Image transferring device for an image forming apparatus

Abstract

A device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a photoconductive element to an intermediate transfer belt and then from the intermediate transfer belt to a sheet or similar recording medium. An electrode member is implemented as a belt drive roller and located at the rear of a portion of the intermediate transfer belt which lies in a position for transferring the toner image from the belt to a sheet. The electrode member has a specific volume resistance of 10 7 Ωcm to 10 12 Ωcm.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from an intermediate transfer member to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       an electrode member connected to ground and located at a back portion of said intermediate transfer member which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which causes a current fed from said electric field forming means to flow to ground, wherein said electrode member directly contacts a surface of said intermediate transfer member opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means.  
     
     
       2. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said electric field forming means comprises a metallic core connected to a bias power source, and an elastic member covering said metallic core and having a specific volume resistance of 10 7  Ωcm to 10 10  Ωcm. 
     
     
       3. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate transfer member comprises an intermediate transfer belt. 
     
     
       4. A device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said intermediate transfer belt has a specific volume resistance of 10 7  Ωcm to 10 12  Ωcm. 
     
     
       5. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       an electrode member connected to ground and located at a back portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which causes a current fed from said electric field forming means to flow to ground, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member has a specific volume resistance of 10 7  Ωcm to 10 12  Ωcm and, wherein said electrode member has a layer consisting only of polar rubber.  
     
     
       6. A device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said polar rubber comprises epichlorohydrin rubber. 
     
     
       7. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       an electrode member connected to ground and located at a back portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which causes a current fed from said electric field forming means to flow to ground, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member has a specific volume resistance of 10 7  Ωcm to 10 12  Ωcm and, wherein said electrode member has a layer in which conductive particles are dispersed.  
     
     
       8. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from an intermediate transfer member to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       an electrode member connected to ground and located at a back portion of said intermediate transfer member which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which prevents said electrode member from being charged by said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member directly contacts a surface of said intermediate transfer member opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means.  
     
     
       9. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       an electrode member connected to ground and located at a back portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which prevents said electrode member from being charged by said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member comprises an epichlorohydrin rubber layer.  
     
     
       10. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       an electrode member connected to ground and located at a back portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which prevents said electrode member from being charged by said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member comprises a layer in which a conductive agent is dispersed.  
     
     
       11. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       an electrode member connected to ground and located at a back portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a specific volume resistance of 10 7  Ωcm to 10 12  Ωcm, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electrode field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means.  
     
     
       12. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from an intermediate transfer member to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       an electrode member connected to ground and located at a back portion of said intermediate transfer member which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance layer in which at least a conductive agent is not dispersed, wherein said electrode member directly contacts a surface opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means.  
     
     
       13. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       an electrode member connected to ground and located at a back portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance layer in which at least a conductive agent is not dispersed, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means, wherein said resistance layer is made of epichlorohydrin rubber.  
     
     
       14. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from an intermediate transfer member to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said intermediate transfer member which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which causes a current fed from said electric field forming means to flow to ground, wherein said electrode member directly contacts a surface of said intermediate transfer member opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means. 
       
     
     
       15. A device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said electric field forming means comprises a metallic core connected to a bias power source, and an elastic member covering said metallic core and having a specific volume resistance of  10   7    Ωcm to  10     10    Ωcm.   
     
     
       16. A device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said intermediate transfer member comprises an intermediate transfer belt. 
     
     
       17. A device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said intermediate transfer belt has a specific volume resistance of  10   7    Ωcm to  10     12    Ωcm.   
     
     
       18. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which causes a current fed from said electric field forming means to flow to ground, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member has a specific volume resistance of  10   
         7  
         Ωcm to  10   
         12  
         Ωcm and, wherein said electrode member has a layer consisting only of polar rubber. 
       
     
     
       19. A device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said polar rubber comprises epichlorohydrin rubber. 
     
     
       20. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which causes a current fed from said electric field forming means to flow to ground, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member has a specific volume resistance of  10   
         7  
         Ωcm to  10   
         12  
         Ωcm and, wherein said electrode member has a layer in which conductive particles are dispersed. 
       
     
     
       21. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from an intermediate transfer member to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said intermediate transfer member which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which prevents said electrode member from being charged by said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member directly contacts a surface of said intermediate transfer member opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means. 
       
     
     
       22. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which prevents said electrode member from being charged by said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member comprises an epichlorohydrin rubber layer. 
       
