JP2001341883A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a miniaturizable image forming device capable of, properly taking in and out a recording material conveying unit while minimizing a separation distance between a recording material holding member such as a transfer belt and an image holding member, easy for maintenance. SOLUTION: This image forming device has a control member 1 mounted on the recording material holding member 3 at a side opposite to the image holding members 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d, for controlling the movement of the recording material holding member 3 to the image holding member side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a copying machine, a printer, and an image forming apparatus.
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an AX.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus A includes first, second, third, and fourth image forming units Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd, and performs yellow, magenta, cyan, and black image formation.

That is, each image forming means Pa, Pb, P
c and Pd each have a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, that is, photosensitive drums 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d;
The photosensitive drums 7a to 7d include primary chargers 8a, 8b, 8
After being uniformly charged by c and 8d, the exposure devices 9a and 9 are operated in accordance with an electric signal of image information transmitted from a reader scanner (not shown), a personal computer, or the like.
Light images of each color separated in b, 9c, and 9d are irradiated, and an electrostatic latent image of each color is formed on the image carrier.

In this example of FIG. 6, as the exposure devices 9a to 9d, independently controlled LED (light emitting diode) arrays are formed to face the respective surfaces of the photosensitive drums 7a to 7d. The devices 9a to 9d are not limited to LED arrays.

The electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drums 7a to 7d are developed by developing units 10a, 10b, 10c, 1
The image is developed at 0d and is visualized as a yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner image.

Below the image forming means Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, there is provided a transfer / conveyance unit B provided with a recording material carrier 3 for carrying and conveying a recording material P such as recording paper. . Usually, an endless transfer belt is used as the recording material carrier 3, and is wound around a driving roller 4 and another roller 6 so as to be rotatable. The recording paper P is selectively supplied from the manual feed tray 11 or the supply cassette 12, and is supplied onto the transfer belt 3.

Accordingly, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 7a to 7d are arranged below the respective photosensitive drums 7a to 7d, and are placed on the recording paper P carried and conveyed by the rotating transfer belt 3. The images are sequentially transferred and superimposed.

The recording paper P on which the toner image has been transferred and the full-color image has been formed is permanently fixed by the fixing device 13 and is discharged onto a discharge tray 14 mounted on the main body A of the image forming apparatus.

In the image forming apparatus A having the above configuration, when performing image formation including the adjustment mode, the transfer belt 3 is brought into contact with each of the photosensitive drums 7a to 7d (state D shown by a solid line in FIG. 6). In other cases, the transfer belt 3 is moved downward,
It is separated from the photosensitive drums 7a to 7d (state E shown by a dotted line in FIG. 6).

At this time, the transfer belt 3 is moved to the photosensitive drum 7a.
7D and the state E separated from the photosensitive drums 7a to 7d are moved up and down by using the drive roller 4 as a swing support shaft to swing the recording material transport unit B itself to a predetermined position. The method of moving to is adopted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus B having the above-described structure is generally used for maintenance of elements related to the transfer belt 3 or for jam clearance.
A mechanism C for pulling out the recording material transport unit B having the transfer belt 3 to the front of the image forming apparatus A is provided.

As described above, during image formation, the transfer belt 3
And a photosensitive drum 7a to 7d are brought into contact with each other and separated from each other except during image formation, and an image forming apparatus A having a mechanism C for pulling out a recording material transport unit B to the outside of the apparatus main body.
Transfer belt 3 when the recording material transport unit B is taken in and out
It is important to secure a sufficient separation distance in the state E in which the transfer belt 3 and the photosensitive drums 7a to 7d are separated from each other in order to avoid catching at both ends of the transfer belt 3.

If the photosensitive drum 7 is used for convenience of the image forming apparatus,
When the positions of the transfer belt 3 and the transfer belt 3 are relatively close to each other, it is possible to secure the separation distance by increasing the swing angle θ, but in any case, In order to satisfy the configuration requirements, the size of the image forming apparatus itself has been inevitably increased.

