JPH11249449A - Image carrier belt - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image carrier belt for suppressing the occurrence of defective detection and whose strength is prevented from lowering. SOLUTION: The belt B1 is constituted of a seam belt 1, and a seam part S is constituted of a material whose light transmissivity is different from that of a part other than the seam part S. As for the double-layered seam belt 1 constituted of a transparent material layer 1a and an opaque material layer 1b, the seam belt 1 is constituted by melt-sticking, or bonding both end parts of the belt in a state where the opaque material is removed from at least one end part. It is possible to constitute the seam belt 1 by joining both opaque end parts of the belt with a joining member made of transparent material interposed, and also, it is possible to constitute the seam belt by joining both transparent end parts of the belt with a joining member made of opaque material interposed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image carrier belt such as a photoreceptor belt and an intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, and a copying machine for forming an image using an electrophotographic technique.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image carrier belt forms an image on its surface while being driven to rotate, or carries an image, so that its phase must be detected. The detection can be performed optically.

Conventionally, a mark having a different reflection characteristic from that of another part is attached to a part of the image carrier belt and the mark is detected by a reflection type optical sensor, or a part of the image carrier belt is detected. The phase of the image carrier belt is detected by making a hole and detecting the hole with a transmission type optical sensor.

[0004] That is, as a conventional image carrier belt, there are known an image carrier belt in which a part is provided with a reflection mark and a part in which a light transmission hole is formed. I have.

[0005]

In a conventional image carrier belt, a mark for reflection is attached to a part of the belt, and the surface of the mark is brought into contact with a cleaning member for preventing contamination or photosensitive. There has been a problem that the mark peels off due to contact with another member such as a body, and a detection failure easily occurs.

On the other hand, when a hole for light transmission is formed in a part of the hole, stress concentrates on the opening edge of the hole.
There is a problem that the strength of the belt is reduced. It is also believed that this problem can be solved by covering and reinforcing the holes with a transparent film. However, the work of forming a hole and covering it with a transparent film is complicated, and once the hole is formed, distortion may occur around the hole and the image in this portion may be disturbed, which is desirable. Absent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide an image carrier belt in which detection failure hardly occurs and strength does not decrease.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the image carrier belt according to the present invention is an image carrier belt comprising a seam belt, wherein a seam portion is other than the seam portion. Is characterized by being made of materials having different light transmittances.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image bearing belt according to the first aspect, the seam belt is one of both ends of a belt having a multilayer structure including a transparent material layer and an opaque material layer. At least one end of the belt from which the opaque material has been removed by welding or bonding.

Here, the meaning of "removed" includes both of not forming an opaque material layer at one end of the transparent material layer in advance, or removing it once formed. is there.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image bearing belt according to the first aspect, the seam belt is formed by joining both ends of an opaque belt via a joining member made of a transparent material. Is characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image bearing belt according to the first aspect, the seam belt is formed by joining both ends of a transparent belt via a joining member made of an opaque material. Is characterized by the following.

[0013]

The image carrier belt according to the first aspect is constituted by a seam belt, and the seam portion (seam portion of the belt) is made of a material having a different light transmittance from a portion other than the seam portion. Therefore, the seam portion can be detected by the light transmission type optical sensor.

Since the seam portion is detected by the light transmission type optical sensor, detection failure hardly occurs. Further, since the seam portion is detected, it is not necessary to make a hole for detection, and therefore, the strength does not decrease.

In addition, the following operation and effect can be obtained.

(I) In the conventional perforated belt, if the hole is provided in the center of the belt, the hole may be caught on a cleaner blade or the like, thereby causing a problem such as damaging the blade. Therefore, the hole is formed only near the edge of the belt. Could not be provided. The edge of the belt is easily deformed by the guide of the belt and the like, and the shape of the hole is also easily deformed, so that there is a problem that the accuracy of the detection timing is deteriorated.

On the other hand, according to the image carrier belt of the present invention, since the seam portion existing in the belt width direction is to be detected, the detector is arranged, for example, at the center of the belt. Is also possible.

Accordingly, the detection accuracy can be further improved.

(Ii) In the conventional perforated belt, there was a problem that toner scattered from the holes and soiled the detector. However, the image carrier belt of the present invention has no holes. There is no problem that the toner is scattered from the toner and the detector is soiled.

(Iii) The step of making holes is not required.

As described above, according to the image carrier belt of the first aspect, the above various effects can be obtained by utilizing the seam portion as the detected portion.

According to the image carrier belt of the second aspect,
2. The image carrier belt according to claim 1, wherein the seam belt has a multilayer structure including a transparent material layer and an opaque material layer. Since it is constituted by welding or bonding both ends, it can be easily manufactured.

