Abstract: A charge elimination needle is set at a predetermined position (first position) when a recording material is separated by utilizing the curvature of a separation stretching roller without using a separation assist roller, and at a position (second position) higher than the first position when the recording material is separated by using the separation assist roller.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a body frame, a support roller placed at one side of a movement path of a printing medium, a transfer roller assembly placed at the other side of the movement path of the printing medium at a position adjacent to the support roller, and a door to open or close the body frame so as to expose the movement path of the printing medium. The transfer roller assembly has a rotating axis kept at a fixed position of the body frame, and is moved away from the support roller in linkage with an opening operation of the door.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image transfer roller (ITR) utilizing an elastomer crown, imaging devices and imaging apparatus using the disclosed ITR. According to one exemplary embodiment, an ITR includes a cylindrically shaped conductive shaft and an elastomer material covering all or a portion of the conductive shaft. The profile of the outer surface of the elastomer material includes a substantially quadratic crown profile.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a support frame is configured to support a plurality of photoconductors arranged in the apparatus, the support frame being allowed to be pulled out from a casing of the apparatus, and an intermediate transfer belt is disposed above the plurality of photoconductors and configured to be movable between a contact position in which the intermediate transfer belt is in contact with each of the plurality of photoconductors and a separate position in which the intermediate transfer belt is separate from the each of the plurality of photoconductors. A predetermined amount of upward movement of the support frame made when the intermediate transfer belt is or comes in the separate position renders the support frame operable to be pulled out in a direction of arrangement of the plurality of photoconductors.

Abstract: A belt unit includes an endless belt, a drive roller, a follow roller, and a braking member. The drive roller drives the endless belt to move circularly. The follow roller rotates about a rotational shaft thereof following the circular movement of the endless belt. The rotational shaft extends in an axial direction and having two axial ends. The endless belt is wound around the drive roller and the follow roller. The braking member is disposed on one of the two axial ends and is rotatable about the rotational shaft and applies a rotational friction force to the endless belt when the endless belt is in frictional contact with the braking member.

Abstract: An upstream end of a guide surface of a recording material guide in the recording-material conveying direction is located on the same side as a separation belt-stretching roller with respect to an extension of the belt surface from the separation belt-stretching roller to a recessed portion formed in the belt surface by the separation assistance rollers.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a moving device to move a contact surface of an opposing member toward and away from an image bearing surface of an image bearing member. The moving device includes a cam and a cam driving device to rotate the cam. When the cam is at a first position, the image bearing surface and the contact surface are separated. When the cam is at a second position, the image bearing surface and the contact surface contact each other. After a recording medium enters a transfer nip between the image bearing surface and the contact surface, the cam is at the second position, and when the recording medium exits the transfer nip a timing at which the cam starts to rotate from the second position to the first position changes depending on a thickness of the recording medium, to reduce pressure in the transfer nip.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer device includes an endless-belt-form intermediate transfer material; a first moving member that is movable between a first position-1 and a second position-1, which is farther from the intermediate transfer material than the first position-1; a second moving member that is movable between a first position-2 and a second position-2, which is farther from the intermediate transfer material than the first position-2; a first tension applying member; a second tension applying member; and a third tension applying member that applies tension to the intermediate transfer material when at least either the first moving member is moved to the second position-1 or the second moving member is moved to the second position-2, and that is separated from the intermediate transfer material when the first moving member is in the first position-1 and the second moving member is in the first position-2.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an endless intermediate transfer member having a transport surface and being tensioned to transport a developer image, transferred from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member, from a first transfer position to a second transfer position, a first transfer member that brings the intermediate transfer member in contact with the image carrier and transfers a developer image present on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member at the first transfer position, a second transfer member that transfers the developer image to a recording medium at the second transfer position, a position adjusting member that adjusts a position of the transport surface of the intermediate transfer member downstream of the first transfer position, and a controller that controls the position adjusting member responsively to a type of the recoding medium to which the second transfer member transfers the developer image.

Abstract: The transfer device according to one embodiment is a device which transfers a toner image to a member for transferral which passes through a nip portion formed by a first transfer member which is disposed on a main body of an apparatus and a second transfer member which is disposed on an opening and closing cover which opens and closes an opening of a main body of the apparatus which includes, a positioning member which positions the second transfer member which moves according to a closing operation of the opening and closing cover, to a predetermined distance with respect to the first transfer member; and an engaging member which engages with the second transfer member and pushes the second transfer member toward a positioning position of the positioning member, by being urged by the elastic member.

