Abstract: A belt tracking system for controlling the lateral position of a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a roller shaft, a slidable member, and a rotation restrictor. The roller shaft extends outward in the axial direction from an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers. The slidable member is slidably disposed around the roller shaft to move along the roller shaft as the belt moves laterally outward in the axial direction. The rotation restrictor is disposed adjacent to the slidable member to restrict rotation of the slidable member around the roller shaft.

Abstract: A belt tracking system for controlling the lateral position of a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a roller shaft, a slidable member, and a rotation restrictor. The roller shaft extends outward in the axial direction from an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers. The slidable member is slidably disposed around the roller shaft to move along the roller shaft as the belt moves laterally outward in the axial direction. The rotation restrictor is disposed adjacent to the slidable member to restrict rotation of the slidable member around the roller shaft.

Abstract: A belt tracking system for controlling the lateral position of a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a roller shaft, a slidable member, and a rotation restrictor. The roller shaft extends outward in the axial direction from an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers. The slidable member is slidably disposed around the roller shaft to move along the roller shaft as the belt moves laterally outward in the axial direction. The rotation restrictor is disposed adjacent to the slidable member to restrict rotation of the slidable member around the roller shaft.

Abstract: A belt positioning system for positioning a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a flange. The flange is operatively connected to an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers to define a contact surface therealong which extends generally perpendicular to the axial direction to contact an adjoining edge of the belt. The contact surface of the flange is spaced apart from the axial end of the roller in the axial direction.

Abstract: A belt tracking system for adjusting misalignment of a movable belt in an axial direction of a plurality of rollers about which the movable belt is entrained includes a slope member and a stationary shaft guide. The slope member is disposed at both ends of at least one of the plurality of rollers in the axial direction, to tilt the roller as the belt moves in the axial direction. The stationary shaft guide contacts the slope member. A distance between a contact point of the slope member that contacts the stationary shaft guide and an end portion of the slope member in the axial direction is longer than a maximum traveling distance that the slope member travels in the axial direction.

Abstract: A belt positioning system for positioning a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a flange. The flange is operatively connected to an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers to define a contact surface therealong which extends generally perpendicular to the axial direction to contact an adjoining edge of the belt. The contact surface of the flange is spaced apart from the axial end of the roller in the axial direction.

Abstract: A belt positioning system for positioning a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a flange. The flange is operatively connected to an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers to define a contact surface therealong which extends generally perpendicular to the axial direction to contact an adjoining edge of the belt. The contact surface of the flange is spaced apart from the axial end of the roller in the axial direction.

Abstract: A belt tracking system for controlling the lateral position of a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a roller shaft, a stationary member, a slidable member, and a biasing mechanism. The roller shaft extends outward in the axial direction from an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers. The stationary member is fixed in position adjacent to the roller shaft to define a first interfacial surface therealong. The slidable member is co-movably coupled with the roller shaft to define a second interfacial surface therealong inclined relative to the axial direction. The biasing mechanism is connected to the roller shaft to press the slidable member against the stationary member.

Abstract: A belt tracking system for adjusting misalignment of a movable belt in an axial direction of a plurality of rollers about which the movable belt is entrained includes a slope member and a stationary shaft guide. The slope member is disposed at both ends of at least one of the plurality of rollers in the axial direction, to tilt the roller as the belt moves in the axial direction. The stationary shaft guide contacts the slope member. A distance between a contact point of the slope member that contacts the stationary shaft guide and an end portion of the slope member in the axial direction is longer than a maximum traveling distance that the slope member travels in the axial direction.

Abstract: A belt tracking system for controlling the lateral position of a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a roller shaft, a slidable member, and a rotation restrictor. The roller shaft extends outward in the axial direction from an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers. The slidable member is slidably disposed around the roller shaft to move along the roller shaft as the belt moves laterally outward in the axial direction. The rotation restrictor is disposed adjacent to the slidable member to restrict rotation of the slidable member around the roller shaft.

Abstract: A belt positioning system for positioning a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a tapered flange. The tapered flange is operatively connected to an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers, and includes a generally planar contact surface and an angled guide surface. The generally planar contact surface extends generally perpendicular to the axial direction to contact an adjoining edge of the belt. The angled guide surface extends radially outward from the contact surface and has a diameter increasing outward in the axial direction.

Abstract: A belt tracking system for controlling the lateral position of a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a roller shaft, a stationary member, a slidable member, and a biasing mechanism. The roller shaft extends outward in the axial direction from an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers. The stationary member is fixed in position adjacent to the roller shaft to define a first interfacial surface therealong. The slidable member is co-movably coupled with the roller shaft to define a second interfacial surface therealong inclined relative to the axial direction. The biasing mechanism is connected to the roller shaft to press the slidable member against the stationary member.

