Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit, a conveying unit and controller. The image formation unit includes a rotating photoreceptor, a latent image formation unit, a developing unit, a first transfer unit, and a second transfer unit. Regardless of forming or not forming on the photoreceptor a belt-shaped image which is not being transferred onto a recording medium, the controller controls the image forming unit such that formation of an image quality adjusting image that is not transferred to the recording medium starts from a predetermined position in a rotational direction of the photoreceptor, and such that the recorded image is formed further downstream in the rotational direction of the photoreceptor than an image quality adjusting image region.

Abstract: According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed an apparatus and method for controlling a position of a belt in a printing system. The apparatus including a roller assembly for engaging at least a portion of the belt. The roller assembly extending laterally across the belt. The apparatus including a pair of laterally spaced support arms each rotatably supporting opposed ends of the roller assembly. Each support arm being pivotally coupled to the printing system for movement about a pivot axis extending substantially in the lateral direction. The apparatus also including a pair of actuating assemblies each configured to pivot a different one of the support arms about the pivot axis. The pivotal movement of each of the pair of support arms by the respective actuating assemblies being independent of the other.

Abstract: An displacement correcting device is provided and includes: a rotation supporting member having a rotation shaft and rotating to support the endless belt-shaped member; a shaft supporting frame supporting a one-end supporting portion of the rotation shaft movably relative to an opposite-end supporting portion and supporting one end of the rotation shaft to be tilted about the other end; and a shaft displacing member having a rotation center disposed closer to one end portion in the axial direction than a rotation shaft supporting body and intersected by the axial direction and a rotation shaft contact portion contacting with the one end of the rotation shaft. The shaft displacing member allows the rotation shaft contact portion to rotate about the rotation center to tilt the rotation shaft when a movement sensing member detects the movement of the endless belt-shaped member to the one end of the rotation shaft.

Abstract: A belt driving apparatus for rotationally driving a belt member, the belt driving apparatus includes a stretching member for stretching the belt member; a steering section including a steering member having a rotatable portion which is rotatable with rotation of the belt member, a frictional portion slidable relative to the belt member and provided at each of longitudinal outsides of the rotatable portion, and further including a supporting section supporting the steering member, and a rotation shaft rotatably supporting the supporting section, the steering section being effective to steer the belt member by inclining the steering member by a force produced by sliding between the frictional portion and the belt member; and a resisting force applying section for applying a resisting force against inclination of the steering member, the resisting force increasing with increase of a rate of change of an inclination angle of the steering member with respect to time.

Abstract: A transfer device includes: an endless transfer-belt that includes a first transfer-portion, at which a developer image is transferred onto an outer periphery surface of the transfer-belt, and a second transfer-portion, at which the developer image is transferred onto a member-to-be-transferred, the transfer-belt moving toward the second transfer-portion from the first transfer-portion; a transfer-member that, at the second transfer-portion, sandwiches the member-to-be-transferred between the transfer-member and the transfer-belt, and transfers the developer image to the member-to-be-transferred; a tension application unit that includes a resilient member, and a tension application member that urges the transfer-belt with resilient force of the resilient member and applies tension to the transfer-belt; and a damping member that causes damping force to act on the tension application member when the tension application member moves in one of a direction in which the tension application member urges the transfer

Abstract: A belt tensioning device for minimizing tension variations in a moveable endless belt configured to be mounted for rotation about rollers mounted to a frame of an image printing device. The belt tensioning device includes a tension roll forced into contact with the image retaining side of the endless belt by a tension exerting mechanism. With the tension roll engaging the image side of the endless belt, a pair of mounted rollers combine with the tension roll to form an open loop for sharply turning the endless web from a first direction to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction and back again to the first direction thereby tensioning the moveable endless belt and minimizing unused imaging space on the belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes a belt configured to travel rotationally and looped around at least two rotary support members, a driven rotary member disposed facing at least one of the rotary support members via the belt and configured to rotate with the belt, and a controller. The controller is configured to minimize fluctuation in one of a travel velocity and a travel distance of the belt by controlling the travel of the belt based on one of a rotational angular displacement and a rotational angular velocity of each of the rotary support member and the driven rotary member.

