Abstract: An electrically conductive rubber composition is provided, which comprises a rubber component including an SBR, an EPDM and an epichlorohydrin rubber, a crosslinking component and an azodicarbonamide foaming agent having a volume-based median diameter of 20 to 40 ?m. The azodicarbonamide foaming agent is blended in a proportion of 0.5 to 8 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the overall rubber component. A transfer roller (1) is produced by extruding the electrically conductive rubber composition into an elongated tubular body, and continuously feeding out the tubular body in the elongated state without cutting the tubular body to continuously pass the tubular body through a microwave crosslinking device and a hot air crosslinking device to continuously foam and crosslink the tubular body.

Abstract: An electrically conductive rubber composition is provided, which comprises a rubber component including an SBR, an EPDM and an epichlorohydrin rubber, a crosslinking component and an azodicarbonamide foaming agent having an average particle diameter of 3 to 11 ?m. The azodicarbonamide foaming agent is blended in a proportion of 0.5 to 8 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the overall rubber component. A transfer roller (1) is produced by extruding the electrically conductive rubber composition into an elongated tubular body, and continuously feeding out the tubular body in the elongated state without cutting the tubular body to continuously pass the tubular body through a microwave crosslinking device and a hot air crosslinking device to continuously foam and crosslink the tubular body.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer roller that has a characteristic in which an electrical resistance is changed in accordance with a rotation speed, contacts a transferred body that moves in synchronization with movement of an image holding body holding a toner image, and transfers the toner image held by the image holding body on the transferred body by applying a transfer voltage to the transferred body; and a regulator that regulates the rotation speed of the transfer roller independently from the movement of the image holding body and the transferred body.

Abstract: A transfer device and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. Shapes of cam profiles of first cam members and second cam members controlling movement of first slider members moving a first transfer roller corresponding to a black developer, and second slider members moving a second transfer roller corresponding to a color developer. Times are different as when movement of the first slider members is completed and when movement of the second slider members is completed in mode conversion among a ready mode, a mono mode and a color mode, and thus a driving load generated when the first and second cam members are rotated is reduced, non-uniformity of the rotating speeds of the first and second cam members is reduced, and problems generated due to non-uniform rotating speeds of the cam members are reduced.

Abstract: A belt unit is provided with an endless belt, a driving roller, and a pair of guide ribs. The driving roller is disposed on an inner peripheral surface side of the endless belt and drives the endless belt. The pair of guide ribs is placed on each opposite widthwise end of the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt and contacts both end faces of the driving roller, thus preventing meandering of the endless belt. Additionally, the driving roller is equipped with a low friction region at both opposite lengthwise ends in a predetermined width and the low friction region is configured to have a friction coefficient that is lower than a friction coefficient of a region adjacent to the low friction region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that transfers a developer image onto a sheet and forms the developer image on the sheet includes a developer image carrier, a first pressing member, a transfer member, a first voltage supply, and an adherence part. The developer image carrier holds the developer image and moves in a predetermined direction in which the sheet is being carried. The first pressing member presses against the developer image carrier from a side opposite to a side on which a developer image is held. The transfer member is arranged against the first pressing member through the developer image carrier, the first pressing member and the transfer member being responsive to a first voltage applied therebetween to transfer the developer image from the developer image carrier toward the transfer member. The adherence part adheres the sheet to the developer image carrier upstream the first pressing member in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes a static latent image supporting member having a photosensitive layer and being arranged to be rotatable; a developer supporting member arranged to be rotatable for developing a static latent image formed on the static latent image supporting member using developer to form an image; a developer supplying member arranged to contact with the developer supporting member and be rotatable for supplying developer; and a drive transmission unit disposed on a side of same end portions of the developer supporting member and the developer supplying member for rotating the developer supporting member and the developer supplying member in a same rotational direction. The developer supplying member is formed so that an outer diameter thereof on a side of the drive transmission unit becomes smaller than an outer diameter thereof on an opposite side.