In other words, when considering the miniaturization of an image forming apparatus that carries the recording paper P on the transfer belt 3 by electrostatic attraction or the like and forms an image using one or a plurality of image carriers while transporting the paper, Transfer belt 3 and image carriers 7a to 7d
How can the recording material transport unit B including the transfer belt 3 be suitably taken in and out in a state in which the separation distance between the transfer belt 3 and the image carriers 7a to 7d is not so large. Has been a major issue so far.

Considering the conditions for downsizing the image forming apparatus A, it is advantageous to move the position of the drive roller 4 as close as possible to the nearest image carrier 7d in the width direction of the image forming apparatus main body. It is more advantageous to reduce the swing angle θ of the transfer belt 3 in the height direction.

[0016]

However, as can be understood from FIG. 6, when the size of the image forming apparatus A is reduced in accordance with the above conditions, the transfer belt 3 is moved to the image carriers 7a to 7a.
7d (state E), the separation distance between the transfer belt 3 and the vicinity of the image carrier 7d closest to the drive roller 4 is short, and therefore, the recording material transport unit including the transfer belt 3 It is difficult to appropriately perform the operation of pulling B out of the image forming apparatus A.

When the left and right ends of the transfer belt 3 are turned up or lifted up from the center of the transfer belt 3, the left and right ends of the transfer belt 3 are caught when the unit B is taken in and out. In such a case, the transfer belt 3 may be damaged.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show how the phenomenon that the left and right end portions of the transfer belt 3 are lifted as compared with the center portion occurs.
This will be described next with reference to FIG.

As the material of the transfer belt 3, a material such as a film material is often used, and the type of the film material, the manufacturing method, the components as a belt body, and the like are various, and the characteristics are different depending on the material.

In FIG. 7, when a plurality of rollers 4 and 6 are arranged inside the transfer belt 3 to form a recording material transport unit B for rotating the transfer belt 3, the central portion of the transfer belt 3 is Exists very close to the tangent connecting the rollers 4 and 6 of the first roller.

The transfer belt 3 is located at the contact portion of the roller 4
Although a curved shape is formed along the outer periphery of the roller 4,
As shown in FIG. 7, when a rubber member is attached to the shift preventing member 15 for preventing the belt from shifting toward the inner left and right ends of the transfer belt 3, as shown in FIG. In order to form a curved shape having a larger curvature than the outer shape of the roller 4 at the contact portion of the roller 4, the β portion, which is the left and right end portion of the transfer belt 3, is inevitably the central portion of the floating transfer belt 3 γ As a result, a phenomenon occurs in which the right and left ends of the transfer belt 3 float. As shown in FIG. 7, there is a tendency particularly when the lateral width of the transfer belt 3 is wider than the roller 4 which is in contact with the transfer belt 3 and is involved in the direct rotation.

Further, depending on the material and the manufacturing method, there may be a shape in which the end of the belt 3 is warped as shown in FIG.

When the recording material transport unit B is pulled out or stored in front of the image forming apparatus main body A in a state where the end of the transfer belt 3 is lifted, the recording material transport unit B is positioned above the recording material transport unit B. The left and right ends of the raised transfer belt 3 may be caught by the image carrier 7d and the cover of the image forming apparatus A.

In order to avoid the transfer belt 3 from being caught, the distance between the transfer belt 3 and the member above the recording material transport unit B must be increased, so that it is difficult to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus. Was.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent the occurrence of an image defect and to provide a structure in which at least one of the image carrier unit and the recording material transport unit is detachable from the apparatus main body. It is possible to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus, and furthermore, it is possible to preferably carry out the loading and unloading of the recording material transport unit after minimizing the separation distance between the recording material carrier and the image carrier, and to facilitate maintenance. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the operation. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus when it is possible to prevent image defects from occurring and when at least one of the image carrier unit and the intermediate transfer unit is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body. In addition, the distance between the intermediate transfer member and the image carrier can be reduced as much as possible, and the intermediate transfer member unit can be properly inserted and removed, and maintenance can be easily performed. It is to provide a device.

[0026]

The above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier for carrying an image, and a recording material transport unit including a recording material carrier for carrying and transporting a recording material, wherein In the image forming apparatus for transferring the image of the above to the recording material carried on the recording material carrier, on the side of the recording material carrier facing the image carrier, the recording material carrier is moved to the image carrier side An image forming apparatus is provided in which a regulating member for regulating movement is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier which carries an image, and an intermediate transfer unit having an intermediate transfer member onto which an image on the image carrier is transferred. In an image forming apparatus that transfers an image on a body to a recording material, a regulating member that regulates movement of the intermediate transfer body toward the image carrier is provided on a side of the intermediate transfer body that faces the image carrier. An image forming apparatus is provided.

