Patent Publication Number: US-9904214-B2

Title: Image forming apparatus having transfer belt configured to avoid image defects

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART 
     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine or a copying machine. 
     In an image forming apparatus using an intermediary transfer belt, a toner image carried on the intermediary transfer belt is transferred onto a transfer belt supported by a transfer roller toward the intermediary transfer belt or a recording material at a transfer portion where the transfer is contacted to the intermediary transfer belt. 
     In the image forming apparatus using the intermediary transfer belt, the recording material may preferably be superposed on the intermediary transfer belt on an upstream side close to the transfer portion and then is introduced into the transfer portion. This is because a high voltage is applied to the transfer portion and a strong electric field generates at the transfer portion, and therefore when the recording material is superposed on a rotatable transfer member and then is introduced into the transfer portion, electric discharge generates between the intermediary transfer belt and the recording material, and thus an image defect is liable to generate. 
     In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) 2002-82543, a supporting member is provided on a side upstream of a transfer portion so as to support an inner peripheral surface of an intermediary transfer belt, whereby a region where a recording material is stably contacted to the intermediary transfer belt is formed on the upstream side close to the transfer portion. 
     In the image forming apparatus in which the supporting member is provided on the side upstream of the transfer portion, when an image is formed on a recording material having a large weight per unit area, a portion of the recording material positioned upstream of the transfer portion rubs the intermediary transfer belt, so that an image defect due to disturbance of a toner image before transfer is liable to generate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an endless intermediary transfer belt; a toner image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the intermediary transfer belt; a first transfer roller contacting an inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt; a second transfer roller configured to sandwich the intermediary transfer belt between itself and the first transfer roller to form a transfer portion where the toner image is transferred from the intermediary transfer belt onto a recording material; feeding means configured to feed the recording material to the transfer portion; a stretching roller, provided downstream of the toner image forming unit and upstream of the first transfer roller with respect to a movement direction of the intermediary transfer belt, configured to stretch the intermediary transfer belt between itself and the first transfer roller in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt, wherein as seen in a direction of a rotational axis of the first transfer roller, a contact point between an outer common tangential line, on a stretching side of the intermediary transfer belt by the first transfer roller, between the stretching roller and the first transfer roller and the first transfer roller and an intersection point between the outer common tangential line and a rectilinear line which is perpendicular to the outer common tangential line and which passes through a rotation center of the second transfer roller satisfy that the contact point is closer to the stretching roller than the intersection point is and that a distance between the contact point and the intersection point is 5% or more of a diameter of the first transfer roller; and an urging member configured to urge the intermediary transfer belt from the inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt at a position close to the transfer portion between the first transfer roller and the intermediary transfer belt. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a structure of an image forming apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of an elastic layer of an intermediary transfer belt. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of a structure of a secondary transfer portion on an upstream side. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of an arrangement of an outer secondary transfer roller in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the secondary transfer portion. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of an arrangement of an outer secondary transfer roller in Comparison Example 1. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of an urging member in Second Embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described specifically with reference to the drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
     (Image Forming Apparatus) 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of a structure of an image forming apparatus  100 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus  100  is an intermediary transfer type full color printer of a tandem type in which image forming portions PY, PM, PC and PK are arranged along an upward surface of an intermediary transfer belt  40 . 
     In the image forming portion PY, a yellow toner image is formed on a photosensitive drum  1 Y and then is primary-transferred onto the intermediary transfer belt  40 . In the image forming portion PM, a magenta toner image is formed on a photosensitive drum  1 M and then is primary-transferred onto the intermediary transfer belt  40 . In the image forming portions PC and PK, cyan and black toner images are formed on photosensitive drums  1 C and  1 K, respectively, and then are primary-transferred onto the intermediary transfer belt  40 . 
     The four color toner images transferred on the intermediary transfer belt  40  are fed to a secondary transfer portion T 2 , and are secondary-transferred onto a recording material P. The recording material P is taken out from a recording material cassette  31 , and is separated one by one by a separation roller  32 , and then is fed to a registration roller pair  13 . The registration roller pair  13  sends the recording material P to the secondary transfer portion T 2  while timing the recording material P to the toner images on the intermediary transfer belt  40 . 
     A transfer belt unit  36  is contacted to the intermediary transfer belt  40  supported by an inner secondary transfer roller  42 , so that the secondary transfer portion T 2  is formed. A transfer voltage source  11  applies a DC voltage to an outer secondary transfer roller  10 , and the toner images are secondary-transferred from the intermediary transfer belt  40  onto the recording material being fed through the secondary transfer portion T 2 . 
     The recording material P on which the four color toner images are secondary-transferred is fed into a fixing device  60  by being fed by a pre-feeding device  61  for the fixing device  60 , and then is heated and pressed by the fixing device  60 , so that the toner images are fixed on the surface of the recording material P. The fixing device  60  melts and fixes the toner images on the recording material P by applying predetermined pressure and predetermined heat quantity to the recording material P in a nip formed by a fixing roller  60   a , in which a heater  60   c  is provided, and a pressing roller  60   b.    
     (Image Forming Portion) 
     The image forming portions PY, PM, PC and PK have the substantially same constitution except that colors of toners used in developing devices  5 Y,  5 M,  5 C and  5 K are yellow, magenta, cyan and black, respectively, which are different from each other. In the following, the image forming portion PY (for yellow) is described, and redundant explanation about other image forming portions PM, PC and PK will be omitted. 
     The image forming portion PY includes, at a periphery of the photosensitive drum  1 Y, a charging device (charger)  3 Y, an exposure device  4 Y, the developing device  5 Y, a primary transfer roller  6 Y and a drum cleaning device  7 Y. The photosensitive drum  11  is prepared by forming a photosensitive layer on an outer peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder, and rotates in an arrow R 1  direction at a predetermined process speed. In this embodiment, the process speed is 300-500 mm/sec. 
