JP2014178605A - Endless belt driving device, endless belt manufacturing method, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endless belt driving device configured to prevent an endless belt from running on a roller when a seam part of a rib member is displaced in a belt width direction, an endless belt manufacturing method, and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: In a seam part of a regulation rib 100, an inside part and an outside part of a subsequent rib end 102 are cut off to locate an inner end B of the subsequent rib end 102 closer to the side edge (outside) of a belt body than an inner end A of a preceding rib end 101. Thus, an intermediate transfer belt 50 is prevented from running on a regulation collar 120 when the seam part of the regulation rib 100 is displaced in a belt width direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endless belt driving device, an endless belt manufacturing method, and an image forming apparatus.

  An intermediate transfer belt used in image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and multifunction machines is an endless belt. The endless belt is provided so as to be laid across a plurality of rollers, and may meander during the running or may run near one side (one side) in the belt width direction.

  Therefore, in the conventional endless belt driving device, the rib member is provided along the side edge inside the side end portion of the endless belt, while the end of at least one of the plurality of rollers around which the endless belt is stretched. A restricting member is disposed at the portion, and the endless belt is prevented from meandering and running away by cooperation of the restricting member and the rib member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-203781 A

  By the way, in constructing a mechanism for preventing the endless belt from meandering and shifting, one rib member is attached to the inner side of the endless belt. There is a part. And in a joint part, position shift will generate | occur | produce in a belt width direction between the one end part and other end part of a rib member on production. If this misalignment occurs in the direction in which the endless belt travels (advances) and is caught by the regulating member, the endless belt is likely to run on the roller starting from the joint.

  Here, the problem has been described by taking an example of a driving device for an intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus. However, the problem is not limited to the driving device for an intermediate transfer belt, but by cooperation of a regulating member and a rib member. This is a problem that can be said with respect to all endless belt driving devices having a mechanism for preventing meandering of the endless belt.

  The present invention relates to an endless belt driving device, an endless belt manufacturing method, and an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the endless belt from climbing onto a roller due to a positional shift in a belt width direction of a joint portion of a rib member. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, an endless belt driving device and an image forming apparatus of the present invention include:
A rotatable endless belt,
A rib member provided along the side edge of the belt body of the endless belt, and having a joint portion between both ends;
A plurality of rollers on which the endless belt is bridged;
A regulating member that is provided on at least one of the plurality of rollers and regulates the position in the width direction of the endless belt by cooperating with the rib member;
A drive unit for rotating the endless belt;
With
In the joint portion of the rib member, the inner end of the end portion of the trailing rib member in the traveling direction of the endless belt is the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member in the traveling direction of the endless belt. It is located on the side edge side of the belt main body.

  In the joint portion of the rib member, the inner end of the end portion of the succeeding rib member is positioned closer to the side edge side of the belt body than the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member, so that the endless belt travels. At this time, the inner end of the end portion of the rib member on the trailing side is not caught by the regulating member. Therefore, at the joint portion of the rib member, the endless belt is caused by the positional deviation in the belt width direction at both ends of the rib member (the end of the leading rib member / the end of the trailing rib member). I won't ride on Laura.

In addition, the method for producing the endless belt of the present invention includes:
A rib provided along the side edge of the belt main body so as to have a joint portion between both ends of the restriction member provided on at least one of the plurality of rollers and spanned by the plurality of rollers. A method of manufacturing an endless belt in which the position in the width direction of the belt body is regulated by cooperation with a member,
In the joint portion of the rib member, the inner end of the end portion of the trailing rib member in the traveling direction of the endless belt is the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member in the traveling direction of the endless belt. A step of attaching the rib member to the belt body so as to be positioned on the side edge side of the belt body,
Managing whether or not the inner end of the end portion of the trailing rib member is located within a predetermined range from the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member;
These processes are executed in order.

  At the joint portion of the rib member, the rib member is attached to the belt body so that the inner end of the end portion of the rib member on the trailing side is located on the side edge side of the belt body with respect to the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member. After pasting, it is possible to manage whether the inner end of the end portion of the succeeding rib member is located within a predetermined range from the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member. The deviation amount of the inner end of the end portion of the rib member on the row side from the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member can be set within a specified range.

