JP6554262B2 - Image transfer method, image transfer apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a novel image transfer method, an image transfer apparatus, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  In the conventional image transfer method, a method of transferring from a transfer source carrying an image formed by a developer to a transfer destination using a transfer electric field, pressing an image of a transfer source formed of ink against a transfer destination, and transferring There is a transfer method to Patent Documents 1 and 2 are examples of transferring an image in a transfer portion formed by a roller and a roller or a roller and a belt.

In the conventional image transfer method, when transferring an image using a transfer electric field, a member for generating the transfer electric field and a power source are required, which is a hindrance to achieving cost reduction. In addition, the transfer electric field varies depending on environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, and the transfer state also varies depending on the temperature and humidity of the transfer destination, so materials and controls that are not affected by these environmental conditions are required. . In the case of a system in which an image formed with ink is pressed against a transfer destination and transferred, the transfer rate tends to be low.
Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe what transfers an image at a transfer portion. However, since the image transferred at the transfer portion passes through the transfer portion, the transferred image is foreseeable. Be done.
An object of the present invention is to achieve good image transfer that is hardly affected by a transfer electric field or environmental conditions.

In order to achieve the above object, in the image transfer method according to the present invention, an image carrier as a transfer source carrying an image is brought into contact with a transfer target as a transfer destination to which an image on the image carrier is transferred. At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer body, the moving direction of the image carrier and the moving direction of the transfer body are opposite to each other, and the relative velocity difference between the image carrier and the transfer body There are, the image on the image carrier, and to sequentially transferred to the transfer receiving material in a direction that does not Passing through contact portion without using the transfer electric field.

  According to the present invention, it is difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of an image transfer apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing a second embodiment of the image transfer apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view showing a third embodiment of the image transfer apparatus according to the present invention. The figure which shows 4th Embodiment of the image transfer apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fifth embodiment of an image transfer device according to the invention. FIG. 6 is a view showing a sixth embodiment of the image transfer apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view showing a seventh embodiment of the image transfer apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a view showing an eighth embodiment of the image transfer apparatus according to the present invention. The figure which shows 9th Embodiment of the image transfer apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a tenth embodiment of the image transfer device according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an eleventh embodiment of the image transfer device according to the present invention. The figure which shows 12th Embodiment of the image transfer apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 13th Embodiment of the image transfer apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a fourteenth embodiment of the image transfer device according to the present invention and a modification thereof. FIG. 2 illustrates the principle of image transfer of the image transfer apparatus according to the present invention. The figure which shows 15th Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 16th Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 17th Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an image forming apparatus for forming an image with ink. FIG. 33 shows a modification of the sixteenth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 51 shows a modification of the seventeenth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The enlarged view explaining the composition and modification of the contact member concerning the present invention. The enlarged view showing the modification of the contact member concerning the present invention. The figure which shows 18th Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 19th Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 20th Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 21st Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 22nd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows 23rd Embodiment of the image transfer apparatus which made the contact member the rotary body. The figure which shows 24th Embodiment of the image transfer apparatus which has an auxiliary means. It is a figure explaining the form of an auxiliary member, (a) is an enlarged drawing of the contact state of the auxiliary member of the flat surface and the contact member of the contact surface, (b) is an auxiliary member and contact member as a rotating body. The enlarged view of a contact state, (c) is an enlarged view of the contact state of a deformable auxiliary member and an abutting member. It is a figure explaining the contact state of the auxiliary member as a rotary body, and an abutting member, (a) is an enlarged view showing the state where an auxiliary member rotates with rotation of an abutting member, (b) is an auxiliary member drives 6 (c) is an enlarged view showing a state where the auxiliary member is rotated by the cleaning member. FIG. It is a figure which shows one form of the support mechanism of a contact member and an auxiliary member, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. It is a figure which shows another form of the support mechanism of a contact member and an auxiliary member, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, an image transfer apparatus and an image transfer direction will be described, and then an image forming apparatus provided with the image transfer apparatus will be described.
A plurality of embodiments relating to an image transfer apparatus and an image transfer direction will be described using FIGS. 1 to 14. In each embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same members, and the description thereof is omitted in the subsequent embodiments.

First Embodiment
An image transfer device 301 shown in FIG. 1 includes a roller-shaped image carrier 1 as a transfer source on which an image 30 is carried on its surface (hereinafter referred to as “image carrier surface”) 1a. The image 30 is provided with a transfer target 2 that is a transfer destination transferred onto the surface (hereinafter referred to as “transfer target surface”) 2a. The image carrier surface 1a and the transfer target surface 2a are in contact with each other to form a contact portion 6. When the image transfer apparatus 301 according to this embodiment is applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, if the image carrier 1 is a photosensitive body, the transfer body 2 corresponds to an intermediate transfer belt.

The image carrier 1 is rotationally moved counterclockwise in the figure by a drive motor M1 serving as a drive source.
The transfer target 2 is wound around rollers 3, 4 and 5 serving as a plurality of rotating bodies and is given tension. Among the plurality of rollers, the roller 3 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing by the drive motor M2, and the other rollers 4 and 5 are driven to rotate as the roller 3 is rotationally driven. For this reason, the transfer target 2 rotates and moves counterclockwise.
In this embodiment, at the contact portion 6 between the image carrier surface 1a and the transfer surface 2a, the image 30 on the image carrier 1 does not pass through the contact portion 6 to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 1. It is configured to be able to move sequentially to the transfer object 2 in the direction.
That is, at the contact portion 6, the relative movement direction between the image carrier surface 1a and the transfer target surface 2a is reversed. In this embodiment, the rotational directions of the image carrier 1 and the transfer medium 2 by the drive motors M1 and M2 are set to be the same in the same direction.
At the contact portion 6, the image carrier 1 and the transfer body 2 are rotated by the drive motors M <b> 1 and M <b> 2 so that the movement direction of the image carrier surface 1 a and the transfer surface 2 a are opposite to each other. Move. In the contact portion 6 in FIG. 1, the image carrier surface 1a moves from left to right, and the transferred object surface 2a moves from right to left.

The inventors of the present invention created a model of such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 1, and tested the intermediate transfer belt as the transfer target 2. On the other hand, the moving direction of the image receiving member 2 does not penetrate downstream of the contact portion 6 in the rotational direction of the image carrier 1 and does not penetrate downstream of the contact portion 6 in the rotational direction of the image carrier 1 , It could be confirmed to sequentially transfer to the transferred body 2.
Therefore, the image 30 on the image carrier 1 can be transferred to the transfer body 2 without applying a transfer bias to the transfer body 2 and generating a transfer electric field at the contact portion 6 as in the prior art. it can. Further, since no transfer electric field is used, there is no variation in transfer state due to transfer electric field due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, and transfer destination temperature and humidity. Therefore, when transferring the image 30 from the image carrier 1 to the transfer target 2, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

Second Embodiment
In the image transfer device 302 shown in FIG. 2, the image carrier 1 on which the image 30 is carried on the image carrier surface 1a, and the image 30 on the image carrier (hereinafter referred to as "transferred material surface") And a transfer target 20 as a transfer destination to be transferred to 20a. The image carrier surface 1a and the transfer target surface 20a are in contact with each other to form a contact portion 60. When the image transfer apparatus 302 according to the present embodiment is applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, when the image carrier 1 is a photoreceptor, the transfer target 20 corresponds to a recording sheet. Alternatively, in the case of the intermediate transfer method, when the image carrier 1 is a photosensitive member, the transfer target 20 is an intermediate transfer belt, and when the image carrier 1 is an intermediate transfer belt, the transfer target 20 corresponds to a recording sheet. To do.
The transfer medium 20 is opposite to the moving direction of the image carrier surface 1a at the contact portion 60 between the image carrier surface 1a and the transfer medium surface 2a by the conveyance roller pairs 7 and 8 rotationally driven by the drive motor M3. Transported in the direction.
That is, in the present embodiment, in the contact portion 60 between the image carrier surface 1 a and the transfer target surface 20 a, the image 30 on the image carrier 1 is sunk downstream of the contact portion 60 in the rotational direction of the image carrier 1. It is configured to be able to sequentially move to the transfer target 20 in a direction that does not come off.

