Image transferring method and image forming apparatus utilizing a reducing electrode
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsMitsuru Takahashi, Hiroyuki Sugimoto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus, a potential deposited on the rear of a transfer body is selected to be zero or of the same polarity as the charge of an image carrier at least at a part of a nip formed for image transfer. In this condition, image transfer conditions allowing a minimum of toner scattering to occur at the time of image transfer are set up against, e.g., a change in the resistance of the transfer body ascribable to aging. Therefore, an image with a minimum of toner scattering is achievable.
Claims25
A method of transferring a toner image from an image carrier to a recording medium supported by a transfer body, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming an electric field for image transfer by an electrical manipulation at a contact position between a transfer bias roller and a grounded roller, where said image carrier and said transfer body contact each other;
- and
- executing a reducing manipulation by a reducing electrode positioned in said contact position between said transfer bias roller and said grounded roller and in contact with said transfer body for reducing said electric field such that at at least a part of said contact position a potential deposited on said transfer body is zero or of a same polarity as a charge deposited on said image carrier.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an image carrier for forming a toner image thereon by being charged;
- a transfer body held in contact with said image carrier at a contact position for transferring the toner image to a recording medium by an electric field for image transfer formed at said contact position;
- a transfer bias roller and a grounded roller for supporting said transfer body, said contact position being formed between said transfer bias roller and said grounded roller;
- and
- a reducing electrode positioned in said contact position between said transfer bias roller and said grounded roller and in contact with said transfer body for causing, at at least a part of said contact position, a potential deposited on said transfer bod to be zero or of a same polarity as a charge deposited on said image carrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.