An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum; an exposing unit to
expose the photosensitive drum to form latent images to the respective colors of
one print; a developing device to develop the latent images formed on the photosensitive
drum; an intermediate transfer belt abutting against the photosensitive drum, to
temporarily hold a toner image; a secondary transfer roller contacted/retracted
with respect to the intermediate transfer belt to transfer the toner image to a
document; an intermediate transfer member cleaner contacted/retracted to/from the
intermediate transfer belt to remove residual toners left on the intermediate transfer
belt, wherein the secondary transfer roller contacts the intermediate transfer
belt before operations of the exposing unit are accomplished with all colors of
toner images in one print, and is retracted from the intermediate transfer belt
before a next print is commenced.
