An image forming apparatus includes an image holding unit that holds an image that is formed of a developer, the image being intended to be transferred onto a medium, and an image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium, a transfer unit that transfers the image that is intended to be transferred onto a medium onto a medium, and a forming unit that forms, upon receiving a print instruction to form the image that is intended to be transferred onto a medium onto the image holding unit, the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium at a position on the image holding unit where the image that is intended to be transferred onto a medium is to be formed.

An image forming apparatus includes image forming units, secondary transfer units, and first and second detection devices. Each image forming unit includes image forming devices, and a primary intermediate transfer body. Toner images formed by the image forming devices are primarily transferred to the primary intermediate transfer body. The secondary transfer units are provided for the image forming units, respectively. Each secondary transfer unit is configured to secondarily transfer the toner images on a corresponding one of the primary intermediate transfer bodies to a transfer body. The first detection device is configured to detect the toner images downstream of the most downstream secondary transfer position. The second detection device is provided in at least one of the image forming units. The second detection device is configured to detect the toner images between the most downstream primary transfer position in the primary intermediate transfer body and a secondary transfer position.

A secondary transfer device performs secondary transfer of a toner image onto a paper sheet at a predetermined secondary transfer position, the toner image having been transferred onto an outer peripheral surface of an intermediate transfer belt through primary transfer, the intermediate transfer belt being stretched around a plurality of rollers, the intermediate transfer belt having an endless annular shape and a predetermined width, and the secondary transfer device includes: a pressure releaser that moves a secondary transfer roller between a pressing position and a separate position; a first driver that drives the pressure releaser; a high-speed pressure reducer that temporarily performs pressure reduction on a nip pressure for the secondary transfer roller at the pressing position to press the intermediate transfer belt being nipped between the secondary transfer roller and the counter roller; and a second driver that drives the high-speed pressure reducer.

According to an embodiment, a power source device includes a direct current power source, an alternating current power source, a bypass capacitor, and a power source control unit. The direct current power source outputs a direct current voltage. The alternating current power source outputs a superimposed voltage having an alternating current voltage superimposed on the direct current voltage. The bypass capacitor partially accumulates a charge of alternating current for prevention of flow of current into the direct current power source from the alternating current power source. The power source control unit switches control of the direct current voltage from constant current control to constant voltage control and causes a charge of the alternating current to be accumulated in the bypass capacitor in a short time period between a transfer period and a non-transfer period both related to image formation.

An image forming apparatus includes image forming units, secondary transfer units, and first and second detection devices. Each image forming unit includes image forming devices, and a primary intermediate transfer body. Toner images formed by the image forming devices are primarily transferred to the primary intermediate transfer body. The secondary transfer units are provided for the image forming units, respectively. Each secondary transfer unit is configured to secondarily transfer the toner images on a corresponding one of the primary intermediate transfer bodies to a transfer body. The first detection device is configured to detect the toner images downstream of the most downstream secondary transfer position. The second detection device is provided in at least one of the image forming units. The second detection device is configured to detect the toner images between the most downstream primary transfer position in the primary intermediate transfer body and a secondary transfer position.

An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer unit that faces an image holding unit and is configured to come into contact with and separate from the image holding unit with a continuous form paper continuous in a transport direction interposed between the transfer unit and the image holding unit and to transfer an image held by the image holding unit onto the continuous form paper; a displacement unit that displaces the continuous form paper to a position closer to the image holding unit when the transfer unit separates from the image holding unit; and a contact portion that contacts the continuous form paper from a downstream side in a displacement direction before the continuous form paper displaced by the displacement unit contacts the image holding unit.

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed by a liquid developer containing a toner particle and a carrier liquid, an intermediate transfer belt onto which the toner image is transferred, and a transfer member configured to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer belt. The transfer member is made of a metal, and the transfer member abuts against the image bearing member with the intermediate transfer belt nipped therebetween.

An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer unit that holds an image to be transferred onto a recording medium, a base image formation unit that forms a planar base image onto the intermediate transfer unit by using an opaque base image forming agent, the base image being brought into contact with and disposed onto an entire surface of the recording medium or a partial region of the surface of the recording medium, a transparent image formation unit that forms a transparent image onto the intermediate transfer unit by using a transparent image forming agent, a first control unit that performs control for transferring a monochromatic or polychromatic image including the base image formed on the intermediate transfer unit by the base image formation unit onto the recording medium, a second control unit that performs control for superposing a monochromatic or polychromatic image including the base image formed by the base image formation unit onto the transparent image formed on the intermediate transfer unit by the transparent image formation unit and for transferring a monochromatic or polychromatic image including the transparent image and the base image onto the recording medium, and a selection unit that selects the first control unit or the second control unit depending on a recording medium type.

An intermediate transfer member that is used for electrophotographic image formation, includes carbon nanotubes and ferroelectric fillers in a base material layer containing a resin material as a principal component.

An intermediate transfer member that is used for electrophotographic image formation, includes carbon nanotubes and ferroelectric fillers in a base material layer containing a resin material as a principal component.