[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus A has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus A described above with reference to FIG. Therefore, the description of the configuration of the entire image forming apparatus will be omitted (the above description will be referred to when necessary), and the features of the present invention will be described below.

The image forming apparatus A of the present invention includes a recording material transport unit B. The recording material transport unit B includes a driving roller 4 and other rollers 6 on a front plate 201 and a rear plate 202, and furthermore, suction. A roller 5 and the like are rotatably supported, and a transfer belt 3 as a recording material carrier is wound around these rollers 4 and 6. The volume resistivity of the transfer belt is preferably 10 < ⁸ > to 10 < ¹⁸ > [Omega] cm in consideration of the leak of the transfer current and the suction conveyance property of the recording material.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording material transport unit B moves the transfer belt 3 from the state during normal image formation during maintenance, that is, from the state where the image bearing members 7a to 7d are in contact with the transfer belt 3. After being separated from the image carriers 7a to 7d, it is mounted on a transport unit pull-out mechanism C that can be pulled out to the front of the image forming apparatus A.

According to the present invention, the regulating member 1 for regulating the end of the transfer belt 3 from rising upward is attached to the recording material transport unit B. FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the recording material transport unit B to which the regulating member 1 is attached.

According to the present embodiment, the regulating member 1 is located on both the left and right sides of the transfer belt 3 in the traveling direction of the transfer belt 3, and moves the recording material transport unit B on the side surfaces of both the front plate 201 and the rear plate 202. It is provided at a position in front of the driving roller 4 which is arranged on a swinging support shaft when separated from the image forming means and close to a recording material discharge portion.

When the regulating member 1 is present over the entire side surface of the front plate 201 and the rear plate 202 constituting the recording material transport unit B, or is present in the vicinity of the suction roller 5 near the recording material feeding position, maintenance or the like is performed. Therefore, the workability when attaching and detaching the transfer belt 3 is deteriorated. Therefore,
It is preferably provided near the drive roller 4 which is the center of swing of the transfer belt 3. On the opposite side of the swing center, that is, in the vicinity of the suction roller 5 and the belt support roller 6, when the transfer belt 3 is separated from the image carrier, a sufficient separation distance can be secured. And not.

FIGS. 3 and 5 are enlarged views of the regulating member 1 of this embodiment. The regulating member 1 may be a plate-like substance having a thickness of 0.025 mm to 1.0 mm made of PET or a high elastic resin. The restricting member 1 of this embodiment is connected to the rectangular mounting portion 102 for bonding to the upper surfaces of the front and rear side plates 201 and 202 of the recording material transport unit B, and to the mounting portion 102 for pressing the transfer belt 3. And a trapezoidal regulating portion 101.

The length of each image carrier (photosensitive drum) in the longitudinal direction is set so as not to hit the regulating member during normal image formation.

The regulating member 1 in the present embodiment comprises a regulating portion 1
Although 01 can be provided adjacent to or in contact with the surface of the transfer belt 3, as shown in FIG. 4, it is more preferable to face downward in the direction in which the transfer belt 3 is pressed. The reason is that, since the material of the regulating member 1 is a flexible material such as a PET film, the regulating member 1 itself warps upward when the unit is attached or detached, and is easily caught on the image carrier or the like. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the transfer belt 3 and the regulating member 1 themselves can be prevented from being caught on the image carrier or the like as much as possible because the leading end is directed downward from the horizontal.

The length L3 of the regulating member 1 in the direction intersecting with the traveling direction of the transfer belt extends to the edge of the transfer belt and further to the center of the transfer belt. The length does not reach the image forming area α.

