Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller. The controller controls to perform a first operation in which a first potential difference is formed between a supplying member and a developing member, the first potential difference being a potential difference in a direction in which an electrostatic force in a first direction toward the developing member from the supplying member is acted on toner charged to a normal polarity, and a second operation in which a second potential difference is formed between them and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. When an image forming operation is performed, the controller controls timing for changing from the first operation to the second operation based on information on presence or absence of a recording material in a conveyance passage toward a transferring portion in a non-image forming operation before the recording material is nipped and conveyed at the transferring portion.

Abstract: A method includes moving a wafer transport device to a position above a load port; lowering a hoist unit of the wafer transport device above the load port, wherein the wafer transport device has a plurality of belts, each of the belts is connected to the hoist unit and wound around a respective belt winding drum; detecting sound waves from the belts by using at least one acoustic sensor to measure tensions of the belts; and comparing the tensions from the belts to determine an inclination of the hoist unit.

Abstract: A toner conveying device includes a toner conveying passage through which toner is conveyed, a conveying screw, and a brush member. The conveying screw includes a rotary shaft rotatably arranged inside the toner conveying passage and a helical blade formed on the outer circumferential face of the rotary shaft. The brush member has a number of brush bristles that swing while in contact with the outer circumferential face of the conveying screw and that are planted at a predetermined interval along the axial direction of the conveying screw. On the brush member, the blush bristles planted at one place are composed of one to three fibers, and the blush bristles are planted parallel to each other at a predetermined interval of 0.5- to 3 mm.

Abstract: A cylinder member includes: a cylinder body having a cross section and including a dent portion; a sheet member wrapped around the cylinder body and including a metal layer contacting the cylinder body and an outer layer; a first attachment member on a sheet member first end portion and removably attached to the dent portion; a second attachment member on a metal layer end portion protruding from the outer layer in the circumferential direction at a sheet member second end portion, the second attachment member being removably attached to the dent portion; a tension-applying mechanism pulling the second attachment member in a dent portion depth direction to apply tension to the metal layer; a projection on one of the second attachment member and metal layer end portion; and a fitting portion on other one of the second attachment member and the metal layer end portion and fitted to the projection.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming target to be transported along one direction, three or more image formers arranged away from each other along the one direction and configured to form images on the image forming target, and an image forming target winding motion correcting roller rotatably in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the image forming target and positioned on a downstream side of the image former at an upstream end in a transport direction of the image forming target so that plural image formers are positioned on a downstream side of the image forming target winding motion correcting roller. A distance between the plural image formers positioned on the downstream side of the image forming target winding motion correcting roller is an integral multiple of an outer peripheral length of the image forming target winding motion correcting roller.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt that can bear a toner image includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes a first surface located on an outer peripheral surface side of the first layer. The second layer is provided on a side of the first surface, transmits light, and includes a second surface. The first surface includes first grooves that (i) extend in a first direction in a circumferential direction of the intermediate transfer belt and (ii) are arranged in a width direction of the intermediate transfer belt that is orthogonal to the circumferential direction. The second surface is located on an outer peripheral surface side of the second layer, contacts a toner image, and includes second grooves that extend in a second direction in the circumferential direction. The first grooves includes 80 or more grooves per 1-mm length in the width direction in the first surface.

Abstract: A jacket includes: a first layer that is on a cylinder body side when the jacket is attached to a rotating cylinder body; and a second layer that is a layer located on a side opposite to the cylinder body with respect to the first layer, has a hardness lower than that of the first layer, and does not exist at a position where at least one of end edges of the cylinder body in a rotation axis direction is located inward of the first layer in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: A wafer transport device is moved on a transport rail, and stopped above a load port having a top surface. A light beam is projected onto the top surface of the load port, and image of the top surface is and the light beam is captured. A position of the hoist unit of the wafer transport device is aligned with respect to a position of the load port according to the image. The hoist unit is lowered toward the load port.

