Image transferring method and image forming apparatus for transferring toner image from image carrier to recording medium either via or carried on intermediate image transfer belt

An image transferring method comprising the steps of:

• discharging a charge deposited on an image transfer belt, said charge being deposited on said image transfer belt at a nip between an image carrier and said image transfer belt, wherein said image transfer belt is moving while contacting a surface of said image carrier over a preselected distance with an intermediary of a recording medium;
• depositing a transfer charge on said image transfer belt at a position downstream of said nip in a direction of movement of said image transfer belt;
• and
• transferring a toner image formed on said image carrier to said recording medium by an electric field formed at said nip;
• and
• using a discharging member to discharge said charge onto said image transfer belt at said nip, said discharging member being in contact with a surface of said image transfer belt opposite to a surface contacting said image carrier with a pressure between 0.05 N/cm2 and 2 N/cm2.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier;
• and
• an intermediate image transfer unit, said intermediate image transfer unit comprising:
• an intermediate image transfer belt, said intermediate image transfer belt being movable while contacting a surface of said image carrier over a preselected distance;
• a discharging member for discharging a charge deposited on said intermediate image transfer belt at a nip between said intermediate image transfer belt and said image carrier;
• and
• a charge depositing member for depositing a transfer charge on said intermediate image transfer belt at a position downstream of said nip in a direction of movement of said intermediate image transfer belt, whereby a toner image formed on said image carrier is transferred to said intermediate image transfer belt by an electric field formed at said nip;
• and
• said discharging member discharging said charge deposited on said intermediate image transfer belt at said nip so that said discharging member is in contact with a surface of said intermediate image transfer belt opposite to a surface contacting said image carrier with a pressure between 0.05 N/cm2 and 2 N/cm2.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier;
• and
• an image transfer unit, said image transfer unit comprising:
• an image transfer belt, said image transfer belt being movable while contacting a surface of said image carrier over a preselected distance with an intermediary of a recording medium;
• a discharging member for discharging a charge deposited on said image transfer belt at a nip between said image transfer belt and said image carrier;
• a charge depositing member for depositing a transfer charge on said image transfer belt at a position downstream of said nip in a direction of movement of said image transfer belt, whereby a toner image formed on said image carrier is transferred to the recording medium by an electric field formed at said nip;
• and
• said discharging member discharging said charge deposited on said image transfer belt at said nip so that said discharging member is in contact with said image transfer belt at a surface opposite to a surface contacting said image carrier with a pressure between 0.05 N/cm2 and 2 N/cm2.