  According to the present invention, in the joint portion of the rib member, the inner end of the end portion of the succeeding rib member is positioned closer to the side edge side of the belt body than the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the endless belt from riding on the roller due to the positional deviation in the belt width direction at both ends of the rib member.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an outline of a system configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram including the partial cross section which shows the outline of a meander prevention mechanism, (A) shows the meander prevention mechanism of a both-sides regulation system, (B) shows the meander prevention mechanism of a one-side regulation system. It is a block diagram including the partial cross section which shows the specific structure of the control part (control member) in a meandering prevention mechanism, (A) shows the structure 1 of the control part of a both-sides control system, (B) is a both-sides control. The system configuration 2 is shown. It is a figure for demonstrating the malfunction resulting from the position shift in the joint part of a control rib. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control rib which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control rib which concerns on Example 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a regulation rib according to a third embodiment. It is process drawing which shows the procedure of the manufacturing method of an intermediate transfer belt.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the following description and each drawing, the same elements or elements having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[Configuration example of image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an outline of a system configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a copying machine is taken as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment employs an electrophotographic system that forms an image using static electricity. Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C ) And black (K) four color toners. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a document conveying unit 10, a paper storage unit 20, an image reading unit 30, an image forming unit 40, an intermediate transfer belt 50, a secondary transfer unit 60, a fixing unit 70, and a control. And a substrate 80.

  The document transport unit 10 includes a document feed table 11 on which a document is set, a plurality of rollers 12, a transport drum 13, a transport guide 14, a document discharge roller 15, and a document discharge tray 16. The documents G set on the document feeder 11 are conveyed one by one to the reading position of the image reading unit 30 by the plurality of rollers 12 and the conveying drum 13. The conveyance guide 14 and the document discharge roller 15 discharge the document G conveyed by the plurality of rollers 12 and the conveyance drum 13 to the document discharge tray 16.

  The image reading unit 30 reads an image of the document G transported by the document transport unit 10 or the document placed on the document table 31 and generates image data. Specifically, the image of the original G is irradiated by the lamp L. The reflected light from the document G based on the light emitted from the lamp L is guided in the order of the first mirror unit 32, the second mirror unit 33, and the lens unit 34, and forms an image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 35. The image sensor 35 photoelectrically converts incident light and outputs a predetermined image signal. The output image signal is created as image data by A / D conversion.

  The image reading unit 30 has an image reading control unit 36. The image reading control unit 36 performs well-known image processing such as shading correction, dither processing, and compression on image data created by A / D conversion, and stores the image data in a RAM (not shown) mounted on the control board 80. To do. Note that the image data is not limited to data output from the image reading unit 30, and may be data received from an external device such as a personal computer connected to the image forming apparatus 1 or another image forming apparatus.

  The paper storage unit 20 is disposed in the lower part of the apparatus main body, and a plurality of paper storage units 20 are provided according to the size and type of the paper S. The sheet S is fed by the sheet feeding unit 21 and sent to the transport unit 23, and is transported by the transport unit 23 to the secondary transfer unit 60 that is a transfer position. Further, a manual feed portion 22 is provided in the vicinity of the paper storage portion 20. From the manual feed section 22, paper of a size not set in the paper storage section 20, tag paper having a tag, or special paper such as an OHP sheet set by the user is sent to the transfer position.

  An image forming unit 40 and an intermediate transfer belt 50 are disposed between the image reading unit 30 and the paper storage unit 20. The image forming unit 40 includes four image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K in order to form toner images of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). .

  The first image forming unit 40Y forms a yellow toner image, and the second image forming unit 40M forms a magenta toner image. The third image forming unit 40C forms a cyan toner image, and the fourth image forming unit 40K forms a black toner image. These four image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K have the same configuration. Therefore, here, the first image forming unit 40Y will be described.

  The first image forming unit 40Y includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 41, a charging unit 42 disposed around the photoconductor 41, an exposure unit 43, a developing unit 44, and a cleaning unit 45. . The photoconductor 41 rotates under driving by a drive motor (not shown). The charging unit 42 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 41 by applying a charge to the photoconductor 41. The exposure unit 43 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 41 by exposing the surface of the photoconductor 41 based on image data read from the document G or image data transmitted from an external device. To do.