Abstract: A transfer device includes: an annular transfer belt including an outer surface, a toner image being transferred to the outer surface of the annular transfer belt; a transfer unit including a transfer cylinder; and a facing roller member that is in contact with an inner surface of the transfer belt, in which the transfer cylinder includes a base material, and a surface layer wound around an outer circumference of the base material, the surface layer being replaceable with respect to the base material, the transfer cylinder has a transfer region where the toner image is transferred from the transfer belt to a recording medium in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched between the transfer cylinder and the outer surface of the transfer belt, the surface layer includes an elastic layer, the surface layer has a thickness of 6.0 mm or more and 10 mm or less and an Asker C hardness of 45° or more and 65° or less, and the facing roller member faces the transfer cylinder in the transfer region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second light sources configured to emit light on a recording material, with the light from the second light source having a peak wavelength that is longer than the peak wavelength of the light from the first light source. The apparatus also includes a light receiving unit configured to receive the first light and the second light transmitted through the recording material. A control unit is configured to control an image forming condition on which the image is formed on the recording material based on the first light and the second light received by the light receiving unit. Additionally, a detection device includes first, second, and third light sources configured to emit first light on a sheet. The detection device further includes a light receiving unit configured to receive the first light and the second light transmitted through the sheet and receive the third light reflected on the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mechanism configured to bring an intermediate transfer member into a first state contacting first and second drums and a second state separating from the first drum and contacting the second drum. The image forming apparatus is operable in a first mode of using the first and second drums in the first state, a second mode of using only the second drum in the second state, and a third mode of using only the second drum in the first state. If an image forming retry involving cleaning a transfer portion due to a recording medium conveyance delay in the third mode is to be performed, a controller changes over the third mode to the second mode without stopping rotation of the second drum to perform image formation on a recording medium fed by restart of a feeding operation.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing sleeve configured to carry and convey developer containing non-magnetic toner and magnetic carrier and having a plurality of concave parts on a surface thereof. The concave parts are periodically arranged in each of a rotation direction and a width direction of the developing sleeve, and each have a shape that can house a circular shape having a diameter equal to an average particle diameter of the carrier carried on the developing sleeve, in a planar view. A distance between the concave parts is smaller than the average particle diameter.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a separator disposed downstream from a nip former in a recording medium conveyance direction and isolated from a pressure rotator via a fixing belt. The separator stretches the fixing belt. A presser is interposed between a fixing nip formed between the living belt and the pressure rotator and an upstream end of the separator in a rotation direction of the fixing belt. The presser comes into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt to press the fixing belt against the pressure rotator. A pressure adjuster, contacting the pressure rotator, changes a pressing position of the pressure rotator relative to the fixing belt to adjust pressure exerted from the pressure rotator to the fixing belt. A presser position adjuster, contacting the presser, changes a presser position of the presser relative to the fixing belt according to the pressing position of the pressure rotator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may comprise a first feeding unit, a second feeding unit, a feeding control unit, an image forming unit, a reversal unit, a post-processing unit, and a post-processing control unit. Based on a post-processing time amount notified from the post-processing control unit, the feeding control unit does not allow a sheet to wait in the reversal unit and adjusts a feed time of a sheet fed from the first feeding unit so that the sheet fed from the first feeding unit does not contact with a sheet waiting in the second feeding unit.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus, a conveyance speed of a recording material at a fixing nip portion, controlled by a control portion of the image forming apparatus so that a part of the recording material being conveyed touches a guide member between a transfer nip portion and a loop detection device for a period after an operation for maintaining a loop amount of the recording material being conveyed within a predetermined range is finished until the recording material trailing edge exits out the transfer nip portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, a driving roller, a driven roller, a belt cleaning device, and a counter roller. Toner images formed on image carriers are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt. The driving and driven rollers rotatably stretch the intermediate transfer belt. The belt cleaning device has a cleaning blade that removes residual toner adhered to the intermediate transfer belt. The counter roller is disposed facing the cleaning blade with the intermediate transfer belt interposed therebetween. The belt cleaning device is disposed at a position that is downstream of the driving roller in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt but is upstream of the driven roller in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt. A leading end edge portion of the cleaning blade is disposed upstream of a top of the counter roller in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least an image bearer; an electrostatic latent image former to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearer; an image developer to develop the electrostatic latent image with a toner to from a toner image; a first transferer to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto an intermediate transfer belt; and a cleaner including a cleaning blade having a Martens hardness of from 0.8 to 10.0 N/m2, to clean the intermediate transfer belt while contacting the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. The intermediate transfer belt includes a thermoplastic resin and a conductive resin, and has a surface concentration of oxygen atoms derived from the conductive resin, measured by XPS, of from 1.0% to 3.0% by atom.