Abstract: A belt unit includes a endless belt, a tension roller, at least one extension roller, a first bearing portion supporting a first end of the tension roller such that the first end is movable in a tension direction and is detachably mounted to be able to releases the tension force by the first end coming off from the first bearing portion, a second bearing portion supporting a second end of the tension roller to be movable in the tension direction, a first urging portion urging the first end of the tension roller, a second urging portion urging the second end of the tension roller, a first frame portion integrally supporting the first bearing portion, the first urging portion, and the extension roller, and a second frame portion integrally supporting the second bearing portion, the second urging portion, and the tension roller and detachably mounted on the first frame portion.

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

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image bearing members for carrying toner images; an intermediate transfer member that is capable of rotating endlessly and possesses conductivity; a current supply member that contacts an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member; a power supply that applies a voltage to the current supply member; a contact member disposed in a position corresponding to at least one of the image bearing members via the intermediate transfer member so as to contact an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member; an opposing member that opposes the current supply member via the intermediate transfer member; a constant voltage element connected to the opposing member and the contact member; and a resistance element electrically connected between the constant voltage element and the contact member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer belt that is stretched on a plurality of support rollers including a backup roller in a loop-like manner and has an outer surface for carrying thereon a toner image; a transfer roller that is brought into pressurized contact with the backup roller across the transfer belt and forms a transfer nip with the transfer belt; a restriction member that is placed upstream of a transfer nip in a sheet conveying direction so as to be switchable between a first state in which the restriction member is brought closer to an inner surface of the transfer belt and a second state in which a distance of the restriction member from the inner surface of the transfer belt is larger than that in the first state; and a control section that switches a state of the restriction member.

Abstract: A belt moving unit includes an endless belt member and plural support rolls supporting the belt member movably and rotating, wherein the support rolls include one or more follower rolls rotating to follow the movement of the belt member and at least one of the follower rolls is used as an inertial roll to which inertia is applied, wherein the inertial roll includes a rotation shaft, a rotational inertial member rotating with the rotation shaft and applying inertia, and a roll body disposed along a peripheral surface of the rotation shaft and including plural roll-divided members, and wherein the plural roll-divided members include a fixed divided member fixed to the rotation shaft and rotating along with the rotation shaft to follow the movement of the belt member and a rotating divided member rotating independently of the rotation of the rotation shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image forming apparatus that has a developing unit, an intermediate transfer body, and a transfer roller and may prevent contamination of the transfer roller and a printing medium by the toner remaining in a test pattern forming area of the intermediate transfer body. The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit to allow an image to be formed by a developing agent, an intermediate transfer body provided with an image forming area and a test pattern forming area, the image being transferred from the developing unit to the image forming area and the test pattern forming area, and a transfer roller allowing the image to be transferred from the image forming area to a printing medium, wherein a maximum transfer length of the transfer roller is less than a maximum image forming length of the developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member on which an image is held, and a transfer unit transferring the held image to a recording material, wherein the transfer unit includes, a transfer roll disposed to be opposite to the image holding member, forming a transfer electric field, and transferring the image to the recording material, a drive unit applying driving force to the transfer roll, a torque limiting machanics limiting an upper limit of torque which acts on the transfer roll, and an inertia member provided to increase an amount of inertia with respect to the transfer roll and moving the transfer roll with inertia in a direction in which a speed difference between the image holding member and the transfer roll is decreased when the upper limit of torque acts on the transfer roll.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer member provided so as to be able to revolve, and a voltage application unit. The transfer member has an upper layer and a lower layer arranged in a thickness direction, the upper layer has a larger volume resistivity than the lower layer. The transfer member receives a developer image transferred from an image bearing member to the upper layer at a first transfer portion and transfers the developer image to a recording medium at a second transfer portion. The voltage application unit applies an alternating-current voltage having a polarity that alternates in a moving direction of the transfer member to the transfer member, between the second transfer portion and the first transfer portion.

