Image forming apparatus having a transfer-exposure device, and image forming method thereof

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a photoconductor being movable for carrying a toner image;
• a transfer device, provided with a discharge wire, for transferring the toner image onto a transfer material through discharge from the discharge wire in a transfer area, after a transfer material is superposed with the photoconductor;
• a transfer-exposure device for carrying out light exposure of a surface of the photoconductor superposed with the transfer material from the back of the transfer material in the transfer area, the transfer area being an area where discharge from the discharge wire is applied onto the surface of the photoconductor;
• a light blocking member, provided between the transfer-exposure device and the photoconductor, for blocking a part of light from the transfer-exposure device;
• a separator for separating the transfer material from the photoconductor after the toner image is transferred;
• and
• a controller for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus;
• wherein, the controller controls such that light from the transfer-exposure device is applied to the photoconductor surface for the first time when the photoconductor surface superposed with the transfer material has reached the transfer area.

An image forming method comprising:

• forming a toner image on a photoconductor being movable;
• superposing a transfer material with the photoconductor;
• transferring the toner image onto the transfer material by discharging from a discharge wire in a transfer area,
• exposing, with light from a transfer-exposure device, a surface of the photoconductor superposed with the transfer material, from the back of the transfer material in the transfer area, the transfer area being an area where discharge from the discharge wire is applied onto the surface of the photoconductor;
• blocking a part of the light from the transfer-exposure device by a light blocking member provided between the transfer-exposure device and the photoconductor;
• and
• separating the transfer material from the photoconductor after transferring the toner image;
• and
• wherein, the light from the transfer-exposure device is applied to the surface of the photoconductor for the first time when the surface of the photoconductor superposed with the transfer material has reached the transfer area.

An image forming method comprising:

• forming a toner image on a photoconductor being movable;
• superposing a transfer material with the photoconductor;
• transferring the toner image onto the transfer material by discharging from a discharge wire in a transfer area,
• exposing, with light from a transfer-exposure device, a surface of the photoconductor superposed with the transfer material, from the back of the transfer material in the transfer area, the transfer area being an area where discharge from the discharge wire is applied onto the surface of the photoconductor;
• and
• separating the transfer material from the photoconductor after transferring the toner image;
• wherein, the light from the transfer-exposure device is applied to the surface of the photoconductor for the first time when the surface of the photoconductor superposed with the transfer material has reached the transfer area
• wherein distribution of an amount of light on the surface of the photoconductor from the transfer-exposure device, when the surface of the photoconductor superposed with the transfer material has reached the transfer area, is arranged such that an integrated value of an amount of exposed light upstream the point where the surface of the photoconductor is closest to the discharge wire, in the direction of movement of the photoconductor, is 10 through 30% of a total amount of exposed light from the transfer-exposure device, and the end of the exposed light on the upstream side is within the transfer area.