Transfer device

A transfer device for transferring developer carried on a peripheral surface of an image carrying member onto a recording medium being conveyed along a medium conveyance path, comprising:

• a transfer unit disposed opposite to the image carrying member and configured to transfer the developer from the peripheral surface of the image carrying member onto the recording medium;
• a flexible guide plate having a first side and a second side reverse to the first side, the guide plate being disposed in a position along the medium conveyance path, upstream relative to a transfer position that is between the image carrying member and the transfer unit, such that the first side faces to the recording medium being conveyed along the medium conveyance path to guide the recording medium toward the image carrying member, the guide plate including an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion which face in directions upstream and downstream, respectively, of the medium conveyance path, the downstream end portion being an angled portion formed by bending the guide plate;
• and
• a support frame configured to support the upstream end portion of the guide plate and to extend in a direction downstream of the medium conveyance path beyond the downstream end portion of the guide plate to form an extension portion which is disposed opposite to the second side of the guide plate and toward which the downstream end portion extends obliquely downstream, the extension portion having a first edge positioned on the medium conveyance path at a side facing in a direction downstream of the medium conveyance path, wherein the extension portion has a recess and/or a hole formed in a position separated, in a direction upstream of the medium conveyance path, from the first edge of the extension portion, to allow the downstream end portion extending toward the extension portion to be moved without being blocked by the extension portion,
• wherein the recess and/or the hole formed in the extension portion of the support frame are provided in two or more positions spaced out in a direction of a width of the recording medium which is a direction perpendicular to a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, and the guide plate has one or more indentations formed in positions corresponding to those of wall portions left between adjacent recesses or holes in the extension portion to allow the guide plate to be deflected without being blocked by the wall portions.