JP2005326617A - Transfer device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correct disturbance of an image transferred from an image carrier to a turning member. <P>SOLUTION: In a color printer 10, a photoreceptor drum 50 which is rotatively driven rotates an intermediate transfer belt 64, and a cleaning roll 84 which is rotatively driven transmits drive force to the intermediate transfer belt 64, when it is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 64. A toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 64 from the photoreceptor drum 50. Here, based on the rotating period of the intermediate transfer belt 64 calculated by detecting with a period sensor 96, a detection film 98 turned together with the intermediate transfer belt 64, a control device 20 controls the speed at which the intermediate transfer belt 64 is driven by the cleaning roll 84. Thus, even when the intermediate transfer belt 64 elongates and contracts in the direction of its rotation, the turning period of the intermediate transfer belt 64 can be made close to constant. Accordingly, disturbance of a toner image transferred from the photoreceptor drum 50 to the intermediate transfer belt 64 can be corrected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a transfer device that transfers an image to a rotating member that is rotated, and an image forming apparatus including the transfer device.

  As a transfer device, there is an apparatus in which toner images of different colors are superimposed and transferred from four photoconductors at different timings to an endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer member that is driven to rotate (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patents). Reference 2).

However, in this transfer apparatus, if the intermediate transfer member has elasticity in the rotation direction, the intermediate transfer member expands and contracts in the rotation direction. This causes a problem that the toner image transferred from the photosensitive member to the intermediate transfer member is disturbed (particularly, color misregistration due to registration misalignment) occurs.
JP 2003-66735 A JP 2003-66673 A

  In consideration of the above facts, the present invention provides a transfer device and an image forming apparatus capable of correcting the disturbance of an image transferred from an image carrier to a rotation member even when the rotation member has elasticity in the rotation direction. Objective.

  The transfer device according to claim 1, an image carrier that carries an image, a rotation member that is formed endlessly and is rotated, and the image carried on the image carrier is transferred; A driving member that transmits a driving force to the rotating member, and a control unit that controls the driving force transmitted from the driving member to the rotating member based on at least one of a rotating period and a rotating speed of the rotating member. And.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the transfer device according to the first aspect, the image bearing member rotationally drives the rotational member.

  The transfer device according to claim 3 is the transfer device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the driving member is in a driving state in which driving force is transmitted to the rotating member, and driving force is applied to the rotating member. The control means is configured so that at least one of a rotation period and a rotation speed of the rotation member is equal in the drive state and the non-drive state of the drive member. The driving force transmitted from the driving member to the rotating member is controlled.

  The transfer device according to claim 4 is the transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the driving member removes a transfer afterimage remaining on the rotating member. It is a feature.

  A transfer device according to a fifth aspect is the transfer device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the driving member is a roll that is rotationally driven.

  A transfer device according to a sixth aspect is the transfer device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the driving member is a brush that is rotationally driven.

  An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect includes the transfer device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the image transferred to the rotating member is transferred to a transfer medium. It is a feature.

  In the transfer device according to the first aspect, the image carried on the image carrier is transferred to a turning member that is formed in an endless shape and is turned. In addition, the driving member transmits a driving force to the rotating member.

  Here, the control means controls the driving force transmitted from the driving member to the rotating member based on at least one of the rotating period and the rotating speed of the rotating member. For this reason, even when the rotation member has elasticity in the rotation direction and the rotation member expands and contracts in the rotation direction, at least one of the rotation cycle and the rotation speed of the rotation member is made closer to a constant value. Therefore, the disturbance of the image transferred from the image carrier to the rotating member can be corrected.

  In the transfer device according to the second aspect, since the image carrier also has a function of rotationally driving the rotational member, it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of parts.

  In the transfer device according to the third aspect, the driving member can be switched between a driving state in which the driving force is transmitted to the rotating member and a non-driving state in which the driving force is not transmitted to the rotating member.

  Here, the control means transmits the driving force transmitted from the driving member to the rotating member so that at least one of the rotating period and the rotating speed of the rotating member is equal between the driving state and the non-driving state of the driving member. Control. For this reason, even when the rotation member changes with time or the environment changes, the disturbance of the image transferred from the image carrier to the rotation member can be corrected.