The inventors of the present application created a model of such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 1, and tested the recording paper as a transfer target body 20. Thus, in the moving direction of the transfer target 20, which does not pass through the contact portion 60 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 1 and does not pass through the contact portion 60 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 1. It was confirmed that the transfer to the transfer target 20 was performed sequentially.
Therefore, the image 30 on the image carrier 1 can be transferred to the transfer receiving body 20 without generating a transfer electric field in the contact portion 60 as in the prior art, so the transfer electric field due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity Also, variations in the transfer state due to the temperature and humidity of the transfer destination are eliminated. Therefore, when transferring the image 30 from the image carrier 1 to the transfer-receiving member 20, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

Third Embodiment
The image transfer apparatus 303 shown in FIG. 3 includes a belt-like image carrier 10 on which the image 30 is carried on the image carrier surface 10a, and a transfer target on which the image 30 on the image carrier is transferred to the transfer member surface 2a. A body 2 and an abutting member 11 that abuts the transferred body 2 via the image carrier 10 are provided. The image carrier surface 10a and the transfer surface 2a are in contact with each other to form a contact portion 61. When the image transfer apparatus 303 according to this embodiment is applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, if the image carrier 1 is a belt-like photosensitive body, the transfer target 20 corresponds to an intermediate transfer belt.
The image carrier 10 is stretched around the rollers 12 and 13 and the contact member 11 as a plurality of rotating bodies. Among the plurality of rollers, the roller 12 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing by the drive motor M4, and the roller 13 is driven to rotate as the roller 12 is rotationally driven. For this reason, the image carrier 10 rotates counterclockwise. The contact member 11 is formed of a plate material, and the tip end portion 11 a is in contact with the transferred object 2 at the contact portion 61 via the image carrier 10.
In this embodiment, at the contact portion 61 between the image carrier surface 10a and the transfer receiving surface 2a, the image 30 on the image carrier 10 does not pass through the contact portion 61 to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 10. It is configured to be able to move sequentially to the transfer object 2 in the direction. That is, in the contact portion 61, the relative movement direction between the image carrier surface 10a and the transferred object surface 2a is reverse. In this embodiment, the rotational directions of the image carrier 10 and the transfer medium 2 by the drive motors M3 and M4 are set to be opposite to each other.

The inventors of the present application created a model having such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 10, and tested the intermediate transfer belt as the transferred body 2. The image was transferred to the transferred body 2. On the other hand, the moving direction of the transfer target 2 is such that it does not dive downstream of the contact portion 61 in the rotation direction of the image carrier 10 and does not dive downstream of the contact portion 61 in the rotation direction of the image carrier 10. In FIG. 3, it was confirmed that the transfer to the transfer target 2 was performed sequentially. In addition, the image transfer was better than that of the first embodiment.
Therefore, it is possible to transfer the image 30 on the image carrier 10 to the transfer body 2 without applying a transfer bias to the transfer body 2 and generating a transfer electric field at the contact portion 61 as in the prior art. it can. Further, since no transfer electric field is used, there is no variation in transfer state due to transfer electric field due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, and transfer destination temperature and humidity. Therefore, when transferring the image 30 from the image carrier 10 to the transfer target 2, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved. Further, in this embodiment, since the contact member 11 is provided as compared with the first embodiment, when the image carrier 10 rotates and reaches the contact portion 61, it passes over the contact member 11. Therefore, it is presumed that the image 30 was transferred from the image carrier 10 to the transfer target 2 and the transfer was performed well. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

Fourth Embodiment
An image transfer apparatus 304 shown in FIG. 4 uses the image carrier 10 of the third embodiment instead of the image carrier 1 of the second embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, the image carrier surface 10a and the transferred body surface 20a are in contact with each other to form the contact portion 62, and the tip portion 11a of the contact member 11 is through the image carrier 10. The contact portion 62 abuts on the transfer receiving body 20.
In this embodiment, the image 30 on the image carrier 10 does not penetrate downstream of the contact portion 62 in the rotational direction of the image carrier 10 at the contact portion 62 between the image carrier surface 10 a and the transferred object surface 20 a. It is configured to be sequentially transferred to the transfer receiving body 20 in the direction. That is, in the contact portion 62, the relative movement direction between the image carrier surface 10a and the transfer target surface 20a is reversed. In this embodiment, the rotational directions of the image carrier 10 and the conveyance roller pairs 7 and 8 by the drive motors M4 and M2 are set to be opposite directions.

The inventors of the present invention created a model of such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 10, and tested the recording paper as the transfer target body 20. Thus, in the moving direction of the transfer target 20, which does not pass through the contact portion 62 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 10 and does not pass through the contact portion 62 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 10. It was confirmed that the transfer to the transfer target 20 was performed sequentially.
Therefore, the image 30 on the image carrier 10 can be transferred to the transfer target body 20 without generating a transfer electric field in the contact portion 62 as in the prior art, so that the transfer electric field according to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. Also, variations in the transfer state due to the temperature and humidity of the transfer destination are eliminated. Therefore, when the image 30 is transferred from the image carrier 10 to the transfer target 20, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved. Further, in the present embodiment, since the contact member 11 is provided in comparison with the second embodiment, when the image carrier 10 rotationally moves and reaches the contact portion 62, the image carrier 10 passes over the contact member 11 Since the image 30 is squeezed, it is assumed that the image 30 is satisfactorily transferred from the image carrier 10 to the transfer target 20 and the transfer is performed well. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

Fifth Embodiment
An image transfer apparatus 305 shown in FIG. 5 is obtained by adding an abutting member 21 that abuts on the image carrier via the transfer target 2 to the configuration of the first embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, the image carrier 1 on which the image 30 is carried on the image carrier surface 1a, the transfer member 2 on which the image 30 on the image carrier is transferred to the transfer member surface 2a, and the transfer member A roller-like contact member 21 is in contact with the image carrier 1 through a gap 2. The abutting member 21 is rotatably supported, and the outer peripheral surface 21 a abuts the image carrier 1 with the contact portion 6 via the transfer target 2.
Also in this embodiment, in the contact portion 6, the image carrier 1 and the transfer target by the drive motors M1 and M2 so that the relative movement direction between the image carrier surface 1a and the transfer target surface 2a is opposite. The rotation direction of 2 is set to be the opposite direction.

