Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt-shaped image bearer that is rotatably supported and entrained around rollers; a transfer member positioned to contact an outer surface of the image bearer; a transfer device to transfer a toner image conveyed while being carried on the outer surface of the image bearer onto a transfer medium conveyed between the image bearer and the transfer member; a toner image sensor to detect the toner image transferred onto the transfer medium; and a conveyance speed controller to fine-tune a conveyance speed of the transfer medium. Based on fine-tuning data of the conveyance speed controller, a detection result of the toner image sensor is corrected and image forming conditions are corrected based on the corrected detection result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, a charging voltage source, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer member, a transfer voltage source, a voltage detecting portion, a current detecting portion, and an executing portion. In a test mode, the executing portion gradually changes a value of a current caused to flow through the transfer member from zero to a predetermined target transfer current and sets the current caused to flow through the transfer member as the predetermined target transfer current, and then gradually changes a current caused to flow through the charging member from zero to an obtained charging current when a region of the photosensitive member subsequently passes through the charging portion and sets the current caused to flow through the charging member when a region of the photosensitive member subsequently passes through the charging portion as the obtained charging current.

Abstract: An image forming device capable of performing both-side printing, statically transferring, by application of a transfer voltage, an unfixed image formed on an image carrier to a recording sheet when passing through a transfer position, and then thermally fixing the unfixed image when the recording sheet passes through a fixing position where a heating rotating body is disposed. The image forming device acquires an index value of a water content at each of a plurality of sheet-passing-direction positions of the recording sheet having undergone thermal fixing of an unfixed image statically transferred onto a first side thereof, and controls, for each of the positions, a transfer voltage applied for statically transferring an unfixed image onto a second side of the recording sheet, so that the lower the water content indexed by the index value of the position, the greater an absolute value of the transfer voltage.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a direct-current (DC) power supply configured to output a DC voltage; an alternating-current (AC) power supply configured to selectively output a superimposed voltage in which an AC voltage is superimposed on the DC voltage output from the DC power supply or the DC voltage output from the DC power supply; and a transfer unit configured to transfer a developer to a sheet using the voltage output from the AC power supply.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first forming unit that forms a first image by using a toner that contains a pigment other than a flat pigment; a second forming unit that forms a second image by using a toner that contains a flat pigment; a transfer body that transports the first image and the second image transferred thereon and transfers the first image and the second image onto a recording medium; a first transfer member that nips the transfer body in cooperation with the first forming unit with a first load and transfers the first image from the first forming unit onto the transfer body; and a second transfer member that nips the transfer body in cooperation with the second forming unit with a second load, which is larger than the first load, and transfers the second image from the second forming unit onto the transfer body.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a first-transfer power supply that includes a direct-current power supply and an alternating-current power supply, and a first-transfer member that transfers a toner image formed on an outer peripheral surface of an image carrier to a receiving member from which the toner image is transferred to a medium. The first-transfer member transfers the toner image by receiving a voltage from the first-transfer power supply.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion that forms a toner image using a screen; a first transfer member that transfers the toner image formed by the image forming portion to a rotating transfer belt; a second transfer member that transfers the toner image transferred to the transfer belt by the first transfer member to a recording medium; and a controller that differentiates between, in a transfer area of the transfer belt to which the toner image is transferred by the first transfer member a screen that is used to form a toner image to be transferred to the transfer area in a preceding print cycle and a screen that is used to form a toner image to be transferred to this transfer area for the first time after the transfer belt has been rotated and the toner image has been second-transferred to a recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt, a cling unit, an application unit and a controller. The controller when a leading end portion of the belt where a leading end of a sheet in a conveying direction is disposed is present at a facing position where the belt and the cling unit face each other, controls the application unit to apply a clinging bias to the cling unit for supplying electric charge to the leading end portion, and when an intermediate portion of the belt disposed between the leading end portion and a trailing end portion thereof where a trailing end of the sheet is disposed is present at a facing position, reduces the clinging bias to be less than the clinging bias when the leading end portion is present at the facing position.