     The charging device  3 Y electrically charges the surface of the photosensitive drum  1 Y to a uniform negative potential. The exposure device  4 Y scans the surface of the photosensitive drum  1 Y with a laser beam, through a rotating mirror, which is ON/OFF-modulated by an image signal obtained by developing image data on a scanning line, so that an electrostatic latent image for an image is written (formed) on the surface of the photosensitive drum  1 Y. The developing device  5 Y develops the electrostatic latent image into the toner image by transferring the toner on the photosensitive drum  1 Y. A developer supplying portion  51 Y supplies the toner, in an amount corresponding to an amount of the toner taken out from the developing device  5 Y with the image formation, to the developing device  5 Y. 
     In this embodiment, a reverse development type in which the toner is deposited on the exposed portion of the electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image is employed. The electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure device  4 Y is a group of small dot images, and a density of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum  1 Y is changed by changing a density of the dot images. Each of the respective color toner images transferred onto the recording material P is about 1.5-1.7 in maximum reflection density. A toner amount per unit area of each toner image at the maximum reflection density is about 0.4-0.6 mg/cm 2 . 
     The primary transfer roller  6 Y forms a primary transfer portion between the photosensitive drum  1 Y and the intermediary transfer belt  40 . A DC voltage is applied to the primary transfer roller  6 Y, whereby a negative toner image carried on the photosensitive drum  1 Y is transferred onto the intermediary transfer belt  40 . The drum cleaning device  7 Y rubs the photosensitive drum  1 Y with a cleaning blade, and thus collects a transfer residual toner deposited on the surface of the photosensitive drum  1 Y. 
     (Intermediary Transfer Belt) 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration of an elastic layer of the intermediary transfer belt. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the intermediary transfer belt  40  is stretched by a driving roller  43 , a tension roller  41  and the inner secondary transfer roller  42 , and is driven by the driving roller  43 , so that the intermediary transfer belt  40  is rotated in an arrow R 2  direction at the above-described process speed. The tension roller  41  is urged outwardly by an urging spring  45  at each of end portions thereof, so that tension of the intermediary transfer belt  40  is controlled at a substantially certain level of about 2-5 kg with respect to a feeding direction. The inner secondary transfer roller  42  is connected with a ground potential and supports an inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  passing through the secondary transfer portion T 2 . A belt cleaning device  44  rubs the intermediary transfer belt  40  with a cleaning blade, and thus collects a transfer residual toner from the surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the intermediary transfer belt  40  includes an elastic layer  40   b . The intermediary transfer belt  40  is an endless belt having a 3-layer structure in which a base layer  40   a , the elastic layer  40   b  and a parting layer  40   c  are laminated from an inner peripheral surface side. The intermediary transfer belt  40  is adjusted to have a volume resistivity of 1×10 9 -1×10 14  Ω·cm by adding an electroconductive agent such as carbon black therein. 
     The base layer  40   a  is formed using a resin material such as polyimide or polycarbonate, and a thickness thereof is 70-100 μm. The elastic layer  40   b  is formed using an elastic material such as urethane rubber or chloroprene rubber, and a thickness thereof is 200-250 μm. The parting layer  40   c  decreases a depositing force of the toner on the intermediary transfer belt  40  and causes the toner to be easily transferred onto the recording material P at the secondary transfer portion T 2 . The parting layer  40   c  uses a single species of a resin material such as polyurethane or two or more species of materials including an elastic material such as butyl rubber, and in the parting layer  40   c , powder or particles of fluorine-containing resin material for decreasing surface energy to enhance a lubricating property are dispersed. A thickness of the parting layer  40   c  is 5-10 μm. 
     (Transfer Belt) 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a transfer belt unit  36  causes a transfer belt  12  to carry the recording material P thereon and to pass through the secondary transfer portion T 2 . The transfer belt  12  facilitates separation of the recording material P from the intermediary transfer belt  40  after the transfer of the toner images. The transfer belt unit  36  stretches the transfer belt  12  by the outer secondary transfer roller  10 , a separation roller  21 , a tension roller  22  and a driving roller  23 . A circumferential length of the transfer belt  12  is 200 mm. 
     The transfer belt  12  is formed of the resin material adjusted so that a volume resistivity thereof is 1×10 9  Ω·cm-1×10 14  Ω·cm by adding carbon black as an antistatic agent in a proper amount into the resin material such as polyimide or polycarbonate. The transfer belt  12  has a single-layer structure and is 0.07 mm-0.1 mm in thickness. The transfer belt  12  is 100 MPa or more and less than 10 GPa in value of the Young&#39;s Modulus as measured according to a tensile test method (JIS K 6301). 
     The outer secondary transfer roller  10  is formed in an outer diameter of 24 mm by providing an elastic layer  10   b  of an ion conductive foam rubber (NBR) on an outer peripheral surface of a core metal  10   a  of a stainless steel round bar. The elastic layer  10   b  has a surface roughness Rz=6.0 μm-12.0 μm and Asker-C hardness of about 30-40 degrees. A resistance value of the outer secondary transfer roller  10  as measured under application of a voltage of 2 KV in a normal temperature/normal humidity environment (N/N: 23° C./50% RH) is 1×10 5 Ω-1×10 7 Ω. 
     To the outer secondary transfer roller  10 , a transfer power (voltage) source  11  capable of outputting a variable current is connected. The transfer power source  11  effects constant-current control of an output voltage so that a transfer current of +40 μA to +60 μA as an example flows. The transfer power source  11  applies a transfer voltage, of an opposite polarity to a charge polarity of the toner, to the outer secondary transfer roller  10 , so that the toner images carried on the intermediary transfer belt  40  are secondary-transferred onto the recording material P carried on the secondary transfer belt  12 . The recording material P is electrostatically attracted to the transfer belt  12  with the secondary transfer of the toner images. 
     The separation roller  21  separates the recording material P from the transfer belt  12 . The recording material P on the transfer belt  12  is curvature-separated from the transfer belt  12  at a curved surface of the transfer belt  12  along a peripheral surface of the separation roller  21 . A separation claw  33  prevents the recording material P, separated from the transfer belt  12 , from electrostatically winding about the transfer belt  12  again. 
     The driving roller  23  is driven by a driving motor M 23  and rotates the transfer belt  12  in an arrow B direction. The tension roller  22  is urged in a direction of projecting toward the transfer belt  12  by an urging spring at each of end portions thereof, and imparts a predetermined tension to the transfer belt  12 . 
     In this embodiment, in a process in which the recording material P passes through the secondary transfer portion T 2 , the positive(-polarity) voltage is applied to the recording material P, so that the recording material P is attracted to the transfer belt  12 . This is because as in a conventional transfer belt, when the recording material P is carried on the transfer belt  12  on a side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  and is fed to the secondary transfer portion T 2 , electric discharge generates between the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  carrying the toner images. When the recording material P is carried on the transfer belt  12  on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  and is fed to the secondary transfer portion T 2 , the recording material P cannot be caused to enter the secondary transfer portion T 2  in a state in which the recording material P is superposed on the intermediary transfer belt  40  on the upstream side close to the secondary transfer portion T 2 . The electric discharge generates when the recording material P to which the positive voltage is applied through the transfer belt  12  and the intermediary transfer belt  40  carrying the toner images are superposed with each other on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 , so that an image defect white dropout, transfer back (re-transfer) or white flower is caused. In addition, a constitution in which the recording material P is electrostatically attracted to the transfer belt  12  on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  also involves such a problem that a structure of a unit including the transfer belt  12  becomes large to lead to increases in cost and size of the image forming apparatus. 
