Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer roller. The transfer roller includes an elastic layer disposed on a metal core bar. The elastic layer is made of a non-foamed solid rubber. The surface of the elastic layer includes a plurality of convex portions extending in a line in the axis direction of the transfer roller.

Abstract: When at least one of first image data and second image data is captured, according to a moving speed of an object while an image sensor is capturing an image, exposure time for capturing the image is controlled to decrease a difference between object blur widths in a direction in which the object moves.

Abstract: A semiconductive polyimide resin belt that exhibits excellent electrical properties, including the ability to achieve accurate image transfer in a color image-forming unit, and the ability to prevent variations in resistance due to the transfer voltage, enabling high-quality transfer images to be stably produced over an extended period of time; and excellent physical properties, including resistance to deterioration in flatness due to plastic deformation caused by loads applied in the width direction of the belt, excellent durability, and stable operation even after extended use; and an intermediate transfer belt made of the semiconductive polyimide resin belt. The semiconductive polyimide resin belt comprises carbon black and a polyimide resin.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt-shaped image carrier that carries an image, an image transfer unit that transfers the image onto a recording medium, and a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium to the image transfer unit. The image carrier has a sloping surface that slopes down from an upstream of the image transfer unit in a conveying direction. The conveying unit includes a linear conveying path that is arranged an upstream of the image transfer unit in the conveying direction, below the sloping surface and above a horizontal line passing through the image transfer unit.

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 belt unit includes rolls being rotatably supported and a belt to be conveyed by the rolls. In a dynamic viscoelasticity test with conditions of tensile load set in a frequency range of 0.01 to 100 [Hz], the belt unit satisfies 1?G10/G70?3.1, and L70?10 [MPa]. A storage elastic modulus of the belt at a temperature of 10[° C.] is indicated by G10. A storage elastic modulus of the belt at a temperature of 70[° C.] is indicated by G70. A loss elastic modulus of the belt at a temperature of 70[° C.] is indicated by L70.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a rotatable belt, a stretching unit for stretching the belt, a steering unit for stretching and steering the belt, wherein the steering unit includes a rotatable portion rotatable with rotation of the belt, a frictional portion, provided at each of opposite axial end of the rotation portion, for slidable contact with the belt, and a support for the rotatable portion and the frictional portion. A rotation shaft rotatably supports the support, and the steering unit is capable of steering the belt by rotation thereof from sliding between the belt 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 is contacted to at least one of the inclined portions.

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.

Abstract: By using a black-image forming device, an abrasive pattern is formed on a sheet conveying belt so that toner is input to a contact section where a cleaning blade is in contact with the sheet conveying belt. After the toner is input to the contact section where the cleaning blade is in contact with the sheet conveying belt and then the sheet conveying belt makes one or more revolutions, a process control is performed in which Y, M, and C toner patterns and B toner pattern are transferred onto the sheet conveying belt.

Abstract: A tube material is formed by continuously extruding a thermoplastic resin material in the shape of a cylinder that has a thickness of 100 ?m and a circumferential length of 800 mm. After that, in a polishing process, the tube material is rubbed with a lapping tape of #2000 while being rotated in one direction at a fixed speed, so that circumferential stripes are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the tube material. Then, the circumferential stripes are thermally transferred by pressing the outer circumferential surface of the heated tube material against a mold surface that is finished in the shape of circumferential stripes by a thermal transfer process.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer roller, a transfer roller position detector and a controller. The transfer roller includes a concaved portion formed on a circumferential surface thereof with the concaved portion having a width in the circumferential direction larger than a width of a transfer nip formation area formed between the image carrier and the transfer roller in the circumferential direction. The transfer roller includes an elastic member disposed on the circumferential surface thereof. The transfer roller position detector is configured and arranged to detect a rotational position of the transfer roller. The controller is configured to stop rotation of the transfer roller in a state in which the concaved portion is located at the transfer nip formation area on the basis of the rotational position of the transfer roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photosensitive members, an endless belt, and a separation mechanism. The photosensitive members are arranged in parallel with and spaced from one another and correspond to respective colors. The plurality of photosensitive members includes a first photosensitive member and at least one second photosensitive member. Each of the photosensitive members has a first end portion and second end portion that is opposite to the first end portion in a longitudinal direction of each of the photosensitive members. The endless belt contacts the photosensitive members. The separation mechanism is configured to swing the second photosensitive member around the first end portion of the second photosensitive member as a fulcrum between a contact position at which the second photosensitive member contacts the endless belt and a separated position at which the second photosensitive member is separated from the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt including an abutting surface and a cleaning member disposed to abut against the abutting surface for removing a foreign substance on the abutting surface. The abutting surface has a mirror surface smoothness of 40 to 200, and a pensile hardness of 2H to 7H.

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: A belt device includes a belt member, a detecting unit, and a preventing member. The belt member is stretched over a plurality of rollers and moves in a predetermined moving direction. The detecting unit detects deviation of the belt member in a belt width direction of the belt member. The preventing member is arranged near the detecting unit and prevents deviation of the belt member in a direction other than the moving direction and the belt width direction.