According to the image carrier belt of the third aspect,
2. The image bearing belt according to claim 1, wherein the seam belt is formed by joining both ends of an opaque belt via a joining member made of a transparent material, so that the belt is an opaque belt. However, the image carrier belt can be easily manufactured.

According to the image carrier belt of the fourth aspect,
2. The image carrier belt according to claim 1, wherein the seam belt is formed by joining both ends of a transparent belt via a joining member made of an opaque material, so that the belt is a transparent belt. However, the image carrier belt can be easily manufactured.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic views showing a first embodiment of an image carrier belt according to the present invention and a manufacturing process thereof. FIG. 1A shows a state before both end portions are joined. 2B is a cross-sectional view mainly showing both ends of the belt, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are welded and joined, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are bonded and joined. It is sectional drawing.

In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 1 denotes a belt;
This is a belt having a multilayer structure including a transparent material layer 1a and an opaque material layer 1b. The transparent material layer 1a is a base material of the belt, and is made of a transparent and weldable material, for example, PET. The opaque material layer 1b is an image carrying layer, and is formed by applying or laminating a material capable of forming an image on the surface thereof or carrying the image to the transparent material layer 1a.

The image carrier belt B1 of this embodiment is
The opaque material 1b at least at one end 1c1 of both ends 1c1 and 1c2 of the belt 1 is removed (1).
d) The both ends 1c1 and 1c2 of the belt are shown in FIG.
Is formed by welding as shown in FIG. In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 1d denotes a removed portion of the opaque material 1b. The removed portion 1d is provided at one end 1c1 of the transparent material layer 1a.
The opaque material layer 1b can be formed by not forming the opaque material layer in advance, or by removing the opaque material layer 1b once formed.

According to the image carrier belt B1 of this embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.

(I) As shown in FIG. 2B, the seam portion (seam portion of the belt) S is made of a material (a transparent material in this case) having a different light transmittance from the portion other than the seam portion S. Therefore, the seam portion S can be detected by the light transmission type optical sensors 41a and 41b.

Since the seam portion S is detected by the light transmission type optical sensor, detection failure hardly occurs. Further, since the seam portion S is detected, it is not necessary to make a hole for detection, and therefore, an effect that the strength is not reduced is obtained.

(Ii) Since the seam S existing in the belt width direction (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1) is to be detected, the detectors 41a and 41b are moved with respect to the center of the belt B1, for example. It is also possible to arrange them.

Therefore, the detection accuracy can be further improved.

(Iii) Since the hole is not formed, there is no problem that toner is scattered from the hole and the detector is soiled.

(Iv) The step of forming a hole becomes unnecessary.

(V) The both ends 1c1 and 1c2 of the belt are
Since it is configured by welding (or bonding as described later), it can be easily manufactured.

As described above, according to the image carrier belt B1 of this embodiment, the various effects described above can be obtained by utilizing the seam portion S as the portion to be detected.

The above-described image carrier belt is, as shown in FIG.
c2, both ends 1c1, 1c2 of the belt from which the opaque material 1b has been removed at at least one end 1c1.
Can be configured by bonding (the bonding portion is indicated by 1e), and the above-described operation and effect can also be obtained. However, in this case, although a slight difference occurs in the seam portion S, it is desirable that the belt circulate in the direction of arrow a in the drawing.

<Second Embodiment> FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic views showing a second embodiment of an image carrier belt according to the present invention and a manufacturing process thereof. FIG. 2A shows a state before both end portions are joined. 2B is a cross-sectional view mainly showing both ends of the belt, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are welded and joined, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are bonded and joined. It is sectional drawing. In FIG. 2, the same or corresponding parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that both ends 1c1 and 1c2 of the belt 1 are
This is at the point of joining via the joining member 2 made of a transparent material (for example, a PET sheet), and the other points are unchanged.

The bonding via the bonding member 2 may be performed by welding as shown in FIG. 6B, or may be performed by bonding as shown in FIG.

According to this embodiment, the operation and effect obtained by the first embodiment can be obtained.

Further, since there is no need to form the removed portion 1d, an effect that the device can be manufactured more easily can be obtained.

<Third Embodiment> FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic views showing a third embodiment of an image carrier belt according to the present invention and a manufacturing process thereof. FIG. 3A shows a state before both end portions are joined. 2B is a cross-sectional view mainly showing both ends of the belt, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are welded and joined, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are bonded and joined. It is sectional drawing. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts as in the above-described second embodiment.

This embodiment is different from the above-described second embodiment in that the belt 1 is formed of an opaque single-layer sheet, and there is no other difference.