     As described above, the inner secondary transfer roller  42  which is an example of a first transfer roller supports an inner peripheral surface of the endless intermediary transfer belt  40 . The outer secondary transfer roller  10  which is an example of a second transfer roller sandwiches at least the intermediary transfer belt  40  between itself and the inner secondary transfer roller  42  to form the secondary transfer portion T 2  which is an example of a transfer portion. The tension roller  41  which is an example of a stretching roller stretches the intermediary transfer belt  40 , moving toward the secondary transfer portion T 2 , between itself and the inner secondary transfer roller  42 . 
     (Guiding Member) 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of a structure of the secondary transfer portion on an upstream side. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the registration roller pair  13  which is an example of a feeding means, an upper guide  14  and a lower guide  15  feeds the recording material P to the secondary transfer portion T 2  so that the recording material P enters the secondary transfer portion T 2  in a state in which the recording material P is superposed on the intermediary transfer belt  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , on a side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 , the upper guide  14  and the lower guide  15  are disposed. The upper guide  14  and the lower guide  15  regulate a feeding path along which the recording material P is fed to the secondary transfer portion T 2  and cause the recording material P to contact the intermediary transfer belt  40  at a position close to the tension roller  41  than a position where an urging member  55  urges the inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  is. The upper guide  14  regulates a behavior that the recording material P approaches the surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40 . The lower guide  15  regulates that the recording material P is gradually spaced from the surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40 . 
     The recording material P is guided by the upper guide  14  and the lower guide  15  to the secondary transfer portion T 2  in a state in which the recording material P is superposed on the intermediary transfer belt  40  at a position upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 . 
     This is because when the recording material P enters the secondary transfer portion T 2  in the state in which the recording material P is superposed on the intermediary transfer belt  40  on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 , the electric discharge is liable to generate between a toner image carrying surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  and the recording material P. When the electric discharge generates between the toner image carrying surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  and the recording material P, electric charges of the toner carried on the intermediary transfer belt are lost at an electric discharge position, and correspondingly the toner is not transferred from the intermediary transfer belt  40  onto the recording material P. As a result, the image defect which is called the white dropout, the transfer back or the white flower generates. 
     (Vibration of Intermediary Transfer Belt) 
     In the case where the urging member  55  is not provided, when the intermediary transfer belt  40  is rotated at a high speed, the intermediary transfer belt  40  is liable to vibrate during rotation. When the intermediary transfer belt  40  vibrates, a gap (spacing) is liable to generate between the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40 , which are superposed with each other at the position upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 , by using the upper guide  14  and the lower guide  15 . Further, in order to transfer the toner images, a strong electric field is formed at the secondary transfer portion T 2  by applying a high voltage to the outer secondary transfer roller  10 , and therefore in the case where the gap generates between the intermediary transfer belt  40  and the recording material P, abnormal discharge is liable to generate in the gap. 
     When the abnormal discharge generates in the gap between the intermediary transfer belt  40  and the recording material P, as described above, the electric charges of the toner carried on the intermediary transfer belt  40  are last at a discharge position, and correspondingly, the toner images are not transferred from the intermediary transfer belt  40  onto the recording material P. As a result, the image defect which is called the white dropout, the transfer back or the white flower generates. 
     Therefore, in this embodiment, the urging member  55  is disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the intermediary transfer belt  40  and urges the intermediary transfer belt  40  outwardly, so that vibration of the intermediary transfer belt  40  causing the abnormal discharge is suppressed. 
     (Urging Member) 
     In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in order to prevent generation of the image defect (the white dropout, the transfer back or the white flower) due to the electric discharge when the toner images are transferred onto the recording material P, the urging member  55  is provided on the upstream side close to the secondary transfer portion T 2 . The urging member  55  which is an example of an urging member urges the inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  at a position close to the secondary transfer portion T 2  between the inner secondary transfer roller  42  and the tension roller  41 . 
     The urging member  55  urges the back surface of the intermediary transfer belt  50  on the upstream side close to the secondary transfer portion T 2 . The urging member  55  causes an intermediary transfer belt stretching surface between the inner secondary transfer roller  42  and the tension roller  41  to project toward the toner image carrying surface side. The urging member  55  alleviates the vibration of the intermediary transfer belt  40  even when the intermediary transfer belt  40  rotates at the high speed, so that the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  are closely contacted to each other on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 . 
     The urging member  55  is a sheet-shaped elastic member formed, in a plate shape capable of contacting over a full width of the intermediary transfer belt  40 , with an elastic resin material such as polyester, nylon or PET. In this embodiment, using a PET resin sheet which has already been adjusted to have a medium electric resistance, the urging member  55  is formed in a thickness of 0.4-0.6 mm and a full width of 330-380 mm. 
     In the case of using the PET resin sheet, when a PET resin sheet having a low electric resistance is used, there is a possibility that with application of a transfer voltage to the outer secondary transfer roller  10 , a current flows through the urging member  55  and thus improper transfer generates. However, when a PET resin sheet having a high electric resistance is used, there is a possibility that the urging member  55  is triboelectric charged by rubbing with the intermediary transfer belt  40  to attract the intermediary transfer belt  40  and thus rotation of the intermediary transfer belt  40  is prevented. For this reason, the medium electric resistance is imparted to the urging member  55 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the urging member  55  is supported in a cantilever shape from a supporting member  57  and a free end portion thereof is contacted to the inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40 . The supporting member  57  is supported at each of end portions thereof by an unshown unit frame in which the tension roller  41 , the inner secondary transfer roller  42  and the driving roller  43  are assembled. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the urging member  55  is contacted to the inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  at a free end portion  55   a  thereof elastically deformed in the cantilever shape. In this embodiment, a length and a mounting position of the urging member  55  are adjusted, so that the free end portion  55   a  is located at a position of 3-15 mm upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  with respect to a rotational direction of the intermediary transfer belt  40 . 