  In the transfer device according to the fourth aspect, since the drive member also has a function of removing the transfer afterimage left on the rotating member, it is possible to prevent the number of parts from increasing.

  In the transfer device according to the fifth aspect, since the driving member is a roll that is rotationally driven, the driving force can be transmitted to the rotating member by the rotationally driven roll.

  In the transfer device according to the sixth aspect, since the driving member is a brush that is driven to rotate, the driving force can be transmitted to the rotating member by the brush that is driven to rotate.

  An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect includes the transfer device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, and transfers the image transferred to the rotating member to a transfer medium. Therefore, the effect of any one of claims 1 to 6 can be achieved.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a color printer 10 as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment to which the transfer apparatus of the present invention is applied, viewed from the right side.

  The color printer 10 includes a color printer main body 12, and an open / close cover 16 that is rotatable about a rotation fulcrum 14 is provided on the upper portion of the color printer main body 12. In addition, a paper feeding unit 18 is disposed below the color printer main body 12.

  The paper feed unit 18 has a paper feed cassette 22 that stores recording paper P as a transfer medium. A feed roll 24 that feeds recording paper P from the paper feed cassette 22 and a retard roll 26 that scoops the supplied recording paper P one by one are arranged in the upper part near the rear end of the paper feed cassette 22.

  The conveyance path 28 is a path for the recording paper P from the feed roll 24 to the discharge port 30. The conveyance path 28 is in the vicinity of the back side (right side in FIG. 1) of the color printer main body 12 and is formed substantially vertically from the paper feeding unit 18 to the fixing device 90. A secondary transfer roll 80 and a secondary transfer backup roll 72 are arranged on the upstream side of the fixing device 90 in the conveyance path 28, and a resist roll 32 is arranged on the upstream side of the secondary transfer roll 80 and the secondary transfer backup roll 72. Has been. In addition, a discharge roll 34 is disposed in the vicinity of the discharge port 30 of the conveyance path 28.

  Accordingly, the recording paper P sent out from the paper feeding cassette 22 of the paper feeding unit 18 by the feed roll 24 is turned by the retard roll 26 and only the uppermost recording paper P is guided to the transport path 28, and is fed by the registration roll 32. At this time, the toner image is transferred between the secondary transfer roll 80 and the endless belt-like intermediate transfer belt 64 (secondary transfer backup roll 72) as a rotating member. The toner image thus fixed is fixed by the fixing device 90, and is discharged from the discharge port 30 to the discharge portion 36 provided on the upper part of the opening / closing cover 16 by the discharge roll 34. The discharge portion 36 has a low discharge port 30 and is inclined so as to gradually increase toward the front direction (left direction in FIG. 1).

  The color printer main body 12 is provided with a rotary developing device 38 at a substantially central portion. The rotary developing device 38 has four colors of yellow (Yellow) as the first color, magenta (Magenta) as the second color, cyan (Cyan) as the third color, and black (Black) as the fourth color. Developer units 42a to 42d for forming the toner images respectively, and rotate counterclockwise (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) about the rotary developing device center 44. Each of the developing devices 42a to 42d has developing rolls 46a to 46d, and is pressed in the normal direction (radial direction) of the developing device main body 40 by elastic bodies 48a to 48d such as coil springs.

  An intermediate transfer device 62 as a transfer device is provided around the rotary developing device 38 (particularly on the back side (right side in FIG. 1) and the upper side). The intermediate transfer device 62 has a photosensitive drum 50 as an image carrier (photosensitive member), and the photosensitive drum 50 is driven to rotate about a rotation support shaft 49. The photosensitive drum 50 is disposed so as to contact the developing device main body 40, and the developing rolls 46 a to 46 d are not in contact with the photosensitive drum 50, and a part of the outer periphery of each of the developing rollers 46 a to 46 d. It protrudes by about 2 mm in the radial direction from the outer periphery of. Further, a tracking roll (not shown) having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the developing rolls 46a to 46d is provided at both ends of each of the developing rolls 46a to 46d so as to rotate coaxially with the developing rolls 46a to 46d. Yes. In other words, the developing devices 42 a to 42 d are arranged on the outer periphery of the developing device main body 40 at intervals of 90 ° with the rotary developing device center 44 as the center, and the tracking rolls of the developing rollers 46 a to 46 d are disposed at both ends of the photosensitive drum 50. The latent image on the photosensitive drum 50 is developed with toner of each color while abutting against a provided flange (not shown) and forming a predetermined gap between the developing rolls 46a to 46d and the photosensitive drum 50. To do.

