JP3079764B2 - Intermediate transfer belt - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of an intermediate transfer belt of a multicolor electrophotographic recording apparatus used in a color printer, a color facsimile, a color copier, and the like.

As is well known, an electrophotographic recording apparatus includes an image forming process and a recording paper transporting process. The image forming process includes an electrostatic latent image forming process, an electrostatic latent image developing process, a transfer process, An anchoring process is included.

In the process of forming an electrostatic latent image, an image is optically projected on a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt.
Alternatively, an electrostatic latent image is formed by applying a charge on the dielectric drum.

In the electrostatic latent image developing process, the electrostatic latent image is developed by electrostatically attaching toner as a recording medium to the thus formed electrostatic latent image. The toner used for development is transferred to recording paper in a transfer process, and the transferred toner is fixed on the recording paper in a fixing process.

In a multi-color electrophotographic recording apparatus which performs multi-color recording using a color toner, a single or a plurality of photoconductors are provided, a color toner image is formed on the photoconductor, and then these color toners are formed. An image is formed by sequentially transferring images to an intermediate transfer belt so that all color toner images are superimposed and formed on the intermediate transfer belt, and then transferring all color toner images onto recording paper at once. Used.

[0006]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in an explanatory view of FIG. 2, a multicolor electrophotographic recording apparatus includes a single image bearing member (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) 1 such as a photosensitive drum or the like, and a charger 3 and an optical system. Vessel 4,
Y (yellow) developing device 5a, M (magenta) developing device 5
b, a C (cyan) developing unit 5c, a BK (black) developing unit 5d, and a cleaner 6, and an electrostatic latent image of each color is sequentially formed on the image carrier 1 uniformly charged by the charger 3 by the exposure unit 4. Are formed, and toner of each color is adhered to the electrostatic latent image by the developing devices 5a to 5d, and is sequentially developed.

The developed toner image is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 2 by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner to the primary transfer roller 7 at a contact point with the intermediate transfer belt 2.

[0008] The toner on the photosensitive drum 1 that has not been transferred is removed by the cleaner 6 and returns to the original process position. This process is repeated for four colors, and all the necessary toner images are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 2, and the backup roller 13 presses the intermediate transfer belt 2 to contact the recording paper 100, and the recording paper 100 When the back surface of the sheet contacts the secondary transfer roller 8 to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied, the secondary transfer is performed on the recording paper 100.

The recording paper 100 on which the secondary transfer has been performed is conveyed to a fixing device 9 where a toner image is fixed. Further, the toner remaining without the secondary transfer is removed by the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 10 which is in contact with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 2 to prepare for the next.

As described above, in the multicolor electrophotographic recording apparatus, a color toner image is formed by superimposing toner images of different colors on the intermediate transfer belt 2 once, and then transferring to the recording paper 100 at a time to output a color image. doing.

The intermediate transfer belt 2 has a thickness of about 100 μm to 200 μm in which a conductive material such as carbon black is kneaded with a hard material such as polycarbonate or polyimide which is hard to stretch and has a hardness of about Rockwell 80. Was selected as the base resin, and had a volume resistivity of 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹² Ω · cm which did not require static elimination in order to perform stable transfer.

In the figure, reference numerals 11a, 11b and 11c denote intermediate transfer belts 2
Is a stretching roller that is rotatably stretched to a predetermined position.
Is a roller for rotating the intermediate transfer belt 2 by a driving roller. Further, the secondary transfer roller 8 and the intermediate transfer belt cleaner
Reference numeral 10 denotes an approach escape operation for the intermediate transfer belt 2.

As described above, the intermediate transfer belt 2 is stretched by the stretching rollers 11a to 11c and the backup roller 13 and receives a pulling force. However, such a resin of the intermediate transfer belt 2 has a disadvantage that it is easily broken and easily scraped.

In the case of a recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate transfer belt 2 must rotate three to six times to output one color image. For this reason, the intermediate transfer belt 2 includes
A considerable stress is applied, and cracks are likely to occur particularly at the end of the intermediate transfer belt 2, and there is a problem that the intermediate transfer belt 2 is broken from the cracked portion.

As a countermeasure, as shown in the front view of FIG.
A reinforcing tape 14 of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate or the like having a shear strength higher than that of the intermediate transfer belt 2 of about ² mm / mm ² was applied to prevent cracks.

On the reinforcing tape 14, rebound resilience 30-50 for engaging with the step 15 of the supporting rollers 11a-11c for stretching the intermediate transfer belt 2 to prevent the intermediate transfer belt 2 from meandering.
A meandering prevention belt 16 formed in a bank shape using, for example, silicone rubber as a material.