Abstract: The decrease of the transfer efficiency of transferring a toner image from a photosensitive drum onto an intermediate transfer belt is suppressed by the structure of an image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive drum holding member that pivotally supports the photosensitive drum at both ends thereof; a transfer roller holding member that pivotally supports a primary transfer roller at both ends thereof; and a transfer roller holding unit that determines a relative position between the photosensitive drum holding member and the transfer roller holding member by guiding the transfer roller holding member in a direction substantially perpendicular to a running surface of the belt and abutting an opposing part of the photosensitive drum holding member and an opposing part of the transfer roller holding member with each other, the opposing parts opposing each other.

Abstract: In a color misalignment detection method, an alignment pattern is obtained by designating a plurality of lines having line width and line intervals formed by superposing a line image of a black color as a reference color and a line image of a color other than the reference color, for example, a cyan line image, as one patch, and continuously forming these patches by shifting the relative position between the line images of the two colors by an optional quantity. An alignment pattern detection sensor has a light emitting diode and a photodiode. These elements are arranged along the scanning direction of the alignment pattern such that the photodiode can only receive diffused reflected light of reflected light from the alignment pattern. A spot shape of the light emitting diode and a spot shape of the photodiode are both formed in a square shape.

Abstract: In a belt driving device, the width of a belt member is larger than the width of a driven roller portion in the rotation axis direction of the driven roller portion. The belt driving device includes a movement unit configured to, when a load is generated in friction members at both ends of the driven roller portion, rotate and move the friction members in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the belt member.

Abstract: A belt member is supported by a plurality of rollers and moves in a predetermined moving direction. A detecting unit detects a displacement of the belt member in its width direction. A correcting unit moves a second end of a first roller from among the rollers in either one of a forward direction and a backward direction while fixing its first end based on a result of detecting the displacement of the belt member such that a tilt of a rotating shaft of the first roller is changed to correct a meandering of the belt member. An adjusting unit adjusts a fixing position of the first end.

Abstract: A belt is supported by a plurality of rollers and is driven to move in a predetermined direction. A flange member is configured to make contact with a portion of an edge surface of the belt in its width direction. A pressing member presses on a surface of the belt in its thickness direction at a position near a contact portion of the belt with the flange member.

Abstract: A belt configured to travel a continuous track may be incorporated for use in an image forming apparatus. The belt may include a guide member formed on a surface of the belt to prevent a belt from meandering off of the track, where the guide member may include a rubber sheet and a carbon black material having a primer particle diameter ranging from about 15 nm to about 35 nm. An image forming apparatus incorporating the belt with one or more guide members has an increased resistance to abrasion and mitigates belt meandering and image contamination.

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 endless belt is provided with an endless belt body and a meandering prevention member in the form of a flat bar. The belt body includes a folded trace extending in the width direction thereof. The meandering prevention member is attached on one widthwise end of a circumferential surface of the belt body such that one widthwise end of the folded trace is covered thereby and the opposite longitudinal ends of the meandering prevention member abut each other in a rotating direction of the belt body. An abutting portion at the opposite ends of the meandering prevention member is arranged at a position displaced from the folded trace by a specified distance in the rotating direction of the belt body.

Abstract: A meandering detection device capable of detecting meandering of a subject with high accuracy includes: a contact which has an open end making contact with and following a subject body and which is supported by a support part; a reflection part integrally provided to the contact and reflecting light; an emission part emitting light toward the reflection part; and a first and a second light receiving parts which are disposed in front of the reflection part, which receive the light reflected by the reflection part and then outputs signals in accordance with respective amounts of light received, and which detect meandering of the subject based on a difference in the amount of light received.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a control unit that outputs the state of a belt member on the basis of the result of detection by a toner image detecting unit, of a toner image formed by a developing unit in a charged region of an image bearing member charged by applying a voltage to a transfer unit without charging the image bearing member using a charging unit.

Abstract: According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed an apparatus and method for controlling a position of a belt in a printing system. The apparatus including a roller assembly for engaging at least a portion of a belt, a pair of laterally spaced support arms and an actuating assembly for pivotally moving at least one support arm. The belt being generally moveable in a process flow direction within the printing system, wherein a lateral direction extends substantially along the belt and substantially perpendicular to the process flow direction. The roller assembly extending laterally across the belt. The pair of laterally spaced support arms each rotatably supporting opposed ends of the roller assembly. Each support arm being pivotally coupled to the printing system for movement about a pivot axis extending substantially in the lateral direction. The pivotal movement pivoting one support arm relative to the other.

