# US 2014/0153955 A1 · Image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153955 A1 - Document ID: US20140153955A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/086,483 - Filed: 2013-11-21 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Takeshi YAMASHITA; Yoshie Iwakura; Yasuhiro Fujiwara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153955A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/0189: {primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt (G03G15/0184 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/1605: {using at least one intermediate support (G03G15/1625 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/168: {with means for conditioning the transfer element, e.g. cleaning} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a latent image on a surface thereof, a developing device to develop the latent image with toner, an intermediate transfer member, a secondary transfer member, a cleaning device, and a main body. The cleaning device cleans the secondary transfer member for a predetermined time period T1 during a startup operation after printing is completed normally before subsequent printing. The main body houses the image bearing member, the developing device, the intermediate transfer member, the secondary transfer member, and the cleaning device. At least one of the image bearing member and the developing device constitutes a process cartridge detachably attachable relative to the main body, and in a case in which the process cartridge is installed in the main body, the cleaning device cleans the secondary transfer member for a time period T2 extended from the predetermined time period T1. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member to bear a latent image on a surface thereof; a developing device to supply toner to the image bearing member to develop the latent image into a toner image; an intermediate transfer member disposed opposite the image bearing member to form a primary transfer nip therebetween to transfer primarily the toner image borne on the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer member disposed opposite the intermediate transfer member to form a secondary transfer nip therebetween to transfer secondarily the toner image borne on the intermediate transfer member onto a recording medium; a cleaning device to clean the secondary transfer member for a predetermined time period T1 during a startup operation after printing is completed normally before subsequent printing; and a main body to house the image bearing member, the developing device, the intermediate transfer member, the secondary transfer member, and the cleaning device, wherein at least one of the image bearing member and the developing device constitutes a process cartridge detachably attachable relative to the main body, and in a case in which the process cartridge is installed in the main body, the cleaning device cleans the secondary transfer member for a time period T2 extended from the predetermined time period T1. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device supplies the secondary transfer member with a first voltage having a same polarity as that of toner. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cleaning device cleans the secondary transfer member for the predetermined time period T1 and completes the cleaning before a first portion of the intermediate transfer member that has constituted the primary transfer nip with the image bearing member arrives at the secondary transfer nip, and wherein after the process cartridge is installed in the main body the cleaning device cleans the secondary transfer member until at least the first portion of the intermediate transfer member passes through the secondary transfer nip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge includes a storage element to store information, and installation of the process cartridge in the main body is recognized by reading the information stored in the storage element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate transfer member cleaning device to clean toner adhered to the intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member cleaning device is disposed upstream from the primary transfer nip and downstream from the secondary transfer nip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein based on a travel distance of the process cartridge installed in the main body, whether the cleaning needs to be extended is determined. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of process cartridges detachably attachable relative to the main body, wherein in a case in which one of the process cartridges is installed in the main body, a length of extension of time from the predetermined time T1 is determined based on a travel distance of the installed process cartridge and other process cartridges. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, in a case in which the installed process cartridge and other process cartridges are relatively new, the length of extension of time is zero. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the secondary transfer member contacts always the intermediate transfer member.