The inventors of the present invention made a model of such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 1 and tested the recording paper as the transfer target body 2. Thus, in the moving direction of the transferred object 2, which does not pass through to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 1 from the contact part 6 and does not pass through to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 1 from the contact part 6. It could be confirmed that the transfer to the transferred body 2 was made sequentially.
Therefore, since the image 30 on the image carrier 1 can be transferred to the transferred object 2 without generating a transfer electric field in the contact portion 6 as in the prior art, the transfer electric field due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity Also, variations in the transfer state due to the temperature and humidity of the transfer destination are eliminated. Therefore, when transferring the image 30 from the image carrier 1 to the transfer target 2, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved. Further, in the present embodiment, since the contact member 6 is provided compared to the second embodiment, the contact portion 6 is stably formed. It is assumed that the image 30 was transferred to the image and the transfer was performed well. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

(Sixth embodiment)
An image transfer device 306 shown in FIG. 6 is obtained by adding a roller-like contact member 21 to be in contact with the image carrier 1 via the transfer body 20 to the configuration of the second embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, the image carrier 1 on which the image 30 is carried on the image carrier surface 1a, the transfer target body 20 on which the image 30 on the image carrier is transferred to the transfer body surface 20a, A roller-shaped contact member 21 that contacts the image carrier 1 through 20 is provided. The contact member 21 is rotatably supported, and the outer peripheral surface 21 a is in contact with the image carrier 1 through the transfer target 20 at the contact portion 60.
Also in this embodiment, in the contact portion 60, the image carrier 1 and the transport roller pair by the drive motors M1 and M3 are set so that the relative movement direction between the image carrier surface 1a and the transferee surface 20a is reverse. The rotation directions 7 and 8 are set to be opposite to each other.

The inventors of the present application created a model of such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 1, and tested the recording paper as a transfer target body 20. Thus, in the moving direction of the transfer target 20, which does not pass through the contact portion 60 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 1 and does not pass through the contact portion 60 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 1. It was confirmed that the transfer to the transfer target 20 was performed sequentially.
Therefore, the image 30 on the image carrier 1 can be transferred to the transfer receiving body 20 without generating a transfer electric field in the contact portion 60 as in the prior art, so the transfer electric field due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity Also, variations in the transfer state due to the temperature and humidity of the transfer destination are eliminated. Therefore, when transferring the image 30 from the image carrier 1 to the transfer-receiving member 20, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved. Further, in the present embodiment, since the contact member 60 is provided compared to the second embodiment, the contact portion 60 is stably formed. It is assumed that the image 30 was transferred to the image and the transfer was performed well. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

Seventh Embodiment
The image transfer apparatus 307 shown in FIG. 7 is provided with a movable contact member 31 instead of the pair of transport rollers 7 and 8 in the second embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, the image carrier 1 on which the image 30 is carried on the image carrier surface 1a, the transfer target body 20 on which the image 30 on the image carrier is transferred to the transfer body surface 20a, A plate-like contact member 31 that contacts the image carrier 1 via 20 is provided.
The contact member 31 is a plate-like slider, and a flat surface 31 a (referred to as a surface to be transferred 31 a) is in contact at the contact portion 60 with the surface 1 a of the image carrier via the transfer target 20. The contact member 31 is supported movably in parallel with the rotation center of the image carrier 1 at the contact portion 60. The contact member 31 is configured to translate at the contact portion 60 by the drive motor M5. In this embodiment, in the contact portion 63, the moving directions of the image carrier 1 and the contact member 31 by the moving motors M1 and M5 are set to be opposite to each other. Further, the contact member 31 has a function of holding the material to be transferred 20, and the movement of the contact member 31 enables the material to be transferred 20 to move in the same direction. Also in this embodiment, in the contact portion 63, the image carrier 1 and the abutting member by the drive motors M1 and M5 are brought into contact so that the relative movement direction between the image carrier surface 1a and the transferee surface 20a is reverse. The moving direction of 31 is set to be the opposite direction.

The inventors of the present application created a model having such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 1, and tested the recording paper as the transfer target 20. Thus, in the moving direction of the transfer target 20, which does not pass through to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 1 from the contact portion 63 and does not pass through to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 1 from the contact portion 63. It was confirmed that the transfer to the transfer target 20 was performed sequentially.
For this reason, since the image 30 on the image carrier 1 can be transferred to the transfer target 20 without generating a transfer electric field at the contact portion 63 as in the prior art, the transfer electric field due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. Also, variations in the transfer state due to the temperature and humidity of the transfer destination are eliminated. Therefore, when transferring the image 30 from the image carrier 1 to the transfer-receiving member 20, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved. Further, in this embodiment, since the contact member 31 is provided as compared with the second embodiment, the contact portion 63 is stably formed. It is assumed that the image 30 has been transferred to the image forming apparatus and the transfer has been performed well. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

Eighth Embodiment
An image transfer device 308 shown in FIG. 8 is obtained by adding the contact member 21 to the configuration of the third embodiment. That is, the image carrier 10 on which the image 30 is carried on the image carrier surface 10 a, the transfer member 2 on which the image 30 on the image carrier is transferred to the transfer member surface 2 a, and the image carrier 10. A contact member 11 is in contact with the transfer medium 2, and a roller-like contact member 21 is in contact with the image carrier 10 via the transfer medium 2. The image carrier surface 10a and the transfer surface 2a are in contact with each other to form a contact portion 61. In this embodiment, the contact member 11 is in contact with the transfer target 2 via the image carrier 10 at the contact portion 61. The contact member 21 is in contact with the image carrier 1 at the contact portion 61 via the transfer-receiving member 2.

The inventors of the present application created a model having such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 10, and tested the recording paper as the transferred body 2. Thus, in the moving direction of the transfer target 20, which does not pass through to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 10 from the contact portion 61 and does not pass through to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 10 from the contact portion 61. It could be confirmed that the transfer to the transferred body 20 was made sequentially.
Therefore, the image 30 on the image carrier 10 can be transferred to the transfer target body 20 without generating a transfer electric field in the contact portion 62 as in the prior art, so that the transfer electric field according to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. Also, variations in the transfer state due to the temperature and humidity of the transfer destination are eliminated. Therefore, when the image 30 is transferred from the image carrier 10 to the transfer target 20, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved. Further, in this embodiment, since the contact members 11 and 21 are provided as compared with the first embodiment, when the image carrier 10 rotates and reaches the contact portion 61, the contact member 11 is moved over the contact member 11. While being passed through, the contact portion 62 is stabilized by the contact member 21. For this reason, it is assumed that the image 30 is transferred from the image carrier 10 to the transferee 2 favorably and the transfer is satisfactorily performed. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

Ninth Embodiment
An image transfer apparatus 309 shown in FIG. 9 is obtained by adding a contact member 21 to the configuration of the fourth embodiment. That is, via the image carrier 10, the image carrier 10 on which the image 30 is carried on the image carrier surface 10a, the transfer target body 20 on which the image 30 on the image carrier is transferred to the transfer body surface 20a. A contact member 11 is in contact with the transfer medium 20, and a roller-like contact member 21 is in contact with the image carrier 10 via the transfer medium 20. The image carrier surface 10a and the transfer surface 20a are in contact with each other to form a contact portion 62. In this embodiment, the contact member 11 is in contact with the transfer target 20 via the image carrier 10 at the contact portion 62. The contact member 21 is in contact with the image carrier 10 with the contact portion 62 through the transferred body 20.

