Patent ID: 7392007

Claim:
An intermediate transfer system comprising an intermediate transfer belt whose position is changed with image forming requirement, and a cleaning member for removing residual toner left on a surface of the intermediate transfer belt, the intermediate transfer system being configured so as to transfer a first transfer image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt onto a recording medium for second transfer, wherein a position of the cleaning member is changed with the positional change of the intermediate transfer belt so that the contact state of the cleaning member with respect to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt is constant regardless of the positional change of the intermediate transfer belt, wherein the cleaning member is constituted by an elastic rubber blade and is provided with a storage portion for storing waste toner collected from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt by the elastic rubber blade, and the system comprises a tension roller over which the intermediate transfer belt is suspended and that is provided in a position opposed to the elastic rubber blade, and that can move so as to keep a tension of the intermediate transfer belt constant, wherein a cleaning unit is provided in a contact portion of the cleaning member with respect to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and the cleaning member is provided in the cleaning unit, and the cleaning unit is divided into at least two, and a portion that is obtained by the division and is provided with the cleaning member is supported by the tension roller and is configured so as to move in accordance with the positional change of the tension roller, and wherein portions that are obtained by dividing the cleaning unit are coupled by an elastic member, and the elastic member is constituted as an expandable coupling member.