transfer position. A first plane connecting the first leading end and the first base end and a second plane connecting the second leading end and the second base end, are made to cross each other at an upstream side of the first base end.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a photosensitive drum, a transfer roller, a guide plate for guiding the paper toward the photosensitive drum, and a sponge fixed to the bottom surface of the guide plate. The sponge is softer than the guide plate, so that it can absorb vibrations in the guide plate when the trailing edge of the paper leaves the guide plate.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a photosensitive drum, a transfer roller, a guide plate for guiding the paper toward the photosensitive drum, and a seat for supporting one end portion of the guide plate, for allowing another end portion of the guide plate to be deformable. A sponge is fixed to the bottom surface of the guide plate to expose at least the deformation part, so that the sponge can reduce the occurrence of paper jams. The sponge absorbs vibrations in the guide plate.

Abstract: An improved detack corotron reduces the likelihood of a paper jam arising from a curled paper edge getting caught in the corotron. The detack corotron includes an electrically conductive coronode having a plurality of field emitters, each field emitter having a terminating end, the terminating ends of the field emitters being spatially separated from one another, and a paper edge guide having a plurality of generally planar members, the generally planar members being perpendicular to the conductive coronode and the generally planar members having a height that extends above the terminating ends of the field emitters.

Abstract: When a TAB assembly is used in the transfer station of an electrostatic marking system, the blade used in the TABs becomes deformed or improperly aligned due to lateral movement of the clamp, held by rivets, which is used to maintain proper blade alignment. Provided herein is a simple, yet effective, way to secure this clamp with embedded burrs so that the useful life of the TAB is more than doubled over prior art TABs.

Abstract: A guide unit 24 includes an electrically conducting guide plate 25 disposed upstream of the transfer unit 20 that transports toner image transfer sheets between the image carrier 7 and the transfer unit 20, an electrically insulating support member 26 that supports the guide plate 25, an electrically conducting connecting member 30 installed on the support member 26, electrically connected to a ground plate 33, and a non-linear element 31 directly or indirectly electrically connected between the guide plate 25 and the connecting member 30. Further, if a voltage equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied between the guide plate 25 and the connecting member 30, the resistance value is reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include a transfer assist blade that is adapted to bias media toward a marking device. The transfer assist blade has a plurality of movable blade segments that overlap one another. In one embodiment, a first movable blade segment (comprising a first wear layer and a first underlying layer beneath the first wear layer) overlies a second movable blade segment (comprising a second wear layer and a second underlying layer beneath the first wear layer). More specifically, in this embodiment, a portion of the first wear layer overlaps a portion of the second wear layer.

Abstract: An endless belt is supported by a plurality of rollers. A transfer roller comes in contact with an outer surface of the belt to form a transfer nip. An auxiliary member makes contact with a recording medium on an upstream side of the transfer nip in a movement direction of the belt, to cause the recording medium to be in close contact with the outer surface of the belt. A bias applying unit applies to the auxiliary member a bias for electrostatically transferring a toner adhered to the auxiliary member to the outer surface of the belt.

Abstract: A process cartridge according to one aspect of the invention comprises: an image carrier configured to carry a developer image and having a transfer position capable of transferring the developer image to a recording sheet; and an elastically-deformable cantilever-shaped guide plate including a distal end portion being unsupported, and having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface. A leading end of the recording sheet is guided on the first surface in a conveying direction, such that the leading end is guided toward the transfer position after the leading end is brought into contact with the image carrier. The distal end portion of the guide plate is bent toward the second surface side to form a bent portion.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image-bearing member supporting a toner image, a transfer portion at which the toner image on the image-bearing member is transferred on a sheet; and first and second guides that guide the sheet to the transfer portion and respectively have first and second contact portions so that a surface of the sheet on which the toner image is transferred contacts these portions. The first contact portion is located at an upstream side of the second contact portion in a sheet-conveying direction. After a rear end of the sheet passes the first contact portion, the rear end of sheet passes the second contact portion while bending the second guide toward the image-bearing member. The second guide is bent from a position of an upstream side in the sheet-conveying direction with respect to a position of the first contact portion which the rear end of the sheet finally contacts when the rear end of the sheet passes the first contact portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a guide unit including: a length-adjusting assembly including a length-adjusting rack part, which is adjusted according to a length of printing medium; a width-adjusting assembly including a width-adjusting rack part, which is adjusted according to a width of printing medium; and a pinion assembly, which interlocks the width-adjusting assembly interlock with the length-adjusting assembly. The pinion assembly includes a first pinion part, which engages with the length-adjusting rack, and a second pinion part, which engages with the width-adjusting rack and rotates together with the first pinion part. The first pinion part and the second pinion part have a stepped shape.