That is, this embodiment is characterized in that both ends 1c1 and 1c2 of the opaque belt 1 are joined via the joining member 2 made of a transparent material. Joining member 2
The bonding through the bonding may be performed by welding as shown in FIG. (B) or by bonding as shown in FIG. (C).

According to this embodiment, the operation and effect obtained by the second embodiment can be obtained.

Further, since the belt 1 does not need to have a multilayer structure having a transparent material layer, an effect that the belt 1 can be manufactured more easily can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when welding is performed using the bonding member 2, if the one surface 2a is welded so as to have a convex curved shape, the bonding member 2 after welding serves as a convex lens. Therefore, by arranging the light projector 41b on the surface 2a side and arranging the light receiver 41a on the other surface side, a light collecting effect is obtained and the S / N ratio of the detection signal is increased, and as a result, The detection accuracy can be further improved.

<Fourth Embodiment> FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic views showing a fourth embodiment of an image carrier belt according to the present invention and a manufacturing process thereof. FIG. 4A shows a state before both end portions are joined. 2B is a cross-sectional view mainly showing both ends of the belt, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are welded and joined, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are bonded and joined. It is sectional drawing. In FIG. 4, the same parts as those in the third embodiment or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

This embodiment is different from the above-described third embodiment in that the belt 1 is made of a transparent single-layer sheet and that the joining member 3 is made of an opaque material. There is no change in the point.

That is, the feature of this embodiment resides in that both ends 1c1 and 1c2 of the transparent belt 1 are joined via a weldable joining member 3 made of an opaque material.
Bonding via the bonding member 3 may be performed by welding as shown in FIG. (B), or may be performed by bonding as shown in FIG. (C).

According to this embodiment, the same operation and effect as those obtained by the third embodiment can be obtained.

Further, since the belt 1 does not need to have a multilayer structure having an opaque material layer, an effect that the belt 1 can be easily manufactured can be obtained.

In this case, since the seam portion S does not transmit light, it can be detected.

[0056]

FIG. 5 shows an image forming operation using an image carrier belt B1 produced as described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B or 2A and 2B as an intermediate transfer belt. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an example of the apparatus, and FIG.
It is an I enlarged partial end view.

This image forming apparatus is applicable to yellow, cyan,
This is an apparatus that can form a full-color image using a developing device using magenta and black toners.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 10 denotes a photoreceptor as a latent image carrier, which can be rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG.

Around the photoreceptor 10, a charging roller 11 as a charging unit, a developing roller 20 (Y, M, C, K) as a developing unit, and an image carrier belt B 1 are disposed along the rotation direction. Intermediate transfer device 3 used as transfer belt
0, and the cleaning means 12 are disposed.

The photosensitive member 10 has a cylindrical conductive substrate 10a.
(See FIG. 6) and a photosensitive layer 10b formed on the surface thereof.

The charging roller 11 can contact the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 10 to uniformly charge the outer peripheral surface (for example, it can be charged to about -600 V). An outer peripheral surface of the uniformly charged photoconductor 10 is subjected to selective exposure L according to desired image information by an exposure unit (not shown), and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 10 by the exposure L. You. The potential of the exposed portion, that is, the portion where the electrostatic latent image is formed can be set to, for example, about -100V.

This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller 20
The toner charged to “−” is applied and developed.

The developing rollers include a yellow developing roller 20Y, a cyan developing roller 20C, a magenta developing roller 20M, and a black developing roller 2M.
0K is provided. These developing rollers 20Y, 20
C, 20M, and 20K can selectively contact the photoconductor 10, and when they come into contact, any one of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black is applied to the surface of the photoconductor 10. Then, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 10 is developed.

The developed toner image is transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt B1 described later.

After the transfer, the cleaning means 12
A cleaner blade 13 for scraping off the toner remaining on and adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 10, and a receiving unit 14 for receiving the toner scraped off by the cleaner blade 13
And

The intermediate transfer device 30 includes a driving roller 31 and
Four driven rollers 32, 33, 34, 35 and an endless intermediate transfer belt B1 stretched around these rollers.
And

The drive roller 31 rotates at substantially the same peripheral speed as the photosensitive member 10 because a gear (not shown) fixed to an end of the drive roller 31 meshes with a drive gear (not shown) of the photosensitive member 10. Driven, and therefore the intermediate transfer belt B
1 can be circulated at substantially the same peripheral speed as the photoconductor 10 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure.