Abstract: An image forming device is disclosed that is able to enlarge a gap of a nipping portion with a simple and inexpensive structure, and able to reduce impact when a front end of a recording sheet runs into or a back end of the recording sheet passes through the nipping portion. The image forming device includes an image carrying unit, an image forming unit, a transfer unit, a conveyance unit, a determination unit that determines whether a thickness of the recording sheet is greater than a threshold value, and a cam member that rotates to enlarge or reduce the gap of the nipping portion between the image carrying unit and the transfer unit according to rotational positions of the cam member. When the thickness of the recording sheet is greater than the threshold, the cam member rotates so that the gap of the nipping portion is enlarged.

Abstract: A unit detachably mountable to an apparatus main assembly is provided with a coupling for receiving a rotational driving force from the apparatus main assembly. Also the apparatus main assembly is provided with a coupling to be engaged with the coupling of the unit. At least one of these couplings can be pushed in a direction parallel to a rotation shaft and one of the couplings is provided with an inclined surface. During mounting and demounting of the unit, the engagement between the couplings is released by the pushing in of one of the couplings pushed by the inclined surface.

Abstract: A multicolor image forming apparatus which includes a developer image forming unit to form an image using a developer and a transferring unit to transfer the formed developer image to a recording medium, wherein the developer comprises a plurality of dark developers and one or more light developers, wherein the dark developers and the light developers each include a binder resin having a weight average molecular weight from about 50,000 Mw to about 160,000 Mw, and wherein about 50,000 Mw to about 160,000 Mw of the weight average molecular weight of the binder resin of the dark developer is larger than about 50,000 Mw to about 160,000 Mw of the weight average molecular weight of the binder resin of the light developer.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a body frame having a first contacting part and a second contacting part; and a belt unit detachably mounted in the body frame. The belt unit includes a belt unit main frame, a first roller, a second roller, a belt, a belt unit side frame, a handle part, a first contacted part, and a second contacted part. The belt unit side frame is attached to the belt unit main frame. The handle part is disposed at the belt unit main frame. The first contacted part is provided on the handle part to contact the first contacting part. The second contacted part is provided on one of the belt unit main frame and the belt unit side frame to contact the second contacting part. The second contacted part is closer to the second roller than the first roller.

Abstract: In an image transferring apparatus of the invention, a transfer roller which comes in press contact with a sheet sent through a sheet conveyance path and transfers a toner image formed by an image forming section onto the sheet is constructed to be capable of being pulled out from a main body frame, and after pulling from the main body frame, when it is again mounted to the main body frame, it can be easily mounted to the main body frame without receiving a reaction force caused by a pressing force to bring the transfer roller into press contact with the sheet.

Abstract: Rollers including a tension roller are arranged in parallel. A pair of supporting members supports both ends of the rollers. A transfer belt is supported by the rollers. A biasing member applies a tension to the transfer belt by biasing the tension roller in a predetermined direction. The tension roller is movably supported in a straight-line direction. The biasing member is arranged in an area surrounded by the supporting members and the transfer belt in a direction of traversing from one supporting member to other supporting member.

Abstract: A laser printer has an opening formed at its front surface side and a front cover for opening and closing the opening. A belt unit is attachably and detachably provided with respect to a body casing via the opening in a state where the front cover is opened. A guide member for guiding a sheet of paper is provided at the front of the belt unit. The belt unit is combined with the guide member, which is provided to be attachable and detachable with respect to the body casing.

Abstract: A printer and method have been developed that enable a controller in a printer to compute a thickness of an image substrate.

Abstract: A belt feed apparatus, includes: an endless belt member; a belt back surface member including a close portion disposed close to the endless belt member to such a degree that, when the endless belt member stands stationary, the close portion is prevented from touching the endless belt member, and while the endless belt member is circulating, the close portion can be contacted with the endless belt member irregularly; and a non-sticking portion that includes a non-sucking surface contactable with the endless belt member to prevent the endless belt member from being electrostatically sucked to the close portion, the non-sucking surface being provided in an entire portion or part of a surface of the close portion opposed to the endless belt member, and due to the existence of the non-sucking surface, the non-sticking portion being able to prevent the endless belt member from sticking to the close portion.

