Patent ID: 7583921

Claim:
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, which comprises: a belt member that is capable of cyclic rotation; a plurality of support members, along which the belt member is stretched; a first member that is located immediately adjacent to an inner face of the belt member; at least one transfer roller, wherein the first member holds the at least one transfer roller, and the first member is provided directly between the inner face of the belt member and the at least one transfer roller; and a regulator that is located opposite the inner face of the belt member, the regulator being at an opposite side of the first member with respect to the at least one transfer roller; wherein the regulator maintains a cyclic rotating state for the belt member while ensuring the first member is separated by a gap from the belt member; wherein the plurality of support members comprise a first roller and a second roller, and the belt member runs from the first roller to the second roller at an opposite side of the first member with respect to the at least one transfer roller; further comprising a cleaning unit for cleaning the belt member, the cleaning unit being provided at the opposite side of the first member with respect to the at least one transfer roller and being positioned downstream of the first roller with respect to a belt member rotation direction, wherein the cleaning unit cleans the belt member by pressing the belt member toward the first member; wherein the regulator is provided only at the opposite side of the first member with respect to the at least one transfer roller and is positioned downstream of the cleaning unit.