The inventors of the present invention made a model of such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 10, and tested the recording paper as the transfer target body 2. In the direction of movement of the image receiving member 10 in such a direction that it does not go under the rotation direction of the image carrier 10 from the contact portion 61. It was confirmed that the transfer to the transfer target 2 was performed sequentially.
Therefore, since the image 30 on the image carrier 1 can be transferred to the transferred object 2 without generating a transfer electric field in the contact portion 61 as in the prior art, the transfer electric field due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity Also, variations in the transfer state due to the temperature and humidity of the transfer destination are eliminated. Therefore, when transferring the image 30 from the image carrier 10 to the transfer target 2, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved. Further, in the present embodiment, since the contact members 11 and 21 are provided as compared with the second embodiment, when the image carrier 10 rotationally moves and reaches the contact portion 62, the contact member 11 is While being passed through, the contact portion 62 is stabilized by the contact member 21. Therefore, it is presumed that the image 30 was transferred from the image carrier 10 to the transfer target 20 and the transfer was performed well. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

Tenth Embodiment
An image transfer apparatus 310 shown in FIG. 10 is provided with the contact member 11 and the image carrier 10 used in the third and fourth embodiments instead of the image carrier 1 in the seventh embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, the image carrier 10 on which the image 30 is carried on the image carrier surface 10a, the transfer member 20 on which the image 30 on the image carrier is transferred to the transfer member surface 20a, and the image carrier. A plate-like abutting member 11 that abuts on the transferred object 20 via 10 and a roller-like abutting member 21 that abuts on the image carrier 10 via the transferred object 20 are provided. The image carrier surface 10a and the transferee surface 20a are in contact with each other to form a contact portion 64. In the present embodiment, the contact member 11 is in contact with the transferred object 20 at the contact portion 64 via the image carrier 10. The contact member 21 is in contact with the image carrier 10 at the contact portion 64 via the transfer receiving member 20.

The inventors of the present invention created a model of such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 10, and tested the recording paper as the transfer target body 20. In the direction of movement of the image receiving member 20 such that it does not penetrate downstream of the contact portion 64 in the rotational direction of the image carrier 10 and does not penetrate downstream of the contact portion 64 in the rotational direction of the image carrier 10 It was confirmed that the transfer to the transfer target 20 was performed sequentially.
Therefore, since the image 30 on the image carrier 10 can be transferred to the transfer receiving body 20 without generating a transfer electric field in the contact portion 64 as in the prior art, the transfer electric field due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity Also, variations in the transfer state due to the temperature and humidity of the transfer destination are eliminated. Therefore, when the image 30 is transferred from the image carrier 10 to the transfer target 20, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved. Further, in the present embodiment, since the contact member 11 is provided in comparison with the seventh embodiment, when the image carrier 10 rotationally moves and reaches the contact portion 64, the image carrier 10 passes over the contact member 11 It is assumed that the image 30 was transferred from the image carrier 1 to the transfer body 20 in a favorable manner, and the transfer was performed well, because the image 30 was squeezed. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

  In the image transfer apparatus 307 according to the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and the image transfer apparatus 310 according to the tenth embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the transfer member 20 is moved by moving the contact member 31. Although it was made to move integrally, it is not limited to such composition. For example, in both figures, the contact member 31 is positioned and fixed with respect to the image carriers 1 and 10, and the transfer target 20 is moved in the left-right direction in the figures using a conveying means such as a roller. Good.

Eleventh Embodiment
In the image transfer device 311 shown in FIG. 11, the contact portion 65 is formed by bringing the transferred object 20 into contact with the belt-like image carrier 2 wound around the rollers 3 and 4 via the drive roller 15. It is. In the contact portion 65, the image carrier 2 and the transfer body 20 are configured to move in different directions. That is, the transfer member 20 is conveyed and moved in the opposite direction to the moving direction of the image carrier surface 1a rotationally moved counterclockwise by the drive motor M2 by the drive roller 15 rotationally driven by the drive motor M6. That is, in the present embodiment, in the contact portion 65 between the image carrier surface 1 a and the transfer target surface 20 a, the image 30 on the image carrier 1 is dipped downstream of the contact portion 65 in the rotational direction of the image carrier 1. It is configured to be able to be sequentially transferred to the material to be transferred 20 in a direction in which the transfer does not occur.

The inventors of the present application created a model having such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 1, and tested the recording paper as the transfer target 20. Thus, in the moving direction of the transfer target 20, which does not pass through to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 1 from the contact portion 65 and does not pass through to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 1 from the contact portion 65. It could be confirmed that the transfer to the transferred body 20 was made sequentially.
For this reason, since the image 30 on the image carrier 1 can be transferred to the transfer target 20 without generating a transfer electric field at the contact portion 65 as in the prior art, the transfer electric field due to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. Also, variations in the transfer state due to the temperature and humidity of the transfer destination are eliminated. Therefore, when transferring the image 30 from the image carrier 1 to the transfer-receiving member 20, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer can be achieved. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.

Twelfth Embodiment
An image transfer apparatus 312 shown in FIG. 12 includes a drum-shaped image carrier 1 on which the image 30 is carried on the image carrier surface 1a, and a transfer target on which the image 30 on the image carrier is transferred to the transfer member surface 20a. A body 20 and an abutting member 11 that abuts on the image carrier 1 through the transfer body are provided. In this case, the direction of the transfer target 20 is changed by the contact member 11. In this embodiment, the image bearing member surface 1a and the transfer receiving member surface 20a are in contact with each other to form a contact portion 66 at the changed portion. The image carrier 1 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure by the drive motor M1, and the transfer body 20 is moved in the opposite direction to the image carrier surface 1a at the contact portion 66 by a conveyance roller (not shown). It is done. In other words, in this embodiment, the image 30 on the image carrier 1 is diverted downstream of the contact portion 66 in the rotational direction of the image carrier 1 at the contact portion 66 between the image carrier surface 1a and the transfer surface 20a. It is configured to be able to sequentially move to the transfer target 20 in a direction that does not come off.

The inventors of the present application created a model having such a configuration, formed an image 30 with toner on the image carrier 1, and tested the recording paper as the transfer target 20. Thus, in the moving direction of the transferred object 20, which does not pass through the contact portion 66 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 1 and does not pass through the contact portion 66 downstream of the rotation direction of the image carrier 1. It was confirmed that the transfer to the transfer target 20 was performed sequentially. In addition, since a transfer electric field is not required, facilities such as a power source are not required, and space saving and cost reduction are facilitated.
In the above embodiment, the contact member 11 is a plate member and the contact member 21 is a roller. However, the contact member 11 may be a roller and the contact member 21 may be a plate member. good.

Thirteenth Embodiment
In this embodiment, at the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer object, a relative speed difference is generated at least between the image carrier and the transfer member so that the contact portion does not pass through the contact portion. The images of are sequentially transferred.
FIG. 13 shows a configuration in which the relative speed difference is applied to the configuration of FIG.
The image carrier 1 and the transfer-receiving member 2 move in different directions in the contact portion 6 by the drive motor M1 and the drive motor M2.
In this case, in order to generate a relative speed difference between the image carrier 1 and the transfer target 2, both of them are moved by the driving force of the drive motors M1 and M2, and therefore either one of the linear speeds is changed to which of the other. It may be increased or decreased with respect to the linear velocity.