Abstract: A belt unit used for an image forming apparatus is provided. The belt unit includes a rotatable endless belt, a plurality of stretching members configured to stretch the belt, an urging member, and a contact and separation unit configured to be able to switch a position of the stretching member urged by the urging member. In moving the stretching member urged by the urging member from the separation position to the contact position, the contact and separation unit makes one end side of the stretching member urged by the urging member in a longitudinal direction coming into contact with the inner surface of the belt faster than the other end side, and temporarily decreases the movement speeds of the both ends of the stretching member in the longitudinal direction respectively before arriving at the contact position.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus of the invention includes a primary transfer unit, and a secondary transfer unit that includes a transfer roller having a bearing and being capable of contacting with and separating from the primary transfer unit, the primary transfer unit includes a guide member receiving the bearing at a position opposite to the bearing, and the guide member has a protrusion on a surface with which the bearing contacts when the transfer roller contacts with and separates from the primary transfer unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a coupling arm that moves, when a release handle is pulled up, in association with the movement of the release handle and separates a secondary transfer roller from a secondary-transfer-roller positioning member. The image forming apparatus includes a pivoting arm having a push-down spatula that moves, when the release handle is pulled up, in association with the movement of the release handle and separates the secondary transfer roller from the secondary-transfer-roller positioning member. The coupling arm or the pivoting arm transmits force applied to the release handle to the secondary transfer roller using leverage to thereby separate the secondary transfer roller from the secondary-transfer-roller positioning member and release the secondary transfer roller.

Abstract: A transfer unit has a belt unit having a belt and a cleaning unit for cleaning the belt. The belt unit and the cleaning unit are integratedly provided. The cleaning unit is movable for the belt unit. The transfer unit is detachable for an apparatus main body. A position of the cleaning unit for the belt unit before the transfer unit is attached to the apparatus main body is different from a position of the cleaning unit for the belt unit after the transfer unit is attached to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A control portion obtains a first difference in a movement amount between paper passing period and paper non-passage period of a transfer belt, and determines whether or not a first absolute value thereof is a first threshold value or more. In a case where the first absolute value is the first threshold value or more, a transfer belt unit positional adjustment motor is driven to adjust a first angle with respect to a first direction of a transfer belt unit with respect to a photoreceptor drum. In a case where the first absolute value is less than the first threshold value, a second absolute value of a second difference between a movement amount and a designed value set in advance of the transfer belt is obtained, and whether or not the second absolute value is a second threshold value or more is determined.

Abstract: A mounting structure includes a supporting member and an engagement member. The supporting member includes a first engaging section at one edge portion and a second engaging section at the other edge portion, and supports or positions an object to support. The engagement member includes a first engagement section capable of engaging with the first engaging section and a second engagement section capable of engaging with the second engaging section, and is a member for holding the supporting member with the supporting member being mounted onto the engagement member. Also, the supporting member supports or positions the object to support with the first engaging section and the second engaging section respectively engaging with the first engagement section and the second engagement section. The first engaging section has a higher rigidity than the first engagement section. The second engaging section has a higher rigidity than the second engagement section.

Abstract: A compact image forming apparatus is provided in which stains on the back of a transfer material can be prevented. In particular, in a marginless print mode in which a toner image can be formed to the edge of a transfer material, a large amount of toner adheres to a transfer-material bearing member. The image forming apparatus includes a collecting member that can temporarily collect the toner adhering to the transfer-material bearing member. The toner that is temporarily collected by the collecting member is transferred to an intermediate transfer member and is cleaned by a cleaning unit.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus includes: image forming sections for respective colors, image forming sections provided so as to face outer surface of intermediate transfer belt on outward path; transfer roller provided on returning path, transfer roller which is moved to contact position where transfer roller is pressed against intermediate transfer belt or to detachment position where transfer roller is detached from intermediate transfer belt; and density sensor detecting density of toner image on intermediate transfer belt, density sensor provided between transfer roller and endmost photoreceptor on downstream side of outward path. In image quality adjustment operation, image forming sections form toner image row on intermediate transfer belt which is row of toner images for image quality adjustment, and density sensor measures densities. Length of toner image row is smaller than length of intermediate transfer belt between endmost photoreceptor drum on downstream side and transfer roller.