     The urging member  55  is mounted so that the free end portion  55   a  extends toward a downstream side of the intermediary transfer belt  40  with respect to the rotational direction so as not to prevent the rotation of the intermediary transfer belt  40  by stretching against the intermediary transfer belt  40 . For this reason, the urging member  55  rubs the inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  along a normal direction at a stable height position. The urging member  55  is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  in a state in which the free end portion  55   a  is bent, and therefore the free end portion  55   a  surface-contacts the intermediary transfer belt  40  with a contact range to some extent. 
     (Urging Amount of Urging Member) 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a stretching surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  by the inner secondary transfer roller  42  and the tension roller  41  ( FIG. 1 ) in the case where the urging member  55  does not exist is a phantom stretching surface  40 A. In this case, a distance from the phantom stretching surface  40 A to a stretching surface  40 B of the intermediary transfer belt  40  urged by the urging member  55  is defined as an urging amount Z of the urging member  55 . The urging amount Z is a positional change amount, of the free end portion  55   a  of the urging member  55 , necessary to move the intermediary transfer belt  40  from the phantom stretching surface  40 A to the stretching surface  40 B. In this embodiment, the urging member  55  is formed and disposed so that the urging amount Z is 1.0-3.0 mm. 
     In this embodiment, an improper transfer suppressing effect of the urging member  55  was compared by changing the urging amount Z at a plurality of levels in a range from 0 mm to 2 mm. In this experiment, continuous image formation of a magenta image on 100 sheets of A4-sized thick paper (weight per unit area: 200 g/m 2 ) was effected, and the presence or absence of the above-described image defect (white flower) on an output image due to the vibration of the intermediary transfer belt  40  was compared. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Urging amount (mm) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 1.0 
                 1.5 
                 2.0 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 IT* 1   
                 x 
                 Δ 
                 ∘ 
                 ∘ 
                 ∘ 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 * 1 “IT” is the improper transfer. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As shown in Table 1, in the urging amount Z of 0 mm and less than 1 mm in which the urging member  55  does not change the phantom stretching surface  40 A of the intermediary transfer belt  40 , the image defect due to the vibration of the intermediary transfer belt  50  generates. However, when the urging amount Z of the urging member  55  is 1.0 mm or more, it is possible to prevent the image defect due to the vibration of the intermediary transfer belt  40 . With a larger urging amount Z of the urging member  55  against the phantom stretching surface  40 A of the intermediary transfer belt  40 , an effect of improving the image defect due to the vibration of the intermediary transfer belt  40  is higher. However, with the larger urging amount Z of the urging member  55 , a sliding (rubbing) load becomes larger, so that a rotational load of the intermediary transfer belt  40  increases and thus a speed fluctuation also becomes large, and therefore in this embodiment, the urging amount Z may preferably be 3.0 mm or less. 
     (Rubbed Image) 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , with a larger projection amount (urging amount Z) of the intermediary transfer belt  40  by the urging member  55 , an opposing distance between the intermediary transfer belt  40  and the recording material P guided by the upper guide  14  and the lower guide  15  more narrows. When the opposing distance between the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  narrows, there is an increasing possibility that the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  rub against each other on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  and thus the toner images carried on the intermediary transfer belt  40  before the transfer are disturbed. 
     The recording material P, such as thick paper or coated paper, high in flexural rigidity abuts against the intermediary transfer belt  40  on a side upstream of the urging member  55  and is placed in a bent state and is liable to rub (slide) against the intermediary transfer belt  40 . The recording material P having the high flexural rigidity is pressed against the intermediary transfer belt  40  in a broad range by elasticity of the recording material P at a portion, of the recording material P nipped at the secondary transfer portion T 2 , upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 . In the case where the recording material P is superposed on the intermediary transfer belt  40  on the side upstream of the urging member  55 , the recording material P strongly rubs against the surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  supported by the urging member  55 . 
     When the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  strongly rub against each other, the (unfixed) toner images carried on the intermediary transfer belt  40  are disturbed, so that an image transferred and fixed on the recording material P causes the image defect. When the toner images enter the secondary transfer portion T 2  and are transferred onto the recording material P in a disturbed state on the intermediary transfer belt  40 , the toner images cause minute bleeding and blur on halftone dots of a fixed image, so that an image quality lowers. As a result that the toner images of dots are disturbed on the intermediary transfer belt  40 , an image defect, of a rubbed image, which is called “graininess” generates on the output image. 
     Incidentally, in general, the rubbed image is not readily recognized visually on a line image or a plane image and is recognized as a particulate density non-uniformity on a halftone image in many cases. The toner images of dots forming density gradation of the halftone image rub against the recording material P and change a size thereof every place, so that the rubbed image is discriminated as the density non-uniformity of the halftone image. 
     The rubbed image generated when the recording material P was in a situation such that the recording material P rubbed against the intermediary transfer belt  40  on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  even in an image forming apparatus in which the urging member  55  was not provided on the upstream side close to the secondary transfer portion T 2 . However, in the constitution in which the urging member  55  is disposed, as described above, the opposing distance between the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  narrows, and therefore the rubbed image is liable to generate. With respect to the image formed in the above-described experiment using the A4-sized thick paper, a relationship between the urging amount Z of the urging member  55  and a generation state of the rubbed image was checked. 
     The rubbed image is sensitive to a locating position (offset amount) of the outer secondary transfer roller  10  relative to the inner secondary transfer roller  42  (to be described in more detail hereafter). For example, as in the Comparison Example (different from this embodiment) shown in  FIG. 6 , when a second intersection point S is positioned upstream of a first intersection point O with respect to a feeding direction of the intermediary transfer belt  40 , the relationship between the urging amount Z of the urging member  55  and the generation state of the rubbed image was as shown in Table 2. Specifically, Table 2 is a result when a constitution in which the second intersection point S is disposed at a position of about 0-2 mm upstream of the first intersection point O with respect to the feeding direction of the intermediary transfer belt  40  is employed. Here, the second intersection point S is an intersection point between the phantom stretching surface  40 A (common tangential line) and a rectilinear line which is perpendicular to the phantom stretching surface  40 A and which passes through a rotation center of the outer secondary transfer roller  10 . The first intersection point O is an intersection point between the phantom stretching surface  40 A (common tangential line) and a rectilinear line which is perpendicular to the phantom stretching surface  40 A and which passes through a rotation center of the inner secondary transfer roller  42 . 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Urging amount (mm) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 1.0 
