JP2005284320A - Transfer material carrier, transfer device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transfer belt which prevents sticking of sticking matter, such as toner, onto its surface by satisfactorily clearing away sticking matter such as the toner on its surface without applying a lubricant, and to provide a transfer method and a transfer device, and an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: As the transfer belt 6 for holding transfer paper S onto which a toner image on a photoreceptor 3 is transferred, the one that has a coat layer 6b on its surface is used so that the width of a crack that is caused on its surface when used for holding the transfer paper S is not greater than the dimension of matter sticking to the surface. For instance, in the case where toner as sticking matter has an average particle diameter of 7 to 9 μm, the coat layer 6b is formed so that the width of a crack that is caused on the surface of the transfer belt 6 is not greater than 5 μm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a FAX, a transfer method and apparatus that can be employed in the image forming apparatus, and a transfer material carrier used in the transfer method and apparatus.

Conventionally, as a transfer method and apparatus used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a fax machine, a transfer charge applying unit to which a transfer bias voltage is applied is brought into contact with a belt-shaped transfer material carrier to thereby form an image on the image carrier. Various proposals have been made to transfer the toner image onto a transfer material carried on the transfer material carrier. In this type of transfer method and apparatus, a toner image formed on an image carrier is transferred to a transfer material. The surface of the transfer material carrier that carries and transfers the transfer material is placed on the surface of the image carrier. Residual toner remaining on the surface, toner floating in the apparatus, or paper dust generated from the transfer material adheres due to electrostatic or pressure contact. If there is dirt adhering to the surface of the transfer material carrier in this way, the back surface of the transfer material carried on the transfer material carrier will be dirty.
In addition, in a device in which a charging member such as a charging roller is in contact with the image carrier, if there is dirt on the transfer material carrier, the dirt transferred from the transfer material carrier to the image carrier is on the surface of the charging member. There is also a possibility that it may adhere to the surface and cause charging failure.
Further, when the transfer material carrier to which the toner is attached is in contact with the image carrier, the heat of the image carrier is transmitted to the transfer material carrier, and the temperature of the transfer material carrier increases. There is a possibility that the toner on the transfer material carrier is fixed and cannot be removed. When this toner sticking occurs, the transfer material cannot be separated from the transfer material carrier when the transfer material is separated, and a jam due to poor separation of the transfer material occurs.
Further, in the apparatus using the recycled toner, due to the characteristics of the recycled toner, it is difficult to remove the recycled toner adhering to the transfer material carrier, and the cleaning property is very poor.

Conventionally, dirt such as toner and paper powder adhering to the transfer material carrier is removed and cleaned on the surface of the transfer material carrier by a cleaning means such as a cleaning blade. Various methods and the like have been proposed to improve the cleaning property and prevent the transfer material from being stained.
For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-278707, a lubricant that supplies a lubricant to the surface of a transfer material carrier in order to reduce the coefficient of friction on the surface of the transfer material carrier (transfer member) and improve the cleaning property. An image forming apparatus provided with a supply member and a lubricant supply means for supplying a lubricant onto the image carrier are provided so that the lubricant supplied onto the image carrier is applied to the surface of the transfer material carrier. An image forming apparatus has been proposed.
In JP-A-8-185060, the surface of a transfer material carrier (transfer belt) is formed with a foamed film layer in order to prevent the back surface of the transfer material from being soiled, and toner is placed in the foamed cells of the foamed film layer. There has been proposed a transfer / conveying belt device that can capture the toner.
In JP-A-8-305181, the thickness of the coating layer (surface coat layer) of the transfer material carrier is prevented in order to prevent the occurrence of poor cleaning of the surface of the transfer material carrier (transfer belt). Is smaller than the particle size of the toner, and even when a crack is generated in the surface coat layer, the toner particle is not buried in the crack and is easily scraped by a cleaning means (cleaning blade). There has been proposed a transfer / conveyance apparatus that can perform the above-described process.

  However, when the lubricant is applied to the surface of the transfer material carrier as described in the above-mentioned JP-A-8-278707, uneven application of the lubricant is likely to occur, resulting from uneven application of the lubricant. There was a risk of uneven cleaning. Moreover, when cracks occur in the transfer material carrier, there is a possibility that good cleaning characteristics cannot be obtained even when the lubricant is applied.

  Further, when the surface of the transfer material carrier (transfer belt) is formed of a foamed film layer as described in JP-A-8-185060, the foamed cell toner in the foamed film layer accumulates. As a result, there is a risk of toner sticking.

  Further, as described in JP-A-8-305181, even if the thickness of the coating layer (surface coating layer) of the transfer material carrier is made smaller than the particle size of the toner, the toner is contained in the crack. As a result, the toner may stick and toner may stick.

  As a result of experiments on cleaning characteristics and toner fixation with respect to various transfer material carriers, the present inventor has found conditions for a transfer carrier that can provide good cleaning properties without causing toner fixation.

  The above problems are not only caused when the toner image is transferred from the latent image carrier (photosensitive member) as the image carrier to the transfer material on the belt-like transfer material carrier, but also the latent image carrier (photosensitive member). The toner image may be transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the transfer material on the belt-like transfer material carrier after the toner image is once transferred to the intermediate transfer member as the image carrier. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to satisfactorily clean deposits such as toner on the surface without applying a lubricant and to remove deposits such as toner on the surface. It is to provide a transfer material carrier capable of preventing sticking, a transfer method and apparatus using the transfer material carrier, and an image forming apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a belt-shaped transfer material carrier that carries a transfer material onto which a toner image on an image carrier is transferred, and is used for carrying the transfer material. A coating layer is provided on the surface so that the width of the crack generated on the surface carrying the transfer material at the time is less than or equal to the size of the adhered matter adhering to the surface.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a belt-like transfer material carrier carrying a transfer material onto which a toner image on the image carrier is transferred, and is extended until a crack is generated on the surface carrying the transfer material. A coating layer is provided on the surface so that the elongation ratio at that time is 8% or more.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transfer material carrier according to the second aspect, wherein the coating layer is formed so that an elongation ratio is 20% or less when the surface carrying the transfer material is stretched until a crack is generated. It is characterized by providing.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a belt-like transfer material carrier carrying a transfer material onto which a toner image on the image carrier is transferred, and the belt is extended until a crack is generated on the surface carrying the transfer material. A coating layer is provided on the surface so that the elongation rate at that time is twice or more that when used for carrying the transfer material.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the transfer material carrier according to the fourth aspect, an elongation ratio when the surface of the transfer material carrying member is stretched until cracks are generated is an elongation when the transfer material is used for carrying the transfer material. The coating layer is provided so as to be 5 times or less of the rate.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the transfer material carrier according to the first to fifth aspects, the thickness of the coating layer is 2 to 4 μm.