Abstract: A paper guide device which guides a sheet of paper fed to a nip between an image belt and a transfer roller and an image forming apparatus including the same. The paper guide device includes a first convey guiding unit arranged within a predetermined space from an image belt to firstly guiding the paper to a nip between the image belt and a transfer roller. A second convey guiding unit is arranged on the first convey guiding unit to contact the image belt to secondly guide the paper to the nip without contacting the image belt. The device accurately guides the paper to the nip without contacting the image transfer belt.

Abstract: A transfer device for transferring a toner image formed on an image carrier onto a recording sheet includes a transfer assisting blade adapted to abut the recording sheet and press the recording sheet against the image carrier, the transfer assisting blade having a slant formed in a transverse direction of the blade at a front end of the blade which end is for abutment against the recording sheet, the slant having an angle relative to an advancing direction of the recording sheet.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing system having an apparatus for improving image fidelity is disclosed. The electrophotographic printing system includes a photosensitive drum, a first and second retractors and a paper presser. The first and second retractors position a sheet of printing paper within a first and second predetermined distances, respectively, from the photosensitive drum. The paper presser, which is operatively secured to the second retractor, presses the printing paper firmly against the photosensitive drum when developed toner images on said photosensitive drum are being transferred onto the printing paper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a transfer member urging unit that urges a transfer member to an image bearing drum at a line pressure of 18.62×10?3 N/mm or less and 2.47×10?3 N/mm or more, the line pressure being taken along a direction perpendicular to a recording material conveying direction.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include a transfer assist blade that is adapted to bias media toward a marking device. The transfer assist blade is somewhat flexible and has a media contact edge positioned adjacent the marking device. The shape of the media contact edge comprises a curved shape. More specifically, the transfer assist blade assembly comprises a base and a transfer assist blade operatively connected to (or made an integral part of) the base. The curved media contact edge of the transfer assist blade comprises a center portion and end portions distal to the center portion, and the center portion extends a different distance from the base than the end portions extend from the base. Thus, the shape of the media contact edge can comprise one of a convex shape, a concave shape, and an irregular shape.

Abstract: A guiding member is disposed at a frame upstream of a transfer roller in a conveying direction, thereby guiding a recording medium to a transfer position. The guiding member has front and back surfaces. A guiding portion of the guiding member is configured to contact the recording medium for guiding the recording medium to the transfer position. The base portion is positioned upstream of the guiding portion in the conveying direction. The base portion is formed with at least one through-hole having an inner edge. The frame includes a supporting portion and a protruding portion. The supporting portion is configured to contact the back surface of the guiding member, thereby supporting the guiding member. The protruding portion protrudes through the at least one through-hole and engages with the inner edge, thereby fixing the base portion of the guiding member to the frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member. A transfer member forms a nip with the image bearing member and transfers a toner image to a surface of a transfer sheet guided to the nip. A guide is immediately upstream of the nip in a sheet conveying direction. The guide is in sliding contact with one side of the transfer sheet and guides the transfer sheet to the nip. The guide includes a rigid member having a flat surface along the sheet conveying direction. A cutout is formed in the flat surface of the rigid member. The guide also has a flat elastic member placed on the flat surface of the rigid member to cover the cutout and to be held in sliding contact with the transfer sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: an image forming section to form a toner image on an image carrier; a transfer section to transfer onto a transfer medium the tone image formed on the image carrier; and a pair of opposing transfer guide members to guide the transfer medium into the transfer section, wherein a front edge of one transfer guide member, arranged on a side of the image carrier out of the pair of the transfer guide members, is disposed separately from the other transfer guide member, and one side portion of the front edge of the transfer guide member is more protruded than the other side portion into a conveying direction of the transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming device is disclosed that can control image blurring, image contraction, and the like when resilient transfer media such as cardboard is to be transported upward from a pair of resist rollers and guided to a transfer position, and obtain a suitable transfer image. Transfer media is transported upward by resist rollers, and guided toward a transfer position by a pair of guide plates. Because tip of a resilient transfer medium such as cardboard may spring back to its original shape after it separates from the resist rollers, one guide plate is urged toward the transfer position by spring members, and can absorb the springing of the transfer media back to its original shape by pivoting away from the transfer position, and thus can reduce the occurrences of image blurring or the like.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms a toner image on a transfer material, including: an image carrier which carries a toner image; a transfer section which transfers the toner images carried on the image carrier onto a transfer material; and a guide section having paired guide surfaces whose guide surfaces guide the transfer material to a transfer position of the transfer section while supporting the transfer material in between; wherein an end of one of the paired guide surfaces, which is closer to the image carrier than another one of the paired guide surfaces, has an elastic extension guide member, and a tear resistance of an leading portion of the elastic extension guide member is greater than the tear resistance of other portions of the elastic extension guide member.