Abstract: A belt unit having a belt stretched by a plurality of rollers is removably mounted in an image forming apparatus. A pressure removing member moves a tension roller for applying tension to the belt from a first position to apply the tension to the belt to a second position to remove the tension from the belt. After the belt unit is positioned and mounted in the apparatus body by engaging the rollers with positioning portions in an apparatus body frame in a state in which the tension roller is moved to the second position by the pressure removing member, the tension is applied to the belt by moving the tension roller to the first position by the pressure removing member.

Abstract: A belt device for an image forming apparatus includes an endless belt member supported at roller members, side frames disposed along sides of the belt member being respectively slidably supported at slide rails disposed at a body of the image forming apparatus, a rear frame constructed accross the side frames, rotatably supporting shafts of the roller members at the rear side, a front frame rotatably supporting shafts of the roller members at the front side, and having a projecting surface smaller that an inner periphery of the belt member, and a support frame cantilever-supporting the front frame with respect to the rear frame. The rear frame includes a freely detachable holding member supporting rear side bearings supporting the rear side shafts of support rollers supporting the belt and a sub-bearing which is more to the center side in an axial direction of the support rollers than the rear side bearing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that is supported by a secondary-transfer-unit supporting unit and transfers a toner image onto a recording medium, a lubricant applying brush that comes into contact with the secondary transfer roller and applies a lubricant to the secondary transfer roller, a lubricant-applying-brush housing unit that houses the lubricant applying brush, a solid lubricant that is housed in the lubricant-applying-brush housing unit and supplies the lubricant to the lubricant applying brush, a lubricant holding member that elastically holds the solid lubricant, a driving gear that transmits rotational force from the outside to the lubricant applying brush, and a lubricant unit that supports at least the lubricant applying brush, the lubricant-applying-brush housing unit, the solid lubricant, the lubricant holding member, and the driving gear in an integral state and is formed to be detachably attachable to the secondary-transfer-unit supporting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; an opening and closing unit disposed so as to be openable and closable for the main body; a fixing unit fixing the opening and closing unit to the main body; a structure including a component for realizing an image forming function and/or a transfer medium-conveying function, the structure being supported movably for the main body; a bias unit disposed between the opening and closing unit and the structure, the bias unit biasing the structure so as to be pushed to a member mounted within the main body; a constraining unit constraining the opening and closing unit and the structure against a bias force of the biasing unit when the fixing unit does not fix the opening and closing unit; and a releasing unit releasing the opening and closing unit and the structure from being constrained when the fixing unit fixes the opening and closing unit.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt that primarily transfers a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum; a secondary transfer unit including a transfer mechanism portion that secondarily transfers the primarily transferred toner image to a paper; an optical sensor that detects a reference toner image on the transfer belt; and a shutter that protects a detection face of the optical sensor, wherein a separation/contact mechanism portion disposed so as to be brought into contact with both of the shutter and the secondary transfer unit is provided, and the separation/contact mechanism portion allows the shutter to move so as to open and allows the secondary transfer unit to move so as to separate from the transfer belt when the reference toner image is detected by the optical sensor, and allows the shutter to move so as to separate from the transfer belt when the secondary transfer unit is drawn out from an apparatus main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to this invention includes a first movement mechanism, a preliminary charger, and a second movement mechanism. The first movement mechanism moves a primary transfer section between a first position at which an intermediate transfer member is brought into pressure contact with a photoreceptor and a second position at which the intermediate transfer member is spaced apart from the photoreceptor. The preliminary charger is disposed in the motion direction of the intermediate transfer member between the primary transfer section and a secondary transfer section, and disposed at a predetermined position relative to the intermediate transfer member. The preliminary charger applies a charge to a toner image on the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, including: a plurality of electrophotographic photosensitive drums; a transfer unit for rotatably supporting a transfer member for transferring toner images formed on the drums onto the recording medium, the transfer unit being movable, with the transfer member being in contact with at least one of the drums, between a mounting position inside an apparatus main body for mounting the transfer unit to the main body and a removing position outside the main body for removing the transfer unit; and a rotative force generating unit for generating a rotative force for rotating the transfer member in association with the movement of the transfer unit when the transfer unit is moved from the mounting position to the removing position and when the transfer unit is moved from the removing position to the mounting position.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer unit of an image forming apparatus is provided between a plurality of developer containers for containing developer and a plurality of developing devices. The intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer unit for secondarily transferring primarily transferred developed images from the plurality of image carriers onto a paper, an intermediate transfer unit driving mechanism for driving the intermediate transfer unit, and a housing for supporting the intermediate transfer unit driving mechanism. One end of the housing includes a plurality of developer inlet ports positionally corresponding to the developer supply ports of the developer containers respectively, a plurality of developer outlet ports positionally corresponding to the developer receiving ports of the developing devices respectively, and a plurality of developer supply paths connecting between the developer inlet ports and the developer outlet ports respectively.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a body frame, a belt unit, and a process cartridge. The belt unit includes a belt unit main frame having a first main end portion and a second main end portion in a first direction, a first roller disposed at the first main end portion, a second roller disposed at the second main end portion, a belt mounted around the first roller and the second roller, and a handle part disposed at the first main end portion and has a contacting part. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having a photosensitive surface opposed to the belt in a second direction, and a casing accommodating the photosensitive drum and having a contacted part. The contacting part contacts the contacted part to prevent the photosensitive surface from contacting the belt unit when the process cartridge is mounted in the body frame.

