US 8,045,875 B2 · Image forming apparatus and image forming method capable of generating stable transfer electric field

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier for carrying a toner image and a transfer device. In the transfer device, a voltage applier applies a predetermined voltage to a transfer electric field generator. A potential measurement device measures a surface potential of the transfer electric field generator when a predetermined time period elapses after the voltage applier applies the predetermined voltage to the transfer electric field generator. A controller determines a transfer bias to be applied by at least one transfer member to the transfer electric field generator based on the measured surface potential of the transfer electric field generator. The at least one transfer member applies the transfer bias to the transfer electric field generator to generate a transfer electric field. The toner image is transferred from the image carrier onto a toner image receiver by the transfer electric field generated by the transfer electric field generator.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image carrier configured to carry a toner image;
and
a transfer device, including:
at least one transfer member configured to apply a transfer bias;
a transfer electric field bearer configured to receive the transfer bias applied by the at least one transfer member to generate a transfer electric field;
a toner image receiver configured to receive the toner image transferred from the image carrier by the transfer electric field generated;
a voltage applier configured to apply a predetermined voltage to the transfer electric field bearer;
a potential measurement device configured to measure a surface potential of the transfer electric field bearer when a predetermined time period elapses after the voltage applier applies the predetermined voltage to the transfer electric field bearer;
and
a controller configured to determine the transfer bias to be applied by the at least one transfer member to the transfer electric field bearer based on the measured surface potential of the transfer electric field bearer.

7 more elements

An image forming method, comprising:

carrying a toner image with an image carrier;
applying a voltage to a transfer electric field bearer with a voltage applier;
measuring a surface potential of the transfer electric field bearer with a potential measurement device when a predetermined first time period elapses after the voltage applier applies the voltage to the transfer electric field bearer;
determining a transfer bias to be applied by at least one transfer member to the transfer electric field bearer based on the measured surface potential of the transfer electric field bearer;
applying the transfer bias to the transfer electric field bearer with the at least one transfer member;
generating a transfer electric field by the transfer bias applied by the at least one transfer member with the transfer electric field bearer;
and
transferring the toner image from the image carrier onto a toner image receiver with the transfer electric field.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method capable of generating stable transfer electric field

Life of this patent

Image forming apparatus and image forming method capable of generating stable transfer electric field

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16