  The invention according to claim 7 is a belt-like transfer material carrier that carries a transfer material onto which a toner image on the image carrier is transferred, and the ten-point average roughness Rz of the surface carrying the transfer material is 4Z. It is characterized by the following.

  The transfer material carrier is driven in one direction while bringing the transfer material carried on the belt-like transfer material carrier into contact with the image carrier, and a transfer charge is applied to the transfer material carrier. A transfer method for transferring a toner image on the image bearing member to the transfer material, which occurs on the surface carrying the transfer material as the transfer material bearing member when used for supporting the transfer material. What is characterized in that a surface provided with a coating layer is used so that the width of the crack to be generated is equal to or smaller than the size of the adhered matter adhering to the surface.

  The invention according to claim 9 applies the transfer charge to the transfer material carrier by driving the transfer material carrier in one direction while bringing the transfer material carried on the belt-like transfer material carrier into contact with the image carrier. A transfer method for transferring a toner image on the image carrier to the transfer material, wherein the transfer material carrier is stretched when the surface carrying the transfer material is stretched until a crack is generated. What used the thing which provided the film layer on this surface so that a rate might be 8% or more was used.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the transfer method according to the ninth aspect, when the transfer material carrying member is stretched until a crack is generated on the surface carrying the transfer material, the expansion ratio is 20% or less. The above-mentioned coating layer is used.

  The invention according to claim 11 applies the transfer charge to the transfer material carrier by driving the transfer material carrier in one direction while bringing the transfer material carried on the belt-like transfer material carrier into contact with the image carrier. A transfer method for transferring a toner image on the image carrier to the transfer material, wherein the transfer material carrier is stretched when the surface carrying the transfer material is stretched until a crack is generated. The film is characterized in that a coating layer is provided on the surface so that the rate is at least twice the stretch rate when used for carrying the transfer material.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the transfer method according to the eleventh aspect, the transfer material carrying member has an extension ratio when the transfer material carrying member is stretched until a crack is generated on the surface carrying the transfer material. What used the thing provided with the said film layer so that it might become 5 times or less of the expansion | extension rate at the time of using is used.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the transfer method according to the eighth to twelfth aspects, the thickness of the coating layer is 2 to 4 μm.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the invention, the transfer material carrier is driven in one direction while bringing the transfer material carried on the belt-like transfer material carrier into contact with the image carrier, and a transfer charge is imparted to the transfer material carrier. Thus, a transfer method for transferring the toner image on the image carrier to the transfer material, the ten-point average roughness Rz of the surface carrying the transfer material as the transfer material carrier is 4Z or less. It is characterized by using things.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a belt-like transfer material carrier that is driven in one direction while holding the transfer material between the image carrier and a transfer that applies a transfer charge in contact with the transfer material carrier. A transfer device comprising a charge applying means and a power supply for applying a transfer bias voltage to the transfer charge applying means, and transferring a toner image on the image carrier to the transfer material, the transfer material carrier supporting The width of a crack generated on the surface carrying the transfer material when the transfer material carrier is stretched on the member and used for carrying the transfer material is equal to or less than the size of the adhered matter adhering to the surface. This is characterized in that a coating layer is provided on the surface.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a belt-shaped transfer material carrier that is driven in one direction while holding a transfer material between the image carrier and a transfer that applies a transfer charge in contact with the transfer material carrier. A transfer device for transferring a toner image on the image carrier to the transfer material, the transfer material carrier comprising: a charge applying unit; and a power source for applying a transfer bias voltage to the transfer charge applying unit. It is characterized in that a surface provided with a coating layer is used so that the stretch rate when the surface carrying the transfer material is stretched until cracks are generated is 8% or more.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the transfer device according to the sixteenth aspect, when the transfer material carrying member is stretched until a crack is generated on the surface carrying the transfer material, the expansion ratio is 20% or less. The above-mentioned coating layer is used.

  The invention according to claim 18 is a belt-shaped transfer material carrier that is driven in one direction while holding the transfer material between the image carrier and a transfer that contacts the transfer material carrier and applies a transfer charge. A transfer device for transferring a toner image on the image carrier to the transfer material, the transfer material carrier comprising: a charge applying unit; and a power source for applying a transfer bias voltage to the transfer charge applying unit. The expansion rate when the surface carrying the transfer material is stretched until cracks are generated is at least twice the stretch rate when the transfer material carrier is used for carrying the transfer material by stretching the support member. Thus, what provided the film layer on this surface was used.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the transfer device according to the eighteenth aspect, the extension rate when the transfer material carrying member is stretched until a crack is generated on the surface carrying the transfer material is stretched over the support member. The transfer material carrier is provided with the above-mentioned coating layer so as to be 5 times or less of the elongation ratio when the transfer material carrier is used for carrying the transfer material.

  A twentieth aspect of the invention is the transfer apparatus according to the fifteenth to nineteenth aspects, wherein the thickness of the coating layer is 2 to 4 μm.

  According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a belt-like transfer material carrier that is driven in one direction while holding a transfer material between the image carrier and a transfer that applies a transfer charge in contact with the transfer material carrier. A transfer device for transferring a toner image on the image carrier to the transfer material, the transfer material carrier comprising: a charge applying unit; and a power source for applying a transfer bias voltage to the transfer charge applying unit. The ten-point average roughness Rz of the surface carrying the transfer material is 4Z or less.