Abstract: The endless belt member which is rotationally moved as being tensioned by a plurality of tension members and which bears a toner image includes at least a base layer, a surface layer arranged on the outer circumference of the base layer, and a rib restricting movement of the belt member in the width direction intersecting to a rotational direction of the belt member, and the surface layer is harder than that of the base layer and an edge of the surface layer in the width direction of the belt is arranged at the inner side in the width direction from the rib.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrier, a second image carrier, an intermediate transfer member disposed facing the second image carrier, a conveyance belt to transport a transfer sheet, disposed facing both the first image carrier and the intermediate transfer member, a first transfer member to transfer a first toner image formed on the first image carrier onto the transfer sheet, a second transfer member to transfer a second toner image formed on the second image carrier onto the intermediate transfer member, and a third transfer member disposed downstream from the second image carrier in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member, to transfer the second toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet transported by the conveyance belt. The first image carrier and the intermediate transfer member inflect the conveyance belt at a first inflection angle and a second inflection angle, respectively.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport part which includes a transport belt to transport a printing medium, an image forming part which transfers a toner to form a color image, and a controller which controls the image forming part to form a test image for color registration of the image forming part on the transport belt while an image is formed for a plurality of printing media. Thus, both a test image and a plurality of printed media are formed during a single printing process.

Abstract: A UV curable intermediate transfer media, such as a belt, that includes for example, a first supporting substrate, such as a polyimide substrate layer, and a second surface layer of a mixture of a dendritic, crosslinked, or branched polyester polyol acrylate, an acrylate, an optional vinyl monomer, and a photoinitiator component.

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: Printing systems, printing apparatuses and methods of forming images on media are provided.

Abstract: An endless belt member for an image forming apparatus includes an endless belt member body that contains a resin and conductive particles, an inner transparent film, a position detection member that is used to detect the position of the endless belt member body, and an outer transparent film, wherein the position detection member is sealed by the inner and outer transparent films, is provided on a part of an outer peripheral surface of the endless belt member body, and has side surfaces which are substantially perpendicular to the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt member body, and the inner and outer transparent films are welded to each other at portions, which is adjoining the side surfaces of the position detection member, of the portions that come into direct contact with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a direct transfer control unit that controls a direct transfer unit and a first image forming unit so as to directly transfer an image onto a transfer sheet, an indirect transfer control unit that controls an intermediate transfer unit and a second image forming unit so as to transfer images onto the intermediate transfer unit, a secondary transfer control unit that controls contact/separation between the direct transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit, a first alignment control unit that corrects an amount of misalignment among the images formed on the intermediate transfer unit, thereby performing a first alignment control process, and a second alignment control unit that corrects an amount of misalignment of an image directly transferred onto the transfer sheet with respect to the image on which the first alignment control process has been performed, thereby performing a second alignment control process.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus records an image on a transported recording medium. The apparatus includes a transportation unit that transports the recording medium and a recording unit that records the image on the recording medium. An encoder outputs an encoder signal including pulses according to a position of the transportation unit. A measurement unit measures a pulse period of the encoder signal, and the measured pulse period is stored by a storage unit. A detection unit detects pulse omission of the encoder signal on the basis of the value measured by the measurement unit. A pulse generation unit generates a recording timing pulse on the basis of the pulse period when the pulse omission is not detected and generates the recording timing pulse on the basis of the pulse period stored in the storage unit and measured before the pulse omission when the pulse omission is detected.

Abstract: A method of controlling the inverter dwell time of the first print engine in order to print any sheet size within a pitch mode without the need for a belt sync dead-cycle. The method uses a small nominal inverter dwell time based on the maximum sheet size for a given pitch mode. For any sheet size within the pitch mode that is smaller than the maximum sheet size, the inverter dwell time will increase proportionally.

Abstract: A typical belt conveying apparatus and a typical image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: an endless belt; a supporting member that rotatably supports the belt; a sensor that detects a predetermined breakage at one end of the belt in a belt width direction; and a detecting mechanism that detects a predetermined breakage at the other end of the belt in the belt width direction by the use of the sensor.

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: An image forming device includes a main body having a main frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium onto which images are transferred from the photosensitive members, a fixing unit that fixes the images onto the recording medium, and an attaching member that attaches both the fixing unit and an end section of the conveying unit nearest the fixing unit to the main frame.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an endless belt, a photosensitive member, a driving member, a recovering member, and a cleaning member. The endless belt has a surface extending in a first direction. The photosensitive member opposes the surface to provide the surface with toner. The driving member drives the belt so that the surface moves in the first direction during an image-forming period and moves in the opposite direction during a recovering period after the image-forming period. The recovering member recovers, during the image-formation period, residual toner remaining on the photosensitive member after the toner has been provided on the surface, and provides, during the recovering period, the recovered residual toner on the photosensitive member to be provided on the surface. The cleaning member opposes the surface upstream of the photosensitive member in the first direction to clean, during the recovering period, the recovered residual toner provided on the surface.