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a power source for forming a secondary-transfer electric field at a secondary-transfer position and for forming a primary-transfer electric field at a primary-transfer position by applying a voltage to a transfer member to pass a current through a constant-voltage element, a potential of an image portion is controlled depending on a detection result of a detecting member.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer member provided so as to be able to revolve, and a voltage application unit. The transfer member has an upper layer and a lower layer arranged in a thickness direction, the upper layer has a larger volume resistivity than the lower layer. The transfer member receives a developer image transferred from an image bearing member to the upper layer at a first transfer portion and transfers the developer image to a recording medium at a second transfer portion. The voltage application unit applies an alternating-current voltage having a polarity that alternates in a moving direction of the transfer member to the transfer member, between the second transfer portion and the first transfer portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt that is stretched by multiple rollers, the intermediate transfer belt transporting a toner image on an outer peripheral surface, a second transfer member that performs second transfer, the second transfer transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium, an opposed member that abuts against an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt, the opposed member being opposed to the second transfer member, and a changing section that changes a width of contact between the intermediate transfer belt and the second transfer member at a second transfer position, on a basis of paper attribute information of the recording medium, the second transfer position being a position where the second transfer member abuts against the opposed member with the intermediate transfer belt being sandwiched between the second transfer member and the opposed member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first image forming unit configured to form an image in a first color on the image bearing member, a second image forming unit configured to form an image in a second color different from the first color on the image bearing member, a measurement unit configured to measure positional information of measurement images formed on the image bearing member by the first and the second image forming unit, a correction unit configured to correct a position of an image formed on the image bearing member by the first and the second image forming unit based on the positional information, a detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the image forming apparatus, and a control unit configured to control timing for causing the first and the second image forming unit to form the measurement images based on the detected temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member, plural transfer sections, and a medium transfer section. The transfer member has an endless shape. An image is transferred to the transfer member during circulation of the transfer member. The transfer sections transfer the image to a surface of the transfer member through a first transfer current. The transfer sections include a most-downstream transfer section provided most downstream in a circulation direction of the transfer member. The medium transfer section transfers the image transferred to the transfer member to a recording medium through a second transfer current. A current flows through the most-downstream transfer section even in the case where the image is transferred to the transfer member by at least one of the transfer sections excluding the most-downstream transfer section, and the most-downstream transfer section does not transfer an image to the transfer member.

Abstract: A control unit is provided which controls at least one of a first power supply unit (a secondary transfer power supply connected to a secondary transfer roller) and a second power supply unit (high-voltage power supplies connected to a conductive brush and a conductive roller) so that a current supplied to a primary transfer region from a beginning of primary transfer until a beginning of secondary transfer has a magnitude larger than a magnitude of a current supplied to the primary transfer region from a beginning of image formation until the beginning of the primary transfer.

Abstract: In a constitution in which a power source exclusively for primary-transfer is omitted and a predetermined voltage is generated in an intermediary transfer member, in a test mode in which a test voltage is applied to a secondary-transfer member in advance in order to obtain a proper secondary transfer voltage, in the case where the test voltage is low, a proper secondary-transfer voltage cannot be obtained in some cases. In a period of the test mode, the power source is controlled in order to maintain a Zener breakdown voltage, so that the proper secondary-transfer voltage can be obtained.

Abstract: A high voltage power supply including a first high voltage output unit that outputs a high voltage having a predetermined polarity, and including second and third high voltage output units that output a high voltage having a polarity opposite to the predetermined polarity. Rectification units that are connected to the first high voltage output unit separate a current path to the second high voltage output unit from a current path to the third high voltage output unit.

