Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with a transfer device includes a separator, a post-transfer-residual-quantity acquirer, and a controller. The transfer device transfers an image formed on an image carrier to a transfer medium. The separator is arranged at downstream side from a transfer device in a conveying direction, is provided with a separation claw which contacts with the image carrier and separates the transfer medium from the image carrier, and performs contact/separate operation of the separation claw with/from the image carrier. The post-transfer-residual-quantity acquirer acquires post-transfer residual quantity in a region determined on a basis of a position of the separation claw in an axial direction of the image carrier. The controller controls the contact/separate operation of the separation claw with/from the image carrier on a basis of the post-transfer residual quantity acquired by the post-transfer-residual-quantity acquirer.

Abstract: A fuser apparatus includes first and second rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween. A stripping mechanism a skive assembly having an elongated, thin, flexible skive finger, wherein a tip of the skive finger is beveled forming a sharp edge along an upper surface of the skive finger. At least one raised bump protrudes from the lower surface of the skive finger, spaced apart from a tip of the skive finger. A mounting mechanism positions the skive finger in operative relation to the first roller with the at least one raised bump contacting the surface of the first roller at a contact point such that the sharp edge along the first surface of the skive finger is spaced apart from the surface of the first roller by a distance of between 50 and 120 microns.

Abstract: A recording medium processing device includes: a pair of contacting members including a first contacting member and a second contacting member, the first contacting member and the second contacting member contacting each other at a contact portion and contacting a recording medium passing through the contact portion, a contact position of the second contacting member on the first contacting member changing in response to displacement of the second contacting member with respect to the first contacting member in a state of being held in a position for recording medium transportation; and a guide member mounted to the second contacting member, the guide member guiding the recording medium having passed through the contact portion at which the first contacting member and the second contacting member contact each other.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixingmember, a separation member, a movement mechanism, and a pressing member. The fixing member rotates around a rotation axis extended in a rotation axis direction and fixes a toner image on a recording medium. The separation member comes in contact with the fixing member and separates the recording medium from the fixing member. The movement mechanism moves the separation member in the rotation axis direction and within a movement area. The pressing member presses the separation member against the fixing member. A pressing load of the separation member against the fixing member in a case where the separation member is located at a central position of the movement area is lower than a pressing load of the separation member against the fixing member in a case where the separation member is located at both end positions of the movement area.

Abstract: A fixing device 23 according to the present invention includes: a fixing roller 25 for fixing a toner image onto a sheet of paper; a plurality of separation claws 40 in contact with the fixing roller 25 to separate the sheet of paper, onto which the toner image is fixed, from the fixing roller 25; a holder 28 for supporting the plurality of separation claws 40; and a slide mechanism 30 for sliding the holder 28 along a longitudinal direction of the fixing roller 25.

Abstract: A fixing device, including a fixing member; an opposing member contacting the fixing member to form a fixing nip; plural separation assisting members; a contact direction biasing member contacting an end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member; a contact and release switching member switching contacting the end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member and releasing the end of the auxiliary separation members therefrom; a fixing exit guide member guiding a recording medium to a discharge direction and separated from the fixing member by the separation assisting member; a first rotating member near the auxiliary separation members downstream from an end thereof; and a second rotating member guiding a recording medium guided by the fixing exit guide member in the recording medium conveyance direction while rotating.

Abstract: A sheet separating device is attached to a fixing device. The fixing device includes: a fixing member that is a rotary body having a heating unit; and a pressing member that is pressed against and is brought into contact with the fixing member. The fixing device conveys a sheet material that carries unfixed toner thereon through a nip section formed by the fixing member and the pressing member so as to fix the unfixed toner image to the sheet material. The sheet separating device includes: at least one nozzle member that discharges compressed gas from the direction of a nip outlet toward the nip section along the fixing member. The nozzle member is rotatably supported by a shaft member that is provided parallel to the fixing member and includes a gas flow passage through which compressed gas is supplied to the nozzle member.

