Image forming apparatus and method

A method of forming an image, comprising:

• forming a visual image on an image bearing member;
• transferring the visual image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording medium while bending the recording medium;
• and
• fixing the visual image on the recording medium,
• wherein the image bearing member intrudes into a part of the recording medium holding member spanning two adjacent stretch members of the plurality of stretch members by an intrusion amount of about 0.2 mm or greater so that the recording medium holding member moves in contact with the image bearing member, having a contact width in a predetermined direction.

A method of transferring a visual image formed on an image bearing member onto a recording medium, comprising:

• feeding the recording medium to a transfer position;
• and
• transferring the visual image on the image bearing member onto the recording medium while bending the recording medium,
• wherein the image bearing member intrudes into a part of the recording medium holding member spanning two adjacent stretch members of the plurality of stretch members by an intrusion amount of about 0.2 mm or greater so that the recording medium holding member moves in contact with the image bearing member, having a contact width in a predetermined direction.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• means for bearing visual images;
• means for forming the visual images on the means for bearing;
• means for transferring the visual images on the means for bearing onto both sides of a recording medium, the means for transferring including means for holding a recording medium spanning a plurality of stretch members, the means for transferring transfers respective of the visual images on the means for bearing onto respective of both sides of the recording medium on the means for holding while the means for holding is moved in a predetermined direction;
• and
• means for fixing the visual images transferred onto the both sides of the recording medium,
• wherein the means for bearing intrudes into a part of the means for holding spanning two adjacent stretch members of the plurality of stretch members by an intrusion amount of about 0.2 mm or greater so that the means for holding moves in contact with the means for bearing, having a contact width in a predetermined direction.

An image forming method, comprising:

• forming visual images on an image bearing member;
• transferring respective of the visual images on the image bearing member onto respective of both sides of a recording medium on a recording medium holding member while the recording medium holding member is moved in a predetermined direction by utilizing a two-side transfer device, the recording medium holding member spanning a plurality of stretch members to hold the recording medium thereon;
• and
• fixing the visual images transferred onto the both sides of the recording medium,
• wherein in the transferring the image bearing member intrudes into a part of the recording medium holding member spanning two adjacent stretch members of the plurality of stretch members by an intrusion amount of about 0.2 mm or greater so that the recording medium holding member moves in contact with the image bearing member, having a contact width in a predetermined direction.