Abstract:
The image forming apparatus includes an endless belt, a first tensing member having a first and second end portions, wherein the first and second end portions of said first tensing member are positioned in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which said first tensing member guides movement of said endless belt, a guide member, and a second tensing member positioned next to said first tensing member on a downstream side in a belt rotation direction to said first tensing member and for putting said endless belt on with tension from an internal surface of said endless belt, wherein when said endless belt deviates toward a second end portion side, the first end portion of the first tensing member moves by said endless belt in a direction from an external surface of the belt to an internal surface of said endless belt, and wherein when the first end portion moves in a direction from an external surface of the belt to an internal surface of said endless belt, the first end portion moves in a direction away from said second tensing member by said guide member. It achieves to preventing an endless belt from deviating and meandering more effectively than before.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an endless belt and particularly to a structure for restraining the endless belt from deviating in the width direction of the belt or from meandering while the belt is being driven.  
         [0003]     2. Related Background Art  
         [0004]     In recent years, an image forming apparatus has been developed using a photosensitive member belt or an intermediate transfer member belt to improve the conveyability of toner images, and using an endless belt as a recording material conveyance mechanism to improve the conveyability of recording material.  
         [0005]     The above-mentioned image forming apparatus using the endless belt can improve a number of functions, however, is indispensable to means of inhibiting generation of deviation from a reference track of the endless belt or meandering during driving operation.  
         [0006]     One of possible causes for dislocation due to deviation of the endless belt is that misalignment occurs between members for putting the endless belt on with tension. However, under the present circumstances, misalignment improvement has its limitations and, if consideration of manufacturing variances, secular changes and component tolerances will cause difficult control, including them on main body side. Contraction or expansion of the belt due to a temperature rise in an apparatus changes a belt peripheral length and belt tension varies with the environmental condition, and an unbalanced belt tension due to a difference between left and right peripheral lengths unique to the belt causes deviation while the belt is running.  
         [0007]     One of conventional image forming apparatuses is provided with a shaft tilt angle correction device for changing at least one tilt of a shaft of a tensing roller and a deviation thereof when a deviation or a meander is detected, using sensors for detecting belt position and speed. However, such a conventional image forming apparatus has disadvantages such as enlargement and complexity of the whole apparatus by unavoidable attachment of electric components and the like.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In view of the aforementioned problems, an object of the present invention is to prevent an endless belt from deviating and meandering with a simple structure more effectively than before.  
         [0009]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including an endless belt capable of rotatingly moving, a first tensing member for putting the belt on with tension and guiding the movement of the belt, wherein both end portions of the first tensing member in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the first tensing member guides the movement of the belt are a first end portion and a second end portion, a guide member for guiding the movement of the first end portion; and a second tensing member positioned next to the first tensing member on the downstream side in a belt rotation direction and for putting the belt on with tension from an internal surface of the belt, wherein as the belt approaches a second end portion side, the first tensing member on the first end portion side moves in such a direction as to run inward from an external surface of the belt through the belt; and wherein as the first end portion moves in such a direction as to run inward from an external surface of the belt, the first end portion moves in such a direction as to leave the second tensing member through the guide member.  
         [0010]     A further object of the present invention is to provide An image forming apparatus including an endless belt capable of effecting a rotation movement; a tensing member having first and second end portions, for putting said endless belt on itself with tension from an internal surface of said endless belt and guiding the rotation movement of said endless belt, wherein the first and end portions of said first tensing member are positioned with respect to a direction orthogonal to a direction in which said first tensing member guides the rotation movement of said endless belt; a guide member for guiding the rotation movement of the first end portion; and wherein when said endless belt deviates toward a second end portion side, the first end portion of said tensing member moves by said endless belt in a direction from an external surface of said endless belt to an internal surface of said endless belt; and wherein when the first end portion moves in a direction from an external surface of said endless belt to an internal surface of said endless belt, the first end portion moves in a direction opposite to a direction of the rotation movement of said endless belt.  