  The developing unit 44 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 41 using a two-component developer composed of toner and carrier. The toner is particles that form an image. The carrier has a function of imparting an appropriate charge to the toner by frictional charging in mixing with the toner in the developing unit 44, a function of transporting the toner to the developing area facing the photoconductor 41, and an electrostatic on the photoconductor 41. It has a function of forming a developing electric field so that the toner can be faithfully developed on the latent image. The developing unit 44 attaches yellow toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 41. As a result, a yellow toner image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 41.

  The developing unit 44 of the second image forming unit 40M attaches magenta toner to the photoconductor 41, and the developing unit 44 of the third image forming unit 40C attaches cyan toner to the photoconductor 41. Then, the developing unit 44 of the fourth image forming unit 40K adheres black toner to the photoconductor 41.

  The cleaning unit 45 removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 41.

  The toner attached on the photoreceptor 41 is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 50 that is an example of an intermediate transfer member. The intermediate transfer belt 50 is formed in an endless shape and is stretched around a plurality of rollers. The intermediate transfer belt 50 rotates (runs) in a direction opposite to the rotation (movement) direction of the photoconductor 41 under the drive of a drive motor (not shown).

  A primary transfer portion 51 is provided at a position on the intermediate transfer belt 50 that faces the photoreceptor 41 of each of the image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K. The primary transfer unit 51 transfers the toner attached on the photoreceptor 41 to the intermediate transfer belt 50 by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner to the intermediate transfer belt 50.

  As the intermediate transfer belt 50 rotates, the toner images formed by the four image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K are sequentially transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 50. Thus, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 50 by overlapping toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

  A belt cleaning device 53 faces the intermediate transfer belt 50. The belt cleaning device 53 cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 50 that has finished transferring the toner image onto the paper S.

  A secondary transfer unit 60 is disposed in the vicinity of the intermediate transfer belt 50 and downstream of the transport unit 23 in the paper transport direction. The secondary transfer unit 60 transfers the toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 50 to the sheet S by bringing the sheet S conveyed by the conveyance unit 23 into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 50.

  The secondary transfer unit 60 has a secondary transfer roller 61. The secondary transfer roller 61 is pressed against the counter roller 52 via the intermediate transfer belt 50. A portion where the secondary transfer roller 61 and the intermediate transfer belt 50 come into contact becomes a secondary transfer nip portion 62. The position of the secondary transfer nip portion 62 is a transfer position at which the toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 50 is transferred to the paper S.

  A fixing unit 70 is provided on the discharge side of the sheet S in the secondary transfer unit 60. The fixing unit 70 pressurizes and heats the paper S to fix the transferred toner image on the paper S. The fixing unit 70 includes, for example, a fixing upper roller 71 and a fixing lower roller 72 that are a pair of fixing members. The upper fixing roller 71 and the lower fixing roller 72 are arranged in pressure contact with each other, and a fixing nip portion is formed at the pressure contact portion between the upper fixing roller 71 and the lower fixing roller 72.

  A heating unit is provided inside the fixing upper roller 71. The roller portion of the fixing upper roller 71 is warmed by the radiant heat from the heating portion. Then, the heat of the roller portion of the fixing upper roller 71 is transmitted to the paper S, whereby the toner image on the paper S is fixed.

  The sheet S is conveyed so that the surface (fixed target surface) onto which the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer unit 60 faces the fixing upper roller 71 and passes through the fixing nip portion. Accordingly, the sheet S that passes through the fixing nip portion is pressed by the upper fixing roller 71 and the lower fixing roller 72 and heated by the heat of the roller portion of the upper fixing roller 71.

  A switching gate 24 is disposed downstream of the fixing unit 70 in the conveyance direction of the paper S. The switching gate 24 switches the transport path of the paper S that has passed through the fixing unit 70. That is, the switching gate 24 moves the paper S straight when performing face-up paper discharge in image formation on one side of the paper S. As a result, the paper S is discharged by the pair of paper discharge rollers 25. The switching gate 24 guides the paper S downward when performing face-down paper discharge in image formation on one side of the paper S and when performing image formation on both sides of the paper S.