Abstract: A transfer device includes an image carrier, a transfer roller, and a moving unit. The moving unit moves the transfer roller between a nip formation state in which the transfer roller forms a transfer nipping portion in contact with the image carrier and a separated state in which the transfer roller is separated from the image carrier. In a contact operation of bringing the transfer roller into contact with the image carrier via the recording medium, the moving unit moves the transfer roller toward the image carrier at a moving velocity slower than that in a pressing operation of generating a predetermined nipping pressure by further moving the transfer roller toward the image carrier after the contact operation. The moving unit causes the recording medium to enter the transfer nipping portion in the contact operation.

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: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a sheet stack unit, an endless intermediate transfer member, a first transfer member for transferring a toner image onto the sheets conveyed from the sheet stack unit, at a nip formed between the intermediate transfer member and the first transfer member, and a second transfer member. In addition, a first voltage applying device applies a voltage to the first transfer member, a second voltage applying device applies a voltage having an opposite polarity to the second transfer member, and a controller controls the first and second voltage applying devices.

Abstract: A Transfer device (10) includes an intermediate transfer belt (41), a plurality of intermediate transfer roller (34A-34D) and a transfer member moving mechanism (20). The transfer member moving mechanism moves the intermediate transfer rollers (34A-34D) between pressing positions causing the intermediate transfer belt (41) to be pressed against respective photoreceptor drums (31A-31D) and separate positions causing the intermediate transfer belt (41) to be separate from the respective photoreceptor drums (31A-31D). The transfer member moving mechanism (20) causes a second pressing position of the intermediate transfer roller for monochrome (34A) in monochromatic image forming to be different from a first pressing position of the intermediate transfer roller for monochrome (34A) in full-color image forming so that an amount of pressing of the intermediate transfer belt (41) by the intermediate transfer roller for monochrome (34A) becomes greater in monochromatic image forming than in full-color image forming.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; a corona charger, provided with an opening, for electrically charging the photosensitive member; a sheet-like shielding member for shielding the opening of the corona charger; a moving device for moving the shielding member in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive member; a potential sensor for detecting a potential of a portion of the photosensitive member chargeable by the corona charger; and a controller for detecting, on the basis of a result of detection of the potential of the portion of the photosensitive member by the potential sensor, whether or not a charging operation capable of electrically charging the photosensitive member by the corona charger is performed in a state in which the shielding member is located between the opening of the corona charger and the photosensitive member.

Abstract: A first transfer inner roller and a first transfer outer roller are arranged such that the leading edge of a recording material is pressed against an intermediate transfer member on the downstream side of an upstream side transfer portion to change a traveling direction of the recording material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition, which realizes low hardness and low compression set while maintaining semi-conductivity, and a vulcanizate thereof. Also the rubber composition can be obtained by blending an epichlorohydrin-based rubber having satisfactory semi-conductivity and an acrylonitrile-butadiene-based rubber as a reactive plasticizer, and also blending zinc oxide, a thiuram-based compound and a quinoxaline-based compound.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser including a heating section which heats a hot-melt visualizing material fixed to a sheet medium and the sheet medium, a heat generator which increases the temperature of the heating section in accordance with supply of power, a temperature detector which detects the temperature of the heating section, and a controller which outputs temperature information during the increasing of the temperature on the basis of the temperature of the heating section detected by the temperature detector while the temperature of the heating section increases so that notification can be provided that fusing is possible for an image only using a single color hot-melt visualizing material.

Abstract: A transfer device is provided, which includes a transfer roller that is provided with a conductive rotational shaft, opposed to an external image-carrying body, and configured to transfer onto an image-transferred member a developer image carried by the image-carrying body, and a bearing rotatably supporting the rotational shaft of the transfer roller, the bearing including a conductive section that is disposed in a position around the rotational shaft of the transfer roller and configured to bear the rotational shaft from an opposite side of the image-carrying body with respect to the rotational shaft and to be supplied with electricity from an external power supply, and an insulated section that is disposed in a position around the rotational shaft and configured to cover the image-carrying body from a side of the image-carrying body.