  A charging roll 52 is provided below the photosensitive drum 50, and a charging bias is applied to the charging roll 52 to uniformly charge the photosensitive drum 50. A photosensitive drum cleaner 54 is provided so as to hang from the rotation spindle 49 of the photosensitive drum 50, and the photosensitive drum 50 and the photosensitive drum cleaner 54 are integrated. The photoreceptor drum cleaner 54 includes a cleaning blade 56 that scrapes waste toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 50 after primary transfer, and a toner collection case 58 that collects waste toner scraped by the cleaning blade 56.

  Note that a rib or the like is formed on the back side (right side in FIG. 1) of the toner recovery case 58, and the recording paper P is curved to form a part of the transport path 28.

  On the lower back side of the rotary developing device 38, an exposure device 60 for writing a latent image on the photosensitive drum 50 charged by the charging roll 52 with a light beam such as a laser beam is disposed.

  Above the rotary developing device 38, the toner image visualized by the rotary developing device 38 is primarily transferred at the primary transfer position, and the secondary transfer position (nip portion between the secondary transfer roll 80 and the secondary transfer backup roll 72). An intermediate transfer belt 64 is provided for transporting up to.

  The intermediate transfer belt 64 has elasticity and is stretched substantially flat so as to have a long side and a short side above the rotary developing device 38. The long sides on both sides of the intermediate transfer belt 64 are stretched so as to be substantially parallel to the discharge portion 36 provided on the upper portion of the color printer main body 12.

  The intermediate transfer belt 64 includes a wrap-in roll 68 disposed upstream of the primary transfer roll 66 on the lower side of the intermediate transfer belt 64, and a wrap-out roll 70 disposed downstream of the primary transfer roll 66. A primary transfer portion (photosensitive drum wrap region) that comes into contact with the photoconductive drum 50 in a lap form, is partially wound around the photoconductive drum 50, and is rotated by the photoconductive drum 50 to be driven by the photoconductive drum 50. Following the rotation of 50, it rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. As described above, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 50 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 64 by the primary transfer roll 66 on the toner carrying surface (outer surface) at different timings in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The toner image is primarily transferred so as to overlap a predetermined range, and the primarily transferred toner image is conveyed toward the secondary transfer roll 80. Note that the wrap-in roll 68 and the wrap-out roll 70 are separated from the photosensitive drum 50.

  As described above, the intermediate transfer belt 64 is stretched by five rolls of the wrap-in roll 68, the wrap-out roll 70, the secondary transfer backup roll 72, the cleaning backup roll 74, and the brush backup roll 76, and the primary transfer roll 66, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 50 is primarily transferred.

  As described above, the interval between the cleaning backup roll 74 and the brush backup roll 76 is arranged such that the intermediate transfer belt 64 has a short side when the intermediate transfer belt 64 is stretched substantially flat so as to have a long side and a short side. ing. For this reason, the intermediate transfer device 62 is reduced in size as compared with the configuration in which the interval between the cleaning backup roll 74 and the brush backup roll 76 is wide.

  Further, a flat portion (short side) is formed on the back side (right side surface in FIG. 1) of the intermediate transfer belt 64 by a wrap-out roll 70 and a secondary transfer backup roll 72, and this flat portion is the secondary transfer portion. It faces the transport unit 28.

  In the secondary transfer portion, the wrap-out roll 70 is disposed so that the intermediate transfer belt 64 and the conveyance path 28 are at an angle of about 12 °.

  The cleaning backup roll 74 assists the cleaning roll 84 as a driving member (roll), which will be described later, adsorbs and removes waste toner (residual toner image) as a transfer residual image remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 64 after the secondary transfer. The brush backup roll 76 assists the brush roll 86 (to be described later) scraping off the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 64 after the secondary transfer.

