Image recording apparatus with an intermediate photosensitive member

An image forming apparatus for forming a color image, comprising:

• a first light source for applying light to an original;
• a color separation filter unit for separating the light from the original into plural color components;
• a mask image forming unit having a photosensitive member with light transmittance thereof being variable dependent on light reflected from the original and applied thereto for forming plural mask images corresponding to the color components thereon, wherein each of the color components is applied to the photosensitive member through a condenser lens, the photosensitive member is in the form of a running belt, and the original is moveable in synchronism with the movement of the photosensitive member, and an eraser means is disposed near the running belt so as to erase the mask images formed on the photosensitive member;
• and
• an electrophotographic image forming unit comprising a second light source for successively applying light through each of the mask members to a photosensitive sheet having a photoconductive layer on an electrically conductive support layer to thereby form electrostatic latent images corresponding to the mask images on the photosensitive sheet, a transfer means for carrying thereon and transferring the photosensitive sheet to an exposure position on the transfer means nearest to the second light source at which the photosensitive sheet is exposed to the light, the light being in a wavelength range to which the photosensitive member is insensitive, a charger provided near to the exposure position for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive sheet, and plural color developing units for successively developing the electrostatic latent images into corresponding visible color images with color toners.