Patent ID: 8433225
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A The belt driving device for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of rollers placed in parallel with each other; an endless belt wound with tension so as to encircle all of a plurality of rollers, the endless belt having a pair of side edge portions that should be positioned at respective outsides of a plurality of the rollers with respect to an axial direction of the rollers, with first and second elastic bodies provided on respective inner circumferences of a pair of the side edge portions along a circumferential direction of the belt; and first and second rotating members attached to respective opposite ends of at least one roller out of a plurality of the rollers, so as to face the first and second elastic bodies, respectively, and to be concentric with the one roller, wherein the first and second rotating members respectively have: first and second tapered sections each having a tapered form with a width decreasing from inside toward outside with respect to the axial direction and coming into contact with the first and second elastic bodies provided on the endless belt, respectively, so as to regulate meandering of the endless belt; and first and second bottom receiving sections provided at respective outsides of the first and second tapered sections with respect to the axial direction and having a shape thicker than respective outer ends of the first and second tapered sections, so as to keep bending of the endless belt within a certain amount; and wherein the first and second bottom receiving sections have a cylindrical surface with a diameter larger than that of respective outer ends of the first and second tapered sections.