IMAGE FORMING DEVICE Russian patent published in 2017 - IPC G03G15/16 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions includes image forming devices. In this case, the image forming apparatus includes an image bearing element configured to carry a toner image, an intermediate transfer element configured to transfer a toner image transferred from an image bearing element to a primary transfer position, a transfer member provided to contact the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer element, configured to transfer the toner image from the intermediate transfer item to the recording material in the position of the secondary transfer, a constant voltage element, which is a zener diode or varistor electrically connected between an intermediate transfer element and a ground potential configured to generate a predetermined voltage by passing a current therethrough, an energy source for generating and an electric field of the secondary transfer at the secondary transfer position and the electric field of the primary transfer in the primary transfer position by applying a voltage to the transfer member for passing current through the constant voltage element detection section configured to detect a current passing through the transfer element, execution section configured to execute a test mode in which the test voltage is applied to the transfer element of the power source to the current detection by the detecting section, when the position of the secondary transfer no recording material, and a controller configured to control the voltage to be applied to the element transferring energy source on the basis of the current detected by the detection section in the test mode, when the secondary transfer position has a recording medium, etc. than the controller controls the test voltage applied energy source so that current flows through the constant voltage element during the test mode.

EFFECT: designing a structure wherein the predetermined voltage is generated in an intermediate transfer element by a DC voltage source, which enables to avoid the problem where the proper voltage cannot be obtained during the test mode, in which test voltage is applied.

11 cl, 9 dwg