  According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on a latent image carrier as an image carrier, a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier with toner, and the latent image. An image forming apparatus comprising a transfer device that transfers a toner image on a carrier to a transfer material on a transfer material carrier, wherein the transfer device according to any one of claims 15 to 21 is used as the transfer device. It is characterized by the fact that

  According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on a latent image carrier, a developing means for developing a latent image on the latent image carrier with toner, and a toner on the latent image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising: transfer means for transferring an image to an intermediate transfer member as an image carrier; and a transfer device for transferring a toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material on a transfer material carrier, The transfer device according to any one of claims 15 to 21 is used as the transfer device.

  In the transfer material carrier of claim 1, the transfer method of claim 8, the transfer device of claim 15, or the image forming apparatus of claim 22 or 23, the surface that carries the transfer material when carrying the transfer material By providing a coating layer on the surface of the transfer material carrier so that the width of the crack generated on the surface is equal to or smaller than the size of the deposit adhered to the surface, the deposit is prevented from being buried in the crack. Can be easily removed.

  Here, when the deposit is toner, the coating layer is provided so that the width of the crack is equal to or smaller than the particle size of the toner. For example, when the average particle diameter of the toner is 7 to 9 μm, the coating layer is provided so that the width of the crack is equal to or less than the average particle diameter of the toner (for example, 5 μm or less).

  In the transfer material carrier of claim 2, the transfer method of claim 9, the transfer device of claim 16, or the image forming apparatus of claim 22 or 23, the transfer material carrier is stretched until cracks are generated on the surface. By providing a coating layer with good elongation on the surface of the transfer material carrier so that the elongation rate at that time is 8% or more, the occurrence of cracks that fill the deposit is suppressed, and the deposit can be easily removed. Let it be removed.

  In the transfer material carrier of claim 3, the transfer method of claim 10, the transfer device of claim 17, or the image forming apparatus of claim 22 or 23, the transfer material carrier is extended until a crack is generated on the surface. By providing a coating layer on the surface of the transfer material carrier so that the elongation ratio at that time is 20% or less, the transfer material carrier and the cleaning material can be cleaned even when a cleaning means is brought into contact with the transfer material carrier. The frictional force with the means is suppressed to a predetermined value or less, and the cleaning means is prevented from being turned over.

  In the transfer material carrier of claim 4, the transfer method of claim 11, the transfer device of claim 18, or the image forming apparatus of claim 22 or 23, the transfer material carrier is stretched until cracks are generated. By providing a coating layer on the surface of the transfer material carrier so that the elongation rate when the transfer material carrier is used for carrying the transfer material is at least twice that of the transfer material carrier, When the body is used for carrying a transfer material, it is possible to reliably suppress the generation of cracks that fill the deposit and to easily remove the deposit.

  In the transfer material carrier of claim 5, the transfer method of claim 12, the transfer device of claim 19, or the image forming apparatus of claim 22 or 23, the surface carrying the transfer material is stretched until cracks are generated. The transfer material carrier is provided with a coating layer on the surface of the transfer material carrier so that the elongation rate when the transfer material carrier is used for carrying the transfer material is 5 times or less. Is used for carrying a transfer material, the frictional force between the transfer material carrier and the cleaning means is reliably suppressed to a predetermined value or less, and the cleaning means is prevented from turning over.

  In the transfer material carrier of claim 6, the transfer method of claim 13, the transfer device of claim 20, or the image forming apparatus of claim 22 or 23, the thickness of the coating layer of the transfer material carrier is 2 to 4 μm. By doing so, the occurrence of the cracks can be surely prevented without the coating layer being scraped to a predetermined level or less over time.

  In the transfer material carrier of claim 7, the transfer method of claim 14, the transfer device of claim 21, or the image forming apparatus of claim 22 or 23, ten points on the surface of the transfer material carrier that carries the transfer material. By setting the average roughness Rz to 4Z or less, it is possible to suppress the generation of cracks that fill the deposits and to easily remove the deposits.

  According to the first, eighth, fifteenth, twenty-second and twenty-third aspects of the present invention, the adhering material is prevented from being buried in the crack generated on the surface of the transfer material carrier, and the adhering material can be easily removed. There is an effect that it is possible to satisfactorily clean the deposits such as toner on the surface without coating, and to prevent the deposits such as toner on the surface from sticking.

  According to the inventions of claims 2, 9, 16, 22, and 23, the occurrence of cracks that fill the deposits can be suppressed and the deposits can be easily removed, so that the toner on the surface can be removed without applying a lubricant. As a result, the adhering material such as toner can be cleaned well and the adhering material such as toner can be prevented from adhering to the surface.

  According to the inventions of claims 3, 10, 17, 22 and 23, even when the cleaning means is brought into contact with the transfer material carrier, the frictional force between the transfer material carrier and the cleaning means is suppressed to a predetermined value or less. There is an effect that turning of the cleaning means can be prevented.

  According to the inventions of claims 4, 11, 18, 22 and 23, when the transfer material carrier is used for supporting the transfer material, it is possible to reliably suppress the occurrence of cracks such that the deposits are buried. As a result, it is possible to easily remove deposits such as toner on the surface without applying a lubricant and to prevent adhesion of deposits such as toner to the surface.

  According to the inventions of claims 5, 12, 19, 22, and 23, when the transfer material carrier is used for carrying the transfer material, the frictional force between the transfer material carrier and the cleaning means is reliably suppressed to a predetermined level or less. In addition, the cleaning means can be prevented from being turned over.

  According to the inventions of claims 6, 13, 20, 22 and 23, there is an effect that the generation of the crack can be surely prevented without the coating layer being scraped to a predetermined level or less over time.

  According to the inventions of claims 7, 14, 21, 22, and 23, the occurrence of cracks that fill the deposits can be suppressed and the deposits can be easily removed, so the toner on the surface without applying a lubricant. As a result, the adhering material such as toner can be cleaned well and the adhering material such as toner can be prevented from adhering to the surface.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
2 is a perspective view of a transfer apparatus using a transfer belt as a transfer material carrier according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the transfer apparatus, and FIG. 4 is an image formation using the transfer apparatus. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4 during a transfer operation.