     
     
       23. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance which prevents said electrode member from being charged by said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means, wherein said electrode member comprises a layer in which a conductive agent is dispersed. 
       
     
     
       24. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a specific volume resistance of  10   
         7  
         Ωcm to  10   
         12  
         Ωcm, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electrode field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means. 
       
     
     
       25. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from an intermediate transfer member to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said intermediate transfer member which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance layer in which at least a conductive agent is not dispersed, wherein said electrode member directly contacts a surface opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means. 
       
     
     
       26. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         electric field forming means for forming an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said electric field forming means, said electrode member having a resistance layer in which at least a conductive agent is not dispersed, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said electric field forming means contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said electric field forming means, wherein said resistance layer is made of epichlorohydrin rubber. 
       
     
     
       27. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from an intermediate transfer member to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         a transfer roller configured to form an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said intermediate transfer member which faces said transfer roller, said electrode member having a resistance which causes a current fed from said transfer roller to flow to ground, wherein said electrode member directly contacts a surface of said intermediate transfer member opposite to a surface which said transfer roller contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said transfer roller. 
       
     
     
       28. A device as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said transfer roller comprises a metallic core connected to a bias power source, and an elastic member covering said metallic core and having a specific volume resistance of  10   7    Ωcm to  10     10    Ωcm.   
     
     
       29. A device as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said intermediate transfer member comprises an intermediate transfer belt. 
     
     
       30. A device as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said intermediate transfer belt has a specific volume resistance of  10   7    Ωcm to  10     12    Ωcm.   
     
     
       31. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         a transfer roller configured to form an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said transfer roller, said electrode member having a resistance which causes a current fed from said transfer roller to flow to ground, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which transfer roller contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said transfer roller, wherein said electrode member has a specific volume resistance of  10   
         7  
         Ωcm to  10   
         12  
         Ωcm and, wherein said electrode member has a layer consisting only of polar rubber. 
       
     
     
       32. A device as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said polar rubber comprises epichlorohydrin rubber. 
     
     
       33. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         a transfer roller configured to form an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said transfer roller, said electrode member having a resistance which causes a current fed from said transfer roller to flow to ground, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said transfer roller contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said transfer roller, wherein said electrode member has a specific volume resistance of  10   
         7  
         Ωcm to  10   
         12  
         Ωcm and, wherein said electrode member has a layer in which conductive particles are dispersed. 
       
     
     
       34. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from an intermediate transfer member to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         a transfer roller configured to form an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said intermediate transfer member which faces said transfer roller, said electrode member having a resistance which prevents said electrode member from being charged by said transfer roller, wherein said electrode member directly contacts a surface of said intermediate transfer member opposite to a surface which said transfer roller contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said transfer roller. 
       
     
     
       35. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         a transfer roller configured to form an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said transfer roller, said electrode member having a resistance which prevents said electrode member from being charged by said transfer roller, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said transfer roller contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said transfer roller, wherein said electrode member comprises an epichlorohydrin rubber layer. 
       
     
     
       36. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         a transfer roller configured to form an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said transfer roller, said electrode member having a resistance which prevents said electrode member from being charged by said transfer roller, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said transfer roller contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said transfer roller, wherein said electrode member comprises a layer in which a conductive agent is dispersed. 
       
     
     
       37. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         a transfer roller configured to form an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said transfer roller, said electrode member having a specific volume resistance of  10   
         7  
         Ωcm to  10   
         12  
         Ωcm, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said transfer roller contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said transfer roller. 
       
     
     
       38. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from an intermediate transfer member to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         a transfer roller configured to form an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said intermediate transfer member which faces said transfer roller, said electrode member having a resistance layer in which at least a conductive agent is not dispersed, wherein said electrode member directly contacts a surface opposite to a surface which said transfer roller contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said transfer roller. 
       
     
     
       39. An image transferring device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from a toner image carrier to a sheet, said device comprising: 
       
         a transfer roller configured to form an electric field for image transfer; and  
       
       
         an electrode member connected to ground and located at a portion of said toner image carrier which faces said transfer roller, said electrode member having a resistance layer in which at least a conductive agent is not dispersed, wherein said electrode member contacts a surface of said toner image carrier opposite to a surface which said transfer roller contacts and at a position where said electrode member faces said transfer roller, wherein said resistance layer is made of epichlorohydrin rubber.