  When face-down paper discharge is performed, the paper S is guided downward by the switching gate 24, and then the front and back of the paper S is reversed and transported upward by the paper reversal transport unit 26. As a result, the paper S whose front and back are reversed is discharged by the pair of paper discharge rollers 25. When image formation is performed on both sides of the paper S, the paper S is guided downward by the switching gate 24, and then the front and back of the paper S are reversed by the paper reversing conveyance unit 26. Then, the sheet S with the front and back reversed is sent again to the transfer position by the refeed path 27.

  A post-processing device that folds the paper S or performs stapling processing or the like on the paper S may be disposed on the downstream side of the pair of paper discharge rollers 25.

[Drive device for intermediate transfer belt]
Next, a driving device for the intermediate transfer belt 50 in the image forming apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described. The driving device for the intermediate transfer belt 50 is an example of a driving device for an endless belt according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the endless intermediate transfer belt 50 is stretched (strung) in a state where tension is applied to a plurality of rollers. The intermediate transfer belt 50 may meander while traveling, or may travel near one side (one side) in the belt width direction. For this reason, the drive device that is the drive unit of the intermediate transfer belt 50 is provided with a mechanism that prevents the intermediate transfer belt 50 from meandering and shifting (hereinafter referred to as “meandering prevention mechanism”).

  This meandering prevention mechanism uses a both-side regulating system that regulates the position in the belt width direction at both end portions of the intermediate transfer belt 50 and a position in the belt width direction at one side end portion of the intermediate transfer belt 50. There is a one-side regulation type. Which regulation type meandering prevention mechanism is adopted is arbitrary. That is, it can be arbitrarily selected according to the scale and grade of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The outline of these two regulation type meandering prevention mechanisms will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, (A) shows a meandering prevention mechanism of a both-side regulation type, and (B) shows a meandering prevention mechanism of a one-side regulation type.

<Both sides regulation method>
As shown in FIG. 2A, the both-side regulation type meandering prevention mechanism is a rib member (hereinafter referred to as “regulation rib”) provided along the side edge of the belt main body inside the both side ends of the intermediate transfer belt 50. 100A and 100B, and restriction members (hereinafter, referred to as “regulation collars”) 120A and 120B disposed at both ends of the driven roller 110.

  The regulation ribs 100A and 100B are made of a rib member formed in a rod shape having a certain width (for example, about 5 mm) by a deformable material such as urethane rubber, and one rib member is belted inside the intermediate transfer belt 50. It is comprised by affixing with an adhesive etc. along the side edge of a main body. The regulation ribs 100A and 100B are attached to the intermediate transfer belt 50 by using, for example, a dedicated jig.

  The driven roller 110 is one of a plurality of rollers that stretch the intermediate transfer belt 50. The driven roller 110 and the restriction collars 120A and 120B are rotatably supported by a shaft 150 (see FIG. 3). The regulation collars 120 </ b> A and 120 </ b> B are formed so that the outer diameter thereof is smaller than the outer diameter of the driven roller 110 so as not to directly contact the intermediate transfer belt 50.

  This both-side regulation type meandering prevention mechanism regulates the position of the intermediate transfer belt 50 in the belt width direction in cooperation with the regulation ribs 100A and 100B and the regulation collars 120A and 120B. Prevent meandering and offset travel. More specifically, in the regulation collars 120A and 120B, the surfaces that come into contact with the regulation ribs 100A and 100B are tapered surfaces whose outer diameter increases toward the driven roller 110 side. When the intermediate transfer belt 50 is running, the inner edge ends of the regulation ribs 100A and 100B come into contact with the tapered surfaces of the regulation collars 120A and 120B, so that the position of the intermediate transfer belt 50 in the belt width direction is regulated.

  Here, when regulating the position of the intermediate transfer belt 50 in the belt width direction, the inner edge of the regulation ribs 100A and 100B rides on the tapered surfaces of the regulation ribs 100A and 100B, so that the end of the intermediate transfer belt 50 is bent. There is. Therefore, for the purpose of reinforcing the end portion of the intermediate transfer belt 50, the reinforcing members 130A, such as PET seals, are provided on the opposite sides of the intermediate transfer belt 50 on the opposite sides from the positions where the regulation ribs 100A, 100B are provided. 130B is pasted.