  The transfer device of FIG. 2 supports the belt unit 2 so as to be detachable from the main body 1A. The belt unit 2 is a belt-like transfer wound around a driving roller 5 and a driven roller 4 as support members in order to transfer a developed image from a drum-like photoreceptor 3 as an image carrier shown in FIG. A transfer belt 6 as a material carrier, a DC solenoid 8 and a contact / separation lever 9 for contacting and separating the belt 6 with respect to the photoreceptor 3, and a transfer charge applying means for applying a transfer bias to the transfer belt 6 and applying a transfer charge. A bias roller 11, a contact plate 13 that neutralizes charges on the transfer belt 6, and a belt cleaning device 16. A high voltage power source 12 for applying a voltage to the bias roller 11 is provided in the main body 1A shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the driving roller 5 has a gear 5b connected to a driving motor (not shown) at one end thereof, and is driven to rotate.

The transfer belt 6 can be moved in the transport direction of the transfer sheet S as a transfer material (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4) at a position facing the photoreceptor 3 following the rotation of the driving roller 5. . As shown in FIG. 6, the transfer belt 6 has a two-layer structure of a base layer 6a and a coating layer 6b. When the electrical resistance measured by JISK6911 is DC 100V, the surface resistivity of the coating layer 6b. Is in the range of 1 × 10 ⁹ Ω to 1 × 10 ¹² Ω, the surface resistivity of the base layer 6a is 1 × 10 ⁷ Ω to 1 × 10 ⁹ Ω, and the volume resistivity is 5 × 10 ⁸ Ω · cm to 5 It is set in the range of × 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the driven roller 4 and the driving roller 5 are rotatably supported by a support body 7. The support 7 is swingable about the support shaft 5a of the drive roller 5 located downstream of the transfer position with respect to the photoconductor 3 in the transfer paper conveyance direction indicated by arrow A. The support 7 is operated by a DC solenoid 8 driven on the transfer position side of the transfer belt 6 by a signal from the control plate 8A. That is, the contact / separation lever 9 is connected to the DC solenoid 8, and the contact / separation lever 9 moves the support 7 to bring the transfer belt 6 into and out of contact with the photoreceptor 3.

  The control plate 8A is moved when the leading edge of the transfer sheet S conveyed in a state of being aligned with the leading edge position of the toner image formed on the photosensitive member 3 by the registration roller 10 serving as a paper conveying means approaches the photosensitive member 3. The DC solenoid 8 is driven by issuing a drive signal. Accordingly, the support 7 comes close to the photosensitive member 3 by driving the solenoid 8 and the transfer belt 6 contacts the photosensitive member 3, so that the transfer sheet S is placed at a position facing the photosensitive member 3. A transfer nip portion B that can be conveyed while being in contact with 3 is formed.

  Of the rollers 4 and 5, the roller 4 positioned on the photosensitive member 3 side is configured as a driven roller for the roller 5 on the driving side. As shown in FIG. 3, the surface shape of the driven roller 4 is such that both ends 4 a and 4 a are tapered in the axial direction to prevent the transfer belt 6 from being displaced. The driven roller 4 is a conductive roller made of metal or the like, but only supports the transfer belt 6 having the electrical resistance as described above, and is not electrically connected to other conductive members directly. The drive roller 5 is made of a material such as EPDM rubber, chloroplane rubber, or silicone rubber because of its function of increasing the gripping force against the transfer belt 6 during driving.

  The bias roller 11 is provided on the downstream side of the driven roller 4 in the moving direction of the transfer belt 6 (left side in FIGS. 4 and 5) so as to contact the inside of the transfer belt 6. The bias roller 11 constitutes a contact electrode for applying a charge having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner T on the photosensitive member 3 to the transfer belt 6, and is connected to a high voltage power source 12. In this embodiment, since the positive polarity toner T is used, the polarity of the transfer bias is negative.

  The contact plate 13 is disposed in contact with the inner surface of the belt near the driven roller 4 on the lower side of the transfer belt 6 that is not the transfer paper transport surface, and this injects charges into the transfer paper S on the upstream side of the transfer nip portion B described later. Is suppressed. The contact plate 13 is for detecting the current flowing on the transfer belt 6 as a feedback current, and the current supplied from the bias roller 11 is controlled by detecting this current. For this reason, a transfer control plate 14 for setting a supply current to the bias roller 11 in accordance with the detected current is connected to the contact plate 13, and the transfer control plate 14 is connected to the high-voltage power supply 12. .

  In such a transfer conveyance device 1, as shown in FIG. 5, a state is set in which the support 7 brings the transfer belt 6 closer to the photoreceptor 3 as the transfer sheet S is fed out from the registration roller 10. Then, a transfer nip B having a width of about 4 to 8 mm corresponding to the length along the transfer paper conveyance direction is formed between the photosensitive member 3 and the photosensitive member 3.

  On the other hand, the surface of the photoconductor 3 is charged to, for example, -800 V, and as shown in FIG. 7, the positively charged toner T is electrostatically adsorbed on the surface and moved to the transfer nip portion. To do. The photoreceptor 3 is disposed in the vicinity of the photoreceptor 3 before reaching the nip portion, and the surface potential is lowered by a pre-transfer charge eliminating lamp (PTL) 15 that weakens the charge on the surface of the photoreceptor 3. In FIG. 7, the height of the charged charge is represented by the size of a circle, and the state where the charged charge is reduced by the pre-transfer charge removal lamp 15 is smaller than the circle indicating the charge removal.