Abstract: An image forming device has multiple image forming units that form developing agent images, an intermediate transfer member to which developing agent images are transferred from selected image forming units, and a transfer member for transferring the developing agent images from the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium, using a voltage supplied from a voltage supply unit. The voltage supply unit varies the voltage supplied to the transfer member, either before or after or both before and after the developing agent images are transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the recording medium, according to the number of selected image forming units or their disposition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a contact-separation mechanism configured to change over from a fully separated position in which an intermediate transfer member is separated from first and second image bearing members to a partly contacted position in which the intermediate transfer member is separated from the first image bearing member in contact with the second image bearing member to a fully contacted position in which the intermediate transfer member is in contact with the first and the second image bearing members; and a control portion configured to rotationally drive the first image bearing member when the contact-separation mechanism passes through the fully contacted position in association with an image formation for forming a toner image by only the second image bearing member in the partly contacted position.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a control unit that controls the potential at a transfer portion of a rotary member to be a potential of the same polarity as the charged polarity of the toner at development, when an image forming apparatus starts rotating a photosensitive member, after the start of output by a common power supply and before a charge area on the photosensitive member reaches the transfer portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner-image forming unit, a transfer unit, a cleaner, a plurality of cylindrical transport path forming members, a falling transport path forming member, and a discharge port. The falling transport path forming member has through holes in a side wall thereof. A second end of each of the transport path forming members is inserted into a corresponding one of the through holes. The falling transport path forming member forms a falling transport path that causes toner ejected from an ejection port disposed in the second end to fall. The discharge port is disposed in a lower part of the falling transport path forming member to discharge the toner to a discharge destination. The second ends of the transport path forming members are disposed offset from each other in a horizontal direction on the side wall of the falling transport path forming member.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a power supply control unit, a direct-current (DC) power supply, an alternating-current (AC) power supply, and a transfer unit. The power supply control unit controls a first control signal for controlling a DC voltage and a second control signal for controlling an AC voltage based on a condition relating to image formation. The DC power supply outputs the DC voltage based on the first control signal. The AC power supply selectively outputs, with a particular waveform, either of the DC voltage output from the DC power supply or a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing the AC voltage determined based on the second control signal on the DC voltage output from the DC power supply. The transfer unit transfers a developer onto a sheet using a voltage output from the AC power supply.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closed-loop control method and system to control the nip width and transfer field uniformity associated with an image marking apparatus. According to an exemplary embodiment, a closed-loop control system senses the uniformity of the image transfer field and applies forces to a transfer nip based on the sensed field to provide a more uniform field.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image bearing member; a transfer member to which a transfer voltage is applied to transfer the toner image on the image bearing member to a recording medium; a transfer voltage applying unit configured to apply the transfer voltage to the transfer member to make a value of a current flowing through the transfer member into a set current value; and a control unit configured to control the transfer voltage applying unit by changing stepwise the set current value according to a resistance of the transfer member, wherein the control unit sets a set current value smaller than a target current value when a target voltage value is larger than a preset threshold voltage value, the target current value being set according to the resistance of the transfer member, the target voltage value being applied to flow a current of the target current value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an endless belt having an outer circumferential surface for conveying a recording sheet; a photosensitive member provided to face the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt; a cleaning member provided to face the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt and configured to clean the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt; and a control device configured to control a cleaning bias to be applied to the cleaning member such that while a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt, which has contacted the recording sheet since being cleaned by the cleaning member, faces the cleaning member, a second bias, which is larger than a first bias having been applied to the cleaning member before the corresponding portion faces the cleaning member, is applied to the cleaning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image bearing member (drum); a second drum; a transfer belt; a first transfer member provided correspondingly to the first drum via the transfer belt; a second transfer member provided correspondingly to the second drum via the transfer belt; a high-voltage power source; and a controller. After an image is continuously formed on transfer materials by applying, to the first transfer member, a voltage of a predetermined polarity from the power source in a state that the first transfer member contacts the transfer belt and the second transfer member is spaced from the transfer belt, the