Abstract: A transfer roller includes a conductive support, a first conductive elastic layer disposed on the conductive support, and a second conductive elastic layer disposed on the first conductive elastic layer. A common logarithm of surface resistivity of the second conductive elastic layer is higher than a common logarithm of volume resistivity of the second conductive elastic layer by about 1 or more.

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: The transfer device transfers a toner image to a recording medium. The recording medium passes through a nip portion formed by a belt roller which is disposed on a main body of an apparatus and a transfer roller which is disposed on an opening and closing cover. The opening and closing cover opens and closes an opening of a main body of the apparatus. The main body includes a positioning member which positions the transfer roller which moves according to a closing operation of the opening and closing cover, to a predetermined distance with respect to the belt roller. The main body also includes an engaging member which engages with the transfer roller and pushes the transfer roller toward a positioning position of the positioning member, by being urged by a pressurizing spring.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt, a pressure receiving roller, a suspension roller, a secondary transfer roller, and an endless support belt. The support belt is stretched over at least one of the pressure receiving roller and the suspension roller. When pressing the transfer belt between the pressure receiving roller and the secondary transfer roller, and nipping paper between the transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller, an angle defined by the portion, upstream from the secondary transfer roller, of the transfer belt and an imaginary line connecting the pressure-receiving-roller axis with the secondary-transfer-roller axis is less than 90 degrees. A part of the support belt is held between the transfer belt and at least one of the two rollers over which the support belt is stretched.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member that has a core and a high-resistance layer; a facing member that is arranged to face the transfer member so as to sandwich an object to be transferred in cooperation with the transfer member; a contact member that is arranged so as to be capable of contacting the transfer member; and a voltage application unit that applies a voltage between the contact member and the facing member, to pass a transfer current between the transfer member and the facing member, such that the core is electrically floated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers that carries toner images, a belt that is supported by a plurality of rollers including a support roller and an opposing roller, a transfer roller disposed opposed to the opposing roller via the belt, and a bending roller that bends the belt from outside toward inside and is disposed downstream from the opposing roller and upstream from support roller. The belt is stretched between the support roller and the bending roller in a first area. The plurality of image carriers contacts the belt in a second area other than the first area. A surface of the belt in the first area is parallel to that of the belt in the second area.

Abstract: A tubular member formed of a polyamide resin layer includes carbon black and a semi-aromatic polyamide resin having at least a repeating unit structure derived from an aromatic dicarboxylic compound and an aliphatic diamine compound with the alkyl carbon number in the range of from 9 to 13.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a plurality of rollers, a rotatable intermediate transfer belt wound around and stretched between the rollers, a transfer member disposed in the inner loop of the belt and facing an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus disposed at an outer circumference of the belt, to transfer an image formed onto the surface of the image bearing member when contacting the intermediate transfer belt, and a position adjuster to adjust the position of the intermediate transfer belt at different positions relative to the image bearing member. The positions include a contact state in which the intermediate transfer belt applied with a predetermined tension contacts the image bearing member, a first separation state in which the tensioned intermediate transfer belt separates from the image bearing member, and a second separation state in which the intermediate transfer belt separates further away from the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a movable endless transfer belt for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material, and a transfer device for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member toward the transfer belt. The transfer device includes a transfer member for sliding on an inner surface of the transfer belt in contact with the inner surface, a supporting member for supporting the transfer member, and an urging member for urging the supporting member toward the transfer belt, wherein the transfer member contacts the inner surface of the transfer belt at a contact surface thereof without rotation relative to the supporting member during movement of the transfer belt. The supporting member is rotatable about a center axis during movement of the transfer belt, and the contact surface is convex with predetermined curvature toward the transfer belt.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a transfer roller which transfers developer on an image carrier onto a recording medium conveyed along a conveyance path, a supporting frame which is provided at an upstream of a transferring portion where the image carrier and the transfer roller are closest, in the conveyance path, and is provided at a side of the transfer roller with respect to the conveyance path, a flexible guide member which has a thin plate shape, and is attached to the supporting frame at an upstream of the transferring portion in the conveyance path to guide the record medium to the transferring portion, and a inflexible protrusion supporting member which is provided on the supporting frame between the transferring portion and the guide member in the conveyance path, and which protrudes toward the conveyance path to support a trailing edge of the record medium after passing the guide member.