                 1.5 
                 2.0 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 RI* 1   
                 ∘ 
                 Δ 
                 x 
                 x 
                 x 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 * 1 “RI” is the rubbed image. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As shown in Table 2, with respect to the A4-sized thick paper (weight per unit area: 200 g/m 2 ), the rubbed image generated in the urging amount Z of 1.0 mm or more. 
     Therefore, in this embodiment, the position of the outer secondary transfer roller  10  is defined so that a force of contact between the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  in the neighborhood of the urging member  55  on the upstream side close to the secondary transfer portion T 2  is reduced. 
     Further, in the image forming apparatus  100  including the urging member  55 , with respect to a widthwise direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, stripe-shaped non-uniformity in generation state of the rubbed image generates, and compared with the image forming apparatus in which the urging member  55  is not provided, the image defect due to the rubbed image is conspicuous. This may be attributable to the following reason. 
     On the back surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40 , various substances such as a scattered toner component, a bleeding component from a rubber component of the driving roller and the like are deposited, and locally accumulate on the surface of the urging member  55  with a cumulative operation time of the image forming apparatus  100 . Further, the deposited substances are locally formed on the surface of the urging member  55 , so that projections and recesses (unevenness) are formed on the intermediary transfer belt  40  on which the urging member  55  is disposed, and thus a variation in rubbing (sliding) pressure along the urging member  55  is formed between the intermediary transfer belt  40  and the recording material P. The variation in rubbing pressure along the urging member  55  between the intermediary transfer belt  40  and the recording material P results in rubbing (sliding) non-uniformity, so that rubbed image non-uniformity is formed on the fixed image. 
     At a place where the deposited substances of the urging member  55  are deposited in a large amount, the urging member  55  pushes the intermediary transfer belt  40  toward the recording material side, and thus the rubbing pressure is increased. At a place where the deposited substances are not deposited, a force for pushing the intermediary transfer belt  40  toward the recording material side locally becomes small, so that the rubbing pressure lowers. The deposited substances deposited on the urging member  55  grow with the cumulative operation time of the image forming apparatus  100 , and therefore the variation in rubbing pressure of the recording material P generating along the urging member  55  with respect to the widthwise direction of the intermediary transfer belt  40  gradually becomes large. Correspondingly, also the image defect due to the rubbed image in the fixed image gradually becomes conspicuous. 
     (Arrangement of Outer Secondary Transfer Roller) 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of an arrangement of the outer secondary transfer roller in this embodiment, and  FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the secondary transfer portion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the outer secondary transfer roller  10  is disposed downstream of the inner secondary transfer roller  42  as seen in an entrance direction of the recording material P into the secondary transfer portion T 2 . A positional relationship between the outer secondary transfer roller  10  and the inner secondary transfer roller  42  is defined so that the outer secondary transfer roller  10  is shifted toward the downstream side compared with a conventional outer secondary transfer roller. By shifting the outer secondary transfer roller  10  toward the downstream side compared with the conventional outer secondary transfer roller, an urging force, of the recording material P nipped at the secondary transfer portion T 2 , exerted on the intermediary transfer belt  40  on the urging member  55  lowers, so that a degree of the rubbed image on the recording material such as the thick paper or the coated paper is alleviated compared with a conventional constitution. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the phantom stretching surface  40 A of the intermediary transfer belt  40  in the case where the intermediary transfer belt  40  is not urged by the urging member  55  is an enveloping surface of a common tangential line formed between the inner secondary transfer roller  42  and the tension roller  41 . The phantom stretching surface  40 A which is an example of the common tangential line contacts the tension roller  41  and the inner secondary transfer roller  42  in common on a stretching side of the intermediary transfer belt  40  by the inner secondary transfer roller  42 . 
     An intersection point between the common tangential line and a rectilinear line which is perpendicular to the phantom stretching surface  40 A and which passes through a rotation center of the inner secondary transfer roller  42  is a first intersection point O (i.e., a contact point between an outer common tangential line, on a stretching side of the intermediary transfer belt by the first transfer roller, between the stretching roller and the first transfer roller and the first transfer roller). An intersection point where a perpendicular line drawn from the rotation center of the inner secondary transfer roller  42  crosses the phantom stretching surface  40 A is the first intersection point O. An intersection point between the common tangential line and a rectilinear line which is perpendicular to the phantom stretching surface  40 A and which passes through a rotation center of the outer secondary transfer roller  10  is a second intersection point S. An intersection point where a perpendicular line drawn from the rotation center of the outer secondary transfer roller  10  crosses the phantom stretching surface  40 A is the second intersection point S. In this case, the first intersection point O is positioned on the tension roller  41  side which is an example of a stretching roller side compared with the second intersection point S. 
     A distance Δx between the first intersection point O and the second intersection point S is defined as an offset amount Δx of the outer secondary transfer roller  10  relative to the inner secondary transfer roller  42 . In this embodiment, the outer secondary transfer roller  10  is disposed so that the offset amount Δx is about 1.0 mm-2.5 mm and the second intersection point S is positioned downstream of the first intersection point O with respect to the feeding direction. 
     In the image forming apparatus  100  in this embodiment, the offset amount Δx was changed at  9  levels from 0.25 mm to 2.75 mm and a rubbed image generation suppressing effect was compared. In an experiment, each of the offset amounts Δx was set and a 25%-halftone image of magenta was continuously formed on entire surfaces of 100 sheets of A4-sized thick paper (weight per unit area: 200 g/m 2 ) (continuous image formation), and then the pressure or absence of generation of the rubbed image on output images was compared. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Offset amount (mm) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 2.75 
                 2.25 
                 1.75 
                 1.5 
                 1.25 
                 1 
                 0.75 
                 0.5 
                 0.25 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TP* 1   
                 Δ 
                 ⊚ 
                 ⊚ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 Δ 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
               
