Image forming apparatus with follower rolling element capable of retaining constant distance between sheet travelling in direction of sheet conveyance and static eliminating sheet

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an endless intermediate transfer belt to a surface of which a toner image is to be transferred;
• a drive roller that comes into contact with a reverse surface of the intermediate transfer belt to drive the intermediate transfer belt into rotation;
• a transfer roller opposed to the drive roller with the intermediate transfer belt in between to form a transfer nip where a sheet is to be nipped and conveyed;
• a static eliminator provided downstream of the transfer nip in a direction of conveyance of the sheet and on the same side as the transfer roller opposite to the drive roller with respect to the direction of conveyance of the sheet;
• a first guide provided downstream of the transfer nip in the direction of conveyance of the sheet and including a guide surface located on the same side as the transfer roller with respect to the direction of conveyance of the sheet to extend along the direction of conveyance of the sheet;
• and
• a follower rolling element supported by the first guide to locate downstream of the static eliminator in the direction of conveyance of the sheet and allow for driven rotation,
• wherein the follower rolling element is disposed with a center of rotation thereof located on the same side as the transfer roller with respect to an imaginary travel line on which a leading edge of the sheet having passed through the transfer nip is assumed to travel under assumption of absence of the follower rolling element and with a rotating surface of the follower rolling element projecting to the same side as the drive roller beyond the imaginary travel line.