Abstract: A transfer device includes: an electrically-conductive elastic member which carries a transfer material; a transfer material separating member which peels off the transfer material from the elastic member; a supporting member which has an elastic member supporting portion that supports the elastic member, and a separating member supporting portion that supports the transfer material separating member, and also, has electrically-conductive properties; and a transfer bias applying section which is electrically connected to the supporting member, thereby applying a transfer bias.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of ensuring a correct lateral registration setting, in a digital multi-color electrographic sheet-printing machine, which the sheets adhere to a support, preferably a transport belt, are transported past printing units.

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 coupling unit includes two constant velocity joints arranged in series in the shaft direction. The coupling unit couples a driven shaft and a drive shaft. Each constant velocity joint includes a ball non-retaining member and a ball retaining member. The ball non-retaining member has an annular space with one opened end and a plurality of track grooves extending in the shaft direction on an external wall surface of the annular space at a constant interval in a circumferential direction. The ball retaining member has a portion that engages with the annular space of the ball non-retaining member, and that retains a ball that slides along each of the track grooves formed in the ball non-retaining member.

Abstract: A belt driving control device includes an endless belt looped over a plurality of supporting rollers, a driving source supplying rotational driving force the supporting rollers, a detecting section detecting a periodical thickness deviation of the endless belt in a circumferential direction of the endless belt and carrying out data sampling for detection of the thickness deviation simultaneously with rotation of the endless belt, a memory storing data on the thickness deviation obtained based on the data sampling, and a control section controlling drive of the driving source such that the detected thickness deviation of the endless belt is canceled out based on the data on the thickness deviation stored in the memory, and such that the endless belt is driven to travel one rotation upon detecting a predetermined condition to carry out the data sampling for one rotation and update the stored data with new data.

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 tandem-type image forming apparatus in which a photoreceptor for black is controlled to be contacted to an intermediate transfer member and the photoreceptors for colors are controlled to be separated from the intermediate transfer member in a case of forming a black and white image, is disclosed, including a current control part which controls so that in the case of forming the black and white image, when the intermediate transfer member is driven, a value of a current flowing to the motor is equal to the value of the current in the case of forming the color image. The current control part controls the value of the current by controlling a rotational velocity of the photoreceptor for black.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; an image forming unit including a plurality of photosensitive drums on which electrostatic latent images are formed, respectively; a sheet storing unit detachably attached to the main body and configured to store a recording sheet, and the sheet storing unit being disposed in a first space defined in the main body when the sheet storing unit is attached to the main body; and a belt unit disposed between the plurality of photosensitive drums and the sheet storing unit and including a belt opposing the plurality of photosensitive drums. The belt unit is detachable from the main body through the first space in a state in which at least a part of the sheet storing unit is positioned outside the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes; an image forming unit; an annular belt that moves circularly; a detection unit that detects a state of a surface of the belt; and a tension increase unit that increases a tension of the belt, at a detection position by the detection unit, when detection is performed by the detection unit, as compared with the tension of the belt before detection at the detection position is performed by the detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a transfer portion that transfers a toner image; a conveying member that conveys a recording material; a conveying member position index sensing member that senses a conveying member position index fixed to the conveying member in the transfer portion; a toner image position index sensing member that senses a toner image position index fixed to the image bearing member in the transfer portion; a drive member that can control a position of the conveying member in a moving direction of the conveying member and a rotating speed of the conveying member; and a control portion that controls the drive member to position the conveying member position index with respect to the toner image position index reaching the transfer portion based on the sensing results of the conveying member position index and the toner image position index.

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: The present invention provides an endless belt superior in peelability even under a low temperature and low humidity environment. An endless belt includes: a first region and a second region, which contain a polyimide-based resin, a contact angle to water of an outer peripheral surface of each of the first region and the second region differing from each other, and a ratio of a sum total of an area of the first region and a sum total of an area of the second region being in the range of about 80:20, to about 20:80.

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: 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: 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: An image formation apparatus belt, including a belt that includes a belt main body, the belt having a recess; and a detected part for position detection that is located in a side edge region of the belt, the detected part being placed in the recess provided in the belt and covered with a ceramic film.

Abstract: An electroconductive endless belt can withstand repeated continuous operation, in particular has anti-setting properties, and has consistent gloss and electrical conductivity. An image-forming apparatus including the electroconductive endless belt is also provided. The electroconductive endless belt contains a substrate and a conductive filler. The substrate contains a thermoplastic polyalkylene naphthalate resin and at least two types of thermoplastic resins having an ester bond other than the thermoplastic polyalkylene naphthalate resin. The weight ratio of the thermoplastic polyalkylene naphthalate resin to the at least two types of thermoplastic resins having an ester bond is in the range of 95:5 to 55:45. The at least two types of thermoplastic resins having an ester bond contains at least one amorphous thermoplastic resin and at least one crystalline thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: At least one of a plurality of rollers supporting an endless belt includes a flange arranged on an end portion of the roller. The flange includes a cylindrical portion that is inserted into an opening portion of the roller at its end. Outer circumference of the cylindrical portion makes contact with inner circumference of the roller, and inner circumference of the flange makes contact with a rotation shaft of the roller. The inner edge of a surface where the flange is in contact with the rotation shaft is located on the inner side of the outer edge of a surface where the cylindrical portion is in contact with the roller in the longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft.

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.