The driven roller 35 is disposed at a position where the intermediate transfer belt B1 is pressed against the photosensitive member 10 by its own tension between the driven roller 35 and the driven roller 31.
The primary transfer portion T at the pressure contact portion between the belt and the intermediate transfer belt B1.
1 is formed. The driven roller 35 is disposed near the primary transfer portion T1 on the upstream side in the circulation direction of the intermediate transfer belt B1.

The driving roller 31 includes an intermediate transfer belt B1.
An electrode roller 37 is disposed via the electrode roller 37, and a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the photoconductor 10 (a primary transfer voltage) is applied to the conductive layer 1b1 of the intermediate transfer belt B1 via the electrode roller 37. (For example, a voltage of about +500 V) V1 can be applied.

The driven roller 32 is a tension roller, and urges the intermediate transfer belt B1 in the tension direction by an urging means (not shown).

The driven roller 33 is a backup roller that forms the secondary transfer portion T2. A secondary transfer roller 38 is opposed to the backup roller 33 via an intermediate transfer belt B1. The secondary transfer roller 38
It can be moved toward and away from the intermediate transfer belt B1 by a contact / separation mechanism not shown. The secondary transfer roller 38 applies a secondary transfer voltage V2 (a voltage higher than the primary transfer voltage, for example, +1
(Approximately 000 V).

The driven roller 34 is a backup roller for the belt cleaner 39. Belt cleaner 39
Is a cleaner blade 39 which comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt B1 and scrapes off the toner remaining on and adhering to the outer peripheral surface thereof.
a, and a receiving portion 39b for receiving the toner scraped off by the cleaner blade 39a. The belt cleaner 39 can be moved toward and away from the intermediate transfer belt B1 by a contact / separation mechanism (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 6, the intermediate transfer belt B1 is formed on an insulating substrate 1a, a conductive layer 1b1 formed on the insulating substrate 1a, and formed on the conductive layer 1b1.
It is composed of a multilayer belt having a resistance layer 1b2 pressed against the photoreceptor 10. The insulating substrate 1a constitutes the above-mentioned transparent material layer 1a, and the conductive layer 1b1 and the resistance layer 1b2 constitute the above-mentioned opaque material layer 1b.
The insulating substrate 1a is made of a synthetic resin having transparency (light transmission). The conductive layer 1b1 is formed of, for example, a metal layer, and the primary transfer voltage V1 is applied to the conductive layer 1b1 via the above-described electrode roller 37. Note that the conductive layer 1b1 is exposed in an endless band shape by removing the resistance layer 1b2 in an endless band shape at the side edge of the belt B1, and the electrode roller 37 comes into contact with the exposed portion. .

More specifically, the intermediate transfer belt B1 is configured such that the insulating substrate 1a is formed of a sheet-shaped transparent PET, and AL is vapor-deposited thereon to form a conductive layer 1b1.
FIG. 1 (a) (b) or FIG. 1 (b) or FIG. 1 (b) or FIG. As described in 2 (a) and (b), it is welded by ultrasonic fusion to form an endless shape.

The coating is applied while leaving the side edges of the belt in a strip shape to expose the conductive layer 1b1 in a strip shape, and the electrode roller 37 is brought into contact with the exposed portion.

Since the intermediate transfer belt B1 has the seam S described above, the seam S can be used as a mark for detecting the position of the belt.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 41 denotes a transmission type optical sensor, which constitutes a detecting means for detecting the seam portion S.
The above-described exposure L is started at a predetermined timing with reference to the point in time when the seam portion S is detected by the detection means 41.

In the process of circulating the intermediate transfer belt B1, the toner image on the photosensitive member 10 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt B1 in the primary transfer section T1, and the intermediate transfer belt B
The toner image transferred onto the recording medium 1 is transferred to a recording medium P such as a sheet supplied between the secondary transfer roller 38 and a secondary transfer unit T2. The recording medium P is fed from a sheet feeding device (not shown), and is supplied to the secondary transfer unit T2 at a predetermined timing by the gate roller pair 40.

The basic operation of the entire image forming apparatus as described above is as follows.

(I) When a print command signal (image forming signal) from a not-shown host computer or the like (a personal computer or the like) is input to the control unit of the image forming apparatus,
Photoconductor 10, developing roller 20, and intermediate transfer belt B
1 is driven to rotate.

(Ii) The outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 10 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 11.

(Iii) The outer peripheral surface of the uniformly charged photoreceptor 10 is subjected to selective exposure L in accordance with image information of the first color (for example, yellow) by an exposure unit (not shown), and a yellow electrostatic charge is applied. A latent image is formed.

(Iv) Only the developing roller 20Y for the first color (for example, yellow) comes into contact with the photoconductor 10, whereby the electrostatic latent image is developed, and the toner image for the first color (for example, yellow) is formed. Is formed on the photoconductor 10.