As described above, the regulating portion 101 of the regulating member 1
Has a trapezoidal shape, and the upper side shorter than the length L2 of the bottom side is directed toward the center of the transfer belt. The angle θ1 on the upstream side in the moving direction is an obtuse angle, and a side G tapered downward from the obtuse angle is directed to the transfer belt carrying direction. In other words, the side G of the regulating portion 101 on the upstream side of the rotation of the transfer belt 3 is formed to be inclined from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the transfer belt 3. Therefore, for example, when the recording material is not conveyed at a regular position for some reason, even if the end of the recording material and the tip of the regulating member 1 come into contact with each other, adverse effects such as that the belt pressing portion 101 is greatly turned up. Less likely to occur.

In this embodiment, ribs for regulating the deviation of the transfer belt are adhered to both ends in the thrust direction on the back surface of the transfer belt, and the ribs are provided on rollers for supporting and extending the transfer belt. By contacting the restricting portion, the deviation of the transfer belt is restricted. Therefore, in this embodiment,
By pressing the transfer belt with the regulating member, the state of contact between the rib and the regulating portion of the roller can always be kept in a good condition, and image defects such as color misregistration can be prevented. Even in the case where the transfer belt is not configured as described above, it is possible to prevent the transfer belt from waving by the regulating member, thereby preventing the occurrence of an image defect, and to maintain a good contact state between the transfer belt and the roller that supports and stretches the transfer belt. be able to.

As described above, the material and the shape of the regulating member 1 are not limited. However, in this embodiment, the transfer belt contacts the regulating member so that the transfer current leaks through the regulating member. In order to prevent the occurrence of transfer failure and the occurrence of transfer failure, and to prevent the regulating member from being charged and charged up by the transfer belt and discharged, the regulating member has a volume resistivity of 10 ⁴ to 10 ¹⁸ Ωc.
m is preferable. It is formed of a non-conductive resin having a high elastic modulus such as a PET film, and is formed on a side surface of the front plate 201 and the rear plate 202 constituting the recording material transport unit B.
As shown in FIG. 3, it is attached with a double-sided tape T.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a low-cost, low-hardness PET film was used for the regulating member 1. Since the PET film has a low hardness, even if the transfer belt 3 is rotated in a state in which the PET film is in contact with the transfer belt 3, no adverse effect such as a flaw is observed. Further, due to the flexibility of the regulating member 1 when the transfer belt 3 is attached and detached, the transfer belt 3 can be bent to some extent easily in a direction (upward) opposite to the direction in which the end of the transfer belt 3 is regulated. I can do it. Furthermore, PE
Since the T film is non-conductive in electrical characteristics, it is irrelevant to the charging for electrostatically attracting the electrostatic transfer belt 3 and the transfer current during image formation.

In the image forming apparatus A of the present embodiment,
The regulating member 1 is made of a PET film, and has a shape obtained by joining a rectangle and a trapezoid, and is attached with a double-sided tape. However, the material, shape, and mounting method of the belt retainer 1 are not limited thereto. It is not something to be done.

In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus A to which the regulating member 1 is attached, when performing image formation including the adjustment mode, as in the prior art, includes the transfer belt 3 and the image carriers 7a and 7a.
The recording material conveying unit B is moved upward by swinging the driving roller 4 as a swinging support shaft so that the recording material conveying unit B is brought into contact with the recording material conveying unit B. The recording material transport unit B can be pulled out of the image forming apparatus A by the pull-out mechanism C as shown in FIG.

Further, the recording material conveying unit B 'as shown in FIG. 9 does not have a swinging mechanism, but only releases the pressure between the transfer charging member 50 and the suction roller 5 to move the transfer belt 3 to the image bearing members 7a to 7a. Even in the case of the image forming apparatus A ′ having a configuration in which the recording material conveying unit B ′ is pulled out from the inside of the image forming apparatus main body, the regulating member 1 that regulates the outer peripheral position of the transfer belt 3 is provided with the image forming apparatus described above. It is as effective as device A. However, in this case, it is preferable that the attachment position of the regulating member 1 be located in the entire conveyance surface with respect to the transfer belt 3 because the recording material conveyance unit B ′ has no swing mechanism.

The transfer belt in the image forming apparatuses A and A ′ in which the recording material P is conveyed by the transfer belt 3 and the image is formed by one transfer operation has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this. is not.

