Image forming apparatus and transfer voltage applying method

Abstract

A transfer voltage applying method in an image forming apparatus for transferring toner images formed respectively on a plurality of image carriers onto an image transfer target member to be moved successively through positions where a plurality of transfer members are respectively opposed to the image carriers by applying transfer voltages to the transfer members, respectively. The transfer members are supplied with predetermined AC voltages so as that the successively neighboring at least two transfer members are supplied with the AC voltages having phases shifted from each other, respectively, and the successively neighboring at least two transfer members are not simultaneously supplied with the maximum voltages, each in absolute value, of the AC voltages. The image forming apparatus has a plurality of image carriers, a plurality of image forming devices a plurality of transfer devices each including a transfer member opposed to the corresponding image carrier and each provided for transferring to the toner image on the corresponding image carrier onto an image transfer target member, and a transfer power source. The transfer power source device supplied the AC voltages having phases shifted from each other to the successively neighboring at least two transfer members, respectively, so as that the successively neighboring at least two transfer members are not simultaneously supplied with the maximum voltages, each in absolute value, of the AC voltages.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.