  A reflective photosensor 78 is provided above the upper long side of the intermediate transfer belt 64 by being fixed to the back surface (inside) of the opening / closing cover 16. The reflective photosensor 78 reads a toner patch formed on the intermediate transfer belt 64, detects the position of the intermediate transfer belt 64 in the rotational direction, and detects the density of the toner image.

  A periodic sensor 96 is provided below one end in the width direction of the lower long side of the intermediate transfer belt 64, and the periodic sensor 96 is fixed to the color printer main body 12. On the other hand, a detection film 98 is fixed to one end of the intermediate transfer belt 64 in the width direction, and the periodic sensor 96 detects the detection film 98 that is rotated together with the intermediate transfer belt 64.

  A secondary transfer roll 80 is opposed to the secondary transfer backup roll 72 of the intermediate transfer device 62 with the conveyance path 28 interposed therebetween. That is, the secondary transfer position in the secondary transfer portion is between the secondary transfer roll 80 and the secondary transfer backup roll 72, and the secondary transfer roll 80 is intermediate with the assistance of the secondary transfer backup roll 72. The toner image primarily transferred to the transfer belt 64 is secondarily transferred to the recording paper P at the secondary transfer position.

  Here, the secondary transfer roll 80 is primarily transferred while the intermediate transfer belt 64 rotates three times, that is, the first to third color yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 64. The intermediate transfer belt 64 is spaced apart from the intermediate transfer belt 64. When the black toner image of the fourth color is superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 64 and is primarily transferred, at least the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 64 is transferred to the secondary transfer backup roll. The secondary transfer roll 80 abuts against the intermediate transfer belt 64 while passing the position 72. If there is no influence of the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 described below, the rotation speed of the intermediate transfer belt 64 is controlled by the rotation speed of the photosensitive drum 50, so that the secondary transfer roll 80 is separated. And when the secondary transfer roll 80 is in contact.

  In addition, a predetermined potential difference is generated between the secondary transfer roll 80 and the secondary transfer backup roll 72, and when the secondary transfer roll 80 is set to a high voltage, the secondary transfer backup roll 72 is connected to the ground (GND).

  The intermediate transfer device 62 is provided with an intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82, and the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is disposed at the front side end of the intermediate transfer belt 64. The intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 includes a charge control sheet 81, a cleaning roll 84, a brush roll 86, a toner collection case 88, and a swing support shaft 89, and swings about the swing support shaft 89. By this swinging, the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 has a contact position (position in FIG. 1) where the charge control sheet 81, the cleaning roll 84 and the brush roll 86 are in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 64, and the front surface from the intermediate transfer belt 64. It moves between the separated positions that are separated to the side.

  Here, the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is disposed at a spaced position while the second to fourth color magenta, cyan, and black toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 64 and are primarily transferred. Before the rotating tip of the toner image (waste toner) after the secondary transfer on the transfer belt 64 reaches the position of the cleaning backup roll 74 (primary transfer of the fourth color toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 64 is completed. The intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 may be used while the intermediate transfer belt 64 rotates at least once (including the time during which the next yellow toner image of the first color is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 64). Is arranged at the contact position.

  Further, when the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is swung from the separated position to the contact position, when the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is disposed at the contact position, and when the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is separated from the contact position. When being swung to the right, the cleaning roll 84 is driven to rotate. Accordingly, when the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is disposed at the contact position, the cleaning roller 84 transmits a driving force (rotational power) in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 to the intermediate transfer belt 64. Accordingly, the cleaning roller 84 is in a driving state where the driving force is transmitted to the intermediate transfer belt 64 (a state where the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is disposed at the contact position) and in a non-driving state where the driving force is not transmitted to the intermediate transfer belt 64. (A state where the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is disposed at the separation position). The brush roll 86 is driven to rotate in the same manner as the cleaning roll 84.

  A predetermined bias voltage (for example, 1700 V) is applied to the charge control sheet 81. When the charge control sheet 81 comes into contact with the toner carrying surface of the intermediate transfer belt 64, the toner on the toner carrying surface is charged. Control the amount of charge.

  The cleaning roll 84 is made of metal and is formed in a columnar shape or a cylindrical shape. The cleaning roll 84 is grounded and maintained at a potential of 0 V. When the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is disposed at the contact position, the toner of the intermediate transfer belt 64 whose charge is controlled by the charge control sheet 81. The toner on the carrying surface is electrostatically adsorbed and removed (cleaned) from the toner carrying surface.