<One side regulation method>
As shown in FIG. 2 (B), the meandering prevention mechanism of the one-side regulation type includes a regulation rib 100 provided along the side edge of the belt main body on the inner side of one side of the intermediate transfer belt 50, and a driven roller. 110 is provided with a regulation collar 120 having a drum-like shape, which is disposed at one end of 110.

  This one-side regulation type meandering prevention mechanism regulates the position of the intermediate transfer belt 50 in the belt width direction in cooperation with the drum-like regulation collar 120 and the regulation rib 100, thereby meandering the intermediate transfer belt 50. And prevent sideways travel. More specifically, the restriction collar 120 has two tapered surfaces, a tapered surface whose outer diameter increases toward the driven roller 110 and a tapered surface whose outer diameter increases toward the opposite side of the driven roller 110. It has a drum shape. When the intermediate transfer belt 50 is running, the outer edge or inner edge of the restriction rib 100 abuts one of the two tapered surfaces of the restriction collar 120, thereby restricting the position of the intermediate transfer belt 50 in the belt width direction. Done.

  As in the case of the both-side regulation type meandering prevention mechanism, for the purpose of reinforcing the end of the intermediate transfer belt 50, the regulation rib 100 is provided at the side end of the intermediate transfer belt 50 on the regulation rib 100 side. A reinforcing material 130A such as a PET seal is affixed to the side opposite to the position, and a reinforcing material 140A is affixed on the reinforcing material 130A for the purpose of further reinforcement. Reinforcing materials 130B and 140B are provided on the side end portion of the intermediate transfer belt 50 opposite to the regulating rib 100 as necessary.

<Specific configuration of the regulatory department>
Next, a specific configuration of the restriction portion (regulation member) in the meandering prevention mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, (A) shows the configuration 1 of the regulation part of the both-side regulation system, and (B) shows the configuration 2 of the both-side regulation system. Here, although the restriction part of the both-side restriction method is taken as an example, the restriction part of the one-side restriction method is basically the same as the restriction part of the both-side restriction method.

  The restriction portion according to Configuration 1 shown in FIG. 3A and the restriction portion according to Configuration 2 shown in FIG. 3B are basically between the restriction collar 120A (120B) and the driven roller 110. The difference is whether or not the spacer 160 which is a slip agent is interposed. That is, in the restricting portion according to Configuration 1, the spacer 160 is interposed between the restricting collar 120A and the driven roller 110, and in the restricting portion according to Configuration 2, the spacer 160 is interposed between the restricting collar 120A and the driven roller 110. It has a configuration that does not.

  Compared with the restriction portion according to Configuration 2 in which the spacer 160 is not interposed, the restriction portion according to Configuration 1 in which the spacer 160 is interposed has an advantage that the driven roller 110 and the restriction collar 120A (120B) can rotate more independently. There is. Which restriction part is adopted is arbitrary. That is, it can be arbitrarily selected according to the scale and grade of the image forming apparatus 1.

<Composition of joint part of regulation rib>
By the way, with respect to the regulation rib 100 (100A, 100B), since one rib member is affixed to the inside of the intermediate transfer belt 50, the joint portion where the rib member does not exist is necessarily formed on the regulation rib 100. Exists. In addition, for example, a single rib member is attached along the side edge of the belt using a dedicated jig. However, variations in the attachment position (position shift) in the belt width direction are unavoidable. Then, a displacement occurs between one end and the other end of the joint portion of the restriction rib 100, and the displacement is a restriction collar 120 (120A, 120B) with respect to the travel (advance) of the intermediate transfer belt 50. If this occurs, the intermediate transfer belt 50 is likely to run on the driven roller 110 starting from the joint portion.

  The boarding of the restriction collar 120 will be described in detail below. At the joint portion of the regulating rib 100, one end portion located on the downstream side in the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 50 is the leading rib end portion 101, and the other end portion located on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 50. The trailing rib end 102 is used. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 is positioned more inwardly of the belt body (the direction of hooking) than the inner end A of the leading rib end 101. When the intermediate transfer belt 50 is running, the intermediate transfer belt 50 rides on the restriction collar 120 from the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102, and finally the intermediate transfer belt 50 rides on the driven roller 110. Things may happen.