Abstract: A method of transferring an image includes the steps of; bringing an image bearer bearing an image thereon as a transfer origin in contact with a transferring objective (onto which the image is transferred) as a transfer destination; moving at least one of the image bearer and the transferring objective in a prescribed direction; and sequentially transferring the image borne on the image bearer onto the transferring objective in a contacting section in which the image bearer and the transferring objective contact each other in a direction in which the image does not pass through the contacting section.

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: A transfer roll includes a cylindrical conductive substrate; an inner elastic layer having an Asker-C hardness of from 5° to 20°; and an outer elastic layer having an Asker-C hardness of from 30° to 45° in this order, wherein the transfer roll satisfies the following Expression (1): ?0(in)>?0(out)??Expression (1): wherein ?0(in) is a volume resistivity of the inner elastic layer that is measured by applying an applied voltage of 1000 V in an environment of a temperature of 22° C. and a humidity of 55 RH % in an unloaded state, and ?0(out) is a volume resistivity of the outer elastic layer that is measured by applying an applied voltage of 1000 V in an environment of a temperature of 22° C. and a humidity of 55 RH % in an unloaded state.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming device in which the cost needed for a roller member as a whole can be reduced, as well as a manufacturing process of the roller member can be simplified, and a method of manufacturing the roller member. Provided is an image forming device comprising, on the outer periphery of a shaft, at least two types of rollers each having an elastic layer composed of polyurethane foam of the same composition, in which the at least two types of rollers are selected from the group consisting of a toner feed roller, a transfer roller and a cleaning roller. At least one of the at least two types of rollers is preferably subjected to a heat pressing process.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member adapted to bear a toner image, a transfer belt configured to be movable, a transfer device placed across the transfer belt from the image bearing member and adapted to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member to the transfer belt, the transfer device including a brush member equipped with a plurality of conductive filaments to be put into contact with the belt, wherein the plurality of conductive filaments located at an upstream end in a moving direction of the transfer belt is cut along an orthogonal direction intersecting the moving direction of the transfer belt at right angles or the conductive filaments located at an upstream end of the brush member along the moving direction of the transfer belt are bonded together.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having: a transfer device that adjusts a second charge amount so that a first charge amount of charges which flow toward a core from the region of a conductive layer which comes into contact with a power feeding member when a voltage is applied to the power feeding member from a power source becomes greater than the second charge amount of charges which flow toward the region which comes into contact with an intermediate transfer body from the core.

Abstract: There is described a delivery member for use in an image forming apparatus. The delivery member includes a cylindrical support member and an outer layer. The outer layer comprises an outer surface. The outer surface comprises a first surface section and a second surface section. The first surface section comprises an elastomeric matrix having a functional material dispersed therein and the second surface section comprises a cleaning material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferer to apply a constant-current controlled bias to a transfer medium to form a transfer electric field, a constant-current source configured to apply an electrical current to the transferer, an electrical characteristic detector, an environment detector, a first corrector, a second corrector, and a third corrector. The electrical characteristic detector detects an electrical characteristic value corresponding to a resistance in a current path from the constant-current source to the transferer. The environment detector detects an environmental condition inside the image forming apparatus. The first corrector corrects the electrical current based on the electrical characteristic detection and a predetermined threshold. The second corrector corrects the electrical current based on the environment detection. The third corrector sets the threshold based on the environment detection.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an endless intermediate transfer member stretched over a plurality of rollers; a first biasing member; a secondary transfer roller to be pressed against a surface of the intermediate transfer member by the first biasing member; an opposed roller disposed opposite the secondary transfer roller to thus form a secondary transfer nip at which the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer member is transferred onto a recording medium; and a second biasing member to bias the opposed roller. The secondary transfer roller and the opposed roller are movable along a line connecting respective axes of the rollers and a pressure F2 applied by the first biasing member to the secondary transfer roller at the secondary transfer nip is greater than a pressure F1 applied to the opposed roller by the second biasing member at the secondary transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member on which a toner image is to be formed; a transfer device for transferring the toner image carried on the image bearing member; and a rotationally movable endless transfer belt onto which the toner image is to be transferred or on which a transfer material onto which the toner image is to be transferred is to be conveyed. The transfer device includes a sheet member contacted to an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt while being supported by a supporting member at an end thereof and includes an urging member for urging the sheet member against the transfer belt in contact to the sheet member. The urging member includes a projected portion projected toward the transfer belt at its downstream end portion more than at its upstream end portion with respect to a movement direction of the transfer belt.