Abstract: A multifunction peripheral includes a transfer belt, a first imaging unit, a second imaging unit, a primary transfer roller, a secondary transfer roller, a developing bias application unit, a charging bias application unit, and a control unit. The control unit performs control such that a first developing bias that is applied to a first developing roller by the developing bias application unit and a a second developing bias that is applied to a second developing roller by the developing bias application unit have opposite phases.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a transfer member, and a power source. The image bearer includes a plurality of layers. The transfer member forms a transfer nip between the image bearer and the transfer member. The power source outputs a transfer bias to transfer a toner image from the image bearer onto a recording sheet in the transfer nip. The transfer bias alternates between a transfer-side bias that causes the toner image to move from the image bearer to the recording sheet, and an opposite-side bias different from the transfer-side bias. A duty ratio of a time period, during which the opposite-side bias is output, relative to one cycle of a waveform, is greater than 50%.

Abstract: A belt unit, including an endless belt, a first roller, a second roller, and a guiding member, is provided. The endless belt includes a belt strip and a guided section protruding from an inner circumferential surface of the belt strip. The guiding member with a groove is arranged on one of axial-end sides of the first roller coaxially with the first roller. The guided section of the endless belt is set in the groove. The groove includes a first face and a second face facing each other along a direction in parallel with a central axis of the first roller. The guiding member includes a first piece containing the first face and a second piece containing the second face. The first face protrudes outwardly with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the belt strip.

Abstract: A glossing device for imparting gloss to a toner image formed on a recording medium includes a plurality of rollers, a looped, endless belt, a pressure member, a belt cooler, and a belt retention mechanism. The plurality of rollers is disposed generally parallel to each other, and includes a heat roller subjected to heating. The looped, endless belt is entrained around the plurality of rollers for conveying the recording medium in a longitudinal, conveyance direction thereof. The pressure member is disposed opposite the heat roller to press against the heat roller via the belt to form a glossing nip therebetween, through which the recording medium passes. The belt cooler is disposed inside the loop of the belt to cool the belt during movement between the glossing nip and the separation position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a belt for conveying the toner image; and a transfer device for rubbing the belt, and a surface of the transfer device, which is brought into contact with the belt includes linear concave portions or linear convex portions. The image forming apparatus of the present invention prevents a friction force between the belt and the transfer device rubbing the belt from increasing and brings a transfer member into a stable contact with the belt for conveying the toner image, thereby suppressing increase in drive torque of the belt which rubs the transfer device and suppressing occurrence of image failure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that uses a first toner for a first toner image and a second image forming unit that uses a second toner for a second toner image, and transfers, a controller that controls the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit, having two control modes, a first print mode in which the first toner image and the second toner image are continuously transferred to the transfer medium; and a second print mode in which the first toner image is transferred thereafter, the transfer medium, on which the first toner image is formed, is passed through the second image forming unit without the second image forming unit performing image transfer. The controller performs control in such a manner that an amount of the first toner in the first print mode is greater than that in the second print mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing; a driving portion provided in the housing and configured to generate a driving force; an interchangeable member interchangeably provided in the housing and having a driving-force-receiving portion at which the driving force is received, the interchangeable member being configured to rotate by receiving the driving force at the driving-force-receiving portion; a driving-force-transmitting portion provided in the housing and connecting the driving portion and the interchangeable member to each other, the driving-force-transmitting portion being configured to transmit the driving force from the driving portion to the interchangeable member; and a connecting-and-disconnecting mechanism that allows the driving force to be transmitted between the driving portion and the driving-force-transmitting portion when the interchangeable member rotates, and prevents the driving force from being transmitted between the driving portion and the driving-force-transmitting portion w

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member which bears a toner image, an intermediate transfer member which bears the toner image transferred from the image bearing member, an endless recording material-conveying member which conveys a recording material, and a transfer portion which transfers the toner image to the recording material conveyed from the intermediate transfer member by the recording material-conveying member, wherein a perimeter of the intermediate transfer member is set to substantially an integral multiple of a perimeter of the recording material-conveying member.