[0017]

When the reinforcing tape 14 is stuck, a boundary 14a between a reinforcing portion due to the reinforcing tape at both ends of the intermediate transfer belt 2 and a non-reinforcing portion without the reinforcing tape.
(The area shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3)
There is a problem that cracks occur at an output of about 100 to 10,000 sheets.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the stress on the intermediate transfer belt, suppress scraping and cracks at the ends, and extend the life of the intermediate transfer belt 2.

[0019]

According to the present invention, FIG.
As shown in the front view, the intermediate transfer belt 2 has reinforcing tapes 14 adhered along the entire length on both sides thereof, and engages with the step portions 15 of the support rollers 11d to 11f which stretch the intermediate transfer belt 2. Belt 17 for preventing the intermediate transfer belt 2 from meandering
The meandering prevention belt 17 has a reinforcing tape 14 and a reinforcing tape
14 is adhered so as to be in contact with both the non-reinforcing portion 2a of the intermediate transfer belt 2 which has come off.

[0020]

[Function] The meandering prevention belt is bonded over both the reinforcing portion reinforced by the reinforcing tape of the intermediate transfer belt and the non-reinforcing portion removed from the reinforcing tape. And absorb the stress at the boundary between the non-reinforcing portions and prevent the concentration.

For this reason, the occurrence of cracks at the boundary is prevented, and the life is extended.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, as shown in the front view of FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer belt 2 has reinforcing tapes 14 adhered along the entire length on both sides thereof as in the prior art.
A meandering prevention belt 17 that engages with a step 15 of the support rollers 11d to 11f to prevent the intermediate transfer belt 2 from meandering.

The supporting rollers 11d to 11f have step portions 15 at both ends closer to the center in the axial direction as compared with the supporting rollers 11a to 11c of the prior art, and have the same shaft length and shaft diameter. The meandering prevention belt 17 contacts both the reinforced portion of the intermediate transfer belt 2 reinforced by the reinforcing tape 14 and the non-reinforced portion 2a of the intermediate transfer belt 2 that has come off. Glued.

The material of the meandering prevention belt 17 is formed using the same material as in the prior art, and has a width of 3 mm and a height of 0.6 to 0.6 mm.
It is about 1 mm. By providing the meandering prevention belt 17 in this manner, the boundary 14a between the reinforced portion of the intermediate transfer belt 2 reinforced by the reinforcing tape 14 and the non-reinforced portion 2a separated from the reinforcing tape 14 is bonded over both sides. Due to the meandering prevention belt 17 used, the stress is absorbed to prevent the concentration.

Therefore, the occurrence of cracks at the boundary 14a is prevented, and the life of the intermediate transfer belt 2 is reduced to about 10,000.
It could be extended to ~ 20,000 sheets.

[0026]

According to the present invention, the boundary between the reinforcing portion and the non-reinforcing portion of the intermediate transfer belt due to the reinforcing tape can be prevented from being scraped or cracked at the end portion, so that a long life and stable transfer can be achieved. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an intermediate transfer belt of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a multicolor electrophotographic recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied,

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a conventional intermediate transfer belt;

[Explanation of symbols]

2 intermediate transfer belt, 2a non-reinforced part, 11d to 11f support roller, 14 reinforcing tape, 14a boundary, 15 step,
17 meandering prevention belt, 100 recording media,

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-100477 (JP, A) JP-A-3-143,911 (JP, A) JP-A-60-170310 (JP, U) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/16 G03G 15/01 114

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An intermediate transfer belt in which an endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer belt is formed by sequentially developing latent images formed one by one on an image carrier with toners of different colors.
(2), and after forming all the toner images superimposed and transferred on the intermediate transfer belt (2), the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium at once by a secondary transfer roller to which a voltage is applied. In the color electrophotographic recording apparatus, the intermediate transfer belt (2) has a reinforcing tape (14) attached along the entire length on both sides thereof, and a support roller (17) for stretching the intermediate transfer belt (2). 11d ~ 11
f) a meandering prevention belt (17) for engaging with the step portion (15) of the intermediate transfer belt (2) to prevent meandering of the intermediate transfer belt (2), and the meandering prevention belt (17) is provided with the reinforcing tape (14). An intermediate transfer belt, wherein the reinforcing tape (14) is adhered so as to be in contact with both the non-reinforced portion (2a) of the intermediate transfer belt (2) from which it has come off.