(V) To the intermediate transfer belt B1, a primary transfer voltage V1 having a polarity opposite to the charge polarity of the toner is applied, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive member 10 is transferred to the primary transfer portion, that is, the photosensitive member 10 The image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt B1 at a pressure contact portion T1 with the intermediate transfer belt B1. At this time,
The secondary transfer roller 38 and the belt cleaner 39 are separated from the intermediate transfer belt B1.

(Vi) After the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 10 is removed by the cleaning means 12, the photoreceptor 10 is neutralized by static elimination light from a static elimination means (not shown).

(Vii) The above operations (ii) to (vi) are repeated as necessary. That is, the second color, the third color, the fourth color,
Are repeated on the intermediate transfer belt B1 to form a toner image corresponding to the content of the print command signal on the intermediate transfer belt B1.

(Viii) The recording medium P is supplied at a predetermined timing, and immediately before or after the leading end of the recording medium P reaches the second transfer portion T2 (that is, the intermediate transfer is performed at a desired position on the recording medium P). At the timing when the toner image on the belt B1 is transferred, the secondary transfer roller 38 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt B1 and the secondary transfer voltage V2 is applied, so that the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt B1 (basically, (A full-color image) is transferred onto the recording medium P. Also,
The belt cleaner 39 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt B1, and the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt B1 after the secondary transfer is removed.

(Ix) The toner image is fixed on the recording medium P by passing the recording medium P through a fixing device (not shown), and then the recording medium P is discharged out of the apparatus.

According to the above-described image forming apparatus, the intermediate transfer belt B1 is applied to the photosensitive member 10 by the rollers 31 and 3.
5, and the intermediate transfer belt B1 is
Since a transfer voltage V1 having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of 0 is applied, the intermediate transfer belt B1 in the press contact portion (primary transfer portion) T1 is caused by the tension of itself and the attraction force by the transfer voltage V1. Will be pressed against.

Therefore, without providing a pressing roller (primary transfer roller) for pressing the intermediate transfer belt B1 against the photosensitive member 10 at the pressing portion T1, the photosensitive member 10
The upper visible image can be transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt B1.

The embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention.

[0092]

According to any one of the image carrier belts according to the first to fourth aspects, it is possible to obtain the effect that the detection failure hardly occurs and the strength does not decrease. In addition, the detection accuracy can be further improved.

Further, according to the image carrier belt according to the second aspect, the belt can be easily manufactured.

According to the image carrier belt of the third aspect,
Even if the belt is an opaque belt, it can be easily manufactured.

According to the image carrier belt of the fourth aspect,
Even if the belt is a transparent belt, it can be easily manufactured.

[0096]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of an image carrier belt according to the present invention and a manufacturing process thereof, in which (a) is a cross-sectional view mainly showing both end portions of the belt before both end portions are joined. (B) is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are welded and joined, and (c) is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are bonded and joined.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams showing a second embodiment of an image carrier belt according to the present invention and a manufacturing process thereof, wherein FIG. (B) is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are welded and joined, and (c) is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are bonded and joined.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a third embodiment of the image carrier belt according to the present invention and a manufacturing process thereof, wherein (a) is a cross-sectional view mainly showing both end portions of the belt before both end portions are joined. (B) is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are welded and joined, and (c) is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are bonded and joined.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a fourth embodiment of an image carrier belt according to the present invention and a manufacturing process thereof, wherein (a) is a cross-sectional view mainly showing both end portions of the belt before both end portions are joined. (B) is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are welded and joined, and (c) is a cross-sectional view showing a seam portion when both ends are bonded and joined.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus using an image carrier belt B1 as an intermediate transfer belt.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial end view of VI-VI in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 B1 Image carrier belt S Seam section 1 Belt 1a Transparent material layer 1b Opaque material layer 1c1, 1c2 Both ends 2 Joining member made of transparent material 3 Joining member made of opaque material

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masato Murayama 3-5-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano Seiko Epson Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image carrier belt comprising a seam belt, wherein a seam portion is made of a material having a different light transmittance from a portion other than the seam portion. Body belt. 2. The seam belt according to claim 1, wherein at least one end of the belt having a multilayer structure including a transparent material layer and an opaque material layer is welded or bonded to both ends of the belt from which the opaque material is removed. 2. The image carrier belt according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier belt is constituted by: 3. The image carrier belt according to claim 1, wherein the seam belt is formed by joining both ends of an opaque belt via a joining member made of a transparent material. 4. The image carrier belt according to claim 1, wherein the seam belt is formed by joining both ends of a transparent belt via a joining member made of an opaque material.