controller executes an adjusting operation in which a voltage of a polarity opposite to the predetermined polarity is applied from the power source to the first transfer member in a state that the second transfer member is spaced from the transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a transfer member arranged so as to face the image carrier; and a non-transferred toner adhesion unit that causes a non-transferred toner to adhere to an inter-sheet area present on the image carrier during a period of continuous image formation in which images are continuously formed on the image carrier. The transfer member is a foam roller. The image forming apparatus further includes a contacting and separating unit that causes the foam roller and the image carrier to come into contact with and be separated from each other. The contacting and separating unit separates the image carrier and the transfer member when the inter-sheet area present on the image carrier passes through a transfer area in which the image carrier and the transfer member face each other in association with rotation of the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a toner image forming portion; a transfer member; a power source configured to apply a voltage to the transfer member so that a level of the voltage in a non-sheet-passing period in which a recording material is not in a transfer position is the same as that in a preceding sheet-passing period in which the recording material is in the transfer position; a current detecting member configured to detect a current flowing through the transfer member; and a controller configured to correct the voltage applied by the power source for the subsequent sheet-passing period on the basis of the detected current by the current detecting member in the non-sheet-passing period so that a predetermined current flows through the transfer member in the sheet-passing period.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; and a controller. The image forming unit includes: an image bearing member; a charging member; a transfer member; and a cleaning member. The controller selectively applies first and second transfer biases to the transfer member. A first transfer current flows between the image bearing member and the transfer member upon application of the first transfer bias. A second transfer current flows therebetween upon application of the second transfer bias. The controller selectively applies first and second charging biases to the charging member. The image bearing member has a first surface potential upon application of the first charging bias, and a second surface potential upon application of the second charging bias. The controller applies the first charging bias when applying the first transfer bias, and applies the second charging bias when applying the second transfer bias.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit; an intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer member to form a secondary transfer nip with the intermediate transfer member and the secondary transfer member; a biasing mechanism to bias the secondary transfer member toward the intermediate transfer member; a cam member rotatable between a first position, at which a predetermined space is formed in the secondary transfer nip, and a second position, at which the secondary transfer member and the intermediate transfer member contact each other; and a contact-separation controller configured to put the cam member in the first position before entry of the recording medium into the secondary transfer nip, rotate the cam member toward the second position when the recording medium enters the secondary transfer nip, and change a start timing of rotation of the cam member in accordance with a thickness of the recording medium.

Abstract: When a toner image including an edge area (Ae) corresponding to an area defined between edges of a transfer material (P), and an internal area (Ai) corresponding to an area inside the edge area (Ae) is formed on an image bearing member (11), the toner image in the edge area is subjected to toner amount increment processing of incrementing a toner amount.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of image forming sections including e a cleaner section for removing the toner left on the image carrier after the image is transferred to the image formed medium. At least one of the plurality of image forming sections is provided with a toner recycling section for collecting the toner removed by the cleaner section and reusing the collected toner in the image formation again. Control section separates the image forming section provided with the toner recycling section from the transfer position of the transfer section in a case in which the image forming section provided with no toner recycling section is forming an image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller executing a setting mode for setting a voltage to be applied to an image transfer member when a toner image is transferred onto a transfer medium, so that a predetermined current flows through a charging member when such an area of an image bearing drum as has carried the toner image transferred onto a transfer medium at a transfer portion then passes through a charge portion, the setting being executed on the basis of a current detected by a first detecting member when such a region of the drum as has been charged by the charging member and has been passed through the transfer portion in a state that a test voltage is applied to the transfer member then passes through the charge portion in a period in which no toner image passes through the transfer portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a plurality of developing devices, a transfer device, a moving device, a color drift detector, a test pattern forming device, and a color drift correction device. The test pattern forming device forms a test pattern on the image bearing member. The color drift correction device corrects the color drift in a separating state in which the image bearing member and the transfer device are separated from each other. The test pattern forming device forms the test pattern again in an area on the image bearing member contacting the transfer device but not pressed by the transfer device after the color drift correction device corrects the color drift in the separating state, and the color drift correction device corrects the color drift in the contact state in which the image bearing member and the transfer device are in contact with each other.