これは、温度、湿度等の環境条件の変化や転写ベルト６の製造品質に生じるバラツキに拘らず、転写紙Ｓ上での表面電位Ｖpを安定させることによって転写効率の変化を無くすようにするためである。つまり、転写ベルト６および転写紙Ｓを通して感光体３側に流れる電流をＩoutとして見立てることによって、転写紙Ｓ上での表面抵抗Ｖpの低抵抗化あるいは高抵抗化による転写ベルト６への電流の流れ易さの変化が転写紙Ｓの分離性能や転写性能に影響してしまうのを防止するようになっている。本実施例の場合、Ｉoutは、転写ベルトの搬送速度３３０ｍｍ／ｓｅｃ、有効バイアスローラ長３１０ｍｍにおいて、Ｉout＝３５μＡ±５μＡに設定した場合に良好な転写が得られた。 In the transfer nip B shown in FIG. 5, the toner T on the photoreceptor 3 is transferred onto the transfer sheet S by a transfer bias from the bias roller 11 located on the transfer belt 6 side. This transfer bias is applied from the high-voltage power supply 12 in the range of -1.5 kV to -6.5 kV, because the transfer bias is variably set as a result of constant voltage control described later. That is, in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the current value output from the high voltage power supply 12 and I _1, the value at the time of detection of the feedback current flowing through the ground side from the contact plate 13 via the transfer belt 6 and I ₂ In this case, the value of I ₁ is controlled so that the relationship of the following equation is obtained between them.

This is because the change in transfer efficiency is eliminated by stabilizing the surface potential Vp on the transfer paper S regardless of changes in environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity and variations in the manufacturing quality of the transfer belt 6. It is. In other words, the current flowing through the transfer belt 6 and the transfer sheet S toward the photoreceptor 3 is regarded as Iout, whereby the current flow to the transfer belt 6 due to the lower or higher resistance of the surface resistance Vp on the transfer sheet S. The change in ease is prevented from affecting the separation performance and transfer performance of the transfer paper S. In this example, when Iout was set to Iout = 35 μA ± 5 μA at a transfer belt conveyance speed of 330 mm / sec and an effective bias roller length of 310 mm, good transfer was obtained.

  By the way, when the transfer of the toner image from the photoreceptor 3 is performed, the transfer paper S is also charged at the same time. Therefore, the transfer paper S can be electrostatically adsorbed onto the transfer belt 6 and the transfer paper can be separated from the photoreceptor 3 by the relationship between the true charge of the transfer belt 6 and the polarization charge generated on the transfer paper S side. . This separation is facilitated by a peeling operation based on the strength of the waist of the transfer sheet S using the curvature separation of the photoreceptor 3. However, such electrostatic adsorption makes it difficult for the transfer paper to be separated because a current easily flows through the photosensitive member 3 when the humidity is high due to a change in environmental conditions. For this reason, since the resistance value at the coating layer 6b of the transfer belt 6 shown in FIG. 6 is set slightly higher, the transfer of the true charge to the transfer sheet S at the transfer nip B is delayed, The bias roller 11 is positioned downstream of the transfer nip portion B in the transfer paper transport direction. Thereby, the transfer of the true charge from the transfer belt 6 to the transfer sheet S is delayed, and the electrostatic attraction relationship between the transfer sheet S and the photoreceptor 3 is avoided.

  Delaying the transfer of the true charge used in this case means that no charge is generated on the transfer sheet S on the upstream side until the transfer sheet S reaches the transfer nip B on the photosensitive member 6 side. For this reason, the transfer paper S is prevented from being wound around the photoconductor 3, and the separation of the transfer paper S from the photoconductor 3 is also prevented from being poorly separated.

  Furthermore, it is better to select the transfer belt 6 with less resistance change due to environmental change. As a conductive material for controlling resistance, carbon, zinc oxide, etc. are added in an appropriate amount, and a rubber belt is used as the elastic belt. In such a case, it is desirable to select a material having low hygroscopicity and stable resistance, such as chloroprene rubber, EPDM rubber, silicone rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber and the like. Note that the value of the current Iout flowing to the photosensitive member 3 side is not unique, and can be reduced, for example, when the conveyance speed is low. If not used, it will be increased.

On the other hand, the transfer sheet S that has passed through the transfer nip B is conveyed along with the movement of the transfer belt 6 and is subjected to curvature separation by the drive roller 5. For this reason, the diameter of the drive roller 5 is set to 16 mm or less. Furthermore, in the case of using such a drive roller 5, the experimental results have been obtained that it is possible to separate fine 45K paper (stiffness transverse ^{21 [cm 3/100])} .

  The transfer sheet S separated from the transfer belt 6 by the driving roller 5 is guided by a guide plate and conveyed between a heating roller 17a and a pad roller 17b constituting the fixing unit 17. In the fixing unit 17, the toner on the transfer paper S is heated and melted and pressed onto the transfer paper S to fix the toner on the transfer paper S. When the transfer and separation of the toner image onto the transfer sheet S are completed, the contact / separation lever 9 is released in response to the excitation of the DC solenoid 8 being released, and the transfer belt 6 is separated from the support 7 or the photoreceptor 3. .

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cleaning device 16 includes a cleaning blade 16A as a cleaning unit. By sliding the transfer belt 6, the toner transferred from the photoconductor 3 and the transfer belt without being transferred are transferred. The toner adhering to the periphery of 6 and the paper powder of the transfer paper S are scraped off. The toner T and paper dust scraped off from the surface of the transfer belt 6 are accommodated in a waste toner collecting container (not shown) from the main body 1A by the collecting screw 16B.

  The transfer belt 6 rubbed by the cleaning blade 16A is a fluorine-based resin material which is a material having a low friction coefficient in order to prevent a phenomenon such as an increase in driving force due to an increase in the rubbing resistance or turning of the cleaning blade 16A. For example, a coating layer made of polyvinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, or the like is provided on the surface. Additives may be added to the fluorine-based resin material as necessary.

  In this embodiment, as shown in each of the following examples, the driven roller 4 and the driving roller 5 are provided with the following in order to improve the cleaning characteristics of the transfer belt 6 and prevent the toner from sticking to the transfer belt 6. In the stretched state, the surface of the transfer belt 6 is prevented from generating cracks having a predetermined width or more, the surface of the transfer belt 6 is prevented from cracking, or the transfer belt 6 has a surface roughness Rz (extensive). The coating layer 6b of the transfer belt 6 is provided so that the point average roughness) is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

[Example 1]
When a large crack is generated on the surface of the transfer belt 6, there is a possibility that an adhering substance such as toner on the transfer belt 6 is trapped and accumulated in the crack and is fixed to the place. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the transfer roller 4 and the driving roller 5 are stretched over the driven roller 4 for use in carrying the transfer paper, the width of the crack generated on the surface carrying the transfer paper is determined by the toner on the surface. The coating layer 6b having good elongation was provided so as to be equal to or less than the size of the deposit.