         [0011]     A still further object of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the operation of belt deviation regulation in a first embodiment according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are respectively a partially detailed view illustrating the operation of belt deviation regulation in a first embodiment according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a partially detailed view illustrating the operation of belt deviation regulation in a first embodiment according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a tensing method for an endless belt in a first embodiment according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view illustrating a color laser beam printer of an example of the image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view illustrating a color laser beam printer of an example of the image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are partially detailed views illustrating the operation of the belt deviation regulation of the image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional view illustrating a color laser beam printer of an example of the image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     The image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0021]     Referring now to the accompanying drawings, First Embodiment of the present invention is described below.  FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view illustrating a color laser beam printer of an example of the image forming apparatus according to First Embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]     In  FIG. 5 , a reference numeral  100  denotes a color laser beam printer, hereinafter referred to a “printer”. The printer  100  is provided with an image forming section  100 A having mainly four photoconductive drums  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c ,  1   d  as image bearing members and four scanner units  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c ,  3   d  constituted of a rotary polygon mirror and a reflecting mirror respectively. The image forming section  100 A forms latent images on the four photoconductive drums  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c ,  1   d , each surface of which is uniformly charged by charging rollers  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c ,  2   d . The latent images are formed on the surface of the photoconductive drums  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c  or  1   d  by making the scanner units  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c ,  3   d  apply light in accordance with image information. Each of the latent images is then developed by developing sleeves  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d  fitted on developers  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c ,  7   d . This forms visible images of each color of yellow, cyan, magenta and black on the photoconductive drums  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c  or  1   d . Reference numerals  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d  are transfer rollers constituting a transfer section by a pressure contact through an endless belt  9   a  described later. Reference numerals  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c ,  6   d  are cleaning means.  
         [0023]     In  FIG. 5 , a reference numeral  13  denotes a paper cassette for storing recording material P as paper sheets and the recording material P stored in the paper cassette  13  is delivered by a paper feeding roller. A reference character  9   a  is an endless belt for conveying the recording material P to each transfer section. The recording material P conveyed from the paper cassette  13  is placed on the endless belt  9   a  and is conveyed to each transfer section one after another. Visible images (toner images) of each color of yellow, cyan, magenta and black formed on the surface of each of the photoconductive drums are transferred one after another. The recording material P transferred with visible images one after another is heated and pressurized by a heating roller  21   a  and a pressure roller  21   b  of a fixing part  20 , so that transferred toner images are permanently fixed. The recording material P fixed with the toner images in this way is then delivered to a receiving tray  24  by a paper exit roller  23 .  
         [0024]     In this embodiment, the endless belt  9   a  is formed out of an approx. 65 μm thick film-shaped member having not larger than volume resistivity of 10 12  Ωcm. The volume resistivity is a value obtained by applying 100V with a high resistance meter R8340 manufactured by ADVANTES Co. Ltd. The endless belt  9   a  is put on with tension by a belt drive  100 B constituted of a driving roller  9   c , a belt deviation regulation driven roller  9   b , hereinafter referred to as a “regulation roller”, a driven roller  9   d  and a tension roller  9   e . The endless belt  9   a  is so arranged as to rotate in the direction of an arrow (clockwise in Figure). Both end portions of each of all the rollers  9   b ,  9   c  and  9   d  are rotatably retained on bearings provided at a main body frame (not illustrated) of the belt drive  100 B. Rotating shafts of the rollers  9   b ,  9   c ,  9   d  and  9   e  are disposed so as to be substantially parallel with a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the endless belt  9   a . The driving roller  9   c  is formed out of a metallic roller, on a surface layer thereof, having a rubber layer of which frictional coefficient is high against an internal surface of the endless belt  9   a . The driving roller has an outside diameter set at approx. 24 mm and is structured so as to be rotated at a predetermined speed in the direction of an arrow by a drive source. The driven roller  9   d  is constituted of a metallic roller, for example, made of SUS or the like.  
         [0025]     On the other hand, on both end portions of the regulation roller  9   b , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , there are disposed protruding belt-deviation regulation members, hereinafter referred to as a “belt regulation member”, to avoid deviation, meandering or the like of the endless belt  9   a . The belt regulation members  18   a ,  18   b  are rotatably provided, the rotational center line of which is common to that of the regulation roller. The internal end portions of the belt regulation members  18   a ,  18   b  come into approximate contact with the side end surface of the regulation roller  9   b  and are molded so as to be almost the same diameter as a contact surface with the regulation roller  9   b . If deviation or meandering occurs at the endless belt  9   a , the protruding regulation guides  19   a ,  19   b  formed at both ends of the inner-periphery surface of the endless belt  9   a  abuts against the side surface portions of the belt regulation members  18   a ,  18   b . In the belt regulation members  18   a ,  18   b , each of the regulation guides (ribs)  19   a ,  19   b  has a tapered portion on an abutting (latching) portion thereof. Preferably, as a material of each of the belt regulation members  18   a ,  18   b , a material with a low frictional efficiency, for example, a material with high slidability such as POM, is used. On the other hand, as a material of each of the regulation guides  19   a ,  19   b , a rubber material is used which is excellent enough to bear bending stress applied when the endless belt  9   a  is wound around the respective rollers  9   b ,  9   c ,  9   d  and  9   e  as belt tensing members.  