  The brush roll 86 is made of a brush made of acrylic or the like that has been subjected to conductive treatment. When the brush roll 86 comes into contact with the toner carrying surface of the intermediate transfer belt 64, the waste toner remaining after the removal by the cleaning roll 84 is further scraped off. Remove (clean).

  The toner collection case 88 collects the waste toner removed by the cleaning roll 84 and the brush roll 86.

  The intermediate transfer device 62 is provided with a control device 20 as a control means, and the control device 20 is disposed in the color printer main body 12. The control device 20 is connected to a rotation drive source of the cycle sensor 96 and the cleaning roll 84. The control device 20 detects the rotation cycle of the intermediate transfer belt 64 calculated by the cycle sensor 96 detecting the detection film 98. Based on this, the rotational speed of the cleaning roll 84 is controlled.

  A fixing device 90 is disposed above the secondary transfer position. The fixing device 90 includes a heating roll 92 and a pressure roll 94, and fixes the toner image secondarily transferred to the recording paper P by the secondary transfer roll 80 and the secondary transfer backup roll 72 to the recording paper P. It is conveyed toward the discharge roll 34. The discharge roll 34 discharges the recording paper P from the discharge port 30 to a discharge unit 36 provided at the upper part of the opening / closing cover 16.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  In the color printer 10 having the above configuration, the intermediate transfer belt 64 is rotationally driven by the photosensitive drum 50 that is rotationally driven.

  When the image forming signal is sent, the photosensitive drum 50 is uniformly charged by the charging roll 52, and a light beam is emitted from the exposure device 60 to the charged photosensitive drum 50 based on the image signal. The light beam from the exposure device 60 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 50 to form a latent image. Further, each time the photosensitive drum 50 is rotated by rotating the intermediate transfer belt 64 once, the developing device main body 40 of the rotary developing device 38 is rotated by 90 °, whereby the intermediate transfer belt 64 of the photosensitive drum 50 is rotated. The yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images of the first to fourth colors are separately developed (formed) on the photosensitive drum 50 on which the latent image is formed by the exposure device 60 for each rotation of rotating the image by one rotation. Is done. Each color toner image developed (carrying) on the photosensitive drum 50 is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 64 separately on each rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 64. Waste toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 50 in the primary transfer of the toner images of the respective colors is scraped off by the cleaning blade 56 of the photosensitive drum cleaner 54 and collected in the toner collecting case 58.

  On the other hand, the recording paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 22 by a paper feed signal or the like is sent out by the feed roll 24, turned by the retard roll 26, led to the transport path 28, and temporarily stopped by the registration roll 32, It is guided between the secondary transfer roll 80 and the secondary transfer backup roll 72 with timing. When the recording paper P is guided between the secondary transfer roll 80 and the secondary transfer backup roll 72, the toner images on which the four colors that have been primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 64 are superimposed are transferred to the secondary transfer roll 80 and the secondary transfer roll 80. Secondary transfer is performed on the recording paper P by the next transfer backup roll 72.

  The intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is disposed at a separated position while the magenta, cyan, and black toner images of the second to fourth colors are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 64 and are primarily transferred. Before the leading end of the toner image (waste toner) after the secondary transfer reaches the position of the cleaning backup roll 74 (before the primary transfer of the fourth color toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 64 is completed). ) Until the intermediate transfer belt 64 rotates at least once (including the time during which the next yellow toner image of the first color is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 64), the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is in the contact position. Placed in. Therefore, the waste toner remaining on the toner carrying surface of the intermediate transfer belt 64 in the secondary transfer is removed by the cleaning roll 84 and the brush roll 86 of the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 disposed at the contact position, and the toner recovery case. 88 is recovered.

  The recording paper P to which the toner image has been transferred is guided to the fixing device 90, and the toner image is fixed by the thermal pressure of the heating roll 92 and the pressure roll 94. The recording paper P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged from the discharge port 30 to the discharge unit 36 by the discharge roll 34.