  FIG. 1 shows the experimental results of measuring the relationship between the cracks generated on the transfer belt 6 and the cleaning property using various transfer belts 6 when the average particle size of the toner is 7 to 9 μm in the transfer device. The horizontal axis in the figure is the width of a crack generated on the surface of the transfer belt 6 when stretched on the driven roller 4 and the drive roller 5, and is measured using an optical microscope. The vertical axis in the figure is the result of observing the cleaning performance of the transfer belt 6. Rank 3 is a result of good cleaning characteristics, Rank 2 is partially defective, and Rank 1 is poor cleaning (toner. Corresponds to the result of sticking). As can be seen from FIG. 1, when the width of a crack generated when stretched over the driven roller 4 and the driving roller 5 is 5 μm or less, which is smaller than the particle size of the toner, there is no toner sticking. Good cleaning characteristics were obtained.

[Example 2]
In this embodiment, the extension ratio of the transfer belt 6 (hereinafter referred to as “the extension ratio at the time of occurrence of a crack”) when it is extended until a crack occurs on the surface carrying the transfer paper is 8% or more. A coating layer 6b having good elongation was provided. Table 1 shows the results of an experiment in which various transfer belts 6 were used in the above-described transfer device and the relationship between the expansion rate at the time of crack occurrence and the presence / absence of toner adhesion was examined. “◯” in the column of “Cleanability” in Table 1 indicates that the toner fixation did not occur up to 240k sheets, “△” the result of a slight toner fixation observed, and “×” the toner fixation observed from the beginning. The results are shown. As can be seen from Table 1, good cleaning characteristics were obtained when the elongation at the time of crack occurrence was 8% or more, and no toner adhered to the transfer belt 6.

Example 3
In this embodiment, the expansion rate when the transfer belt 6 cracks is the expansion rate when the transfer belt 6 is stretched over the driven roller 4 and the driving roller 5 and used for carrying transfer paper (hereinafter referred to as “stretching during stretching”). The coating layer 6b was provided so as to be twice or more of “rate”. FIG. 8 shows the experimental results of measuring the relationship between the ratio of the two expansion ratios (extension ratio at the time of crack occurrence / extension ratio at the time of stretching) and the cleaning property of the surface of the transfer belt 6 in the transfer device. . The vertical axis in the figure is the result of observing the cleaning performance of the transfer belt 6. Rank 3 is a result of good cleaning characteristics, rank 2 is partially defective, and rank 1 is poorly cleaned (with toner sticking). ). From FIG. 8, considering deterioration over time such as deterioration at the contact portion with the cleaning blade 16A, it is not sufficient to simply use the transfer belt 6 having a high extension rate when the crack occurs. It was found that when the transfer belt 6 had a stretching rate at the time of crack generation of 2 times or more than the stretching rate at the time of stretching, good cleaning characteristics without toner sticking over time could be obtained.

Example 4
When a transfer belt with good elongation is used to suppress the occurrence of cracks as in Example 2 above, if a cleaning blade is used as a cleaning means for the transfer belt 6 as in this embodiment, the cleaning blade is turned (rolled). ) Is likely to occur. Therefore, in this embodiment, the coating layer 6b is provided so that the extension ratio when cracks occur in the transfer belt 6 is 20% or less. Table 2 shows the results of an experiment in which various transfer belts 6 were used in the transfer device and the relationship between the expansion rate when cracks occurred and whether or not the cleaning blades were turned up. “◯” in the column of presence / absence of turning in Table 2 indicates the result of no turning. As can be seen from Table 2, the cleaning blade was not turned up when the elongation at cracking was 20% or less.

Example 5
When a transfer belt with good elongation is used to suppress the occurrence of cracks as in Example 3 above, if a cleaning blade is used as a cleaning means for the transfer belt 6 as in this embodiment, the cleaning blade is turned up (rolled in). ) Is likely to occur. Therefore, in this embodiment, the coating layer 6b is provided so that the extension rate when the crack of the transfer belt 6 is generated is 5 times or less than the extension rate when the transfer belt 6 is stretched. FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the ratio of the two expansion ratios (extension ratio at the time of crack occurrence / extension ratio at the time of stretching) and turning up (convolution) of the cleaning blade, using various transfer belts 6 in the transfer device. The experimental results are shown. The vertical axis in the figure is the result of observing turning of the cleaning blade, and corresponds to the result of OK without turning and the result of NG turning over. As can be seen from FIG. 9, the transfer belt 6 was not turned up when the extension rate when the transfer belt 6 cracked was 5 times or less the extension rate when stretched.

Example 6
In this embodiment, the thickness of the coating layer 6b of the transfer belt 6 is set to 2 to 4 μm in the transfer device.
The thickness of the coating layer 6b of the transfer belt 6 is preferably 2 μm or more in consideration of displacement over time. FIG. 10 shows the experimental results of measuring the relationship between the thickness of the coating layer 6b of the transfer belt 6 and the stretch rate (%) when a crack occurs. From FIG. 10, if the thickness of the coating layer 6 b is smaller than 2 μm, the elongation rate at the time of occurrence of the crack exceeds 20%, and there is a risk that the cleaning blade is turned up. However, the thickness of the coating layer 6b is preferably 2 μm or more.

  11 and 12 respectively show the thickness of the coating layer 6b of the transfer belt 6 and the surface roughness of the belt 6 in the axial direction parallel to the axes of the rollers 4 and 5 and in the circumferential direction along the moving direction of the belt. The experimental results of measuring the relationship between the ten-point average roughness (Rz) and the cleaning characteristics of the transfer belt surface are shown. In the figure, the measurement point indicated by the symbol “」 ”indicates the result of defective cleaning, and the measurement point indicated by the symbol“ □ ”indicates a result of obtaining good cleaning characteristics. As can be seen from FIGS. 11 and 12, if the thickness of the coating layer 6 b is increased, cracks are likely to occur, and good cleaning characteristics cannot be obtained. Therefore, the thickness of the coating layer 6 b is 4 μm or less. There is a need.