         [0026]     The tension roller  9   e  uses an aluminum pipe, of which surface roughness is a center-line average roughness (Ra) conforming to JIS B0601 and, as the roughness, 1.6 μm is selected. This makes gripping capability against the endless belt  9   a  appropriate and, in this embodiment, a coefficient of static friction against an internal surface of the endless belt  9   a  of at least 0.15 is ensured. It is sufficient that appropriate gripping capability is ensured between the aluminum pipe and the internal surface of the endless belt  9   a . Accordingly, the coefficient of static friction is 0.20 or 0.25 which is more than 0.15 yields favorable results in the same way. The coefficient of static friction was measured by engaging the endless belt  9   a  between horizontal two shafts, placing the belt therebetween so that the internal surface thereof may be turned up and placing a tension roller  9   e  on the belt. A belt fixing method is adjusted so that the endless belt  9   a  may be deflected by the dead weight of the tension roller  9   e  and, prior to measurement, adjustment was made so that belt winding amount may be the same as the winding amount by the tension roller  9   e  in the image forming apparatus. The tension roller  9   e  was placed in such a manner that parts were removed from a main body, and the coefficient of static friction was calculated from an axial pull force and the weight of the tension roller  9   e . If the coefficient of static friction is 0.10, gripping capability was low, which impaired the response of deviation control.  
         [0027]     The tension roller  9   e  is always urged in a such a direction as to pull the endless belt  9   a  by a spring  9   f  and rotates interlocking with conveyance by belt rotation, so as to completely guide movement of the endless belt  9   a . On each of both end portions of a shaft of the tension roller  9   e , there is attached an arm-shaped displacement supporting member  9   g  also serving as a bearing of the tension roller  9   e  to individually and independently oscillate both the end portions of the tension roller  9   e . The displacement supporting member  9   g  functions as a guide member for guiding movement of the tension roller  9   e.    
         [0028]     While the recording material P is being conveyed by the endless belt  9   a , the endless belt  9   a  sometimes deviates or meanders. There are next described the regulation operations of the belt regulation members  18   a ,  18   b  against deviation or meandering of the endless belt  9   a  and the functions of the tension roller  9   e.    
         [0029]     For example, assuming that the endless belt  9   a  moves in a longitudinal direction A of the regulation roller  9   b  (in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the endless belt  9   a ) as illustrated in  FIG. 1  during the rotating and moving process of the endless belt  9   a , the regulation guide  19   a  fitted on the endless belt  9   a  abuts against the belt regulation member  18   a  of the regulation roller  9   b  to be regulated. The width-direction length of each of the rollers  9   c ,  9   d ,  9   e  (not illustrated) as a tension control rotation member with the belt engaged except the deviation regulation roller is shorter than that of the regulation roller  9   b , therefore the regulation guide  19   a  has no abutment. If the tension of the endless belt  9   a  is set to be large or rigidity is high, a force applied to the regulation roller  9   b  in the longitudinal direction A, that is, a deviation force becomes high, so that the regulation guide  19   a  attempts to climb over the belt regulation member  18   a  ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ). If the regulation guide  19   a  advances in such a direction as to climb the tapered portion on the belt regulation member  18   a , the belt peripheral length on the side where the endless belt  9   a  attempts to climb over apparently becomes shorter by an amount of the thickness of the regulation guide  19   a . As a result, on the side where the endless belt attempts to climb over, the tension roller  9   e  is pushed into in an opposite direction to an urging direction, that is, in a direction that the tension roller enters the inside of the endless belt, and tilts significantly relative to other tensing rollers  9   b ,  9   c  and  9   d . Referring next to  FIG. 4 , there is described the behaviors of an end portion of the tension roller  9   e  on the side where the end portion enters the inside of the endless belt  9   a , of the end portions of the tension roller  9   e.    
         [0030]     The end portion of the tension roller  9   e  when the end portion enters the inside of the endless belt  9   a  is on an oscillating path of an arm type retaining member  9   g . The path gets out of an arc passing through the axial center of the tension roller  9   e  with the axial center of the regulation roller  9   b  on the downstream side taking as the center thereof. To get out of the arc means an increase in a distance to the regulation roller  9   b . When one end portion of the tension roller  9   e  gets out of the arc, an angle of the regulation roller  9   b  to the tension roller  9   e  changes. At this time, an inclination of the tension roller  9   e  is displaced from  9   e - 1  to  9   e - 2  in  FIG. 3 . This means that a vector perpendicular to a line  9   e - 2  on which the tension roller  9   e  with the displaced inclination comes into contact with the endless belt  9   a  has a vector in an opposing direction to the deviation direction of the belt, except a vector in the rotation direction of the belt. A vector in such a direction that the tension roller  9   e  delivers the belt has a vector in an opposing direction to the deviation direction of the endless belt  9   e . Accordingly, the belt is moved in such a direction as to correct the belt deviation. Especially, in the case of this embodiment, because the gripping capability of the tension roller  9   e  is improved, the belt is pushed out more completely in a perpendicular direction to the line  9   e - 2  on which the tension roller  9   e  with the displaced inclination comes into contact with the belt  9   a.    
