Patent ID: 9091967
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of image bearing members that is configured to bear a toner image on each of plurality of the image bearing members; an endless intermediate transfer belt onto which the toner image is transferred from at least one of the plurality of image bearing members during image formation; a separating and contacting mechanism that displaces the intermediate transfer belt in a separating and contacting direction with respect to each of the plurality of image bearing members; a plurality of stretching rollers over which the intermediate transfer belt is stretched, the stretching rollers including: a meandering correction mechanism that biases the tension roller in a direction in which the tensile force of the intermediate transfer belt is increased, that includes a deviation transfer member moving along the axial direction by a deviation force of the intermediate transfer belt along the axial direction, and that increases and decreases a biasing force applied to each of the opposite end portions according to an amount of movement along the axial direction of the deviation transfer member; and a controller that executes, at a predetermined timing during rotation of the intermediate transfer belt during a non-image forming period, a belt displacement process in which the separating and contacting mechanism is controlled so that the intermediate transfer belt is displaced from a predetermined reference position in which the intermediate transfer belt is spaced away from all of the plurality of image bearing members and then is returned to the reference position.