fig4 a however if the potential of the separation claws 7 is higher than the vd or as shown in fig4 b if it is smaller than the vl the transfer residual toner is allowed to adhere to the separation claws 7 after all as a result the toner cohering is generated which falls off when it adheres to the separation claws in a certain amount here the structure of the separation claws 7 will be described in accordance with the present embodiment fig5 is a schematic view which shows the vicinity of the separation claws 7 the separation claws 7 are in contact with the image bearing member 1 under an appropriate pressure with each of the separation claws 7 a separation claw pressure spring 7a is connected to exert this appropriate pressure each of the separation claw pressure springs is formed by sus and is made conductive also with each of the separation claw pressure springs 7a the separation claw voltage application device 13 not shown is connected through the lead line 7b respectively for the present embodiment the separation claws 7 are formed by polyamide however it is not necessarily limited to this material for example polyetherimide or the like may be used if such material is not easily broken but does not cause any damage to the image bearing member 1.