  Also, from the experimental results shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, it can be seen that if the surface roughness (ten-point average roughness) Rz of the transfer belt 6 is 4Z or less, the surface of the transfer belt 6 can be cleaned well. It was. In particular, in order to secure good cleaning characteristics over time and good cleaning characteristics when a solid image is formed, the surface roughness (ten-point average roughness) Rz of the transfer belt 6 is set to 4Z or less. It will be necessary.

  Further, when the amount of wear of the edge of the cleaning blade 16A was measured in each of the above embodiments, when the transfer belt 6 having good cleaning characteristics was used, the amount of wear of the edge of the cleaning blade 16A was 0.5 to 5 μm. Thus, the life of the cleaning blade can be improved as compared with the conventional case. On the other hand, when using a transfer belt in which a crack that causes cleaning failure occurred, the wear amount of the edge of the cleaning blade 16A was 8 to 15 μm. By reducing the amount of wear on the edge of the cleaning blade 16A in this way, the life of the cleaning blade is improved, and it becomes possible to reduce the running cost of the entire transfer apparatus including the transfer conveyance system and the entire image forming apparatus. It was.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to clean the toner on the surface of the transfer belt 6 without applying a lubricant to the transfer belt 6 and to prevent the toner from adhering to the surface. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the charging failure of the photosensitive member and the backside contamination of the transfer paper due to the transfer belt cleaning failure, and it is possible to prevent the transfer paper from being jammed due to the toner adhering to the transfer belt surface.

  Further, according to this embodiment, the amount of wear of the cleaning blade that cleans the surface of the transfer belt 6 can be reduced, and the life of the cleaning blade can be improved.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, even if foreign matter such as paper dust generated from transfer paper or the like adheres to the surface of the transfer belt 6, it can be easily removed and cleaned by the cleaning blade. Since it is not necessary to provide a member such as a paper dust collecting mylar, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

The present invention can be applied without limitation to the configurations of the transfer apparatus and the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 except for the configuration of the surface of the transfer belt, and the same effect can be obtained. Is.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the bias roller 11 to which a transfer bias voltage is applied is used as the transfer charge applying unit. Instead, a transfer charger, a main material such as acrylic, nylon, polyester, or polypropylene is used as a main material such as carbon. You may use the brush member etc. which consist of the fiber etc. which blended the electrically conductive material.
Further, the transfer charge applying means may be installed either on the downstream side or the upstream side in the belt movement direction of the transfer nip portion or in the transfer nip portion.

  In the above embodiment, the case where a transfer belt having a two-layer structure is used has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a transfer belt having three or more layers is used.

  Further, the present invention can be applied without being limited to the developing method of toner charging polarity, photosensitive member charging polarity, reversal development and regular development.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where one bias roller as the transfer charge applying unit is provided has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to the case where a plurality of transfer charge applying units are provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the toner image is directly transferred from the photoreceptor 3 to the transfer paper carried on the transfer belt 6 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a latent image carrier such as a drum-like photoreceptor. A latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the surface, a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier with toner, an intermediate transfer belt as an image carrier on the toner image on the latent image carrier, etc. Also applicable to image forming apparatuses such as color printers and color copiers equipped with a transfer means for transferring to an intermediate transfer member and a transfer device for transferring a toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material on a transfer material carrier. It can be done.

6 is a graph showing experimental results obtained by measuring the relationship between cracks generated on the transfer belt 6 and cleaning properties in Example 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transfer device using a transfer belt according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the transfer device. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus using the transfer device. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram during a transfer operation of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4. Sectional drawing of the transfer belt used for the transfer apparatus. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a toner particle transfer operation in the transfer device. 10 is a graph showing experimental results obtained by measuring the relationship between the elongation ratio at the time of occurrence of cracks in the transfer belt in Example 2 / the elongation ratio at the time of stretching and the surface cleaning property. 10 is a graph showing the experimental results of measuring the relationship between the elongation ratio at the time of occurrence of cracks in the transfer belt in Example 3 / the elongation ratio at the time of stretching and the turning-up of the cleaning blade. 10 is a graph showing experimental results obtained by measuring the relationship between the thickness of the coating layer of the transfer belt in Example 4 and the elongation ratio when cracks occur. 10 is a graph showing experimental results obtained by measuring the relationship between the thickness of the coating layer of the transfer belt in Example 4, the surface roughness (ten-point average roughness) Rz of the belt in the axial direction, and the cleaning characteristics of the transfer belt surface. 6 is a graph showing experimental results of measuring the relationship between the thickness of the coating layer of the transfer belt in Example 1, the surface roughness (ten-point average roughness) Rz of the belt in the circumferential direction, and the cleaning characteristics of the transfer belt surface.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transfer apparatus 2 Belt unit 3 Photoconductor (image carrier)
4 driven roller 5 drive roller 6 transfer belt (transfer material carrier)
6a Base layer 6b Film layer 11 Bias roller 16 Belt cleaning device 16A Cleaning blade S Transfer paper (transfer material)

Claims (23)