Abstract: The print performance of an image forming apparatus is improved by adequately estimating the behavior of a sheet receiving separation air and controlling the output of separation air. A fixing control unit 50 controls a shutter drive unit 52 defining the flow passage area on the basis of the displacement detected of the separation claw 42 to control the output of separation air. Since the sheet receiving separation air exerts a force on the separation claw 42, it is possible to estimate whether or not the behavior of the sheet is appropriate by monitoring the displacement of the separation claw 42. While different types of paper may move in different ways, the influence of separation air is dominant in the behavior of a sheet which is conveyed, and therefore the sheet can be prevented from moving in an inappropriate condition by controlling the output of separation air.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a development device, a transferring device, a static eliminating device, a cleaning device, a light concentrating member and a separating claw. On the image carrier, an electrostatic latent image is formed. The development device develops and visualizes the electrostatic latent image by a toner. The transferring device transfers the toner on the image carrier to a recording sheet. The static eliminating device irradiates the image carrier with a light to eliminate a remained static charge. The cleaning device removes the toner remained on the image carrier. The light concentrating member is arranged between the static eliminating device and image carrier to concentrate the light emitted from the static eliminating device and to irradiate the image carrier with the concentrated light. The separating claw is supported by the light concentrating member to separate the recording sheet from the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus or cartridge is provided that includes an image carrier configured to be rotated while carrying a developer and transfer the developer onto a recording sheet at a transfer position. The image forming apparatus or cartridge may include a separating member disposed downstream from the transfer position in a rotating direction of the image carrier. The separating member may include a contact portion configured to contact the image carrier to separate the recording sheet from the image carrier, and an aperture configured to allow the developer to pass through the separating member from a first side of the separating member to a second side of the separating member opposite the first side, wherein the aperture is positioned farther away from the image carrier than the contact portion.

Abstract: A cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the cartridge are provided. The cartridge includes a casing, an image carrier disposed in the casing and configured to be rotated while carrying a developer and transfer the developer onto a recording sheet at a transfer position, and a separating member disposed in the casing and configured to contact the image carrier at a downstream side of a rotating direction of the image carrier with respect to the transfer position to separate the recording sheet from the image carrier. The separating member has a sheet shape including a first surface opposed to the image carrier and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The second surface is roughened by a roughening processing.

Abstract: A guide device includes a fixing exit guide, a first rotary body, a second rotary body disposed downstream from the first rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction and partially protruding from a guide face through a slot of the fixing exit guide to contact and support an image side of a recording medium conveyed over the second rotary body, and at least one guide rib mounted on the guide face of the fixing exit guide and extending substantially in the recording medium conveyance direction. The guide rib includes a contact face contacting the image side of the recording medium and a downstream end disposed downstream from the contact face in the recording medium conveyance direction to overlap the second rotary body in cross-section taken along a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the second rotary body.

Abstract: A blade is configured to come into contact with a belt disposed at a position of a separation suspension roller to remove a patch image. A push-up unit disposed adjacent to the separation suspension roller is configured to push up a surface of the belt to separate a recording member. In this configuration, when a patch image is transferred to a transfer unit, separation of the push-up unit from the belt is carried out prior to timing in which the blade comes into contact with the belt so that the patch image can be removed.

Abstract: A fixing device including: a fixing member that heats toner image and fixes it onto a recording material; a pressure member that forms a nip that presses the recording material against the fixing member; a first air separating section that blows air against the fixing member and separates the recording sheet from the fixing member; and a separation claw that separates the recording material from the pressure member, wherein a tip of the separation claw contacts the pressure member at a position which is downstream, in a direction of movement of a surface of the pressure member, of a peak of an air blast pressure distribution on a surface of the pressure member, and wherein the air blast pressure distribution is formed by air blown against the pressure member which is caused by the air blown by the first air separating section against the fixing member.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided with a fixing roller, a peeling claw that peels a recording paper from the fixing roller, a peeling claw holder that rotatably supports the peeling claw, and a support member that movably supports the peeling claw holder to enable the peeling claw to retract by moving apart from the fixing roller, wherein not less than two directions are set as retracting directions of the peeling claw holder to be moved when the peeling claw is caused to retract by moving apart from the fixing roller.