For example, when the linear velocity of the transfer target 2 is α and the linear velocity of the image carrier 1 is β, it is conceivable that the linear velocity α> β or the linear velocity α <β.
When α> β, the moving speed on the image carrier side can be slowed, so that the durability on the image carrier side can be improved while maintaining the productivity of image formation. Further, when α <β, the volume of the image 30 on the image carrier 1 side can be reduced, so that the image 30 transferred to the transfer target 2 at the contact portion 6 is not easily collapsed, and stable image transfer is possible. Yes.
If α = β, in order to generate a speed difference between the two, it is not necessary to take into account a speed change such as a change in the rotational speed of the drive motors M1 and M2 and a gear ratio of the drive transmission system. Control and mechanical configuration can be simplified. For this reason, it can be easily controlled.
Fourteenth Embodiment
In order to generate a relative speed difference between the image carrier and the transfer target, it is also possible to move only one of the image carrier and the transfer target.
For example, in the image transfer unit 314 shown in FIG. 14, the image bearing member 40 that is suspended between the roller 12, 13 and the contact member 11 described in the third embodiment with respect to the stopped sheet-like transfer target 40. The body 10 is brought into contact to form a contact portion 66. The rollers 12 and 13, the contact member 11, and the image carrier 10 are configured as one unit, and the image carrier 10 is rotated at the contact portion 66 while rotating the image carrier 10 counterclockwise at the speed V 2. The unit is moved, that is, translated at a speed V1 so as to be in the same direction as.
With this configuration, the image carrier 10 rotates and moves while the contact portion 66 moves to the right in the drawing as the unit moves, so that the image on the image carrier 10 is transferred to the surface 40a of the transfer body 40. In contrast, the image carrier surface 10a is sequentially moved in the direction opposite to the moving direction. That is, when viewed from the image carrier 10 side, the transfer target 40 moves from the right to the left at the apparent speed V1 at the contact portion 66. Further, when viewed from the image carrier 10 side, the image carrier surface 10a moves from the left to the right at the speed V2 at the contact portion 66. In the contact portion 66, the moving direction of the image carrier surface 1 a and the apparent moving direction of the transferred object 40 as viewed from the image carrier 10 side are opposite to each other.
This point of generating a relative speed difference between the image carrier and the transfer target can also be applied to the second to twelfth embodiments.

Next, transfer by the image transfer apparatus according to the present invention Next, the transfer operation of the image transfer apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 (a) to 15 (d). FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. In FIG. 15, reference numerals T1, T2 and T3 schematically show the image carried on the image carrier surface 10a.
As shown in FIG. 15 (a), the images T1, T2 and T3 are arranged on the image carrier surface 10a in order from the top in the moving direction with T1, T2 and T3.
As shown in FIG. 15B, the surface 2 a of the transfer target 2 moves in a direction in which the image T <b> 1 does not pass through the contact portion 61, so that the image T <b> 1 approaching the contact portion 61 It is presumed that the image is transferred from the image carrier surface 10a to the transferred object 2 without going under it. The direction in which T1 does not go under the contact portion 61 is, in other words, the direction opposite to the movement direction of the surface of the image carrier 10a. Further, the direction in which the image T <b> 1 tries to go through the contact portion 61 is the opposite direction.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 15C, the image T <b> 2 approaching the contact portion 61 is assumed to transfer from the image carrier surface 10 a to the transfer target 2 without passing through the contact portion 61.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 15D, it is assumed that the image T3 approaching the contact portion 61 is transferred from the image carrier surface 10a to the transfer target 2 without passing through the contact portion 61.
As described above, it is presumed that the images T1, T2, and T3 arranged in order in the moving direction of the image carrier surface 10a are sequentially transferred onto the transferred body 2 whose surface moves.
Although the transfer operation of the image transfer apparatus has been described using the image transfer apparatus 308 of the eighth embodiment, it is presumed that the order of images is similarly changed in the apparatuses of other embodiments.

Next, an embodiment in which the above-described image transfer apparatus and image transfer method are applied to an image forming apparatus will be described.
(Fifteenth Embodiment)
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram in which the above-described image transfer device 315 is applied to a primary transfer portion of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 16 includes a drum-shaped photosensitive member 101 serving as an image carrier, an image forming unit 100 for forming a toner image 130 on the photosensitive member surface 101a, and a toner image 130 formed on the photosensitive member surface 101a. A belt-shaped intermediate transfer member 102, which is a transfer target to which the image is transferred, and an exposure unit 107 are provided.
The image forming unit 100 includes known components of a charging unit 100a, a developing unit 100b, and a cleaning unit 100c, which are disposed around the photosensitive member 101 which is rotationally moved clockwise in FIG.

  The intermediate transfer member 102 is wound around the rollers 103 and 104 and the plate-like contact member 111, and contacts the photosensitive member surface 101a at a position where the contact member 111 and the photosensitive member surface 101a are opposite to each other. The primary transfer portion 106 is formed. A transfer bias is not used in the primary transfer portion 106. In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer member 102 is configured to be rotationally moved in the clockwise direction, and configured to be rotationally moved in the opposite direction to the photosensitive member surface 101 a in the primary transfer portion 106. In this embodiment, when the linear velocity of the intermediate transfer member 102 is α and the linear velocity of the photosensitive member 101 is β, the linear velocity difference is set so that α <β.

  A secondary transfer roller 105 is disposed at a portion facing the roller 103 so that the surface thereof is in contact with the surface of the roller 103, and a contact portion between both rollers is a secondary transfer unit 108. To the secondary transfer unit 108, the transfer paper P is transported from a paper supply unit (not shown) to the secondary transfer unit 108 by the tanmin that the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer body 102 reaches the transfer unit. The secondary transfer roller 105 is applied with a transfer bias that generates a transfer electric field in the secondary transfer unit 108 and secondarily transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer body 102 onto the transfer paper P.

  In the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, when forming an image, the photosensitive member surface 101a is charged by the charging unit 100a, exposed and scanned by the exposure light from the exposure unit 107, and a latent image is formed. The formed latent image becomes a toner image 130 developed by the toner supplied from the developing unit 100a. When the toner image 130 formed and carried on the photosensitive member surface 101a reaches the primary transfer portion 106, the linear speed difference between the intermediate transfer member 102 and the photosensitive member 101 is α <β, and the moving direction of both is The reverse direction is set in the transfer unit 106. For this reason, the toner image 130 on the photosensitive member surface 101a is sequentially transferred to the surface 102a of the intermediate transfer member 102 in a direction in which the toner image 130 on the photosensitive member surface 101a does not slip downstream on the photosensitive member rotation direction. When the toner image 130 transferred to the surface 102a of the intermediate transfer body 102 reaches the secondary transfer portion 108, it is transferred to the recording paper P by the action of the secondary transfer bias. The transfer paper P onto which the toner image 130 has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing means 109, and the toner image is fixed by receiving heat and pressure. On the other hand, the photosensitive member 101 to which the toner image 130 has been transferred is cleaned by a cleaning unit 100c and initialized by a neutralizing unit (not shown).

As described above, when the image transfer apparatus 315 according to this embodiment is applied to an image forming apparatus, the transfer of the toner image 130 in the primary transfer unit 106 is less affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and good image transfer is achieved. The image can be transferred to the intermediate transfer member 102 and good image formation can be achieved. Since the transfer electric field is not required, equipment such as a power supply is not required, and space saving and cost reduction of the image forming apparatus can be facilitated.
Further, since the linear velocity difference is set by setting the linear velocity α of the intermediate transfer member 102 and the linear velocity β of the photosensitive member 101 to α <β, the bulk of the toner image 130 on the photosensitive image 101 side can be reduced, and the primary transfer portion. At 106, the toner image 30 transferred to the intermediate transfer member 102 is less likely to collapse, and stable image transfer can be performed.

Sixteenth Embodiment
FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram in which the above-described image transfer device 316 is applied to a secondary transfer portion of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 17 is capable of full-color image formation using yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners. In the figure, Y, M, C, and K are suffixes indicating members related to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The subscripts Y, M, C, and K are omitted as appropriate to avoid complications.
The image forming apparatus includes a drum-shaped photosensitive member 111 (Y, M, C, K) as an image carrier, and an image forming unit for forming a toner image of each color on the surface (photosensitive member surface) surface 111a of each photosensitive member. 110 (Y, M, C, K), a belt-like intermediate transfer body 112 serving as a transfer body on which a toner image formed on each photoreceptor surface 111a is sequentially transferred and carried as a toner image 130A, and an exposure unit It has 117.
Each image forming unit includes a known charging unit 110a (Y, M, C, K) and a developing unit 110b (Y, M, C) arranged around each photoconductor 111 that rotates clockwise in FIG. , K) and the cleaning means 110c (Y, M, C, K).

