Transfer sheet-carrying member and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A transfer sheet-carrying member for use in a transfer-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus is characterized by having a surface sheet showing a downwardly convex current-voltage characteristic across its thickness such that when a first test current I.sub.10 is passed at an applied voltage of 10 volts, a second test current I.sub.50 is passed at an applied voltage of 50 volts and a third test current I.sub.4000 is passed at an applied voltage of 4000 volts, the current-voltage characteristic satisfies the relationships of: I.sub.50 <5.times.I.sub.10 and I.sub.50 .ltoreq.I.sub.4000 /100. The current-voltage characteristic may be regarded as downwardly convex, and the current passage is suppressed at a low voltage level. As a result, a certain amount of transfer charge is provided to the surface sheet at a single charging operation to suppress transfer irregularities.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.