Abstract: A recording medium peeling device includes: a circularly moving section that has a moving surface circulating along a circulation course; and a pressing section that presses a recording medium passing through a pressing position in the circulation course, against the moving surface at the pressing position. The recording medium peeling device further includes: a peeling member that is disposed downstream from the pressing position in the circularly moving, is apart from the moving surface, is provided along the moving surface, extends in a direction crossing a direction of the circularly moving, and peels the recording medium after passing through the pressing position from the moving surface; and a protruding member that is disposed downstream from the peeling member in a direction in which the recording medium after being peeled by the peeling member proceeds, protrudes from the peeling member side to the recording medium side, and slopes downstream.

Abstract: A recording material conveying device includes a stripping claw being in contact with one rotary body of a first pair of rotary bodies, and a supporting member supporting a recording material curved when a jam occurs. The supporting member includes a supporting section located more away from the stripping claw than an imaginary straight line (C) passing a nip portion of the first pair of rotary bodies and a surface on a conveying path's side of the stripping claw, and the supporting section supports the recording material curved when the jam occurs. The recording material conveying device further includes a conveyance guide that is disposed on the downstream side from the supporting member and is displaced toward a pressed direction by a pressing force acting when the curved recording material comes into contact with the conveyance guide.

Abstract: A fixing member including a substrate and an elastic layer provided on a surface of the substrate. The elastic layer includes a fluorosilicone rubber including carbon fibers and voids.

Abstract: A stripper blade system has been developed for high throughput inkjet printers. The stripper blade system includes a metallic blade having a leading edge that is less than 0.06 mm in thickness, a blade holder to which the metallic blade is mounted, and an actuator that is associated with the blade holder to move the metallic blade into and out of contact with an intermediate imaging member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a toner image forming section; a transfer section which transfers the toner image onto a transfer sheet; a separation section which separates the transfer sheet from the image carrier; and a process cartridge which holds the image carrier, the toner image forming section, the transfer section, and the separation section as a unit detachable from a main unit of the image forming apparatus. The separation section includes a resin guide member which is a base for the separation section, a separation pawl for separating a transfer sheet from the image carrier, a metal reference plate fixed to the resin guide member and a resin engaging member fixed to the reference plate. The resin engaging member engages with a process cartridge member which supports the separation section allowing the separation section to move in an axial direction of the image carrier.

Abstract: A separation mechanism of a fixing device includes a first separation member arranged opposite the first region in a state apart from the first region by a first gap, a second separation member arranged opposite the second region in a state apart from the second region by a second gap and at a position different from that of the first separation member in a direction orthogonal to the convey direction of the paper, a first gap adjustment member capable of moving the first separation member relative to the first region of the fixing member to adjust the first gap, and a second gap adjustment member capable of moving the second separation member relative to the second region of the fixing member to adjust the second gap.

Abstract: A system and method for avoiding paper jams and possible shutdown in an image forming device by automatically executing a series of re-feed cycles for a sheet of image receiving media in a multi pass image forming device. The sheet transport section of the image forming device includes a hold section and a sensor associated with the hold section to provide input to a control unit to execute one or more re-feed cycles based on a failure to sense a sheet of image receiving media in the hold section at an appropriate time in operation of the image forming device. The control unit also controls a hold duration for the sheet of image receiving media at the hold section to synchronize a final feed of the sheet of image receiving media with the operation of the marker unit in the image forming device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising including a pressing roller to press a sheet of printing paper, further comprising: and a heating roller to press against each other with a sheet of printing paper to be transferred therebetween to rotate against the pressing roller, leaving a moving path of the sheet of printing paper therebetween, and heat the sheet of printing paper, the apparatus including a roller frame to support the heating roller; a separation claw, which, when is disposed in an operational position on an outer circumferential surface of the heating roller, to which the sheet of printing paper is discharged, and separates the sheet of printing paper from the heating roller; and a claw frame to support the separation claw, and which is detachably attached to the roller frame to makeallow the separation claw to move between the operational position and a withdrawal position, at which the separation claw is withdrawn from the operational position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of rotating bodies forming a nip portion, for fixing an image formed on the surface of a sheet to the sheet; and a separating pawl having a leading end portion and a tailing end portion, a tip part of the leading end portion being made press contact with a surface of at least one of the pair of rotating bodies. The separating pawl includes a pivotal portion integrally formed between the leading end portion and the tailing end portion, and the tailing end portion has a spring property capable of adjusting the press-contact force of the tip part.

