IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
First Claim
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an image bearing member;
an intermediate transfer member having an endless shape and configured to contact the image bearing member to form a primary transfer portion, and to primarily transfer a toner image borne on the image bearing member to the intermediate transfer member, wherein a drive force is configured to move the intermediate transfer member;
a secondary transfer member configured to contact the intermediate transfer member to form a secondary transfer portion, and to secondarily transfer the toner image from the intermediate transfer member through the secondary transfer portion to a transfer material;
a charging member provided, with respect to a movement direction of the intermediate transfer member, at an upstream side of the primary transfer portion and at a downstream side of the secondary transfer portion, and configured to contact the intermediate transfer member to form a charging portion;
a charging power source; and
a control unit configured to control timing at which to start image formation,wherein, in a case where toner remains on the intermediate transfer member after the toner image passes through the secondary transfer portion, the charging member receives a voltage from the charging power source and electrically charges, at the charging portion, the toner remain on the intermediate transfer member, andwherein, in a case where starting the driving of the intermediate transfer member causes toner to drop onto the intermediate transfer member from the charging member at the charging portion, the control unit controls the timing at which to start image formation to prevent the toner, drop onto the intermediate transfer member, from moving from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material conveyed to the secondary transfer portion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member that contacts an image bearing member to form a primary transfer portion, contacts a secondary transfer member to form a secondary transfer portion, and contacts a charging member that can receive a voltage from a charging power source, to form a charging portion. A toner image borne on the image bearing member is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer member and secondarily transferred to a transfer material. If toner remains on the intermediate transfer member, the charging member electrically charges the remaining toner. If driving of the intermediate transfer member causes toner to drop onto the intermediate transfer member from the charging member, The timing at which to start image formation is controlled to prevent the dropped toner from moving to a transfer material conveyed to the secondary transfer portion.
0 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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an image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member having an endless shape and configured to contact the image bearing member to form a primary transfer portion, and to primarily transfer a toner image borne on the image bearing member to the intermediate transfer member, wherein a drive force is configured to move the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer member configured to contact the intermediate transfer member to form a secondary transfer portion, and to secondarily transfer the toner image from the intermediate transfer member through the secondary transfer portion to a transfer material; a charging member provided, with respect to a movement direction of the intermediate transfer member, at an upstream side of the primary transfer portion and at a downstream side of the secondary transfer portion, and configured to contact the intermediate transfer member to form a charging portion; a charging power source; and a control unit configured to control timing at which to start image formation, wherein, in a case where toner remains on the intermediate transfer member after the toner image passes through the secondary transfer portion, the charging member receives a voltage from the charging power source and electrically charges, at the charging portion, the toner remain on the intermediate transfer member, and wherein, in a case where starting the driving of the intermediate transfer member causes toner to drop onto the intermediate transfer member from the charging member at the charging portion, the control unit controls the timing at which to start image formation to prevent the toner, drop onto the intermediate transfer member, from moving from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material conveyed to the secondary transfer portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for an image forming apparatus having an image bearing member, an intermediate transfer member having an endless shape, wherein a drive force is configured to move the intermediate transfer member to contact the image bearing member to form a primary transfer portion, a secondary transfer member configured to contact the intermediate transfer member to form a secondary transfer portion, a charging member provided, with respect to a movement direction of the intermediate transfer member, at an upstream side of the primary transfer portion and at a downstream side of the secondary transfer portion and configured to contact the intermediate transfer member to form a charging portion, and a charging power source, the method comprising:
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primarily transferring a toner image borne on the image bearing member to the intermediate transfer member; secondarily transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member through the secondary transfer portion to a transfer material; and controlling timing at which to start age formation, wherein, in a case where toner remains on the intermediate transfer member after the toner image passes through the secondary transfer portion, the charging member receives a voltage from the charging power source and electrically charges, at the charging portion, the toner remain on the intermediate transfer member, and wherein, in a case where starting the driving of the intermediate transfer member causes toner to drop onto the intermediate transfer member from the charging member at the charging portion, controlling the timing includes controlling the timing at which to start image formation to prevent the toner, drop onto the intermediate transfer member, from moving from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material conveyed to the secondary transfer portion.
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Specification