Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Yuzo Katsumata

Kazuhiko Kobayashi

Tetsuo Yamanaka

Hiroyasu Shijo

Mineyo Takahashi

An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes image carriers arranged side by side in a preselected direction, developing means each for forming a toner image on one of the image carriers, a drive mechanism for driving in the preselected direction a member to which toner images are to be sequentially transferred from the image carriers one above the other, and image transferring devices each for transferring a toner image from one of the image carriers to the above member. At least during an image forming process, a slip condition is substantially the same throughout all image transfer positions where the image carriers face the member.

Image forming apparatus including controller driving image carriers

An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes image carriers arranged side by side in a preselected direction, developing mechanisms configured to form a toner image on one of the image carriers, a drive mechanism for driving in the preselected direction a member to which toner images are to be sequentially transferred from the image carriers one above the other, and image transferring devices each for transferring a toner image from one of the image carriers to the above member. At least during an image forming process, a slip condition is substantially the same throughout all image transfer positions where the image carriers face the member.

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Shizuoka, Japan

Yuzo Katsumata