Abstract: A cleaning device is provided with a cleaning unit (35) disposed downstream from a position at which a toner image is transferred to a paper. The cleaning unit (35) is provided with a cleaning blade (35c) for scraping off residual toner attached to an image bearing member and a toner catching sheet (35e) for preventing the residual toner or paper dust which have been scraped off from falling outside the cleaning unit. The free length in the toner catching sheet (35e) between affixed positions of a first end portion which is affixed to the cleaning unit (35) and a second end portion which abuts an outer circumferential portion of the image bearing member is determined by an amount of paper dust buildup on the outer circumferential portion of the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a maintenance method thereof are provided to enable rotation and replacement of a peeling claw at a suitable timing before the peeling claw is deformed or damaged. Several peeling members are disposed in a width direction of a drum-shaped photoreceptor. Each peeling member is disposed with a peeling claw and a collision sensor detecting that the peeling claw collides with a sheet. A collision history value of each peeling claw is stored and managed based on a collision detection signal from the collision sensor; if the peeling claw reaching a preset rotation request value exists in the read collision history values of the peeling claws, a rotation request of the relevant peeling claw is reported; the collision history value of the rotated peeling claw is rewritten; and if the peeling claw reaching the rotation request value does not exist, a print process is performed.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt for heating an image on a recording material; a plurality of supporting members on which the belt is trained; magnetic flux generating means, disposed outside of the belt, for generating heat in the belt by a magnetic flux, the magnetic flux generating means being effective to cause induction heating both in a region of the belt between the supporting members and in at least one of the regions of the belt trained on the supporting members; a temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of the belt in the region between the supporting members at a position across the belt from the magnetic flux generating means; and electric power supply shut-off means for shutting off electric power supply to the magnetic flux generating means on the basis of an output of the temperature detecting element.

Abstract: A mechanism for transferring an image from a first surface to printing media comprising: an impression member having an impression surface; printing media grippers associated with said impression surface adapted for holding an edge of the printing media on the impression member during said transfer and then controllably releasing the printing media after transfer; impression media held on the impression surface such that the impression media extends past the edge of the printing media held by the printing media grippers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image carrier; a toner image forming section; a transfer section for transferring the toner image onto transfer sheet; a separation section for separating the transfer sheet from the image carrier; and a process cartridge for holding as a unit and detachably from the main unit the image carrier, the toner image forming section, the transfer section, and the separation section wherein the separation section comprises a resin guide member, which is the base for the separation section, a separation pawl for separating transfer sheet from the image carrier, a metal reference plate fixed to the resin guide member and a resin engaging member fixed to the reference plate, the engaging member engaging with the support provided in the process cartridge so that the support supports the separation section in a way that the separation section can move in the axial direction of the image carrier.

Abstract: A protective claw provided on an upstream side of a cleaning device in a rotational direction of an image carrying member includes a main body, a recording material receiving portion formed on the main body so as to receive a recording material from a leading end thereof, and a rotating shaft, when receiving the recording material by the recording material receiving portion, to support the main body so as to make the recording material receiving portion rotate in a direction separating from the image carrying member.

Abstract: A fuser stripping subsystem for use with a fusing system is provided. In one embodiment, at least one movable stripper finger is disposed adjacent a fusing assembly in a first position. Assuming a selected condition is met, the at least one movable stripper finger is moved from the first position to a second position for substantially aligning the at least one movable stripper finger with a toned image section of a print media sheet passing through a nip defined by the rolls. In another embodiment, a print media sheet with a toned image section is shifted, prior to feeding the same through the nip, so that the toned image section may be substantially aligned with at least one stripper finger. In yet another embodiment, a combination of stripper finger movement and/or image shifting may be used to obtain substantial alignment between one or more stripper fingers and an image.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a paper separation claw disposed near the surface of at least one of fixing rollers that fix toner on recording paper transported in a sandwiched manner, the paper separation claw being disposed in order to separate the recording paper, and a cavity portion that is open facing the surface of the fixing roller is formed in the paper separation claw.