  Next, a control operation by the control device 20 of the rotation cycle of the intermediate transfer belt 64 having elasticity in the rotation direction will be described according to the flowchart of FIG.

In the initial state, and is set to n = 0, in step 100, while being rotationally driving the cleaning roll 84 at a speed V _n, by swinging the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 from the separated position to the contact position, A cleaning process (removal process of waste toner remaining on the toner carrying surface) of the intermediate transfer belt 64 by the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is started (ON).

  In step 102, as shown in FIG. 3A, the yellow toner image of the first color from the photosensitive drum 50 is rotated together with the intermediate transfer belt 64 within a period including the time during the primary transfer. The period sensor 96 detects the moved detection film 98 to calculate (detect) the rotation period Tn during the cleaning process of the intermediate transfer belt 64.

In step 104, in the state of driving rotation of the cleaning roller 84 at a speed V _n, by swinging the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 from the contact position to the separated position, the intermediate transfer by the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 Belt 64 This cleaning process ends (OFF).

  In step 106, the magenta toner image of the second color is superposed on the intermediate transfer belt 64 from the photosensitive drum 50 and is primarily transferred. In step 108, the cyan toner image of the third color is transferred from the photosensitive drum 50 to the intermediate transfer belt 64. The period sensor 96 detects the detection film 98 rotated together with the intermediate transfer belt 64 as shown in FIG. 3B within a period including the period during which the primary transfer is superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt. The rotation period TRn during 64 non-cleaning processes is calculated (detected).

In step 110, the black toner image of the fourth color is superposed on the intermediate transfer belt 64 for primary transfer from the photosensitive drum 50, and in step 112, the intermediate transfer with respect to the rotation period TRn during the non-cleaning process of the intermediate transfer belt 64 is performed. The ratio R _n (Tn / TRn) of the rotation period Tn during the cleaning process of the belt 64 is calculated.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable that R _n is an allowable range of Ra (for example, 0.8) or more and Rb (for example, 1.2) or less. When R _n is less than Ra, the amount of contraction by the cleaning roll 84 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 64 increases, whereas when R _n is greater than Rb, the cleaning roll 84 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 64 increases. And the toner image primarily transferred from the photosensitive drum 50 to the intermediate transfer belt 64 is disturbed (particularly during the primary transfer of the first color toner image and the primary transfer of the second to fourth color toner images). Color misregistration due to misregistration).

Therefore, in step 114, it is determined whether R _n is larger than Rb. In step 114, when R _n is larger than Rb, the amount of elongation by the cleaning roll 84 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 64 is large. Therefore, in step 116, the rotational driving speed V _{(n +} of the cleaning roll 84). ₁₎ is set to V _n +1 step and is increased by ₁ step (constant speed). Thereby, the amount of elongation by the cleaning roll 84 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 64 can be reduced.

In step 114, if R _n is equal to or less than Rb, it is determined in step 118 whether R _n is less than Ra. In step 118, if R _n is less than Ra, the amount of shrinkage by the cleaning roll 84 in the rotational direction of the intermediate transfer belt 64 is large, so in step 120, the rotational driving speed V _{(n +} of the cleaning roll 84). ₁₎ is set to V _n −1 step and is decreased by ₁ step (constant speed). Thereby, the amount of shrinkage by the cleaning roll 84 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 64 can be reduced.

In step 118, when R _n is _equal to or higher than Ra, in step 122, the rotational drive speed V _{(n + 1)} of the cleaning roll 84 is set to V _n and is not changed.

After the processing of step 116, step 120, or step 122 is completed, in step 124, n = n + 1 is set, and the process returns to step 100, so that the setting in step 116, step 120, or step 122 is performed. While the cleaning roll 84 is driven to rotate at the speed V _{(n + 1)} , the intermediate transfer belt 64 is cleaned, and thereafter the same processing is repeated.

  As described above, the control device 20 controls the driving speed (rotation driving speed) of the intermediate transfer belt 64 by the cleaning roll 84 based on the rotation cycle of the intermediate transfer belt 64. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, even when the intermediate transfer belt 64 has elasticity in the rotation direction and the intermediate transfer belt 64 expands and contracts in the rotation direction, the rotation cycle of the intermediate transfer belt 64 is constant. The toner image primarily transferred from the photosensitive drum 50 to the intermediate transfer belt 64 is disturbed (particularly during the primary transfer of the first color toner image and during the primary transfer of the second to fourth color toner images). Color misregistration due to registration misalignment) can be corrected.