Abstract: An offset correcting device includes: an endless belt-like member having an endless belt-like shape; a rotation supporting member that has a rotation shaft in which an axial direction extends along a width direction of the endless belt-like member, and that is rotated while supporting the endless belt-like member; an interlocking member that is supported by one end portion of the rotation shaft to be movable along the axial direction, and that is capable of being contacted with a width direction edge of the endless belt-like member; and a shaft displacing member as defined herein.

Abstract: A belt member is supported by a plurality of roller members including a first roller member and moves in a predetermined direction of movement. A coupling member is coupled with the first roller member. An abutting member makes contact with the coupling member by changing tilting of a rotational axis of the first roller member and moves the coupling member in a forward direction and a reverse direction to correct meandering of the belt member. Abutting positions of the coupling member with respect to the abutting member when moving the coupling member in the forward direction and in the reverse direction are variable to support respective movement directions.

Abstract: In a method to determine a curve of revolution speed of a continuous belt-shaped image substrate, at least two color separations are generated on the image substrate and transferred from the image substrate onto a substrate material to generate a print image. A first offset in a transport direction of the substrate material between the at least two color separations of the print image is determined at a first point. At least one second offset in the transport direction is determined between the at least two color separations of the print image at least one second point. The first point and the second point have at least one interval relative to one another in the transport direction. The curve of the revolution speed of the image substrate is determined with aid of the first offset and the second offset.

Abstract: A belt rotating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a circular belt; plural rollers about which the belt is entrained, the plural rollers including a drive roller which rotates the belt and an inclination change roller which can change an inclination thereof; a belt side edge sensor which measures a position of a belt side edge in a belt width direction of the belt; and a cutter which can trim the belt side edge.

Abstract: The transfer portion for use in an image forming apparatus includes: an intermediate transfer belt having a toner image temporarily transferred from a photoreceptor drum; roller members that support and stretch the intermediate transfer belt; and strip-like guide elements that guide conveyance of the intermediate transfer belt. The guide elements are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt with the first and second ends opposed to and arranged a predetermined gap apart from each other. Each of the first and second ends is formed with a first (second) perpendicular surface that is perpendicular to the advancing direction of the belt and a first (second) inclined surface that is inclined relative to the belt advancing direction. The first and second perpendicular surfaces are formed in such a position that the first and second ends become tapered by the first and second inclined surfaces, respectively.

Abstract: A belt driving apparatus includes a rotatable belt member; a stretching member for stretching the belt member; a steering device for stretching and steering the belt member, wherein the steering device includes a rotatable portion which is rotatable with rotation of the belt member, a frictional portion provided at each of longitudinal outsides of the rotatable portion with respect to a widthwise direction and slidable relative to the belt member by being prevented from rotating, supporting member for supporting the rotatable portion and the frictional portion, and a rotation shaft for rotatably supporting the supporting member, and wherein the steering device is capable of moving the belt member in the widthwise direction by rotating the supporting member by a force produced by sliding between the belt member and the frictional portion; and an urging member, provided at each of longitudinal end portion sides of the rotatable portion with respect to the widthwise direction, for urging the belt member against

Abstract: A shift regulating member projecting from an inner circumferential side of a belt that engages an engaging member on a roller, and a pressing member that presses the belt are described. The pressing member may press the belt between the roller with the engaging member and another roller. In some aspects, the pressing member may be intermittently pressed against the belt.

Abstract: In a belt transfer device according to an embodiment, rotation of a rear side detection roller or a front side detection roller, which contacts with a rib of a transfer belt and is rotated, is converted into linear driving by using a worm gear. The movement of a linear movement shaft is transmitted to a steering roller through a slider. The steering roller is tilted and meandering of the transfer belt is regulated.

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: A belt feeding apparatus includes an endless belt and a supporting member for rotatably supporting the belt. The belt feeding apparatus further includes a setting member for setting, when the belt is deviated from a widthwisely normal zone, an inclination angle of the supporting member to a return angle to return the belt toward the normal zone. The setting member also sets, when a predetermined time elapses from the belt returning to the normal zone, the inclination angle of the supporting member to a balance angle to keep the belt in the zone.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an image reading part, an image forming part to form an image on a sheet, a sheet discharge part to discharge the sheet from front to rear of the image forming apparatus, a sheet stack part to stack the sheet between the image reading part and the image forming part, a supporter provided outside the sheet stack part along a discharge direction of the sheet to form a space between the sheet stack part and the image reading part, a connector to electrically connect the image forming part with the image reading part, a bending unit provided between the image reading part and the supporter to bend back the connector in a sliding direction of the image reading part, and a bend limiter provided at a rear position of the image reading part in the sliding direction to limit bending of the connector.