Abstract: An electrostatic attraction device is disclosed that attracts and transports a recording medium by applying an electric field to a surface of an endless belt member with use of a charger while rotating the belt member. The electrostatic attraction device comprises a separation claw holding unit separately provided from the charger.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided with a fixing roller for fixing a toner image transferred on a sheet to the sheet, and a separating mechanism for separating the sheet from the fixing roller. The separating mechanism includes a claw member having a tip portion held in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the fixing roller for separating the sheet from the fixing roller, a supporting member pivotably supporting the claw member, and a biasing member for biasing the claw member toward the outer circumferential surface of the fixing roller so that the tip portion of the claw member presses the fixing roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing body and a developer bearing body. A transferring section transfers, onto a medium, a developer image formed on the image bearing body by development of the latent image. A voltage applying section alternately applies, to the developer bearing body, a first voltage for making the developer move from the developer bearing body toward the image bearing body in order to develop the latent image, and a second voltage for making the developer move from the image bearing body toward the developer bearing body. An image darkness adjusting section adjusts a darkness of the image to be formed on the medium by changing only the second voltage.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus configured to form a toner image on a photoconductive element and transfer it to a recording medium of the present invention, the photoconductive element and an image transferring member pressed thereagainst are constructed into an image transferring unit. The image transferring unit is removable from the casing of the apparatus independently of image forming devices arranged around the photoconductive element other than the image transferring member.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus is provided which can maximize the throughput without causing thermal damage of the fusing components. It determines a sub-thermistor temperature threshold value for switching small size paper feed intervals in response to a sub-thermistor initial temperature. It supplies a heating body with current for heating, and starts feeding recording mediums at the feed interval determined by a feed interval initial value. It makes a successively conveyed paper count. Every time the successively conveyed paper count reaches a paper count threshold value, it performs the switching control of the sub-thermistor temperature threshold value. If the sub-thermistor temperature exceeds the threshold value while the recording medium is passing through the fusing apparatus, it carries out the switching control of the feed intervals. In another mode, it prevents the extension of the paper feed interval of the paper conveyance during a specified paper count ?.

Abstract: A paper separator may be equipped with plurality of paper-separating fingers for separating sheet(s) of paper for image formation and abutting and/or backed off from photosensitive body or bodies, paper separator optionally comprising finger body or bodies capable of abutting photosensitive body or bodies; spur(s)—capable of touching so as to guide sheet(s) of paper for image formation which has or have separated from photosensitive body or bodies; and/or support component(s) pivotably supporting paper-separating finger(s) so as to impart restoring force(s) thereto urging paper-separating finger(s) to under the force(s) of its or their own weight(s) bring finger body or bodies into abutting engagement with photosensitive body or bodies, and so as to, when spur(s) is or are touching sheet(s) of paper for image formation, cause finger body or bodies to at least partially overcome restoring force(s) produced by weight(s) of paper-separating finger(s) or portion(s) thereof and back off from photosensitive body or

Abstract: A sheet transport path switching mechanism includes a movable guide to be moved rotatably about a support shaft parallel to the width direction of a transport path so as to selectively take either a main posture where the movable guide directs a sheet to the downstream side of a main transport path relative to a branch point, and a branch posture where the movable guide directs a sheet to a branch transport path. An engagement hook is provided in an apparatus body and supports a central region in the longitudinal direction of the movable guide to prevent the movable guide from being deformed due to interference with a sheet fed toward the branch transport path. The mechanism prevents deformation of the movable guide while facilitating reduction in material and production costs and adequately meeting requirements of waste treatment.