Abstract: A multi pass type color image forming apparatus and control method are provided. The apparatus advances an exposure time point of forming electrostatic latent images of second and subsequent colors more than that of a first color of a page during consecutive printing or reduces the velocity of a motor to rotate an intermediate transfer belt to minimize a color registration error between a developing agent image of the first color and developing agent images of the subsequent colors of the page caused by cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt and a control method thereof.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes an image carrier on which a developer image is to be formed, an image transfer device configured to transfer the developer image formed on the image carrier to a medium at an image transfer position, a controller configured to control drive of the image carrier and the image transfer device, a first medium feeder configured to feed the medium to the image transfer position along a medium conveyance path extending from the first medium feeder to the image transfer position, and a medium detector provided between the first medium feeder and the image transfer position in the medium conveyance path. The controller is configured to control the drive of the image carrier on the basis of a medium-detection result by the medium detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: an image support that supports a toner image; a transfer member adapted to sandwich with the transfer member and the image support; a voltage application unit that applies a transfer bias voltage to the transfer member; a current detecting unit that detects transfer current flowing from the voltage application unit to the transfer material after transfer processing on the transfer material starts; and a control unit that sets an upper limit of transfer current on the basis of a value of the transfer current detected by the current detecting unit, and thereafter further acquires a transfer current value from the current detecting unit to control a transfer bias voltage generated by the voltage application unit, such that the transfer current value during transfer does not exceed the upper limit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer rotary member for forming a primary transfer portion between a photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt. The transfer rotary member includes multiple rotary members whose diameters are different, into which the transfer rotary member is divided in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt. The transfer rotary member is arranged so as to contact a surface of the intermediate transfer belt on a side opposite to a surface with which multiple photosensitive drums come into contact at the primary transfer portions, on a downstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt with respect to a contact portion between the intermediate transfer belt and each photosensitive drum, the intermediate transfer belt being arranged so as to protrude on the photosensitive drum side.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a plurality of transfer members and a switch section. The switch section, in a first state, causes the transfer members to be pressed against a plurality of image bearing members. The switch section, in a second state, causes a transfer member opposed to a first image bearing member to be pressed against the first image bearing member, and causes a transfer member opposed to a second image bearing member to be separated from the second image bearing member. In the first state, toner images of different colors are transferred from the image bearing members to an intermediate transfer belt and superimposed together. In the second state, a single-color toner image is transferred from the first image bearing member to the intermediate transfer belt. The switch section changes a pressing force of the transfer member to the first image bearing member between the first and second states.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an intermediate transfer member configured to transfer the developer images on the plurality of photosensitive members; a secondary transfer member configured to transfer the developer images transferred onto the intermediate transfer member onto a recording sheet; a plurality of primary holding rollers provided to each of the plurality of photosensitive members, respectively; a collecting unit configured to collect developer remaining on the intermediate transfer member; and a control device configured to control biases applied to the secondary transfer member and the plurality of primary holding rollers, wherein, after printing control terminates, the control device is configured to perform cleaning control in which biases having opposite polarities to biases during the printing control are applied to the plurality of primary holding rollers and the secondary transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charging section, an exposure section, a developing section, an ion-conductive transfer roller, a transfer bias applying section configured to apply a transfer bias of reverse polarity to charge of toner to the transfer roller, a conveyance section, and a control section. The control section is configured to, during double-sided printing, cause the transfer bias applying section to apply a reverse bias of the same polarity as the charge of the toner to the transfer roller while a recording medium is reversed and conveyed again to a toner image transfer position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a current supply member contacting the intermediate transfer belt to pass a current from the current supply member to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus generating electric discharge on the upstream side of each of primary transfer sections.