               
                 CP* 2   
                 Δ 
                 ⊚ 
                 ⊚ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 Δ 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 * 1 “TP” is the thick paper. 
               
               
                 * 2 “CP” is the coated paper. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As shown in Table 3, in this embodiment, when the offset (shift) amount Δx was 1.00 mm to 2.5 mm, the rubbed image generation suppressing effect was confirmed. Further, when the offset amount Δx was 2.25 mm or 1.75 mm, the rubbed image was not generated on the output image. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a diameter of the inner secondary transfer roller  42  is 21 mm. A nip length L 1  of the secondary transfer portion T 2  is 3-4 mm. A distance L 3  from a plane including a rotation center  42   p  of the inner secondary transfer roller  42  and a rotation center  10   p  of the outer secondary transfer roller  10  to a position where the urging member  55  contacts the intermediary transfer belt  40  is 7 mm. A distance L 2  from a position where the intermediary transfer belt  40  contacts the outer secondary transfer roller  10  to the position where the urging member  55  contacts the intermediary transfer belt  40  is 2-3 mm. 
     When the offset amount Δx is represented by % using the diameter (d) of the inner secondary transfer roller  42 , data in Table 3 are represented as follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Offset amount Δx/d (%) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 13 
                 10 
                 8 
                 7 
                 6 
                 5 
                 4 
                 2.5 
                 1.5 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 TP* 1   
                 Δ 
                 ⊚ 
                 ⊚ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 Δ 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
               
