MULTICOLOR IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

Multicolor toner images are formed on a receiving surface by superimposing single color toner images formed electrostatically on an image member (1), in registration on a receiving surface. The receiving surface is rotated by a transfer member, for example, a transfer drum (5; 60; 211), repeatedly through transfer relation with the image member. To improve transfer and avoid wear of the image member, the transfer member is driven by the image member during transfer. To improve registration the transfer member is separated from the image member between transfers and reindexed. A stepper motor (17; 117) is used for such reindexing. The invention is particularly usable in transfers using heat, especially to a heat softenable outer surface of a receiving sheet.