  In order to prevent such a situation from occurring, that is, to prevent the intermediate transfer belt 50 from climbing onto the restriction collar 120 and consequently the driven roller 110 due to the positional deviation of the joint portion of the restriction rib 100 in the belt width direction. In the embodiment, the following configuration is adopted. In other words, in the present embodiment, the inner end B of the end portion (hereinafter referred to as “rib end portion”) 102 of the trailing rib 100 is more than the inner end A of the preceding rib end portion 102. The structure located in the side edge side of a belt main body is taken.

  In this way, in the joint portion of the regulating rib 100, the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 is located on the side edge side of the belt body with respect to the inner end A of the leading rib end 101, When the intermediate transfer belt 50 travels, the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 is not caught by the restriction collar 120. Therefore, at the joint portion of the regulation rib 100, the intermediate transfer belt 50 is caused by a positional deviation in the belt width direction of both ends of the regulation rib 100 (the leading rib end 101 / the trailing rib end 102). It is possible to avoid (prevent) riding on the driven roller 110.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present embodiment will be described.

Example 1
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the regulating rib according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the regulation rib 100 according to the first embodiment has a configuration in which both sides of the rib end portion 102 on the trailing side in the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 50 are notched. More specifically, in the joint portion of the regulating rib 100, the inner portion and the outer portion of the trailing rib end 102 are preferably symmetric with respect to the center line O of the regulating rib 100 in the belt width direction. It is a missing configuration. As a result, the width of the trailing rib end 102 becomes narrower than the width of the leading rib end 101 at the joint portion of the regulating rib 100. Further, the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 is positioned on the side edge side (outer side) of the belt body with respect to the inner end A of the leading rib end 101.

  By the way, in attaching the regulating rib 100 to the intermediate transfer belt 50, as described above, the variation in the attaching position in the belt width direction (displacement) is unavoidable. An allowable range of ± α (for example, about ± 0.5 mm) is set. Here, + α represents the amount of deviation in the belt inner direction from the specified attachment position, and −α represents the amount of deviation in the belt outer direction. The permissible range ± α of the misregistration is set corresponding to a range where the misregistration of the image between the colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is permissible. Here, the “specified sticking position” refers to the position of the regulating rib 100 with the center line O as the center in the belt width direction in FIG.

  Here, with respect to the position in the belt width direction of the inner end B of the rib end portion 102 on the trailing side, α is greater than or equal to α with respect to the inner end A of the rib end portion 101 on the leading side within an allowable range of displacement ± α. It is preferable to set the position shifted in the belt outer direction by the amount of. As a result, when the regulating rib 100 is attached to the intermediate transfer belt 50, even if the trailing rib end 102 is shifted in the belt inward direction from the prescribed attaching position by + α, the trailing rib end The inner end B of 102 is not positioned closer to the center side (inner side) of the belt body than the inner end A of the leading rib end 101.

  In this way, the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 is positioned closer to the side edge of the belt body than the inner end A of the leading rib end 101, so that at the joint portion of the regulating rib 100. It is possible to avoid the intermediate transfer belt 50 from riding on the driven roller 110 due to the positional deviation in the belt width direction. Further, since the width of the trailing rib end 102 is narrower than the width of the leading rib end 101, the positional deviation of the trailing rib end 102 with respect to the leading rib end 101 is allowed. Since the range is widened, it is possible to contribute to improvement in workability when one rib member is attached to the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 50.

(Example 2)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the regulating rib according to the second embodiment. The restriction rib 100 according to the first embodiment has a configuration in which both sides of the trailing rib end portion 102 are notched. In contrast, the regulation rib 100 according to the second embodiment has a configuration in which only one side of the rib end portion 102 on the trailing side in the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 50 is cut away.

  More specifically, the restriction rib 100 according to the second embodiment has a configuration in which the inner side portion of the trailing rib end portion 102 is omitted at the joint portion of the restriction rib 100. As a result, the width of the trailing rib end 102 becomes narrower than the width of the leading rib end 101 at the joint portion of the regulating rib 100. Further, the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 is positioned on the side edge side (outer side) of the belt body with respect to the inner end A of the leading rib end 101.