Abstract: A removing claw 164 has a width W1 in a cross direction of 5 [mm] and a rectangular cross section with a height reduced toward a tip, and both ends of an upper side of the rectangle are chamfered to have a chamfered portion with a radius of r=1 [mm]. Consequently, a contact area of a toner sheet with the removing claw 164 is large. Therefore, a face pressure of a surface of the removing claw 164 where the toner sheet is to be delivered is reduced. Accordingly, the toner sheet can be delivered while being removed by the removing claw 164 without a material thereof rubbed and shaved by the surface of the removing claw and shaved by both ends of the upper side of the removing claw 164 even if the toner sheet comes in contact with the removing claw.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and storage medium, if an image forming stop factor occurs in a cartridge of a certain color, image forming using a cartridge of another color is enabled to increase the utilization efficiency and operability of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has a plurality of detachable process cartridges including image carriers (photosensitive drums) on which latent images are to be formed and developing units which develop the latent images. When a replacement timing for at least one of the process cartridges has arrived, only the developing unit of the process cartridge whose replacement timing has not arrived is driven in accordance with the state of the cartridge whose replacement timing has arrived to perform image forming.

Abstract: A sheet separating mechanism includes a separation claw arranged on the surface of a rotatable member such that the separation claw can be rotated around a shaft of the rotatable member with which a claw portion can be brought into slidable contact. A holder rotatably holds the separation claw through the rotating shaft, the holder being rotatably arranged on an attaching portion of the body of the apparatus. A leaf spring elastically holds the holder at a predetermined position when the holder is attached to the attaching portion.

Abstract: A skiving device including at least one nozzle tip and at least one roller is described, as well as methods of using the skiving device. Skives made with the skiving device are clean, neat, and do not damage underlying layers.

Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing towards the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.

Abstract: In a developing device of the present invention for depositing toner on an image carrier to thereby develop a latent image formed thereon, a toner refilling device is configured to refill, when the toner is short, fresh toner at a position where the developing device is situated.

Abstract: There are disposed a star-wheel 21 in the form of a thin wall-thickness having a sharp projecting portion 21a as auxiliary member which strips off a recording paper P from the surface of a photosensitive body 2, and an inversion preventing member 22 formed from a synthetic resin sheet having flexibility. The star-wheel 21 is disposed with a spacing between the surface of the photosensitive body 2 and an extreme end of the projecting portion 21a held by a fixed distance G. The inversion preventing member 22 has its extreme end placed in contact with the projecting portion 21a of the star-wheel 21 so that the star-wheel 21 is not allowed to be rotated in the direction reversed to the direction of rotation where the recording paper P passes through a normal carrying route.

Abstract: An image forming method for forming detection marks by the respective developing units so as to obtain rotation speed information of the image forming unit, detecting the relative position of the detection marks by the detector, and then adjusting the image forming timing of each color on the basis of the relative position information, and forming a real image on the surface of the image forming unit, only when the detection marks pass the transfer position (i.e., the contact position between the image forming unit and the intermediate transfer medium), the image forming unit is kept in non-contact with the intermediate transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image carrier for carrying a toner image formed by an toner image forming device; a second image carrier for carrying thereon the toner image transferred from the first image carrier, and for transferring a transfer sheet thereon; a first transfer device for transferring the toner image carried on the first image carrier onto the second image carrier or a front side of the transfer sheet; a second transfer device for transferring the toner image carried on the second image carrier onto a back side of the transfer sheet; a fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred on the transfer sheet, wherein the second image carrier has a curvature portion at an edge thereof facing the fixing device; and a conveyance section provided between the curvature portion and the fixing device, having a claw member provided adjacent to the curvature portion for lifting a leading edge of the transfer sheet conveyed along the curvature portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming body; an intermediate transfer body for carrying a toner image transferred from the image forming body and conveying a transfer material thereon; a first transfer device for transferring the toner image on the image forming body onto the intermediate transfer body or a front side of the transfer material; a second transfer device for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer body onto a back side of the transfer material; and a fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred on the transfer material. The second transfer device includes a corona discharger having a discharging electrode and a shielding member for shielding an electric field when the discharging electrode discharges, and the shielding member has a circulation hole through which air flows along an outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer body in a conveyance direction from upstream to downstream of the transfer material.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the type developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier by using toner having a softening point of 80.degree. C. or below and transferring the resulting toner image to a sheet, a sheet separator separates, after the image transfer, the sheet from the surface of the image carrier while making sliding contact therewith at an edge portion thereof. The edge portion has a tip contacting the surface of the image carrier and has a particular radius of curvature.