Abstract: Aligning image transfer assembly belts using two driven image-bearing belts simultaneously engaged with a driven transport belt. Each image-bearing belt conveys image-forming marking material formed thereon, wherein the transport belt is selectively engageable by the two image-bearing belts. The selective engagement of each image-bearing belt being independent from the other, wherein the two image-bearing belts are remote from one another. The method and apparatus also output signals representing at least one detected lateral positions of an edge of a measured belt using at least one edge sensor. The detected lateral position measured can be achieved by one or two edge sensors, wherein the two edge sensors would be disposed remote from one another along an extent across which the edge of the measured belt moves. Then a skew indication of the simultaneously engaged two image-bearing belts is determined based on a the output edge sensor(s) signals.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that carries a toner image, a rotatable endless belt facing the image bearing member, and a transfer device arranged on an inner peripheral side of the belt and transferring a toner image from the image bearing member to the belt. The transfer device includes a sheet member having conductivity and having a free end and an opposite end which is fixed. In addition, a support member supports and contacts the sheet member, and a securing member secures the sheet member. The sheet member at least has a first region secured by the securing member, a second region in contact with the support member, a third region separated from the support member and the belt, and a fourth region separated from the support member and in contact with the belt. The first region, the second region, the third region and the fourth region are located in order from an upstream side toward a downstream side in a rotational direction of the belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image carrier; a first image forming unit that forms an image; an intermediate transfer belt; a primary transfer unit that primarily transfers the image onto the intermediate transfer belt; a secondary transfer unit that secondarily transfers the image transferred further onto a recording medium; a second image carrier that transfers the image onto the recording medium; a second image forming unit that forms an image on the second image carrier; a direct transfer unit that directly transfers the image onto the recording medium; a recording medium carriage belt, and a driving roller that drives the recording medium carriage belt; a speed fluctuation detecting unit; and a drive control unit that controls driving of the driving roller so as to reduce the cyclic speed fluctuation of the carriage belt based on a detection result of the speed fluctuation detecting unit.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a first support member that supports a wound member, an endless transferred body being wound around the wound member; a second support member that supports a transfer member, the transfer member and the wound member pinching the transferred body and a recording medium, the transfer member causing a developer image on the transferred body to be transferred onto the recording medium; a coupling portion that couples the second support member to the first support member so that an angle of the second support member is changeable relative to the first support member; and an urging portion that is provided at the first support member and urges the second support member in a direction in which the transfer member presses the wound member.

Abstract: A semiconductive roller includes a conductive support and a semiconductive elastic layer disposed on a circumferential surface of the conductive support, the semiconductive elastic layer containing at least an epichlorohydrin rubber and a conducting agent and having a foam structure, wherein, when the semiconductive roller is left to stand in water for 30 minutes, the chlorine ion content derived from the semiconductive elastic layer per unit area of the semiconductive elastic layer is approximately not more than 0.06 ?mol/cm2.

Abstract: A belt drive apparatus is equipped with an endless belt rotationally movable by being supported by a plurality of rollers. A moving speed signal output part outputs a signal based on a rotational movement of the endless belt. A width direction position signal output part outputs a position signal for which its value changes in response to a position of the endless belt in a direction of width of the endless belt. A width direction position control part controls a position of the endless belt in the direction of width of the endless belt. A process execution part performs a predetermined process using the signal output from the moving speed output part based on the position signal output from the width direction position signal output part.