  The position of the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 in the belt width direction is the same as that of the regulating rib 100 according to the first embodiment. In other words, within the allowable range ± α of the positional deviation of the regulating rib 100, the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 is an amount equal to or greater than α with respect to the inner end A of the leading rib end 101. It is preferable to set the position shifted in the outward direction.

  In the case of the regulating rib 100 according to the second embodiment, the same operation and effect as in the case of the regulating rib 100 according to the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, in the case of the regulating rib 100 according to the second embodiment, the contact area of the trailing rib end 102 with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 50 is larger than that of the regulating rib 100 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, there is also an advantage that it is possible to increase the bonding strength (adhesion strength) of the rib end portion 102 on the trailing side with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 50.

(Example 3)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the regulating rib according to the third embodiment. The regulating rib 100 according to the first and second embodiments has a configuration in which the trailing rib end portion 102 in the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 50 is notched. In contrast, the restriction rib 100 according to the third embodiment has a configuration in which the trailing rib end 102 is not cut out, that is, the trailing rib end 102 has the same shape as the leading rib end 101. It becomes the composition which became.

  In the regulation rib 100 according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the trailing rib end 102 is attached to the leading rib end 101 at the joint portion of the regulation rib 100. The position is positively shifted to the side edge side (outside) of the belt body in the belt width direction.

  In shifting the attaching position of the trailing rib end 102, the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 is within the allowable range α of positional displacement of the regulating rib 100, and the leading rib end 102 It is preferable to set the position shifted from the inner end A of the belt 101 toward the outside of the belt body by an amount exceeding α. Thus, when the regulating rib 100 is affixed to the intermediate transfer belt 50, even if the trailing rib end 102 is shifted from the specified affixing position by α to the inner side of the belt body, the trailing rib end The inner end B of the portion 102 is not positioned closer to the center side (inner side) of the belt body than the inner end A of the leading rib end portion 101.

For example, when the allowable range α of the positional deviation of the regulating rib 100 is 0.5 mm, the deviation amount of the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 with respect to the inner end A of the leading rib end 101 is set as follows: For example, it is desirable to set the thickness to about 0.6 to 1.0 mm, preferably about 0.6 to 0.7 mm.
As a result, even if the joint portion of the regulating rib 100 is shifted inwardly by the maximum value 0.5 mm of the allowable range α, the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 is moved to the leading side. It is located outside the belt main body from the inner end A of the rib end portion 101. As a result, it is possible to avoid the intermediate transfer belt 50 from riding on the driven roller 110 due to a positional deviation in the belt width direction at the joint portion of the regulating rib 100.

  Further, in the case of the regulating rib 100 according to the third embodiment, the trailing rib end 102 is not cut out, so that the rear side of the intermediate transfer belt 50 is compared with the case of the regulating rib 100 according to the first and second embodiments. The contact area of the rib end portion 102 on the row side can be increased. Accordingly, there is also an advantage that the rib end portion 102 on the trailing side with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 50 can be attached and the strength (adhesion strength) can be increased.

[Method of manufacturing intermediate transfer belt]
Next, a method for manufacturing the intermediate transfer belt 50, which is an example of a method for manufacturing an endless belt according to the present invention, will be described with reference to the process diagram of FIG.

  First, an endless intermediate transfer belt 50 is formed by forming a belt body having a predetermined width and length into a ring shape (S1). Next, the regulation rib 100 (100A, 100B) is attached to the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 50 by an adhesive or the like along the side edge of the belt body using a dedicated jig, for example (S2). When the regulation rib 100 is attached, the regulation rib 100 according to the first and second embodiments has a shape in which the rib end portion 102 on the trailing side is cut out. In the regulation rib 100, the pasting is performed in a state where the pasting side rib end 102 is pasted to the outer side of the belt with respect to the leading rib end 101.

When the regulation rib 100 is affixed, the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 in the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 50 is within a predetermined range from the inner end A of the leading rib end 101. (S3). In the case of the regulating rib 100 according to the first and second embodiments, this management is performed by determining whether or not the positional deviation of the regulating rib 100 in the belt width direction is within the allowable range ± α. Further, in the case of the regulating rib 100 according to the third embodiment, in addition to the above determination, the inner end B of the trailing rib end 102 is within a predetermined range from the inner end A of the preceding rib end 101. A determination is also made as to whether it is located within. The processing in step S3 can be performed on all the intermediate transfer belts 50 to be manufactured, for example, or can be performed on a lot basis.