The image transfer device 316 includes an intermediate transfer member 112 and a contact member 121. The intermediate transfer member 112 is wound around rollers 113 and 114 and a plate-like contact member 121, and tension is given by the roller 115. The intermediate transfer member 112 positioned between the roller 113 and the roller 114 is brought into contact with each photosensitive member surface 111 a by the primary transfer rollers 117 (Y, M, C, K), and the primary transfer portion 116 (Y, Y, M, C, K) are formed. A primary transfer bias is applied to each primary transfer roller 117.
A secondary transfer roller 122 is disposed at a position facing the contact member 121 so as to be in contact with the surface 112 a of the intermediate transfer member 112, thereby forming a secondary transfer portion 118. A transfer bias is not applied to the secondary transfer portion 118. In the secondary transfer portion 118, a toner image 130A formed by a toner image sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer member 112 in each primary transfer portion arrives at the transfer portion from a paper feed portion (not shown) from the paper feeding portion. Is transported. In the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer member 112 is configured to be rotationally moved in the counterclockwise direction, and configured to be rotationally moved in the opposite direction to the moving direction of the transfer sheet P in the secondary transfer portion 118. ing. In this embodiment, when the linear speed of the intermediate transfer member 112 is α and the linear speed of the transfer paper P is β, the linear speed difference is set such that α <β.

In the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, when forming a color image, each photosensitive member surface 111a is charged by each charging unit 110a, exposed and scanned by exposure light corresponding to each color from the exposure unit 117, and each color is formed. Each latent image is formed. Each formed latent image becomes a toner image of each color developed by the toner of each color supplied from the developing unit 110b of each color. The toner images formed and carried on the respective photosensitive member surfaces 110a are sequentially transferred onto the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer member 112 by the action of the transfer bias at the respective primary transfer portions 116, and carried as the toner image 130A. The sheet is conveyed to the transfer unit 118. Each photoconductor 111 to which the toner image has been transferred is cleaned by each cleaning means 110c and initialized by a charge eliminating means (not shown).
In the secondary transfer unit 118, the transfer paper P is delivered in accordance with the arrival timing of the toner image 130A. At this time, the linear velocity difference between the intermediate transfer member 112 and the transfer paper P is α <β, and the moving direction of the both is opposite in the secondary transfer portion 118. For this reason, the toner image 130A on the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer member is transferred onto the transfer sheet P moving in a direction in which the toner image 130A on the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer member does not go under. The transfer paper P onto which the toner image 130A has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 119, and the toner image is fixed by receiving heat and pressure.

As described above, when the image transfer device 316 according to the present embodiment is applied to an image forming apparatus, the transfer of the toner image 130A in the secondary transfer unit 118 is less affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and a good image is transferred. It can be transferred to the paper P and good image formation can be achieved. Since the transfer electric field is not required, equipment such as a power supply is not required, and space saving and cost reduction of the image forming apparatus can be facilitated.
Since the linear speed difference between the intermediate transfer member 102 and the linear speed β of the transfer paper P is set to α <β, the moving speed of each photosensitive member 111 and each image forming unit 110 can be reduced. The durability of each photosensitive member 111 and each image forming unit 110 can be improved while maintaining the productivity of image formation.
(Seventeenth embodiment)
FIG. 18 is a schematic view in which the above-described image transfer device 317 is applied to the secondary transfer portion of the image forming device that ejects ink to be droplets from the nozzle head.
The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 18 is capable of full-color image formation using yellow, magenta, cyan and black inks. In the figure, Y, M, C, and K are suffixes indicating members related to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The subscripts Y, M, C, and K are omitted as appropriate to avoid complications.
The image forming apparatus includes a nozzle head 201 (Y, M, C, K) that ejects ink serving as an image forming unit, and an image formed by being ejected from each nozzle head 201 (Y, M, C, K). A transfer belt 202 as an image carrier to be carried is provided. The nozzle heads 201 (Y, M, C, K) eject ink to the surface 202 a of the transfer belt 202 according to the image signals of the respective colors.

The image transfer device 317 includes a transfer belt 202 and a contact member 211. The transfer belt 202 is wound around rollers 213 and 214 and a plate-like contact member 211, and tension is given by the roller 212. On the transfer belt 202 positioned between the roller 213 and the roller 214, an ink 230 is sequentially jetted from each nozzle head 201 and a combined image 230 is formed.
At a position facing the contact member 211, the transfer roller 212 is arranged to be in contact with the surface 202a of the transfer belt 202, and a transfer portion 208 to be a contact portion is formed. A transfer bias is not applied to the transfer portion 208. In the transfer unit 208, the transfer sheet P is conveyed from a sheet feeding unit (not shown) by the time-stamping at which the image 230A carried on the transfer belt 202 reaches the transfer unit. In the present embodiment, the transfer belt 202 is configured to be rotationally moved in the counterclockwise direction, and configured to be rotationally moved in the opposite direction to the moving direction of the transfer sheet P at the transfer unit 208. In this embodiment, when the linear velocity of the transfer belt 202 is α and the linear velocity of the transfer sheet P is β, the linear velocity difference is set so that α <β.

  When an image forming apparatus having such a configuration forms a color image, ink is ejected from each nozzle head 201 to form an ink image 230 on the surface 202 a of the transfer belt 202. The image 230 is carried by the transfer belt 202 and conveyed to the transfer unit 208. In the transfer unit 208, the transfer sheet P is delivered in accordance with the arrival timing of the image 230. At this time, the linear velocity difference between the transfer belt 202 and the transfer paper P is α <β, and the movement direction of both is opposite in the transfer unit 208. For this reason, the image 230 on the surface 202a of the transfer belt 202 is transferred to the transfer paper P that moves in the direction in which the image does not pass through the transfer unit 208 without passing through the transfer unit 208 downstream in the rotation direction of the transfer belt.

As described above, when the image transfer device 317 according to the present embodiment is applied to the image forming apparatus, the image 230 in the transfer unit 208 is less susceptible to the transfer electric field and environmental conditions when transferred to the transfer paper P, and a good image is obtained. Can be transferred to the transfer paper P, and good image formation can be achieved. Since the transfer electric field is not required, equipment such as a power supply is not required, and space saving and cost reduction of the image forming apparatus can be facilitated.
Since the linear speed difference between the transfer belt 202 and the transfer paper P is set to α <β, the jet speed of each nozzle head 201 and the moving speed of the transfer belt 202 can be reduced. The durability of each nozzle head 201 and transfer belt 202 can be improved while maintaining the productivity of image formation.

In the configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 17, the transfer paper P cut to a predetermined length is transported to the secondary transfer unit 118, but the transfer form of the transfer paper P is as illustrated in FIG. 19B. Alternatively, a continuous length roll-shaped transfer sheet P1 may be used. In this case, the roll-shaped transfer paper P1 is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer body 112 at a position facing the contact member 121 through the lower side of the intermediate transfer body 112 to form a secondary transfer section 118 serving as a contact portion. In this case, the collection roll unit 301 that winds up the transfer paper P1 is arranged upstream of the secondary transfer unit 118 in the rotational movement direction of the intermediate transfer member, so that the transfer direction of the transfer paper P in the secondary transfer unit 118 The moving direction of the intermediate transfer body 112 can be reversed.
Even with such a configuration, when the toner image 130A is transferred in the secondary transfer unit 118, it is difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and environmental conditions, and a good image can be transferred to the transfer paper P. Can be achieved. Since the transfer electric field is not required, equipment such as a power supply is not required, and space saving and cost reduction of the image forming apparatus can be facilitated.