Abstract: A belt positioning system for positioning a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a flange. The flange is operatively connected to an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers to define a contact surface therealong which extends generally perpendicular to the axial direction to contact an adjoining edge of the belt. The contact surface of the flange is spaced apart from the axial end of the roller in the axial direction.

Abstract: A belt positioning system for positioning a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a tapered flange. The tapered flange is operatively connected to an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers, and includes a generally planar contact surface and an angled guide surface. The generally planar contact surface extends generally perpendicular to the axial direction to contact an adjoining edge of the belt. The angled guide surface extends radially outward from the contact surface and has a diameter increasing outward in the axial direction.

Abstract: A multi-layer endless belt member with a high-resistance surface layer for use in an image forming apparatus. A volume resistivity thereof ranges from approximately 8.0 to approximately 11.0 in log [?·cm]. An amount of resistivity change of a first surface thereof is greater than an amount of resistivity change of a second surface thereof by 0.05 or greater in log [?/square], where the amount of resistivity change of the first surface indicates a difference between surface resistivity values measured after a given voltage is applied for 1 second and for 100 seconds on the first surface thereof and the amount of resistivity change of the second surface indicates a difference between surface resistivity values measured after a given voltage is applied for 1 second and for 100 seconds on the second surface thereof.

Abstract: A multi-layer endless belt member, which can be incorporated in a transfer unit for use in an image forming apparatus, includes a base layer and a surface layer disposed on the base layer and having a higher resistivity and has a first resistivity of a first surface thereof and a second resistivity of a second surface thereof opposite the first surface different from the first resistivity. The second resistivity of the second surface ranges from approximately 9.0 to approximately 12.5 in a common logarithm value (log [?/square]) when measured after 500V is applied for 10 seconds. An amount of resistivity change in the first resistivity ranges from approximately 0.5 to approximately 1.5 after application of 100V and is 0.2 or smaller after application of 500V. An amount of resistivity change in the second resistivity is 0.1 or smaller after application of 100V and 500V.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an endless belt whose front surface contacts the image carrier to form a transfer nip, and a bias applying roller configured to apply a transfer bias to a back surface of the endless belt. An image is formed of a toner having an additive embedded rate of not less than 40 percent and including a mother particle having a binder resin and a colorant, and an external additive. The bias applying roller is located so as to satisfy a relationship, L>(A/2)+(B/2)+C, where A is a diameter of the image carrier, B is a diameter of the bias applying roller, C is a thickness of the endless belt, and L is a distance between centers of the image carrier and the bias applying roller on a virtual plane perpendicular to an axis direction of the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, supporting rollers, a belt-like-shaped medium, a primary transfer member, secondary transfer rollers, and a grounded conductive roller. The image bearing member forms a toner image at a predetermined process speed. The belt-shaped medium has a charge voltage. The primary transfer member sequentially transfers the toner image onto the belt-like-shaped medium and the secondary transfer member transfers the toner image onto a recording sheet. The conductive roller is arranged in contact with the belt-shaped medium for a predetermined wrapping length. A relationship Tb<X/Vb is satisfied, where Tb is a decay time period that the charge voltage of the belt-shaped medium decays from approximately 200 volts to 200/e volts, where e is a base of natural logarithm, X is the predetermined wrapping length of the belt-shaped medium against the conductive roller, and Vb is the predetermined process speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first endless transfer belt, first extending members, a first transfer electric generator, a secondary transfer unit disposed outboard and at least partially facing the first endless transfer belt, and an ultrasonic vibration generator, including a vibration imparting part from which ultrasonic vibrations is applied to the first endless transfer belt. The secondary transfer unit and the first endless transfer belt form a transfer nip forming a transfer electric field due to a difference in electric potential therebetween. The first transfer electric field generator contacts the first endless transfer belt at a position other than a position disposed opposite the secondary transfer unit. The vibration imparting part contacts the first endless transfer belt at a position intermediate between the first transfer electric field generator and the secondary transfer unit in a direction of rotation of the first endless transfer belt.

Abstract: A transfer device including a first combination including an intermediate transfer medium and a transfer member applying a transfer bias, and/or a second combination including an intermediate transfer medium, a second transfer member applying a second transfer bias, and an opposing member configured to transfer the toner image on the intermediate transfer medium to a receiving material at a second transfer nip. When the first combination is subjected to 60-second application of a voltage of 1 kV, followed by discharging, 300 times, the absolute value of logarithmic difference between first and 300th combined volume resistances is not greater than 0.8 [log(?)]. When the second combination is subjected to 60-second application of a voltage of ?1 kV, followed by discharging, 300 times, the absolute value of logarithmic difference between the first and 300th combined volume resistances is not greater than 0.5 [log(?)].