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image bearing members for carrying toner images; an intermediate transfer member that is capable of rotating endlessly and possesses conductivity; a current supply member that contacts an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member; a power supply that applies a voltage to the current supply member; a contact member disposed in a position corresponding to at least one of the image bearing members via the intermediate transfer member so as to contact an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member; an opposing member that opposes the current supply member via the intermediate transfer member; a constant voltage element connected to the opposing member and the contact member; and a resistance element electrically connected between the constant voltage element and the contact member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion; a supplying device for supplying a toner; a transfer device capable of transferring the toner image from the image forming portion onto a toner image receiving member; a first detecting portion for detecting a transfer current of the transfer device; a second detecting portion for detecting information on a toner amount of the transferred toner image; and a controller for controlling, during non-image formation, a supplying operation of the supplying device on the basis of a detection result of the first detecting portion when a toner image for measurement formed at the image forming portion is transferred by the transfer device at a transfer voltage lower than a discharge start voltage and on the basis of a detection result when the toner image for measurement transferred on the toner image receiving member is detected by the second detection portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an applying device configured to generate an output signal and apply the output signal to an image forming device; and a controller configured to generate a control signal to supply to the applying device so as to control a value of the output signal so that the value of the output signal is within a predetermined target range and control the applying device using the control signal in a start-up mode and in a normal mode, the normal mode being subsequent to the start-up mode. In the start-up mode, the controller sets a start control signal value larger than a value of the control signal immediately after a first predetermined time, the start control signal value being the value of the control signal during the first predetermined time, the first predetermined time being from a start timing of the start-up mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that bears a toner image; a transfer member that faces the image bearing member, nips a recording medium together with the image bearing member, and allows the recording medium to pass therebetween; a transfer-bias applying unit that applies transfer bias voltage to generate an electric field between the transfer member and the image bearing member; a cleaning member that is disposed in contact with the transfer member and removes toner from the transfer member; a cleaning-bias applying unit that applies cleaning bias voltage between the cleaning member and the transfer member; a transfer-toner-amount estimating unit that estimates an amount of toner to be transferred from the image bearing member to the transfer member when the recording medium does not pass therebetween; and a cleaning-bias controller that controls the cleaning bias voltage in correspondence with the estimated amount of toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner carrying member for carrying a toner; an image carrying member on which a toner image is formed with the toner; and a plurality of divided electrode portions provided at a position in which the electrode portions oppose the toner carrying member via the image carrying member interposed therebetween. The electrode portions are supplied with a voltage on the basis of image information to move the toner between the toner carrying member and the image carrying member thereby to form the toner image. The electrode portions includes a first electrode portion for forming an image portion and a second electrode portion, adjacent to the first electrode portion, for forming a non-image portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image onto a recording medium; a power supply unit configured to output one of an alternating-current-based voltage including at least an alternating-current voltage and a direct-current voltage to the transfer unit; and a power supply control unit configured to cause the power supply unit to start switching to the alternating-current-based voltage a first time after the power supply unit stops outputting the direct-current voltage in the case that output of the power supply unit is switched to the alternating-current-based voltage, and cause the power supply unit to start switching to the direct-current voltage a second time after the power supply unit stops outputting the alternating-current-based voltage in the case that output of the power supply unit is switched to the direct-current voltage. The second time is longer than the first time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; an intermediate transfer body; a second-transfer member; a support mechanism that supports the second-transfer member in a second-transfer region; a surface-positioning member that is disposed upstream of the second-transfer member in a transport direction; a determination device that determines whether or not a recording medium is a thin medium; and a controller that, in a case where it is determined that the recording medium is a thin medium, controls the support mechanism so as to move the second-transfer member more upstream in the transport direction than in other cases and controls the position of the surface-positioning member so as to move the second-transfer member in a direction such that an angle between the intermediate transfer body and the second-transfer member on the upstream side becomes larger than in other cases.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus or an image forming apparatus includes: a housing including an opening and closing member that can be opened and closed; a conveying path that conveys an object to be conveyed, at least a part of the conveying path being provided adjacent to an inner side of the opening and closing member; a first detector that detects whether the object is present in a predetermined region and outputs a detection signal corresponding to a result of the detection; and an interlocking mechanism that causes, when the opening and closing member is opened, the first detector to change at least one of a position and a structure of the first detector in mechanically association with movement of opening of the opening and closing member, and to output a detection signal which is the same as a detection signal output when the object is present in the predetermined region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes an image bearer to bear a toner image; a transfer member to transfer the toner image; a transfer bias applicator to apply a transfer bias to the transfer member, the transfer bias applicator including a direct current voltage source to apply a direct current transfer bias constituted by a direct current voltage to the transfer member; and a superimposed voltage source to apply a superimposed transfer bias in which an alternating current voltage is superimposed on a direct current voltage to the transfer member; and a controller to switch between a direct current transfer mode during which the direct current transfer bias is applied to transfer the toner image and a superimposed transfer mode during which the superimposed transfer bias is applied to transfer the toner image while the direct current voltage source and the superimposed voltage source are off.