Image forming apparatus, and paper feed members thereof

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• (B1) toner image forming means for forming a toner image on the surface of an image carrier:
• (B2) a transfer member which is disposed in a transfer area along the surface of the image carrier and transfers the toner image from the surface of the image carrier to the surface of an image record sheet that passes the transfer area while it is pressed against the surface of the image carrier;
• (B3) a paper feed unit having paper feed members which are brought into frictional contact with the sheets loaded in paper feed trays and carry one of the sheets toward the transfer member;
• (B4) a sheet conveyor unit for conveying the sheet having passed through the paper feed unit to the transfer area;
• and
• (B5) the paper feed member which comes into contact with the surface of the sheet to be brought into contact with the transfer member and is formed from rubber material having a dielectric constant of greater than or equal to 4.5 measured by application of a.c. 50 Hz to the paper feed member.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• (C1) toner image forming means for forming a toner image on the surface of an image carrier:
• (C2) a transfer member which is disposed in a transfer area along the surface of the image carrier and transfers the toner image from the surface of the image carrier to the surface of an image record sheet that passes the transfer area while it is pressed against the surface of the image carrier;
• (C3) a paper feed unit having paper feed members which are brought into frictional contact with the sheets loaded in paper feed trays and carry one of the sheets toward the transfer member;
• (C4) a sheet conveyor unit for conveying the sheet having passed through the paper feed unit to the transfer area;
• and
• (C5) the paper feed member which comes into contact with the surface of the sheet to be brought into contact with the transfer member and is formed from rubber material having a substituent other than hydrocarbon radicals attached to the principal polymer chain.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• (D1) toner image forming means for forming a toner image on the surface of an image carrier;
• (D2) a transfer member which is disposed in a transfer area along the surface of the image carrier and transfers the toner image from the surface of the image carrier to the surface of an image record sheet that passes the transfer area while it is pressed against the surface of the image carrier;
• (D3) a paper feed unit having paper feed members which are brought into frictional contact with the sheets loaded in paper feed trays and carry one of the sheets toward the transfer member;
• (D4) a sheet conveyor unit for conveying the sheet having passed through the paper feed unit to the transfer area;
• (D5) the transfer member formed from rubber material having a solubility parameter of smaller than 8.2 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 ;
• and
• the paper feed member which comes into contact with the surface of the sheet to be brought into contact with the transfer member and is formed from rubber material having a solubility parameter of smaller than 8.2 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2.