Abstract: Bias correction control of an intermediate transfer belt 21 on which an image of each color formed on a surface of a photoconductive body 31 is transferred, and a second transfer belt 24 in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer belt 21 to transfer a toner image onto a recording sheet by passing the recording sheet between the intermediate transfer belt 21. Contents of the bias correction control (an amount of correction control and a cycle of correction control) can be changed in accordance with states of the belts i.e. whether the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the second transfer belt 24 are in a pressure contact state or a separate state.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an opening provided in a main assembly of the apparatus; an openable member movable between a close position for closing the opening and an open position for opening it; a drawer member for supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the drawer member being movable in a direction crossing with an axis of the drum through the opening between an inside position inside the main assembly and an outside position outside the main assembly where the cartridge can be mounted and dismounted; a transfer unit movable about a rotation axis disposed downstream of the drum with respect to a mounting direction of the drawer member from the outside position to the inside position, between a contacting position contacting the drum and a spaced position spacing from the drum in a state that the drawer member is in the inside position; and an interrelating member interrelating the openable member and the transfer unit with each other, wherein the interrelating m

Abstract: A system for support, operation, installation, and removal of an endless belt in a scalable modular printing system includes an input module, at least one marking module, and an output module. The endless belt is an intermediate transfer belt, a photoconductive belt, or a sheet transport belt used in the marking system. Rollers support an interior surface of the belt, and are supported by their respective module frame structures, thus defining a vacant interior cavity of the belt. A method of belt installation includes drawing all interior rollers out of their frame structures, placing the pre-scrolled belt at one end module of the system, uncoiling the belt along its process direction within the internal cavity of the system, then reinstalling the interior rollers to capture the belt into its operating position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a transfer section, which is pressed against, and is separated from, the image bearing member, for transferring a toner image on the image bearing member onto a recording medium when being pressed against the image bearing member, a transfer section drive section for driving the transfer section to rotate; and a control section configured to control the transfer section drive section to carry out constant speed control and constant torque control, to drive said transfer section to rotate at a constant speed, and at a constant torque, respectively, wherein the control section carries out the constant torque control while the transfer section is pressed against the image bearing member, in accordance with a drive torque detected when the constant speed control is carried out while the transfer section is separated from the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a rotatable belt member configured to contact the image bearing member, a belt unit configured to support the belt member and removably mounted on the image forming apparatus, an operation unit disposed on the belt unit, a belt unit moving mechanism configured to cause the belt member to contact the image bearing member when the operation unit is in a first position and to cause the belt member to separate from the image bearing member when the operation unit is in a second position, and a tensile force releasing mechanism configured to release a tensile force applied to the belt member when the belt unit is pulled out from the image forming apparatus and the operation unit is in a third position.

