An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, a charging device, an exposure device, a development device, and an intermediate transfer belt. The image carrier has a surface on which an amorphous silicon photosensitive layer is formed. The intermediate transfer belt is a plastic belt having a surface resistivity of 9.5 to 10.5 (log ?/square). An offset amount of the primary transfer roller from the image carrier is 0 to 2 (mm), a contact surface pressure between the image carrier and the intermediate transfer belt is 0.5 to 1.5 (gf/mm.sup.2), and a charge density of primary transfer current that flows when the primary transfer voltage is applied to the primary transfer roller is 0.016 to 0.040 (?C/cm.sup.2).

A printing apparatus is described comprising a photoconductor for receiving an electrostatic charge pattern corresponding to an image, and one or more developers for applying a colorant to the photoconductor representative of the image. The apparatus further comprises a transfer member for transferring the image from the photoconductor onto a substrate, wherein the transfer member has a substantially grounded potential.

An image forming apparatus includes: a body; a cover openably attached to the body; an image bearer; a transferer attachable to the cover, the transferer including: a transfer roller facing the image bearer and displaceable between: a contact position at which the transfer roller comes into contact with the image bearer; or a separated position at which the transfer roller is separated from the image bearer; and a holder rotatably holding the transfer roller; and a biasing member to bias the transfer roller toward the image bearer to the contact position, a support shaft swingably supporting the holder; and a pressure receiver to receive the holder.

An image forming apparatus includes a transfer roller, a fuser, a chute, and a reciprocating mechanism. The transfer roller is configured to transfer toner to a sheet. The fuser is configured to fix toner on the sheet. The chute is located upstream of the fuser in a sheet conveying direction. The chute is configured to convey the sheet on a sheet conveying surface. The chute is movable between a first position and a second position. The reciprocating mechanism is configured to reciprocate by drive force and to move the chute by pressing the chute in a direction from a sheet-conveying-surface side toward an opposite side. The sheet-conveying-surface side is a side of the chute at which the sheet conveying surface is located. The opposite side is a side of the chute opposite the sheet-conveying-surface side.

An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image, intermediate, primary, and secondary transfer members, and a voltage application member. The voltage application member applies a voltage to the image carrier. The secondary transfer member is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer member. The toner image carried on the image carrier is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer member in a state where the voltage application member applies the voltage to the image carrier. The intermediate transfer member has a volume resistivity from 510.sup.7 .Math.cm to 210.sup.11 .Math.cm inclusive. A relation s1/s21.5 is satisfied, where s1 denotes a surface resistivity which is measured from the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer member and s2 denotes a surface resistivity which is measured from an inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer member.

An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a light-emitting unit which emits light to an image bearing member which bears a developer image and that detects presence or absence of a developer container storing developer or a shape of the developer container on the basis of the number of electrons discharged from or received by the image bearing member when the light-emitting unit emits the light.

An image forming apparatus includes a body, a transfer member, a transfer unit, a power supply, and an urging member. The transfer member transfers an image onto a transfer medium. The transfer unit is supported to rotate around a support shaft with respect to the body and holds the transfer member. The power supply outputs a transfer bias to be applied to the transfer member. The urging member urges the transfer unit in a direction in which the transfer unit contacts a positioning portion of the body and is a part or all of a power supply path of the transfer bias from the power supply to the transfer member.

An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, a charging device, an exposure device, a development device, and an intermediate transfer belt. The image carrier has a surface on which an amorphous silicon photosensitive layer is formed. The intermediate transfer belt is a plastic belt having a surface resistivity of 9.5 to 10.5 (log /square). An offset amount of the primary transfer roller from the image carrier is 0 to 2 (mm), a contact surface pressure between the image carrier and the intermediate transfer belt is 0.5 to 1.5 (gf/mm.sup.2), and a charge density of primary transfer current that flows when the primary transfer voltage is applied to the primary transfer roller is 0.016 to 0.040 (C/cm.sup.2).

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a power supply, and a transfer device. The fixing device includes a fixing belt grounded via a protective resistor, a heater contacting the fixing belt, and a pressure rotator grounded and facing the fixing belt to form a nip. The power supply applies an alternating current voltage to the heater. The transfer device includes a transferor grounded and an opposed rotator facing the transferor to form a nip. The transferor has a transfer resistance Rt satisfying a following expression, $.Math.\frac{\mathrm{Rf}//\left(\mathrm{jXs}+\mathrm{Rp}+\mathrm{Rt}\right)}{\mathrm{jXh}+\mathrm{Rf}//\left(\mathrm{jXs}+\mathrm{Rp}+\mathrm{Rt}\right)}.Math.\frac{\mathrm{Rt}}{\mathrm{jXs}+\mathrm{Rp}+\mathrm{Rt}}.Math.<0.3$
where Rf is a resistance value of the protective resistor, Rp is a resistance value of a recording medium, jXs is an impedance of the fixing belt, and jXh is an impedance of the heater.

An image forming apparatus includes: a body; a cover openably attached to the body; an image bearer; a transferer attachable to the cover, the transferer including: a transfer roller facing the image bearer and displaceable between: a contact position at which the transfer roller comes into contact with the image bearer; or a separated position at which the transfer roller is separated from the image bearer; and a holder rotatably holding the transfer roller; and a biasing member to bias the transfer roller toward the image bearer to the contact position, a support shaft swingably supporting the holder; and a pressure receiver to receive the holder.