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: A process cartridge includes (a) an image carrier for carrying a developer image; (b) a transfer roller for transferring the developer image onto a recording medium; (c) a winding preventer for preventing the recording medium from winding around the transfer roller; and (d) a cover which covers the transfer roller and which has an opposed surface opposed to the transfer roller. The winding preventer has a contact surface extending from the opposed surface toward the transfer roller, such that a leading edge of the recording medium is held in contact with the contact surface when the recording medium is pulled into between an outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller and the opposed surface of the cover. The opposed surface includes an immediately upstream portion which is immediately upstream of the contact surface as seen in a rotational direction of the transfer roller. An angle formed between the contact surface and the immediately upstream portion is acute.

Abstract: A guide unit 24 includes an electrically conducting guide plate 25 disposed upstream of the transfer unit 20 that transports toner image transfer sheets between the image carrier 7 and the transfer unit 20, an electrically insulating support member 26 that supports the guide plate 25, an electrically conducting connecting member 30 installed on the support member 26, electrically connected to a ground plate 33, and a non-linear element 31 directly or indirectly electrically connected between the guide plate 25 and the connecting member 30. Further, if a voltage equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied between the guide plate 25 and the connecting member 30, the resistance value is reduced.

Abstract: There are provided an image bearing member on which an electrostatic image is formed, a development unit that is detachably attachable relative to a main body of the apparatus and that develops the electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member, using developer, a positioning unit that positions the development unit relative to the image bearing member, a transfer unit that transfers a developer image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording medium at a transfer position, and a conveyance guide member that guides the recording medium which is being conveyed toward the transfer position. The conveyance guide member is made of material which is greater in rigidity than a frame member of the development unit, and is disposed on the frame member of the development unit.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has an image bearing member for bearing a toner, a transfer device which forms a transfer area in cooperation with the image bearing member for transferring the toner on the image bearing member onto a recording material, a charge elimination device which is opposed to the recording material at an upstream side of the transfer area in a conveying direction of the recording material thereby eliminating a charge on the recording material, and a control device which controls the recording material so as to form a loop in a position opposed to the charge elimination device, wherein the recording material forms a loop by the control device thereby approaching to the charge elimination device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image forming unit, a primary transfer belt, and a secondary transferer. The image forming unit includes an image carrier and a primary transfer bias applicator. The secondary transferer includes a secondary transfer nip, a secondary transfer bias applicator, and a facing member facing the second transfer bias applicator. The secondary transfer bias applicator forms a secondary transfer electric field. The image forming apparatus further includes a bias applicator, a contact start site, and an electrode. The bias applicator applies a bias voltage having a same polarity as the normal charge polarity of the toner to the primary transfer belt, downstream of the primary transfer bias applicator. The recording medium starts to contact the toner image at the contact start site, located upstream of the secondary transfer nip, where the electrode forms an electric field.

Abstract: Devices and methods for directing a media sheet along a media path within an image forming apparatus. The media path includes rollers that form a media nip, one or more deflectors, and a transport belt. The media nip conveys the media sheet along the media path into one or more deflectors. The one or more deflectors are positioned between the nip and the transport belt. The one or more deflectors control the angle of the media sheet as it approaches the transport belt and facilitates attachment of the media sheet to the transport belt. The transport belt then moves the media sheet past one or more image forming units and receives a toner image.