Patent ID: 7711301

Claim:
An image transfer device, comprising: an image carrier configured to carry an image and configured to primarily transfer the image at a first transfer nip onto an endless belt, the endless belt being supported by a first support member at the first transfer nip; and a secondary transfer member that is configured to secondarily transfer the image at a second transfer nip, the endless belt being supported by a second support member at the second transfer nip, wherein a portion of the endless belt that extends from a first contact point on the first support member to a second contact point on the second support member includes a deflection portion, wherein the endless belt makes direct contact with the first support member at the first contact point, the endless belt makes direct contact with the second support member at the second contact point and the portion of the endless belt is free of direct contact with any support members between the first contact point and the second contact point, and wherein the deflection portion includes a bulge so as to be offset from a straight line that extends between the first contact point and the second contact point, and wherein the endless belt is arranged in the image transfer device so as to be individually driven at the first transfer nip and the second transfer nip.