         [0031]     In the aforementioned description, it is observed with respect to the relative position relationship between the tension roller  9   e  and the regulation roller  9   b . This, in another view, implies that the tension roller  9   e  can moves in a direction opposite to a direction of the rotation movement direction of the belt  9   a  in the case that an end part of the tension roller  9   e  comes into the inside (the internal surface side) of the belt  9   a.    
         [0032]     In this embodiment, the arm type retaining member  9   g  disposed at both the end portions of the tension roller  9   e  has a space of approx. 50 mm from a rocking and rotating fulcrum of the retaining member to a tension roller bearing section. The regulation guides  19   a ,  19   b  have a cross section having a rectangular shape of 4 mm in width and 1.5 mm in height respectively and are jointed to each other along the inner periphery of the endless belt  9   a . Assuming that the regulation guides  19   a ,  19   b  completely climb over the belt regulation members  18   a ,  18   b  disposed on both ends of the regulation roller  9   b , the amount by which the tension roller is pushed into in an opposite direction to an urging direction thereof is approximately 8 mm. At this time, an inclination of the tension roller  9   e  is displaced from  9   e - 1  to  9   e - 2  in  FIG. 3  and an inclined angle thereof is approx. 0.5 degrees.  
         [0033]     A vector in a direction opposing to a deviation direction of the endless belt  9   a  increases proportionately with a deviation amount of the belt. In case of the deviation of the endless belt  9   a  due to a sudden factor, the vector timely acts as a force of returning the climbed-over regulation guide  19   a  to a regular guide position. When a deviation force of the endless belt  9   a  is small, an inclination of the tension roller  9   e  becomes small. This includes belt deviation due to, for example, a difference in the peripheral length between both ends of the endless belt  9   a  in the longitudinal direction, production variance caused by tensing roller alignment failure or secular changes. In this case, the regulation guide  19   a  gradually climbs over the belt regulation member  18   a , so that a vector opposing to a belt deviation direction gradually becomes larger. During this process, the position of the endless belt  9   a  is displaced for stability until a good balance is kept between the belt deviation force and belt restoring force opposing to the belt deviation force. For example, even if a peripheral length of the endless belt  9   a  is under a slightly different status in a longitudinal direction, the belt position transits for stable driving until a good balance is kept between the belt deviation force and the belt restoring force.  
         [0034]     This configuration is compatible with the installation status of a main body. Even if the peripheral length of the endless belt  9   a  has no differences in a longitudinal direction, belt deviation may occur. One of possible causes is, for example, wrong printer location. The printer location is at the discretion of a user, however, the user does not always locate a printer on a flat surface. In this case, the printer itself has some distortion, maintaining the initial state is difficult to maintain for the roller alignment of a belt moving apparatus installed inside the main body. However, under such a status, the belt deviation correction mechanism according to this embodiment comes into action, thus providing stable belt driving. This is because the tension roller  9   e  exhibits a similar function to a function that automatically adjusts alignment.  
         [0035]     Advantages of the belt deviation correction mechanism according to this embodiment have no particularly limited stable belt driving position, and the belt deviation correction mechanism can timely meet.  
         [0036]     As described above, this embodiment can prevent the endless belt  9   a  from deviating and meandering, thus achieving high durability and stable driving performance for the endless belt.  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0037]     A case where belt urging is performed by using an arm type retaining member of retaining the tension roller  9   e  has been described above as an example. This embodiment employs a system of capable of sliding operations only in a belt urged direction and belt urging by a helical compression spring through the tension roller  9   e  as a retaining member for retaining the tension roller  9   e . The sliding portion guides movement of the tension roller  9   e . However, the sliding portion is of a single-side independent type.  
