Image forming apparatus, image forming method for image forming apparatus, and computer program product

An image forming method executed in an image forming apparatus that includes

• a first image forming unit that directly transfers an image onto a transfer sheet being conveyed;
• an intermediate transfer member onto which an image to be additionally transferred onto the transfer sheet is transferred;
• a secondary image forming unit that transfers an image onto the intermediate transfer member;
• a secondary transfer unit that transfers the image, already transferred on the intermediate transfer member by the secondary image forming unit, onto the transfer sheet, on which the image directly transferred by the first image forming unit is transferred;
• a fixing unit
• that is provided downstream of the secondary transfer unit in a conveying direction of the transfer sheet on a conveying path of the transfer sheet, and
• that fixes an image formed on the transfer sheet at a fixation position where the fixing unit comes into contact with the transfer sheet and applies pressure to the transfer sheet;
• and
• a guide member
• that guides the transfer sheet to the fixation position on a path where the transfer sheet is conveyed from the secondary transfer unit to the fixation position,
• that has a contact surface to be in contact with the transfer sheet on the path where the transfer sheet is conveyed from the secondary transfer unit to the fixation position, and
• that is configured to be able to change an angle between the transfer sheet and the contact surface,
• the image forming method comprising:
• performing, by a control unit of the image forming apparatus, control to change the angle depending on a predetermined condition that changes
• a way of skew of the transfer sheet that has passed through the secondary transfer unit and
• a moving direction of the transfer sheet after the transfer sheet comes into contact with the contact surface.

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer-readable program codes embodied in the medium for controlling an image forming apparatus that includes

• a first image forming unit that directly transfers an image onto a transfer sheet being conveyed;
• an intermediate transfer member onto which an image to be additionally transferred onto the transfer sheet is transferred;
• a secondary image forming unit that transfers an image onto the intermediate transfer member;
• a secondary transfer unit that transfers the image already transferred on the intermediate transfer member by the secondary image forming unit, onto the transfer sheet, on which the image directly transferred by the first image forming unit is transferred;
• a fixing unit
• that is provided downstream of the secondary transfer unit in a conveying direction of the transfer sheet on a conveying path of the transfer sheet, and that fixes an image formed on the transfer sheet at a fixation position where the fixing unit comes into contact with the transfer sheet and applies pressure to the transfer sheet;
• and
• a guide member
• that guides the transfer sheet to the fixation position on a path where the transfer sheet is conveyed from the secondary transfer unit to the fixation position,
• that has a contact surface to be in contact with the transfer sheet on the path where the transfer sheet is conveyed from the secondary transfer unit to the fixation position, and
• that is configured to be able to change an angle between the transfer sheet and the contact surface,
• the program codes when executed causing a computer to execute:
• performing, by a control unit of the image forming apparatus, control to change the angle based on a predetermined condition that changes
• a way of skew of the transfer sheet that has passed through the secondary transfer unit and
• a moving direction of the transfer sheet after the transfer sheet comes into contact with the contact surface.