               
                 CP* 2   
                 Δ 
                 ⊚ 
                 ⊚ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 Δ 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 * 1 “TP” is the thick paper. 
               
               
                 * 2 “CP” is the coated paper. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As shown in Table 4, a preferred distance between the first intersection point O and the second intersection point S is 5% or more of the diameter of the inner secondary transfer roller  42 . A further preferred distance between the first intersection point O and the second intersection point S is 10% or more of the diameter of the inner secondary transfer roller  42 . In addition, a preferred distance between the first intersection point O and the second intersection point S is less than 20% of the diameter of the inner secondary transfer roller  42 . 
     A phantom flat surface (plane) E shown in  FIG. 5  is a flat surface (plane) which is perpendicular to a plane F including the rotation center of the inner secondary transfer roller  42  and the rotation center of the outer secondary transfer roller and which contacts the inner secondary transfer roller  42  on the stretching side of the intermediary transfer belt  40  by the inner secondary transfer roller  42 . The recording material P passing through the secondary transfer portion T 2  is fed along this phantom flat surface E. As in this embodiment, in the case where the second intersection point S is disposed on the downstream side, when the urging amount Z is small, the recording material P is separated from the intermediary transfer belt  40  at an upstream portion in the neighborhood of the secondary transfer portion T 2  and is liable to cause improper transfer due to electric discharge. In this embodiment, by using the urging amount Z of the urging member  55  described above with reference to Table 2, the improper transfer is prevented from generating. 
     That is, such an urging amount Z that the position where the urging member  55  urges the intermediary transfer belt  40  enters the outer secondary transfer roller  10  side relative to the phantom flat surface E is employed. In this embodiment, the intermediary transfer belt  40  is urged by the free end portion  55   a  of the urging member  55 , and therefore the urging position is a position (free end position) where the free end portion  55   a  urges the intermediary transfer belt  40 . A detailed result showing the result of Table 1 shown above is Table 5 shown below. Table 5 shows an entering distance of the intermediary transfer belt  40  relative to the phantom flat surface E at the free end position of the urging member  55  when the urging amount Z of the urging member  55  is changed. 
     As in this embodiment, in the case where the offset amount Δx is about 2.0 mm, when the urging amount Z of the urging member  55  is 0 mm, the entering distance of the intermediary transfer belt  40  relative to the phantom flat surface E is more than −1.0 mm and not more than −0.5 mm (&gt;−1.0 mm and ≦0.5 mm). Further, when the urging amount Z is 0.5 mm, the entering distance is more than −0.5 mm and not more than 0 mm (&gt;−0.5 mm and ≦0 mm). In these cases, in the neighborhood of the secondary transfer portion T 2 , the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  are separated from each other, so that a state in which the image defect due to the electric discharge is liable to generate is formed. 
     On the other hand, when the urging amount Z is 1.0 mm, the entering distance is more than 0 mm and not more than 0.5 mm (&gt;0 mm and ≦0.5 mm). Further, when the urging amount Z is 1.5 mm, the entering distance is more than 0.5 mm and not more than 1.0 mm (&lt;0.5 mm and ≦1.0 mm), and when the urging amount is 2.0 mm, the entering distance is more than 1.0 mm and not more than 1.5 mm (&gt;1.0 mm and ≦1.5 mm). In these cases where the entering distance is more than 0 mm, in the neighborhood of the secondary transfer portion T 2 , the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  are in close contact with each other, so that the improper transfer due to the electric discharge can be suppressed. In this embodiment, this can be achieved when the urging amount Z of the urging member  55  is 1.0 mm or more. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 UA* 1   
                 0.0 
                 0.5 
                 1.0 
                 1.5 
                 2.0 
               
               
                   
                 ED* 2   
                 &gt;−1.0 &amp;  
                 &gt;−0.5 &amp;  
                 &gt;0 &amp;  
                 &gt;0.5 &amp;  
                 &gt;1.0 &amp;  
               
               
                   
                   
                 ≦0.5 
                 ≦0.0 
                 ≦0.5 
                 ≦1.0 
                 ≦1.5 
               
               
                   
                 IT* 3   
                 x 
                 Δ 
                 ∘ 
                 ∘ 
                 ∘ 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 * 1 “US” is the urging amount (mm). 
               
               
                   
                 * 2 “ED” is the entering distance (mm) relative to the phantom flat surface E. 
               