Abstract: A roller device includes a roller main body, a shaft member, flanges, a position restricting member, a plate-shaped member, a biasing member, and a securing member. The shaft member is inserted into the roller main body and the flanges in contact with both ends of the roller main body. The position restricting member is secured to the shaft member at an end portion side of the shaft member with respect to the flange. The position restricting member restricts an axial position of the flange. Movement of the plate-shaped member toward the end portion side in an axial direction is restricted by the position restricting member. The biasing member biases the flange toward a center side in the axial direction. The securing member is disposed at the end portion side of the shaft member with respect to the plate-shaped member. The securing member engages the position restricting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a pre-transfer conveying portion that conveys a recording medium, an image bearing member that moves while bearing a toner image, a conveying belt that attracts the recording medium conveyed from the pre-transfer conveying portion and conveys the recording medium at the same speed as the image bearing member, a detecting portion that detects the recording medium attracted to the conveying belt, and a control unit that controls the speed at which the pre-transfer conveying portion conveys the recording medium. On the basis of the detection of the recording medium, the control unit changes the speed of the pre-transfer conveying portion from a speed slower than the speed of the conveying belt to a speed equal to or faster than the speed of the conveying belt, and thereby causes the leading edges of the toner image and the recording medium to coincide.

Abstract: A belt unit includes a rotatable endless belt for receiving a toner image thereon or for conveying a transfer material, wherein the endless belt has a smooth-shaped inner peripheral surface, a first reinforcing member, provided on an outer peripheral surface of the endless belt at one end portion with respect to a belt widthwise direction, for reinforcing the endless belt, and a second reinforcing member, provided on the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt at the other end portion. In addition, a driving roller rotationally drives the endless belt while supporting the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt.

Abstract: An endless belt is held by a first roller and a second roller each having an axis extending in an axial direction. A transfer member is disposed opposite to an image supporting member with the belt therebetween. The transfer member is configured to transfer a developer image supported by the image supporting member to a sheet conveyed by the belt. The image supporting member extends in the axial direction. The belt and the transfer member each have a width in a direction parallel to the axial direction. A first portion of the image supporting member and a first portion of the transfer member directly oppose each other without the belt therebetween. A second portion of the image supporting member opposes a first surface of the belt, and a second portion of the transfer member opposes a second surface of the belt, which is opposite to the first surface.

Abstract: A rotating body for use in an image forming apparatus has an outer surface in which one or more grooves are formed. The one or more grooves are oriented at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° with respect to a longitudinal direction of the rotating body.

Abstract: Flexible members for use in imaging devices contain a non-ionic surfactant and a fluorinated surfactant.

Abstract: A belt drive device for an image forming apparatus includes a belt, a roller, a roller drive member, a state detector and a controller. The roller drive member drives the roller that entrains the belt. The state detector detects a state of the belt. The controller identifies a specific portion of the belt based on the state detected by the state detector, and controls the roller drive member to stop the belt so that the specific portion lies at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A belt driving device for driving an endless belt includes rollers configured to stretch the belt, the rollers including first and second steering rollers being provided in an upstream side and a downstream side of an image receiving surface of the belt for receiving a image, respectively, and being configured to change a position of the belt in a direction crossing with a moving direction of the belt by inclining respectively; a pivoting unit configured to pivot the first and second steering rollers, respectively; a detecting unit for detecting an inclination amount of the belt with respect to a feeding direction of the belt; and a controller configured to pivot the first and second steering rollers in the same direction by the pivoting unit on the basis of a result of detection of the detecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a conveyance unit to convey a transfer medium, a first image forming unit to form a monochrome image transferred at a first transfer position onto the transfer medium, and a second image forming unit disposed downstream from the first image forming unit in a direction of conveyance of the transfer medium, including an intermediate transfer body to form a multi-colored toner image on the intermediate transfer body. The multi-colored toner image is transferred onto the transfer medium at a second transfer position. The conveyance unit is separated from the intermediate transfer body at the second transfer position in a monochrome mode to form the monochrome image using only the first image forming unit, and contacts the intermediate transfer body at the second transfer position in a full-color mode to form a full-color image using both the first and second image forming units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first roller and a second roller spaced apart from the first roller, a belt being endless and extending around the first roller and the second roller, a photosensitive member, a transfer member, and a conductor. The belt is configured to move in a moving direction. The belt has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface extends from the first roller to the second roller in the moving direction, and the second surface extends from the second roller to the first roller in the moving direction. The photosensitive member is disposed facing the first surface of the belt and configured to carry a developer image thereon. The transfer member is disposed facing toward the photosensitive member and configured to transfer the developer image on the photosensitive member. The conductor is electrically grounded and disposed facing the second surface of the belt.

