The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 14, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1996
Masahiko Matsuura, Suita, JP;
Eiichi Sano, Takatsuki, JP;
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus having a charger which applies a voltage of the same polarity as a toner image formed on an intermediate transfer member onto an upstream side of a first transfer portion at which the intermediate transfer member faces an image bearing member, as well as a transfer electrode which applies a bias voltage of an opposite polarity to the toner image onto a downstream side of the first transfer portion. On an upstream side of a second transfer portion at which the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member is transferred by a transfer roller onto a transfer sheet with respect to a sheet transporting direction, a bias voltage applying device is provided which applies to the transfer sheet a voltage of an opposite polarity to the toner image and greater than a surface potential of the intermediate transfer member at the second transfer portion. At a position facing to the transfer roller through the intermediate transfer member, a voltage of an opposite polarity to the toner image is applied, and a recharger is provided which applies to the intermediate transfer member a voltage of the same polarity as the toner image on an upstream side of the second transfer portion.