A belt-shaped transfer material carrier that carries a transfer material onto which a toner image on the image carrier is transferred,
A coating layer is provided on the surface so that the width of cracks generated on the surface carrying the transfer material when used for carrying the transfer material is less than or equal to the size of the adhered matter adhering to the surface. A transfer material carrier. A belt-shaped transfer material carrier that carries a transfer material onto which a toner image on the image carrier is transferred,
A transfer material carrier comprising a coating layer provided on a surface of the transfer material carrying the surface so that an elongation rate is 8% or more when the surface is stretched until cracks are generated. The transfer material carrier according to claim 2,
A transfer material carrier provided with the above-mentioned coating layer so that the stretch rate when stretched until a crack occurs on the surface carrying the transfer material is 20% or less. A belt-shaped transfer material carrier that carries a transfer material onto which a toner image on the image carrier is transferred,
A coating layer is provided on the surface so that the stretch rate when the surface carrying the transfer material is stretched until cracks are generated is at least twice the stretch rate when used for carrying the transfer material. A transfer material carrier characterized by the above. In the transfer material carrier according to claim 4,
The coating layer was provided so that the stretch rate when the surface carrying the transfer material was stretched until cracks occurred was 5 times or less the stretch rate when used for carrying the transfer material. A transfer material carrier characterized by the above. The transfer material carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A transfer material carrier, wherein the coating layer has a thickness of 2 to 4 μm. A belt-shaped transfer material carrier that carries a transfer material onto which a toner image on the image carrier is transferred,
A transfer material carrier having a 10-point average roughness Rz of 4Z or less on the surface carrying the transfer material. By driving the transfer material carrier in one direction while bringing the transfer material carried on the belt-like transfer material carrier into contact with the image carrier, and applying transfer charges to the transfer material carrier, the image carrier A transfer method for transferring the toner image on the transfer material,
The transfer material carrier is coated on the surface so that the width of cracks generated on the surface carrying the transfer material when used for carrying the transfer material is equal to or less than the size of deposits adhering to the surface. A transfer method characterized by using a layer provided. By driving the transfer material carrier in one direction while bringing the transfer material carried on the belt-like transfer material carrier into contact with the image carrier, and applying transfer charges to the transfer material carrier, the image carrier A transfer method for transferring the toner image on the transfer material,
As the transfer material carrier, a material provided with a coating layer on the surface so that the elongation rate when the surface carrying the transfer material is stretched until cracks are generated is 8% or more. Characteristic transfer method. The transfer method according to claim 9.
As the transfer material carrier, a material provided with the above-mentioned coating layer is used so that the elongation ratio when stretched until a crack is generated on the surface carrying the transfer material is 20% or less. Transfer method. By driving the transfer material carrier in one direction while bringing the transfer material carried on the belt-like transfer material carrier into contact with the image carrier, and applying transfer charges to the transfer material carrier, the image carrier A transfer method for transferring the toner image on the transfer material,
As the transfer material carrier, the stretch rate when stretched until a crack is generated on the surface carrying the transfer material is at least twice the stretch rate when used for carrying the transfer material, A transfer method characterized in that a coating layer is provided on the surface. The transfer method according to claim 11.
As the transfer material carrier, the stretch rate when stretched until cracks occur on the surface carrying the transfer material is 5 times or less than the stretch rate when used for carrying the transfer material, A transfer method using the above-mentioned coating layer. The transfer method according to any one of claims 8 to 12.
A transfer method wherein the thickness of the coating layer is 2 to 4 μm. By driving the transfer material carrier in one direction while bringing the transfer material carried on the belt-like transfer material carrier into contact with the image carrier, and applying transfer charges to the transfer material carrier, the image carrier A transfer method for transferring the toner image on the transfer material,
A transfer method using the transfer material carrying member having a ten-point average roughness Rz of 4Z or less on the surface carrying the transfer material. A belt-like transfer material carrier which is driven in one direction while holding the transfer material between the image carrier, a transfer charge applying means for applying a transfer charge in contact with the transfer material carrier, and a transfer charge A transfer device that includes a power source for applying a transfer bias voltage to the applying unit, and transfers the toner image on the image carrier to the transfer material,
As the transfer material carrier, the width of a crack generated on the surface carrying the transfer material when the transfer material carrier is used for carrying the transfer material by stretching it on a support member is the amount of deposits adhering to the surface. A transfer apparatus having a surface provided with a coating layer so as to have a dimension or less. A belt-like transfer material carrier which is driven in one direction while holding the transfer material between the image carrier, a transfer charge applying means for applying a transfer charge in contact with the transfer material carrier, and a transfer charge A transfer device that includes a power source for applying a transfer bias voltage to the applying unit, and transfers the toner image on the image carrier to the transfer material,
As the transfer material carrier, a material provided with a coating layer on the surface so that the elongation rate when the surface carrying the transfer material is stretched until cracks are generated is 8% or more. Characteristic transfer device. The transfer device according to claim 16, wherein
As the transfer material carrier, a material provided with the above-mentioned coating layer is used so that the elongation ratio when stretched until a crack is generated on the surface carrying the transfer material is 20% or less. Transfer device. A belt-like transfer material carrier which is driven in one direction while holding the transfer material between the image carrier, a transfer charge applying means for applying a transfer charge in contact with the transfer material carrier, and a transfer charge A transfer device that includes a power source for applying a transfer bias voltage to the applying unit, and transfers the toner image on the image carrier to the transfer material,
When the transfer material carrier is used for carrying a transfer material, the transfer material carrier is stretched until a crack is generated on the surface carrying the transfer material until a crack is generated. A transfer device using a surface provided with a coating layer so as to be twice or more of the expansion rate. The transfer device of claim 18,
When the transfer material carrier is used to carry a transfer material by stretching it on a support member, the transfer material carrier is stretched until the surface carrying the transfer material is cracked. What is claimed is: 1. A transfer apparatus comprising: a coating layer provided so as to have an expansion rate of 5 times or less. The transfer device according to claim 15 to 19, wherein
A transfer apparatus wherein the thickness of the coating layer is 2 to 4 μm. A belt-like transfer material carrier which is driven in one direction while holding the transfer material between the image carrier, a transfer charge applying means for applying a transfer charge in contact with the transfer material carrier, and a transfer charge A transfer device that includes a power source for applying a transfer bias voltage to the applying unit, and transfers the toner image on the image carrier to the transfer material,
A transfer apparatus using the transfer material carrying member having a ten-point average roughness Rz of 4Z or less on the surface carrying the transfer material. A latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier as an image carrier, a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier with toner, and a toner image on the latent image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising a transfer device for transferring to a transfer material on a transfer material carrier,
An image forming apparatus using the transfer device according to claim 15 as the transfer device. A latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier, a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier with toner, and a toner image on the latent image carrier as an image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising: transfer means for transferring to an intermediate transfer member; and a transfer device for transferring a toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material on a transfer material carrier,
An image forming apparatus using the transfer device according to claim 15 as the transfer device.

Images