Abstract: An object is to provide an intermediate transfer belt and a method for producing the same which inhibits fine toner dots in white area in an environment of low temperature and low humidity and further, inhibits roughness of image with long-term use. An intermediate transfer belt for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising a polyimide having a dispersed conductive filler, wherein the polyimide contains a unit structure represented by Formula (1); wherein X represents a group selected from Formulas (a) to (e), n, m, l each represents 0 or 1, and at least one of m and l is 1, wherein p in Formula (c) and q in Formula (e) each is an integer of 1 to 5.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus detects a color deviation amount in a timing when a developing roller separates from or contacts a photosensitive drum to set a difference in peripheral velocities between the photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt or a transfer material conveying belt based on the color deviation amount and information about the use degree of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A paper stripping member is removably supported by a supporting member disposed facing a circumferential surface of a photoreceptor drum, and strips a paper sheet off the circumferential surface. The paper stripping member includes an acute-shaped stripping nail, a holding member and a cover member. The holding member is configured removably from the supporting member, and holds the stripping nail in such a manner that the stripping nail extends toward the circumferential surface. The cover member is configured removably from the holding member, and covers at least part of the stripping nail in the extending direction of the stripping nail in a state where the cover member is attached to the holding member.

Abstract: A belt driving device includes an endless belt, a tension roller, a shaft member, deviation transfer members, and biasing members. The deviation transfer members are fitted over the shaft member in such a manner as to adjoin respective of opposite ends of the tension roller in an axial direction of the tension roller. Of the deviation transfer members, at least that deviation transfer member which is located on a downstream side in a deviation direction along the axial direction is movable together with the endless belt along the shaft member. Each of the biasing members has an acting end pivotally supported on an associated one of the deviation transfer members and a base end pivotally supported on an associated one of apparatus frames at a predetermined position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; an intermediary transfer belt for carrying the toner image transferred from the image bearing member; a transfer belt for carrying and conveying a recording material; an attraction portion for electrostatically attracting the recording material to the transfer belt; a transfer portion for transferring the toner image from the intermediary transfer belt onto the recording material attracted to the transfer belt; and an electrode member, disposed downstream of the attraction portion and upstream of the transfer portion with respect to a movement direction of the transfer belt, being contacted to an inner surface of the transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, a transfer device including a plurality of transfer members and an endless belt formed into a loop and entrained around the transfer members, to transfer the toner images from the image bearing members onto the surface of the belt so that the toner images are superimposed one atop the other on the belt to form a composite toner image, a plurality of cleaning devices including a cleaning blade to remove residual toner remaining on the image bearing members after transfer of the toner images onto the belt, and a plurality of heaters disposed inside the loop formed by the belt. Each of the heaters is disposed between adjacent image bearing members. The belt is interposed between the plurality of heaters and the plurality of image bearing members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a stretched rotatable belt member; a transfer member for forming a transfer portion for permitting transfer of a toner image from the image bearing member onto a recording material carried on the belt member; a separation roller, capable of separating from the belt member the recording material carried on the belt member, for stretching the belt member; push-up device capable or locally pushing up a belt surface, with respect to a widthwise direction of the belt member, located upstream of the separation roller and downstream of the transfer portion with respect to a rotational direction of the belt member to separate from the belt member the recording material carried on the belt member; a pre-separation charging device, located downstream of the transfer portion and upstream of the push-up means with respect to the rotational direction of the belt member, for electrically charging the recording material by being supplied with a voltage of an ident

Abstract: An endless belt for an image-forming apparatus includes, as an outermost layer, a resin layer having substantially hemispherical protrusions distributed over an outer surface thereof.

