Abstract: An improved image forming apparatus having an endless belt is provided. The apparatus uses an endless belt as a toner image carrier for holding a toner image thereon and transporting the toner image. In one embodiment, rib members are arranged on opposing ends of the endless belt to assist in inhibiting the endless belt from walking relative to a drive roll. A rib guide member is interposed between the rib member and the drive roll, and is rotatable independent of the drive roll. In another embodiment, the toner image is transferred from a photosensitive member to the endless transfer belt and then to a recording medium. Indicia is arranged on an outer perimeter surface of the endless transfer belt indicative of a position of the endless transfer belt, with a sensor used to detect the indicia.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotography-basis copying machine or laser printer, ribs are provided on and along both side ends of the inner surface of an intermediate transfer belt. Rib guides are provided on both ends of a drive roll. The ribs are brought into contact with the rib guides, whereby the intermediate transfer belt is guided. The diameter of each rib guide is slightly larger than the diameter of the drive roll, to thereby form a gap between the drive roll and the intermediate transfer belt. In a region including the gap and its vicinity, a friction created between the drive roll and the intermediate transfer belt is reduced. Therefore, thrust of each rib against each rib guide, caused by the walk, is reduced.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus according to the present invention forms a high quality color image with multiple colors of toner in accordance with an input signal. An electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier in accordance with the image signal. A developing bias is applied to the image carrier to form a toner image of the latent image for multiple toner colors. To transfer the toner image to an intermediate transfer belt, a rotatable transfer roller is positioned opposite the image carrier and across the transfer belt for attracting the transfer belt toward the image carrier at a transferring position. To reduce the frictional force between the image carrier and the transfer belt, which causes color deviation when multiple toner images are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt, a toner is placed on the image carrier in front of a leading end of a first toner image formed on the image carrier.

Abstract: In a cleaning apparatus, a film as a guide plate for guiding cleaned toner into the apparatus is bonded to a holder, which is screwed to a housing. The screwing is loosened by a predetermined amount for providing a gap between the holder and the housing. If the housing and the seal member are thermally expanded by heat from a fuser during the operation of a image formation apparatus and a difference occurs between the expansion amounts of the housing and the holder, the gap absorbs the expansion amount difference and a force of warp, distortion, etc., does not act on the holder. Therefor, deformation of the film held by the holder can be prevented and trouble such as toner not being guided into the apparatus and scatters can be prevented.

Abstract: Residual toner is removed from a belt-type paper support by means of a brush roll and blade. The removed toner is guided to a waste toner storage vessel by means of a screw member. A sensor indicates when the toner storage vessel is full.