Abstract: An automatic belt tension apparatus of an image forming device having: a tension actuating part connected to the driving unit and operating by a driving force of a driving unit; a tension applying part to selectively apply a predetermined tension to a belt, installed with respect to the belt; and a tension releasing part to operate the tension applying part to not apply the predetermined tension to the belt, installed with respect to the tension applying part.

Abstract: The present application is directed to toner transfer systems with an adjustable transfer belt. The transfer belt transfers toner images from a first location to a second location. Two or more support rolls position and drive the transfer belt. A tensioning device is operatively connected to one of the support rolls. The tensioning device moves the support roll between a first position that places a first amount of tension on the belt, and a second position that places a lesser second amount of tension on the belt. The support roll is in the first position during image formation, and in the second position during non-image formation such as storage and shipping.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first roller; a second roller; a belt tensely provided between the first roller and the second roller; and a guiding member for guiding an edge of the belt. Further, the belt has an edge surface having a step portion of equal to or smaller than 0.05 mm and a ten-point mean roughness (Rz) of equal to or smaller than 5.0 ?m.

Abstract: A plurality of supporting rollers over which the endless belt member is supported includes at least a driving roller that drives the endless belt member and a driven roller that is driven by a rotation of the endless belt member. A detecting unit detects a plurality of marks provided on the driven roller at a predetermined position. A control unit controls a speed at which a driving unit drives the endless belt member based on a result of detecting the marks. The driven roller functions as a tension roller that applies a tension to the endless belt member. The detecting unit is held by the tension roller.

Abstract: In a belt transfer device according to an embodiment, rotation of a rear side detection roller or a front side detection roller, which contacts with a rib of a transfer belt and is rotated, is converted into linear driving by using a worm gear. The movement of a linear movement shaft is transmitted to a steering roller through a slider. The steering roller is tilted and meandering of the transfer belt is regulated.

Abstract: To enable not only releasing pressurization by a pressurization mechanism for pressurizing a belt thereby preventing a deformation therein but also easily and securely releasing the pressurization mechanism held in the pressure release state, thereby facilitating the installation operation of an apparatus. A pressurization mechanism for pressurizing a belt is in a released state prior to the use of the main body of the apparatus. Prior to the initial use of the main body, the pressurization of the pressurizing mechanism for the belt is exerted in linkage with a user operation of placing a recording material in a feed tray.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes a toner image carried on a recording medium. The fixing device includes a rotatable fixing roll member, a fixing belt member and a walk adjustment mechanism. The fixing belt member is wound on the fixing roll member so as to be rotatable. The walk adjustment mechanism changes a walk width of the fixing belt member in accordance with a width of the recording medium.

Abstract: A belt transport device includes: a drive roller which is driven by a power source; a driven roller which is held in a rotatable manner; an endless belt which is wound on the drive roller and the driven roller; a band-like detecting section which is arranged on the endless belt in a circumferential direction of the endless belt; a sensor which detects the band-like detecting section; a displacement unit which displaces a relative positional relationship between the band-like detecting section and the sensor in a width direction of the endless belt.

Abstract: A transfer belt unit and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The transfer belt unit includes a transfer belt circulating and traveling and transferring a toner image formed on a photosensitive body onto a printable medium. A plurality of support rollers support an inner circumference of the transfer belt. A pair of belt guides respectively attached to both edges of the inner circumference of the transfer belt are engaged with a regulating portion disposed in the support rollers to allow the transfer belt to travel in a substantially straight line and each having a joint portion. The joint portion comprises first and second ends separated from each other to be substantially parallel to each other when inclined with respect to a traveling direction of the transfer belt. The second end is located in a posterior position of the first end with respect to the traveling direction of the transfer belt and an external edge of the second end is chamfered.

Abstract: To enable not only releasing pressurization by a pressurization mechanism for pressurizing a belt thereby preventing a deformation therein but also easily and securely releasing the pressurization mechanism held in the pressure release state, thereby facilitating the installation operation of an apparatus. A pressurization mechanism for pressurizing a belt is in a released state prior to the use of the main body of the apparatus. Prior to the initial use of the main body, the pressurization of the pressurizing mechanism for the belt is exerted in linkage with a user operation of placing a recording material in a feed tray.