Abstract: An intermediate toner transfer belt includes an endless member made of a layer of a material having an endless functional surface adapted to transfer a toner image. The layer of material is textured so as to define a multiplicity of protruding portions of the material spaced apart from each other and integral with and extending outwardly from a remaining base portion of the material. The protruding portions have outer tips spaced apart from one another with outer surfaces thereon also spaced apart from one another such that the endless surface of the endless member is formed by the spaced apart outer surfaces of the outer tips of the protruding portions of the material. Further, the protruding portions are irregular in pattern and shape relative to one another and generally undulate toward and away from the remaining base portion of the material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members; a plurality of primary transferring devices for transferring toner images from the image bearing member onto an intermediary transfer belt provided above the plurality of image bearing members; an intermediary transfer unit including the intermediary transfer belt; a secondary transfer portion for transferring the toner image from the intermediary transfer belt onto a recording material; a feeding path for feeding the recording material upwardly toward the secondary transfer portion; a detecting member for detecting the toner image formed on the intermediary transfer belt; an adjusting device for adjusting a condition under which the image is formed on the image bearing member on the basis of a result of detection of the detecting member; an openable member for opening the feeding path; a guiding mechanism for guiding draw of the intermediary transfer unit toward the feeding path when the openable member opens; and a retracting mechanis

Abstract: An intermediate transfer unit includes a stand member that is integral with an intermediate-transfer-unit body of the intermediate transfer unit. The stand member stretches below the intermediate-transfer-unit body from a trailing edge to a leading edge of the intermediate-transfer-unit in an attachment direction of the intermediate transfer unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier for carrying a toner image and a transfer device. In the transfer device, a voltage applier applies a predetermined voltage to a transfer electric field generator. A potential measurement device measures a surface potential of the transfer electric field generator when a predetermined time period elapses after the voltage applier applies the predetermined voltage to the transfer electric field generator. A controller determines a transfer bias to be applied by at least one transfer member to the transfer electric field generator based on the measured surface potential of the transfer electric field generator. The at least one transfer member applies the transfer bias to the transfer electric field generator to generate a transfer electric field. The toner image is transferred from the image carrier onto a toner image receiver by the transfer electric field generated by the transfer electric field generator.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, slide rails guided by guide rails of a body frame are provided on an EPU frame. A slidable bolt is provided on a belt unit frame. When the belt unit is attached to or removed from the body frame, the bolt is fitted into an insertion port of the EPU frame and the EPU frame is connected with the belt unit frame. The slide rails of the EPU frame are used to integrally attach and remove the belt unit and the EPU to and from the body frame.

Abstract: Various embodiments and methods adjust and maintain a relative positioning and/or pressure between a first drum and a second drum using first and second bearers coupled to the first and second drums, respectively, and at least one spacer mechanism between the first and second bearers.

Abstract: A transfer device includes an intermediate transfer belt, and a plurality of intermediate transfer rollers. A most upstream side intermediate transfer roller which is located most upstream in a moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt has a rotational axis arranged downstream from a rotational axis of a most upstream side photoreceptor drum which is located most upstream in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt when the most upstream side intermediate transfer roller is in its pressing position, while a most downstream side intermediate transfer roller which is located most downstream in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt has a rotational axis arranged upstream from a rotational axis of a most downstream side photoreceptor drum which is located most downstream in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt when the most downstream side intermediate transfer roller is in its pressing position.

Abstract: A cartridge and method that is useful in installing an endless belt in one or more modules of a belt containing system is disclosed. The cartridge may include at least two internal cartridge rolls around which said belt is wound, a traveling roll around which belt is positioned, and gear racks on which said traveling roll will move, said belt being movably connected on one end to one of said internal cartridge rolls and on an opposite end to said traveling roll, end caps located at each end of said internal cartridge rolls, said end caps and internal cartridge rolls having conduits therethrough, and a sheath to cover and contain said internal cartridge rolls.

Abstract: This invention provides a circular body, which is used for an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic system, the circular body containing: at least an inner layer containing resin and an outer layer that is laminated on an outer circumferential surface side of the inner layer and contains resin; and, as a conductive agent, polyaniline in the outer layer and carbon black in the inner layer; and satisfying the following relational expressions (1) and (2): 13.0?C1?15.0??(1) 21.5?C2?25.0??(2), wherein C1 represents the content (parts by weight) of the polyaniline with respect to 100 parts by weight of the resin forming the outer layer, and C2 represents the content (parts by weight) of the carbon black with respect to 100 parts by weight of the resin forming the inner layer, as well as a circular body unit using the circular body and an image forming apparatus using the circular body.