               
                   
                 * 3 “IT” is the improper transfer. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Comparison Example 1 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of an arrangement of an outer secondary transfer roller in Comparison Example 1. As shown in  FIG. 6 , in Comparison Example 1, in contrast with Embodiment 1, the outer secondary transfer roller  10  is disposed so that the second intersection point S is located at a position upstream of the first intersection point O with respect to the feeding direction of the intermediary transfer belt  40 . In this case, the outer secondary transfer roller  10  raises the intermediary transfer belt  40  to a position higher than the phantom stretching surface  40 A on a side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 . Further, on a side upstream of the outer secondary transfer roller  10 , the urging member  55  presses the intermediary transfer belt  40  to a position lower than the phantom stretching surface  40 A, and therefore the intermediary transfer belt  40  forms an S-curve from the inner secondary transfer roller  42  to the urging member  55 . 
     In a process in which the intermediary transfer belt  40  moves from the urging member  55  to the inner secondary transfer roller  42  while forming the S-curve, it would be considered that the surface of the elastic layer  40   b  ( FIG. 2 ) of the intermediary transfer belt  40  expands and contracts in the feeding direction and thus the rubbed image generates. For this reason, with a softer and thicker elastic layer of the intermediary transfer belt  40 , a degree of expansion and contraction of the intermediary transfer belt surface between a projected portion and a recessed portion of the S-curve with respect to the feeding direction becomes larger and thus the rubbed image is conspicuous. 
     In Comparison Example 1, different from a state in which the intermediary transfer belt  40  is only pushed outwardly by the urging member  55  as in Embodiment 1, the intermediary transfer belt  40  is deformed by the outer secondary transfer roller  10  so that the S-curve having a large amplitude is drawn. For this reason, it would be considered that a degree of a change in thickness of the elastic layer of the intermediary transfer belt  40  is large on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  and thus the rubbed image due to the change in thickness of the elastic layer increases. 
     On the other hand, in Embodiment 1, a locus of the S-curve is not formed on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  or the amplitude of the S-curve is small, and therefore the degree of expansion and contraction of the surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  with respect to the feeding direction on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  is small. For this reason, it would be considered that the rubbed image becomes inconspicuous. 
     Comparison Example 2 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in order to prevent the vibration of the intermediary transfer belt  40 , in place of the provision of the urging member  55 , it would be also considered that a tension applied to the intermediary transfer belt  40  by the tension roller  41  is increased by a pressing spring  45 . This is because when the urging member  55  is not disposed, the amplitude of the S-curve of the intermediary transfer belt  40  on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  becomes small and thus the rubbed image does not readily generate. 
     However, a range in which there is a need to suppress the vibration is limited to a range of several 10 mm on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 , but it is undesirable that the tension of an entirety of the intermediary transfer belt  40  is increased. When the tension of the intermediary transfer belt  40  is increased, a driving load of the intermediary transfer belt  40  increases, so that a bearing lifetime of the stretching roller shortens. There is also a possibility that vibration and noise of the entire image forming apparatus become large. 
     In order to suppress the vibration of the intermediary transfer belt  40  in a limited region on the upstream side close to the secondary transfer portion T 2 , a method in which the urging member  55  is provided and caused to support the intermediary transfer belt  40  so as to project outwardly is effective. 
     Further, in Embodiment 1, the urging member  55  changes its position with respect to an urging direction of urging the inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  depending on an urging force received from the inner peripheral surface. For this reason, compared with the fixed supporting member as in JP-A 2002-82543 described above, the urging member  55  does not readily increase the contact pressure between the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40 . Accordingly, image disturbance and the rubbed image due to the increase in contact pressure between the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  do not readily generate. 
     Comparison Example 3 
     The improper transfer (the white dropout, the transfer back or the like) generating due to the vibration of the intermediary transfer belt  40  is liable to generate when a deterioration state of the toner progresses. For this reason, also by keeping a degree of the deterioration state of the toner in the developing device at a low level by forcedly consuming the toner periodically and then by supplying a fresh toner to the developing device, the generation of the improper transfer can be suppressed to some extent. 
     However, when the toner is forcedly consumed frequently, a consumption amount of the toner which is not used for image formation increases, so that a running cost of the image forming apparatus increases. For this reason, in order to prevent the improper transfer (the white dropout, the transfer back or the like) generating due to the vibration of the intermediary transfer belt  40 , it is more efficient that the urging member  55  is disposed at a position close to and upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  and thus the intermediary transfer belt  40  is projected outwardly. 
     (Influence of Elastic Layer) 
     As described above, the rubbed image is more liable to generate in the case where the intermediary transfer belt includes the elastic layer than in the case where the intermediary transfer belt does not include the elastic layer and is more liable to generate in the case where the intermediary transfer belt includes a thick elastic layer than in the case where the intermediary transfer belt includes a thin elastic layer. This may be attributable to the following reason. 
     The rubbed image is formed by relative movement of the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  in a movement direction in a contact state, and therefore is more conspicuous with an increasing surface speed difference between the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  in a contact region therebetween. The urging member  55  moves the intermediary transfer belt  40  in a thickness direction with a fluctuation in contact pressure of the recording material P with the intermediary transfer belt  40 . In the case where the intermediary transfer belt includes the thick elastic layer, a degree of increase and decrease of the pressure is alleviated with the movement of the intermediary transfer belt  40  in the thickness direction, and on the other hand, a degree of expansion and contraction of the elastic layer surface with respect to the feeding direction becomes large, so that the rubbed image is generated. 
     Alternatively, when the intermediary transfer belt  40  is projected outwardly by the urging member  55 , the intermediary transfer belt  40  including the elastic layer decreases in thickness in a process in which the intermediary transfer belt  40  passes through the urging member  55 , so that the surface speed thereof changes. The intermediary transfer belt  40  is larger in fluctuation of the surface speed, with a thicker and softer elastic layer, in the process in which the intermediary transfer belt  40  passes through the urging member  55 . For this reason, even when another factor is the same, the intermediary transfer belt  40  including the elastic layer causes a conspicuous rubbed image. 
     On the other hand, in Embodiment 1, the S-curve is not formed on the intermediary transfer belt  40  on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  or even when the S-curve is formed, the amplitude thereof is small. For this reason, the degree of expansion and contraction of the surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  with respect to the feeding direction on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  becomes small, so that the rubbed image becomes inconspicuous. 
     (Transfer Belt) 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in Embodiment 1, the outer secondary transfer roller  10  is disposed so that the second intersection point S is positioned downstream of the first intersection point O with respect to the feeding direction of the intermediary transfer belt  40 . For this reason, the intermediary transfer belt  40  does not form the S-curve formed by raising the intermediary transfer belt  40  by the outer secondary transfer roller  10  on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 . 
     However, in the case where the outer secondary transfer roller  10  is disposed downstream of the inner secondary transfer roller  42  with respect to the feeding direction, an attitude of the recording material P coming out of the secondary transfer portion T 2  faces in a direction in which the recording material P approaches the intermediary transfer belt  40 . For this reason, when the recording material P is thin paper having a low rigidity, the recording material P adheres to the intermediary transfer belt  40  and thus is liable to cause separation failure. 
     Therefore, in Embodiment 1, the transfer belt  12  is provided, so that the recording material P on which the toner images are transferred at the secondary transfer portion T 2  is forcedly separated from the intermediary transfer belt  40 . The transfer belt  12  electrostatically attracts the recording material P at the secondary transfer portion T 2  and separates the recording material P from the intermediary transfer belt  40  on an exit side of the secondary transfer portion T 2  to prevent a jam of the recording material P due to the separation failure. By using the transfer belt  12 , feeding of the thin paper in the secondary transfer portion T 2  is stabilized, so that it is also possible to suppress the image disturbance and the transfer non-uniformity. 
     Accordingly, in Embodiment 1, a problem, which is generated by disposing the second intersection point S downstream of the first intersection point O with respect to the feeding direction of the intermediary transfer belt  40 , is solved by the transfer belt  12 . 
     Effect of Embodiment 1 
     In Embodiment 1, the recording material P enters the secondary transfer portion T 2  in the close contact state with the intermediary transfer belt  40 , and therefore the electric discharge that would cause the improper transfer between the intermediary transfer belt  40  and the recording material P does not generate. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the generation of the image defect (the white dropout, the transfer back or the white flower) due to the electric discharge when the toner images are transferred onto the recording material P. 
     In Embodiment 1, the pressure, by which the portion of the recording material P nipped at the secondary transfer portion T 2 , upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 , urges upwardly the intermediary transfer belt  40  supported by the urging member  55 , is small. When the recording material P enters the secondary transfer portion T 2 , the force by which the recording material P is pressed against the intermediary transfer belt  40  on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  is reduced. For this reason, strong rubbing of the recording material P and the intermediary transfer belt  40  against each other on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  is eliminated, so that it is possible to reduce the rubbed image when the image is formed on the thick paper or the coated paper. Even on the high-rigidity thick paper or the high-rigidity coated paper, the rubbed image generated by strong rubbing between the recording material and the intermediary transfer belt  40  does not readily generate. 
     The image forming apparatus  100  in Embodiment 1 is capable of preventing the generation of the rubbed image due to the strong rubbing of the recording material and the intermediary transfer belt  40  against each other while preventing the generation of the image defect (the white dropout, the transfer back or the white flower) due to the electric discharge when the toner images are transferred onto the recording material P. 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIG. 7  is an illustration of an urging member in this embodiment. In Embodiment 1, on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2 , the sheet-shaped urging member of the elastic resin material was disposed and thus the intermediary transfer belt  40  was projected outwardly. On the other hand, in this embodiment, a roller-shaped urging member was disposed on the side upstream of the secondary transfer portion T 2  and thus the intermediary transfer belt  40  was projected outwardly. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a pair of unit frames of an intermediary transfer belt unit is provided with a rotation shaft  57   e  around which an arm  57   f  is rotatably mounted. At a rotation end of the arm  57   f , an urging roller  55 E is rotatably mounted and uniformly contacts the inner peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt  40  over a full width of the inner peripheral surface. The urging roller  55   e  is urged toward the intermediary transfer belt  40  by an urging spring  57   g  provided between the unit frame and the arm  57   f.    
     A positional relationship between the inner secondary transfer roller  42  and the outer secondary transfer roller  10  is the same as that in Embodiment 1. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the phantom stretching surface  40 A includes the common tangential line contacting the tension roller  41  and the inner secondary transfer roller  42  in common on the stretching side of the intermediary transfer belt  40  in a plane perpendicular to the rotation center of the inner secondary transfer roller  42 . The intersection point between the common tangential line and the rectilinear line which is perpendicular to the common tangential line and which passes through the rotation center of the inner secondary transfer roller  42  is the first intersection point O. The intersection point between the common tangential line and the rectilinear line which is perpendicular to the common tangential line and which passes through the rotation center of the outer secondary transfer roller  42  is the second intersection point S. In this case, the first intersection point O is positioned on the tension roller  41  side relative to the second intersection point S. When the distance Δx between the first intersection point O and the second intersection point S is defined as the offset distance Δx, the offset distance Δx is about 1.00 mm-2.5 mm. 
     The urging member disposed at the upstream position close to the secondary transfer portion T 2  is capable of preventing the vibration of the intermediary transfer belt  40  even when the urging member is the roller-shaped urging roller  55 E. Also an arrangement of the urging roller  55 E relative to the intermediary transfer belt  40  is similar to that in Embodiment 1. That is, the position where the urging roller  55 E urges the intermediary transfer belt  40  enters the outer secondary transfer roller  10  side relative to the phantom flat surface E ( FIG. 5 ). 
     Other Embodiments 
     In Embodiment 1, the embodiment in which the toner images were transferred onto the recording material P by using the transfer belt  12  stretched by the outer secondary transfer roller  10  was described. However, the present invention can also be carried out in an embodiment in which the secondary transfer portion T 2  is formed between the intermediary transfer belt  40  and the outer secondary transfer roller  10  without using the transfer belt  12 . 
     In Embodiment 1, the urging member  55  is supported by the unit frame of the intermediary transfer belt unit detachably mountable to the apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus  100 . However, the urging member  55  may also be supported by a frame (not shown) of the apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus  100 . 
     The image forming apparatus  100  may also be a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, a multi-function machine, and the like. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2015-112020 filed on Jun. 2, 2015, and 2016-040270 filed on Mar. 2, 2016, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.