Patent ID: 8565646
Filing Date: 2013-10-22
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of electrostatic latent image carriers, each of which is provided for forming an image in one of different colors and configured to have an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface thereof in the one of different colors; a plurality of developer devices, each of which is provided for one of the electrostatic latent image carriers and configured to supply developer agent in one of the different colors to apply to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier; an endless belt configured to roll continuously in a position opposite from the plurality of electrostatic latent image carriers and transfer the developer agent adhered on the surfaces of the electrostatic latent image carriers to a recording medium in cooperation with the electrostatic latent image carriers and the developer devices; a cleaning roller configured to clean the endless belt; a first motor; a first gear train, which is coupled to the cleaning roller to transmit driving force from the first motor to the cleaning roller for rotating the cleaning roller in a predetermined direction when the first motor rotates in a first direction and is decoupled from the cleaning roller when the first motor rotates in a second direction being a reverse direction from the first direction; a second gear train, which is coupled to the cleaning roller to transmit the driving force from the first motor to the cleaning roller for rotating the cleaning roller in the predetermined direction when the first motor rotates in the second direction and is decoupled from the cleaning roller when the first motor rotates in the first direction; a third gear train, which is coupled to at least one of the developer devices to transmit the driving force from the first motor when the first motor rotates in the first direction and is decoupled from the at least one of the developer devices when the first motor rotates in the second direction; a conveyer configured to be driven by a conveyer driving system to supply the recording medium to the endless belt; and a second motor configured to drive remaining ones of the developer devices other than the at least one of the developer devices, wherein the third gear train is coupled to the at least one of the developer devices and to the conveyer to transmit the driving force from the first motor when the first motor rotates in the first direction and is decoupled from the at least one of the devices and from the conveyer when the first motor rotates in the second direction; and wherein the at least one of the developer devices is arranged in a position closer to the conveyer driving system than the remaining ones of the developer devices.