  In addition, the control device 20 controls the driving speed of the intermediate transfer belt 64 by the cleaning roll 84 so that the rotation cycle of the intermediate transfer belt 64 is equal during the cleaning process and the non-cleaning process of the intermediate transfer belt 64. To do. Therefore, even when the intermediate transfer belt 64 changes with time or changes in environment, it is possible to correct the disturbance of the toner image primarily transferred from the photosensitive drum 50 to the intermediate transfer belt 64.

  Further, not only when the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is disposed at the contact position, but also when the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is swung from the separated position to the contact position, and when the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 82 is contacted. The cleaning roll 84 is also driven to rotate when it is swung from the position to the separation position. When the cleaning roll 84 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 64 and when the cleaning roll 84 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 64, it is possible to prevent a large load from acting on the intermediate transfer belt 64 from the cleaning roll 84.

  Furthermore, since the photosensitive drum 50 also has a function of rotationally driving the intermediate transfer belt 64, an increase in the number of parts can be prevented.

  In addition, since the cleaning roll 84 also has a function of removing waste toner from the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 64, an increase in the number of parts can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the control device 20 is driven to transmit from the cleaning roll 84 to the intermediate transfer belt 64 so that the rotation cycle of the intermediate transfer belt 64 is always equal based on the rotation cycle of the intermediate transfer belt 64. Although the configuration is such that the force is controlled, the control device 20 always has at least one of the rotation cycle and the rotation speed of the intermediate transfer belt 64 based on at least one of the rotation cycle and the rotation speed of the intermediate transfer belt 64. The driving force transmitted from the cleaning roll 84 to the intermediate transfer belt 64 may be controlled as long as it is.

  In the present embodiment, the driving member of the present invention is configured as the cleaning roll 84 (roll). However, in addition to or instead of this, the driving member of the present invention is replaced with the brush roll 86 (brush). It is good also as the structure which carried out.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the transfer medium of the present invention is configured as the recording paper P, but the transfer medium of the present invention may be configured as an OHP sheet.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is configured as the color printer 10, but the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine.

It is sectional drawing seen from the right side which shows schematic structure of the color printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a control operation by the control device for the rotation cycle of the intermediate transfer belt in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a graph explaining the calculation method of the rotation period Tn during the cleaning process of the intermediate transfer belt in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a graph for explaining a calculation method of a rotation period TRn during the non-cleaning process of the intermediate transfer belt in the color printer. In the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention, the ratio R _n of the rotation period Tn during the cleaning process of the intermediate transfer belt to the rotation period TRn during the non-cleaning process of the intermediate transfer belt and the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 64 It is a graph which shows the relationship between the shrinkage amount by the cleaning roll 84 to a moving direction.

Explanation of symbols

10 Color printer (image forming device)
20 Control device (control means)
50 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
62 Intermediate transfer device (transfer device)
64 Intermediate transfer belt (rotating member)
84 Cleaning roll (drive member, roll)
P Recording paper (transfer medium)

Claims (7)

An image carrier for carrying an image;
A rotating member that is endlessly formed and rotated and to which the image carried on the image carrier is transferred;
A driving member for transmitting a driving force to the rotating member;
Control means for controlling a driving force transmitted from the driving member to the rotating member based on at least one of a rotating period and a rotating speed of the rotating member;
A transfer device.   The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier rotates the rotation member. The driving member can be switched between a driving state in which driving force is transmitted to the rotating member and a non-driving state in which driving force is not transmitted to the rotating member,
The control means transmits a driving force transmitted from the driving member to the rotating member so that at least one of a rotation period and a rotating speed of the rotating member is equal in a driving state and a non-driving state of the driving member. To control the
The transfer apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the driving member removes a transfer afterimage remaining on the rotating member.   The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the driving member is a roll that is driven to rotate.   The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the driving member is a brush that is rotationally driven.   An image forming apparatus comprising the transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the image transferred to the rotating member is transferred to a transfer medium.

Images