  By executing the processes in the above steps in sequence, the intermediate transfer belt 50 that can prevent the riding on the driven roller 110 due to the positional deviation of the joint portion of the regulating rib 100 in the belt width direction can be manufactured. In other words, according to the intermediate transfer belt 50 having the regulating rib 100 manufactured by the present manufacturing method, meandering and offset running are prevented by the cooperation of the regulating rib 100 and the regulating collar 120, and the regulating rib. Riding on the driven roller 110 due to the positional deviation in the belt width direction of the joint portion of 100 is more reliably prevented.

  In the above embodiment, the drive device for the intermediate transfer belt used in the image forming apparatus is described as an example of the drive device for the endless belt. However, the present invention is limited to the drive device for the intermediate transfer belt. It is not something that can be done. That is, the present invention provides a drive device for an endless belt other than the intermediate transfer belt used in the image forming apparatus, and further a meandering prevention mechanism for preventing meandering of the endless belt by the cooperation of the regulating member and the rib member. The present invention can be applied to all endless belt driving devices provided.

  Further, as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, a mechanism for preventing meandering of a belt by cooperating with a regulating member and a rib member such as a copying machine, a printer device, a facsimile device, a printing machine, a multifunction machine, etc. An image forming apparatus in general having an endless belt driving device comprising: The present invention is also applicable to a so-called production printing machine in which a paper feeding unit is provided as a separate unit and can form an image at high speed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 10 ... Document conveyance part, 20 ... Paper storage part, 30 ... Image reading part, 40 ... Image forming part, 50 ... Intermediate transfer belt, 51 ... Primary transfer part, 60 ... Secondary transfer part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 70 ... Fixing part, 80 ... Control board, 100, 100A, 100B ... Restriction rib, 101 ... Leading rib edge part, 102 ... The other end part is a rib edge part on the back side, 110 ... Driven roller, 120, 120A , 120B ... regulated color

Claims (6)

A rotatable endless belt,
A rib member provided along the side edge of the belt body of the endless belt, and having a joint portion between both ends;
A plurality of rollers on which the endless belt is bridged;
A regulating member that is provided on at least one of the plurality of rollers and regulates the position in the width direction of the endless belt by cooperating with the rib member;
A drive unit for rotating the endless belt;
With
In the joint portion of the rib member, the inner end of the end portion of the trailing rib member in the traveling direction of the endless belt is the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member in the traveling direction of the endless belt. An endless belt drive device, wherein the endless belt drive device is located closer to the side edge of the belt body. 2. The drive device for an endless belt according to claim 1, wherein a width of an end portion of the trailing rib member is narrower than a width of an end portion of the leading rib member. 3. The drive device for an endless belt according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the regulating member that contacts the rib member is a tapered surface. 4. A rib provided along the side edge of the belt main body so as to have a joint portion between both ends of the restriction member provided on at least one of the plurality of rollers and spanned by the plurality of rollers. A method of manufacturing an endless belt in which the position in the width direction of the belt body is regulated by cooperation with a member,
In the joint portion of the rib member, the inner end of the end portion of the trailing rib member in the traveling direction of the endless belt is the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member in the traveling direction of the endless belt. A step of attaching the rib member to the belt body so as to be positioned on the side edge side of the belt body,
Managing whether or not the inner end of the end portion of the trailing rib member is located within a predetermined range from the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member;
A process for producing an endless belt, wherein the processes are sequentially performed. A rotatable endless belt,
A rib member provided along the side edge of the belt body of the endless belt, and having a joint portion between both ends;
A plurality of rollers on which the endless belt is bridged;
A regulating member that is provided on at least one of the plurality of rollers and regulates the position in the width direction of the endless belt by cooperating with the rib member;
An image forming unit for forming a toner image to be transferred to the endless belt;
With
In the joint portion of the rib member, the inner end of the end portion of the trailing rib member in the traveling direction of the endless belt is the inner end of the end portion of the preceding rib member in the traveling direction of the endless belt. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is located on a side edge side of the belt main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the endless belt is an intermediate transfer belt.

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