         [0038]      FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view illustrating a color laser beam printer of an example of the image forming apparatus according to Second Embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 6 , the same numeral/character as in  FIG. 5  denotes the same or corresponding section/portion. The tension roller  9   e  is retained so as to be slidable along a belt urged direction with a sliding groove formed on a main body frame (not illustrated) of the belt drive means  100 B. Moreover, the tension roller  9   e  is designed so as to urge the endless belt  9   a  with the helical compression spring  9   f  as urging means. The retaining method of the tension roller  9   e  is different, however, if deviation occurs in the endless belt  9   a , the belt regulation member  18   a  abuts against the regulation guide  9   a , so that the belt peripheral length on the abutting side apparently becomes shorter. The tension roller  9   e  is pushed into the opposite side to the urging direction by a shortened amount, thus attaining a result of restraining belt deviation. Under this state, the end portion of the tension roller  9   e  on the belt deviation side gets out of the arc passing through the axial center of the tension roller  9   e  taking the axial center of the regulation roller  9   b  as the center thereof. In the same way as for First Embodiment, belt deviation control can be achieved.  
       Third Embodiment  
       [0039]     The above embodiments describe that the belt regulation members  18   a ,  18   b  are disposed on both ends of the regulation roller  9   b  for regulating deviation and meandering of the belt.  
         [0040]     In this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the belt regulation members  18   a ,  18   b  are disposed on both ends of the tension roller  9   e . A length of the tension roller  9   e  in a longitudinal direction is larger than those of any of other belt tensing rollers so as to be large enough to accommodate in the regulation guides (ribs) of the endless belt  9   a . As a result, if the endless belt  9   a  deviates, the belt regulation member  19   a  or  19   b  is so structured as to climb over the end portion of the tension roller  9   e . If deviation occurs, either of the belt regulation member  18   a  or  18   b  which climbs over the tension roller  9   e  is pushed into the regulation guide (rib) of the endless belt  9   a , so that belt moving force by the tension roller  9   e  moves the endless belt  9   a  in such a direction as to restrain belt deviation, as described in First Embodiment. Thus, almost the same effect as that described in First Embodiment can be achieved. In this embodiment, a rubber layer with high m frictional coefficient inside the endless belt  9   a  is provided on a surface layer of the tension roller  9   e , thus increasing the moving force of the transfer belt  9   a  and the regulation force for deviation regulation by the tension roller  9   e.    
       Fourth Embodiment  
       [0041]     All the above embodiments are intended for conveyance of recording material by the endless belt  9   a . However, the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment is provided with an endless intermediate transfer belt  9   j  in place of the endless belt  9   a  for conveying recording material.  FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional view illustrating a color laser beam printer as an example of the image forming apparatus according to Fourth Embodiment of the present invention. Detailed descriptions of respective sections are omitted. In  FIG. 8 , the same reference numerals/characters as those in  FIG. 5  denote the same or corresponding sections/portions.  
         [0042]     In the same way as other embodiments, this embodiment uses the belt drive  100 B. However, as described above, the intermediate transfer belt  9   j  owned by the belt drive  100 B receives toner images directly on the intermediate transfer belt  9   j  from each of the photoconductive drums  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c ,  1   d . Colored images are prepared by superimposing one toner image upon another on the intermediate transfer belt  9   j . In other words, this is an image forming apparatus using intermediate transfer.  
         [0043]     Both ends of the tension roller  9   e  in the belt drive  100 B illustrated in  FIG. 8  are independetly retained by an oscillatable arm  9   g  respectively. If the intermediate transfer belt  9   j  deviates, the belt peripheral length on the opposite side to the side where the intermediate transfer belt  9   j  deviates apparently becomes shorter. As a result, the end portion of the tension roller  9   e  on the opposite side to the side where the intermediate transfer belt  9   j  deviates is pushed into in an opposite direction to an urged direction, that is, in such a direction as to enter the inside of the intermediate transfer belt  9   j  and inclines largely relative to other tensing rollers  9   b ,  9   c ,  9   d . Then the tension roller  9   e  moves in such a direction as to get out of an arc passing through the axial center of the tension roller  9   e  with the axial center of the tensing roller  9   d  on the downstream side to the tension roller  9   e  serving as the center thereof, thus correcting the deviation of the intermediate transfer belt  9   j.    
         [0044]     Consequently, the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment is capable of preventing a belt from deviating and meandering.  
         [0045]     The foregoing embodiment illustrates a printer as an example of the image forming apparatus, but is not limited to the printer. Other examples of this embodiment includes other image forming devices such as a copying machine and a facsimile machine or other image forming devices such as a multifunction machine with these functions combined. Furthermore, application of the present invention to an image forming device using a photoconductive drum belt as an endless belt provides the same effect.  
         [0046]     As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific descriptions and drawings thereof except as defined in the appended claims.  
         [0047]     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-323760 filed on Nov. 8, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.