Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Itaku Matsuta

Hiroshi Itoh

Hirokazu Ishii

Satoshi Takano

Akio Kutsuwada

Yuko Hayama

Hakuti Mizuishi

A transfer separator comprises a transfer belt or other transfer mechanism for carrying and conveying a sheet to apply a toner image from an image carrier onto the sheet and separating the sheet from the image carrier. A bias application electrode applies a transfer bias to the transfer belt, wherein a relation of Lp.gtoreq.aV, and a=1 mm/KV is established when the minimum distance between the image carrier and surface of the bias application electrode is set to Lp (mm) and the maximum voltage applied to the bias application electrode is set to V (KV) . Preferably, the bias application electrode has a coated layer, and the difference in thickness resistance between the coated layer and the transfer belt is within two orders of magnitude. The hardness of the coated layer is preferably equal to or greater than the hardness of the transfer belt.

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Izumi-ku, Japan

Itaku Matsuta