The transfer belt in the image forming apparatuses A and A 'in which the recording material P is conveyed by the transfer belt 3 and the image is formed by one transfer operation has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this. is not.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, an image forming apparatus X is drawn on first image carriers 7a to 7d using chargers 8a to 8b, light source devices 9a to 9d, and developing devices 10a to 10d. The toner image is primary-transferred to an intermediate transfer member 3 ′ formed of a belt by a second image carrier, and then transferred to a transfer position Z.
The intermediate transfer unit Y including the intermediate transfer body 3 'includes a swing mechanism, similar to the recording material transport unit B of the image forming apparatus A described above. At the time of formation, the intermediate transfer member 3 'is
7d are in contact with the transfer charger 61 (state D), and are otherwise separated from the image carriers 7a to 7d and the transfer charger 61 as indicated by broken lines in FIG. State E). Also, at the time of maintenance, the intermediate transfer body 3 ′ is similarly used as the intermediate transfer body unit Y as the image forming apparatus X.
It can be pulled out. When withdrawing,
The same problem as in the image forming apparatus A occurs when the portion close to the swing shaft 60 does not have a sufficient separation distance. In this sense, the regulating member 1 that regulates the outer peripheral end of the intermediate transfer body 3 ′, which is a belt, is effective.

The volume resistivity of the intermediate transfer member is preferably 10 to 10 Ωcm, as in the above embodiment.

Further, although not shown, the intermediate transfer member is not provided with a swinging mechanism, and the first image carrier is separated from the intermediate transfer member only by releasing the pressure of the transfer charging member facing the first image carrier. Similarly, in an image forming apparatus configured to pull out the intermediate transfer body, a regulating member that regulates the outer peripheral position of the intermediate transfer body that is a belt is effective.

In the above embodiment, the recording material transporting unit or the intermediate transfer body unit is detachable from the apparatus main body. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Similarly, a configuration detachable from the apparatus main body may be used. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent the image carrier unit from being caught and damaged by the transfer belt or the intermediate transfer body. Of course,
The present invention can be similarly applied to a case where both the recording material transport unit and the intermediate transfer unit together with the image carrier unit are configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body as in the above embodiment.

[0052]

As described above, according to the first aspect, the recording material carrier is provided on the side facing the image carrier,
Since a configuration is provided in which the regulating member regulates the movement of the recording material carrier toward the image carrier, it is possible to prevent image defects from occurring. Further, when at least one of the image carrier unit and the recording material transport unit is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, the size of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. After the separation distance of the body is made as small as possible, the recording material transporting unit can be suitably taken in and out, and maintenance can be easily performed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the regulating member is provided on the side of the intermediate transfer body facing the image carrier, and regulates the movement of the intermediate transfer body toward the image carrier. Therefore, it is possible to prevent image defects from occurring. When at least one of the image carrier unit and the intermediate transfer unit is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, the size of the image forming apparatus can be reduced, and
After the separation distance between the intermediate transfer member and the image carrier is reduced as much as possible, the intermediate transfer member unit can be suitably taken in and out, and maintenance can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a recording material transport unit to which a regulating member according to the present invention is attached.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion to which the regulating member of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion to which the regulating member of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion where a regulating member according to another embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a transfer belt.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a transfer belt.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 regulating member 3 recording material carrier (transfer belt) 3 ′ intermediate transfer member 4 drive roller 5 suction roller 6 belt support roller 7 a to 7 d image carrier (photosensitive drum) 8 a to 8 d charger 9 a to 9 d exposure device (LTD) 10a to 10d Developing device 15 Deviation prevention member 201 Front side plate 202 Rear side plate Pa to Pd Image forming means

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H030 AA07 AB02 AD05 BB02 BB42 BB44 BB71 2H032 AA05 AA15 BA09 BA18 BA23 3F049 BB06 BB11 LA02 LB02

Claims (32)