In the configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 18 and 19A, the transfer sheet P cut into a predetermined length is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 208. However, as a conveyance form of the transfer sheet P, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a continuous length roll-shaped transfer paper P1 may be used. In this case, the roll-shaped transfer sheet P1 is brought into contact with the transfer belt 202 at a position facing the contact member 212 through the lower side of the transfer belt 202 to form a secondary transfer portion 208 to be a contact portion. In this case, the recovery roller unit 301 for winding the transfer sheet P1 is disposed upstream of the secondary transfer unit 208 in the rotational direction of the transfer belt, so that the transfer direction of the transfer sheet P in the secondary transfer unit 208 The moving direction of the transfer belt 202 can be reversed.
Even with such a configuration, when transferring the toner image 230 at the secondary transfer portion 208, it becomes difficult to be affected by the transfer electric field and the environmental conditions, and a good image can be transferred to the transfer paper P, and a good image is formed. Can be achieved. Since the transfer electric field is not required, equipment such as a power supply is not required, and space saving and cost reduction of the image forming apparatus can be facilitated.

The image transfer apparatus applicable to the above-described image forming apparatus is not limited to those of the embodiments described in FIGS. 17, 18 and 19, and the image transfer apparatuses according to the first to fourteenth embodiments. It should be noted that the method can be changed and applied according to the image forming unit and the image forming mode as appropriate. In addition to the above-described image forming apparatus, a power supply for applying a bias may be provided, and an electric field may be formed at the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target by applying the bias.
The present invention is also applicable to an apparatus that performs so-called offset printing, in addition to an electrophotographic apparatus and an apparatus that ejects ink from a nozzle head.

In the above embodiment, the contact member is exemplified by the contact member 11 formed of a plate material, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 20C, the contact member 310 formed of a roller member Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 20B, a contact member 11 </ b> A formed of a plate material that is thicker than the contact member 11 may be used.
Further, in the case of the abutting member 11 made of a plate material, the front end thereof is pressed against the inner side surface 10b of the image carrier surface 10 opposite to the surface 10a of the image carrier surface 10 to make contact with the image carrier surface. The portion may be formed as a circular arc surface. As shown in FIG. 20A, the tip 11a of the contact member 11 in this case has an arc shape at its entire tip, and the substantially entire tip 11a is pressed against the inner side surface 2b of the surface 2a of the image receiving member The contact point with 10a can be made into a circular arc surface.

In the case of a plate-like contact member 11A thicker than the contact member 11, as shown in FIG. By pressing the corner 11Aa of the front end against the inner side surface 10b of the image carrier surface 10 and bringing it into contact with the image carrier surface 10a, the contact point with the image carrier surface 10a can be formed as a circular arc surface. In this case, the contact member 11A does not form the entire tip in an arc shape, but only the corner portion 11Aa has an arc shape, and only the corner portion 11Aa of the tip is pressed against the inner side surface 10b of the image carrier surface 10. Thus, the contact point with the image carrier surface 10a can be made a circular arc surface.
In the case of the roller-shaped abutting member 310, as shown in FIG. 20C, an arc surface is obtained by pressing approximately half the circumference of the outer peripheral surface 310a against the inner side surface 10b of the image carrier surface 10. Can be formed.

  The inventors of the present invention tested the dimensions of these arcs in various ways. When the radius of curvature R of the arcs is 4 mm or less, the images 30, 130, 130A, and 230 dive in each contact portion. It was confirmed that good transfer could be performed without passing through. Moreover, the curvature radius R was able to perform more preferable transfer with 2 mm or more. As a material of the contact members 11, 11A, 110, a resin member, or a metal member such as aluminum or stainless steel can be used.

  The contact member is not limited to a plate shape or a roller shape, and for example, as shown in FIG. 21 (a), a member 60 of “arc shape”, and as shown in FIG. 21 (b) The "shaped" member 61 may be used. Further, when a resin member is used as the abutting member, although it depends on the material of each image carrier, it is considered that each image carrier is worn by rotating. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 21 (c), a member 60 made of metal is attached to the tip 11a of the contact member 11 or as shown in FIG. 21 (d) at the corner of the contact member 11A. The wear resistance may be improved by attaching a member 61 formed of metal.

  The material of each of the image carriers 1, 10, 101, 112, 202 and the transfer-receiving members 2, 20, 102, P as transfer destinations is polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polyolefin, vinyl, nylon Such as polyimide, polyamide imide, and a sheet or film of PTFE, PFA, PVDF, PVF or the like as a fluorine-based resin, or a sheet made of a fiber of glass, carbon, aramid, etc. Can also be used.

  The surface roughness (hereinafter simply referred to as surface roughness (Ra)) of the image carrier 1, 10, 101, 112, 202 as the transfer source and the transfer target 2, 20, 102, P as the transfer source If Ra) is 10 μm or less, it is more preferable because the image can be transferred without being broken. Such surface roughness was measured using a laser microscope (VK9500) manufactured by Keyence Corporation. Or you may measure surface roughness (Ra) using the measuring method based on JISB0031.

The surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier 1, 10, 101, 112, 202 and the transfer target 2, 20, 102, P serving as the transfer source is the surface roughness when the target is a toner having a particle size of 6 μm or less. The toner (Ra) is preferably 10 μm or less, and in the case of a toner having a particle diameter of 8 μm or less, the surface roughness (Ra) is preferably 14 μm or less. When the target is a droplet, for example, an ink, the surface roughness (Ra) is preferably 10 μm or less.
The particle size of the toner was determined by measuring the average particle size of 50,000 particles with a 100 μm aperture by Coulter Counter Multisizer (manufactured by Coulter). The toner particle size in the present embodiment is a number average particle size.

  When the linear velocity of each transfer target 2, 20, 102, P as the transfer destination, ie, the surface movement velocity is 200 mm / sec or less, the surface roughness (Ra) is preferably 40 μm or less, and from 200 mm / sec In the case where it is large and 400 mm / sec or less, the surface roughness (Ra) is preferably 30 μm or less, and in the case where it is larger than 400 mm / sec, the surface roughness (Ra) is preferably 20 μm or less.

Eighteenth Embodiment
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, a protection unit 400 is added to the image transfer apparatus 301 described in the first embodiment. The protection unit 400 includes a solid lubricant 402 serving as a protection member, an application roller 401 serving as an application member that applies the lubricant 402 to the image carrier surface 1 a of the image carrier 1, and a lubricant 402 serving as the application roller 401. A spring 403 is provided as a biasing member that biases toward the front. In this embodiment, the application roller 401 is composed of a rotatable brush roller, and is arranged so that the tip of the brush contacts, preferably press-contacts, both the image carrier surface 1a of the image carrier 1 and the lubricant 402. It is done.

  The application roller 401 is disposed upstream of the image carrier 1 in the rotational direction of the image carrier 1 than the contact portion 6 where the image carrier surface 1a and the transferee surface 2a contact each other, and abuts or presses against the image carrier surface 1a. ing. In the present embodiment, the application roller 401 is configured to be driven to rotate by movement of the image carrier 1, but the drive force is applied to the application roller 401 from a drive source such as a drive motor (not shown) to drive it to rotate. You may do so.

