Image forming apparatus which removes a surface potential of an intermediate transfer member
US5983060A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/1661
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus which utilizes an intermediate transfer member. Plural toner images, for example of different colors, can be superimposed on the intermediate transfer member, and then can be transferred to a paper sheet. A discharging device is provided for discharging a charge applied to the intermediate transfer member. Further, a value of a voltage provided by this discharging device and/or a voltage provided for a transfer bias is proportional to an actual surface potential on the intermediate transfer member, which is proportional to the number of times toner images have been formed on the intermediate transfer member prior to transfer to the paper sheet. For example, if a full color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member, which may result from four operations of transferring individual toner images onto the intermediate transfer member, a voltage provided by the discharger and/or by a transfer bias device will be higher than that if only a monocolor image has been formed on the intermediate transfer member. Further, the image forming apparatus can be operable to form images on thicker paper, and in this instance a drive speed of devices in the im…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.