[Claims] An image carrier that carries an image; and a recording material transport unit that includes a recording material carrier that carries and conveys a recording material, and transfers the image on the image carrier to the recording material carrier. An image forming apparatus for transferring to a recording material carried on a recording material carrier, on a side of the recording material carrier opposed to the image carrier, a regulating member for regulating movement of the recording material carrier toward the image carrier; An image forming apparatus, wherein: 2. The recording material transport unit according to claim 1, wherein said recording material carrier is pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft so that said recording material carrier can be separated from said image carrier. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording material transport unit is configured to be able to be pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the regulating member is disposed near a swing support shaft of the recording material carrier. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the regulating members are arranged adjacent to or in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the recording material carrier. apparatus. 5. The recording material carrier is an endless belt,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the regulating member regulates an outer peripheral position of the belt. 6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said regulating member regulates an outer peripheral position of an outer end along a rotation direction of said belt. 7. The regulating member has an attaching portion for attaching the regulating member to the recording material transport unit, and a regulating portion for regulating the belt, wherein the attaching portion rotates the belt. Attached to members provided further outside of both ends along the direction, the restricting portion exists toward the center of the belt, and the tip of the restricting portion is directed to the outer peripheral surface of the belt. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the attachment portion of the regulating member is attached to front and rear side plates on which the belt is rotatably attached. 9. The restricting portion of the restricting member is formed so as to be inclined from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the belt from the mounting portion to the tip of the restricting portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a corner portion of the regulating member of the regulating member, which is located on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the belt, has an obtuse angle. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the regulating member is formed of a sheet-like elastic member. 12. The volume resistivity of the regulating member is 10 ⁴ to 10.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the value is 10 ¹⁸ Ωcm. 13. The regulating member has a thickness of 0.025 mm.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a PET film having a thickness of 1.0 to 1.0 mm. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of color images are sequentially transferred to a recording material carried on the recording material carrier. 15. A plurality of image carriers for carrying images of a plurality of colors, respectively, and images of a plurality of colors are sequentially transferred from the respective image carriers to a recording material carried on the recording material carrier. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the image carrier and the recording material carrier is detachable from an apparatus main body. . 17. An image carrier, which carries an image, and an intermediate transfer body unit having an intermediate transfer body onto which an image on the image carrier is transferred, wherein the image on the intermediate transfer body is recorded on a recording material. An image forming apparatus, wherein a regulating member for regulating movement of the intermediate transfer body toward the image carrier is provided on a side of the intermediate transfer body facing the image carrier. Forming equipment. 18. The intermediate transfer body unit, wherein the intermediate transfer body is swingably mounted about a swing support shaft so that the intermediate transfer body can be separated from the image carrier. 18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the intermediate transfer unit can be pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the regulating member is disposed near a swing support shaft of the intermediate transfer body.
Image forming apparatus. 20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of the regulating members are arranged adjacent to or in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer body. . 21. The intermediate transfer member is an endless belt,
21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the regulating member regulates an outer peripheral position of the belt. 22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the regulating member regulates an outer peripheral portion of an outer end portion along a rotation direction of the belt. 23. The restricting member has a mounting portion for mounting the restricting member to the intermediate transfer body unit, and a restricting portion for restricting the belt.
Attached to members provided further outside of both end portions along the rotation direction of the belt, the regulating portion is present toward a center portion of the belt, and a tip of the regulating portion is provided at an outer periphery of the belt. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the image forming apparatus is directed to a surface. 24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the attachment portion of the regulation member is attached to front and rear side plates on which the belt is rotatably attached. 25. The restricting portion of the restricting member is formed so as to be inclined from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the belt from the mounting portion to the tip of the restricting portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein: 26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein a front end corner of the restricting portion of the restricting member, which is located on an upstream side in a rotation direction of the belt, has an obtuse angle. 27. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said regulating member is formed of a sheet-like elastic member. 28. The regulating member has a volume resistivity of 10 ⁴ or more.
Claim, characterized in that a 10 ¹⁸ [Omega] cm 17 to 27
The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above items. 29. The regulating member has a thickness of 0.025 mm.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 28, wherein the image forming apparatus is a PET film having a thickness of 1.0 to 1.0 mm. 30. A method according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of color images are sequentially transferred to a recording material carried on said intermediate transfer member.
30. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 30 to 29. 31. A plurality of image carriers for carrying images of a plurality of colors, respectively, and images of a plurality of colors are sequentially transferred from the respective image carriers to a recording material carried on the intermediate transfer member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 30, wherein: 32. An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said image carrier and said intermediate transfer body is detachable from an apparatus main body.