Abstract: A paper processing apparatus equipped with a paper transferor for sequentially transferring paper sheets while maintaining a predetermined interval between a certain paper sheet and the next paper sheet; a paper position detector for detecting the position of a paper sheet; a plurality of processors for performing processing for the paper sheet; an information reader for reading information relating to processing to be performed for the paper sheet; and a controller for controlling operations relating to the paper transferor, the paper position detector, the plurality of processors, and the information reader, wherein upon judging that the certain paper sheet has passed through a certain processor, the controller carries out control to adjust the widthwise position of the certain processor so as to be adapted for the processing for the next paper sheet.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a belt unit and a drawer casing configured to accommodate the plurality of process units. The drawer casing is movable in a horizontal direction so that it is insertable in and/or drawable from a main body of the image formation apparatus. An openable cover for an opening formed on an end face of the drawer casing is provided. The drawer casing is arranged above an imaginary plane including the bridging surface of an endless belt, while a sheet tray is arranged below the imaginary plane. A pair of rollers is arranged on the sheet tray side with respect to the movable path and configured to feed the sheet fed from the sheet tray to the belt unit. A first guide and a second guide, which is provided opposite to the first guide with a predetermined clearance therebetween, are provided to form a sheet feed path.

Abstract: An image formation control device is provided with a control unit. The control unit controls generation of information for forming a transparent image on the basis of settings that include at least a superimposition region and a superimposition sequence, when plurality of images which include the transparent image and a colored image are superimposed and synthesized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body that includes a first engagement part, a first unit configured to be removably installed in the main body, and a second unit configured to be removably installed in the main body. The first unit includes a frame, a pivot shaft formed on the frame, a grip part that is rotatable around the pivot shaft and that includes a second engagement part that is configured to engage with the first engagement part, a pivot shaft hole that is configured to receive the pivot shaft, and a user operable operation part. When the second unit is laid on the first unit, the second unit presses the operation part and causes the grip part to rotate in a first direction such that the second engagement part engages with the first engagement part.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, the following inequalities (1) and (2) are satisfied: (L1?L3)×(V2/V1)<L2??(1) L2<(L1?L3+L4)×(V2/V1)??(2) where L1 denotes a peripheral length of an image carrier from an exposure position to a transfer position, L2 denotes a peripheral length of a transfer member from a gripping position to the transfer position, L3 denotes a length of a leading-end margin, L4 denotes a peripheral length of the transfer member, when recording media having a maximum transportable size are wrapped around the transfer member, between a trailing end of an image region of the first recording medium and a leading end of an image region of the second recording medium, V1 denotes a peripheral velocity of the image carrier, and V2 denotes a peripheral velocity of the transfer member.

Abstract: A system that avoids any stopping or reversing of the web direction in a continuous feed printer, instead maintaining consistent process speed, only requiring a slowing and speeding up of the web to cycle through the PR belt seam. This is done by forming a web loop and then immediately flattening the loop after passage of the seam through the transfer zone that includes two transfer BTR rolls with alternating transfer operations, but simultaneous transfer for short periods. Two vacuum assist rolls, one located between the two bias transfer rolls controls the formation of the web loop. A pair of nip forming rolls upstream of the first transfer station and a second vacuum assist roll downstream of the second transfer station control the size of the loop.

Abstract: A secondary transfer facing roller includes a roller part that has a through-hole penetrating in a rotary shaft line direction at a rotation center position, and a penetrating shaft member penetrating the through-hole of the roller part and spinning the roller part on a surface of the penetrating shaft member. Eccentric cams are fixed to both end regions that are not located in the roller part, so as to rotate integrally with the penetrating shaft member. A position regulating cam and an abutting roller form a gap between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller immediately before a transfer sheet enters a transfer nip part. While the gap is formed, current flows between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller via the position regulating cam and the abutting roller.