Abstract: A belt meandering correction apparatus is provided and includes: belt extending rolls that extend an endless-shaped belt member, including a belt meandering correction roll, at least one end part of which is supported in a manner movable in a direction defined by joining a revolving shaft center of the correction roll to a point of contact with the belt member so that meandering of the belt member is corrected; a revolving body which is arranged at least at the one end part of the correction roll in a manner movable along an axial direction of the correction roll and which has a surface abutting against an end part of the belt member and an inclined surface whose outer diameter varies along the axial direction; and a fixed member arranged at a fixed position such as to abut against an outer peripheral surface of the revolving body.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endless belt with a meandering preventive guide, which includes an endless belt made of resin, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, a meandering preventive guide member attached to the endless belt through the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and a primer layer provided on both surfaces of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.

Abstract: A misregistration correcting unit correcting image misregistration on an endless belt in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an image creation part that creates on the endless belt misregistration correction pattern sets each including a pattern of mark groups each being one of a horizontal line mark group formed of horizontal line segment marks and an oblique line mark group formed of oblique line segment marks; a position detecting part that detects the mark positions; a position detection counting part that counts the number of the detected positions of each mark group and detects an abnormal mark group whose number of the detected positions is other than a prescribed number; a detection result storing part that stores information on the detected mark positions; and a misregistration calculating part that calculates the amount of misregistration based on the stored position information excluding that of the abnormal mark group.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable belt member; stretching means for stretching the belt member; steering means for stretching and steering the belt member, wherein the steering means includes a rotatable portion rotatable with rotation of the belt member, a frictional portion, provided at each of opposite axial end of the rotation portion, for slidable contact with the belt member, supporting means for supporting the rotatable portion and the frictional portion, a rotation shaft rotatably supporting the supporting means, and the steering means is capable of steering the belt member by rotation thereof by forces resulting from sliding between the belt member and the frictional portion, wherein each of the frictional portions is provided with an inclined surface which is inclined to be further from a rotational axis of the rotation portion axially toward an outside, and wherein the belt member is contacted to at least one of the inclined portions.

Abstract: A belt is entrained on a plurality of rollers and runs when the rollers are driven to rotate. A bead is attached to the belt and prevents the belt-like member from running crooked. The bead includes a first layer formed of a first material having a first hardness and a second layer formed of a second material having a second hardness. The second layer is laminated on the first layer. The bead is attached to the belt with the first layer being closer to the belt than the second layer. The first material and the second material expand simultaneously with temperature and humidity, and the first material and the second material contract simultaneously with temperature and humidity. The first hardness is higher than the second hardness.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shifting a photoreceptor in a cross-process direction to reduce the formation of a paper edge ghost on the photoreceptor. The shifting can occur continuously or in steps.

Abstract: A system for detecting the alignment of a top plate placed on a plate pallet. The alignment is detected relative to predetermined coordinates of the system. The system will generally include the following components: An illumination source configured to illuminate light on at least one edge of the top plate; a scanner for acquiring scanning results of the top plate edges. The scanning result will be analyzed by an analyzing component, in order to align the top plate correctly before it is loaded into the CTP imaging device.

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: A belt assembly in an image forming apparatus includes a belt which includes a guiding rail on one side, a first roller which includes a receiving part which supports the guiding rail, and a second roller which includes one end which does not interfere with the guiding rail, wherein the belt is supported and rotated by the first roller and the second roller. The intermediate transfer belt has a flatness such that image errors such as crinkles or irregular horizontal bands can be prevented.

Abstract: A belt configured to travel a continuous track may be incorporated for use in an image forming apparatus. The belt may include a guide member formed on a surface of the belt to prevent a belt from meandering off of the track, where the guide member may include a rubber sheet and a carbon black material having a primer particle diameter ranging from about 15 nm to about 35 nm. An image forming apparatus incorporating the belt with one or more guide members has an increased resistance to abrasion and mitigates belt meandering and image contamination.

Abstract: Pulleys 29a, 29b are provided on both ends of the driven roller 28 as separate components from the driven roller 28, and on both edges in the width direction of the transfer belt 24, ribs 24a, 24b that can be engaged with the outer sides in the axial direction of the pulleys 29a, 29b are provided. If the transfer belt 24 becomes inclined to the left side during movement, the rib 24a on the right edge of the transfer belt 24 will be restricted by the outer side in the axial direction of the pulley 29a provided on the right side end of the driven roller 28, thereby correcting meandering to the left at the position of the driven roller 28.