Image forming apparatus

• US 6,035,154 A
• Filed: 11/24/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Takahata, Toshiya, Okamura, Takehiko, Yamazaki, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Matthew S.
• Application Number:
  US09/198,598
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 399/44, 399/66, 399/94, 399/97, 399/98, 399/101, 399/302, 399/308
• US Class Current: 399/66
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/161 with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/162 details of the the intermediate support, e.g. chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/168 with means for conditioning the transfer element, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/1652 of transfer roll
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/1661 of transfer belt

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof, development unit or units for applying charged developer to the surface of the latent image carrier to visualize the latent image, an intermediate transfer body which is abutted against the latent image carrier, and to which the primary transfer voltage of polarity reverse to the charging polarity of the developer is applied and on which the visible image is primarily transferred, a secondary transfer member which is abutted against the intermediate transfer body through a recording medium and to which the secondary transfer voltage is applied to transfer the visible image on the recording medium, and a voltage applying mechanism for applying the secondary transfer voltage of the same polarity as the primary transfer voltage and larger than the primary transfer voltage in an absolute value to the secondary transfer member in case the secondary transfer is executed, and for applying a cleaning voltage of the same polarity as the primary transfer voltage and smaller than the primary transfer voltage in an absolute value to the secondary transfer member in a predetermined period in case the secondary transfer is unexecuted.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a latent image carrier in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof;

development means for applying charged developer to the surface of the latent image carrier to visualize the latent image;

an intermediate transfer body which is abutted against the latent image carrier, the intermediate transfer body to which a primary transfer voltage of polarity reverse to a charging polarity of the developer is applied and on which the visible image is primarily transferred;

a secondary transfer member which is abutted against the intermediate transfer body through a recording medium and to which a secondary transfer voltage is applied to transfer the visible image on the recording medium; and

voltage applying means for applying the secondary transfer voltage of the same polarity as the primary transfer voltage and larger than the primary transfer voltage in an absolute value to the secondary transfer member in case the secondary transfer is executed, and for applying a cleaning voltage of the same polarity as the primary transfer voltage and smaller than the primary transfer voltage in an absolute value to the secondary transfer member in a predetermined period in case the secondary transfer is unexecuted.

2. The image forming apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a temperature sensor for detecting ambient temperature of the apparatus;

a humidity sensor for detecting ambient humidity of the apparatus; and

a control section for determining potential difference between the primary transfer voltage and the cleaning voltage based on a result of the detections by the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor and for determining the value of the primary transfer voltage and the cleaning voltage so that a determined potential difference is made.

3. The image forming apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the primary transfer voltage and the cleaning voltage are determined so as to the potential difference is relatively large in case low temperature and low humidity are detected by the sensors.

4. The image forming apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the primary transfer voltage and the cleaning voltage are determined so as to the potential difference is relatively small in case the high temperature and high humidity are detected by the sensors.

5. The image forming apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the intermediate transfer body includes a conductive layer to which the primary transfer voltage is applied.

6. The image forming apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the voltage applying means is composed of a current attraction type of power source.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a latent image carrier in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof;

development means for applying charged developer to the surface of the latent image carrier to visualize the latent image;

an intermediate transfer body which is abutted against the latent image carrier, to which a primary transfer voltage of polarity reverse to a charging polarity of the developer is applied and on which the visible image is primarily transferred;

a secondary transfer member which is abutted against the intermediate transfer body through a recording medium and to which a secondary transfer voltage is applied to transfer the visible image on the recording medium; and

voltage applying means for applying the secondary transfer voltage of the same polarity as the primary transfer voltage and larger than the primary transfer voltage in an absolute value to the secondary transfer member in case the secondary transfer is executed, and for applying no voltage to the secondary transfer member to the secondary transfer member in a predetermined period in case the secondary transfer is unexecuted.

8. The image forming apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising:

a temperature sensor for detecting ambient temperature of the apparatus;

a humidity sensor for detecting ambient humidity of the apparatus; and

a control section for determining the value of the primary transfer voltage based on a result of the detections by the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor.

9. The image forming apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the primary transfer voltage is determined so as be relatively high in case low temperature and low humidity are detected by the sensors.

10. The image forming apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the primary transfer voltage is determined so as to be relatively low in case high temperature and high humidity are detected by the sensors.

11. The image forming apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the intermediate transfer body includes a conductive layer to which the primary transfer voltage is applied.

12. The image forming apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the voltage applying means is composed of a current attraction type of power source.