When the protection means 400 having such a configuration is provided, the lubricant 402 pressed against the application roller 401 by the spring force of the spring 403 is scraped off by the application roller 401 rotated by the rotational movement of the image carrier 1. It is applied to the carrier surface 1a. Therefore, since the image carrier surface 1a and the transferred object surface 2a of the transferred body 2 are protected, the transfer performance from the image carrier surface 1a to the transfer body surface 2a is improved.
Although the eighteenth embodiment exemplifies a mode in which the protection means 400 is added to the first embodiment, the same as the eighteenth embodiment can be obtained by adding it to the second to fourteenth embodiments. It is described that an effect can be obtained.

Nineteenth Embodiment
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 23, a protection unit 400 is added to the image forming apparatus 315 described in the fifteenth embodiment described with reference to FIG. The protection unit 400 includes a solid lubricant 402, an application roller 401 that applies the lubricant 402 to the photoreceptor surface 101 a, and a spring 403 that biases the lubricant 402 toward the application roller 401. In the present embodiment, the photoreceptor surface 101a is in contact with the surface 102a of the intermediate transfer member 102 at a primary transfer portion serving as a contact portion.

  The application roller 401 is disposed downstream of the cleaning unit 100c in the rotational direction of the photosensitive member 101 in the rotational direction and on the upstream side of the primary transfer portion 106, and abuts or presses against the photosensitive member surface 101a. It is configured to be driven to rotate.

  When the protection means 400 having such a configuration is provided, the lubricant 402 pressed against the application roller 401 by the spring force of the spring 403 is scraped off by the application roller 401 which is rotated by the rotational movement of the photosensitive member surface 101. It is applied to the surface 101a. For this reason, since the photosensitive member surface 101a is protected, the transfer performance from the photosensitive member surface 101a to the surface 102a of the intermediate transfer member 102 is improved. Further, since the lubricant 402 is applied to the photosensitive member surface 101a by the protection unit 400 after cleaning by the cleaning unit 100c, the lubricant 402 is not scraped off by the cleaning unit 100c before reaching the primary transfer portion 106. Coating efficiency is good.

(20th embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24, the application roller 401, the lubricant 402, and the spring 403 are provided on the surface 102a of the intermediate transfer member 102 of the image transfer device 315 described in the fifteenth embodiment described in FIG. It is set as the structure which added the protection means 400 provided.
In the present embodiment, the application roller 401 abuts or presses against the surface 102 a of the intermediate transfer member 102 at a position upstream of the primary transfer portion 106 in the rotational direction of the intermediate transfer member 102 and facing the roller 104. It is configured to be driven to rotate.
When the protection means 400 having such a configuration is provided, the lubricant 402 pressed against the application roller 401 by the spring force of the spring 403 is scraped off by the application roller 401 rotated by the movement of the intermediate transfer member 102, and the intermediate transfer is performed. It is applied to the surface 102 a of the body 102. Therefore, since the surface 102 a of the intermediate transfer member 102 is protected, the transfer performance from the intermediate transfer member 102 to the transfer paper P can be improved.

(21st Embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, the image transfer device 316 of the image forming apparatus described in the sixteenth embodiment described in FIG. 17 includes a coating roller 401, a lubricant 402, and a spring 403. 400 is added.
The application roller 401 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer portion 118 in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer member 112, and is configured to abut or press against the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer member 112, and to be driven to rotate.
When the protection means 400 having such a configuration is provided, the lubricant 402 pressed against the application roller 401 by the spring force of the spring 403 is scraped off by the application roller 401 that is rotated by the movement of the intermediate transfer body 112 and is thus subjected to intermediate transfer. It is applied to the surface 112a of the body 112. For this reason, since the surface 112a of the intermediate transfer body 112 is protected, the transfer performance from the intermediate transfer body 112 to the transfer paper P can be improved.

(Twenty-second embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 26, the image transfer device 317 of the image forming apparatus described in the seventeenth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 18 is a protection means provided with an application roller 401, a lubricant 402 and a spring 403. 400 is added.
The application roller 401 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer unit 208 in the moving direction of the transfer belt 202, and is configured to abut or press against the surface 202a of the transfer belt 202, and to be driven to rotate.
When the protection means 400 having such a configuration is provided, the lubricant 402 pressed against the application roller 401 by the spring force of the spring 403 is scraped off by the application roller 401 rotated by the movement of the transfer belt 202 and the transfer belt 202 Is applied to the surface 202a. Therefore, the surface 202a of the transfer belt 202 is protected, so that the transfer performance from the transfer belt 202 to the transfer paper P can be improved.

Examples of the protective material 402 described above include the following.
As organic compounds, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyperfluoroalkyl ether (PFA), perfluoroethylene-perfluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer Fluorine resins such as coalescence (ETFE) and fluorine waxes, silicone resins such as polymethyl silicone and polymethyl phenyl silicone, silicone waxes, greases and the like.
In addition, fatty acid metal salts, and as typical fatty acids from which stable hydrophobic metal salts are taken out, caproic acid, caprylic acid, enantylic acid, pelargonic acid, undecylic acid, lauric acid, tridecanoic acid, mytyric acid, palmitic acid, Margaric acid, stearic acid, non-decyclic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, stearic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, ricinoleic acid, peterocellinic acid, bacenic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eleostearic acid, licanic acid, valinarin Acids, gadoleic acid, arachidonic acid, whale oil and mixtures thereof,
As the metal salt, barium stearate, lead stearate, iron stearate, nickel stearate, cobalt stearate, copper stearate, strontium stearate, calcium stearate, cadmium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, oleic acid Zinc, magnesium oleate, iron oleate, cobalt oleate, copper oleate, lead oleate, manganese oleate, zinc palmitate, cobalt palmitate, lead palmitate, magnesium palmitate, aluminum palmitate, calcium palmitate, Examples include lead caprylate, lead caprate, zinc linolenate, cobalt linolenate, calcium linolenate, zinc ricinoleate, cadmium ricinoleate, and mixtures thereof.
Examples of inorganic lubricants include, but are not limited to, mica, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, talc, kaolin, montmorillonite, calcium fluoride, and graphite.

(Twenty-third embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 27, a roller-shaped contact member 311 can be rotated by a support shaft 312 instead of the contact member 111 described in the fifteenth embodiment described in FIG. Image transfer device 318.
The rotating body 321 is used.
When the abutting member 311 is a rotating body in this way, it rotates with the intermediate transfer body 102 and there is no sliding friction with the intermediate transfer body 102, so that the durability of the intermediate transfer body 102 can be improved. It can be expected that the driving force for the intermediate transfer member 102 is reduced. In addition, when the contact member 311 is a rotating body, it is possible to ensure transferability by increasing the curvature of the outer peripheral surface. To increase the curvature, the diameter of the contact member 311 is reduced. Is preferred.

(24th Embodiment)
The present embodiment is an image transfer apparatus 319 having an auxiliary member 500 for suppressing the deflection of the small diameter contact member 311 configured as a rotating body described in the fifteenth embodiment, as shown in FIG. When the contact member 311 is configured as a rotating body, if the diameter is small, the curvature is small and the transferability is improved. However, since the entire contact member 311 becomes thin, the strength of the contact member 311 itself is reduced and it becomes easy to bend. For this reason, it is expected that it will be difficult to realize a stable contact state (contact nip) with the intermediate transfer member 102 in the entire area of the contact member 311 in the rotational axis direction.

Therefore, by arranging the rotatable contact member 311 between the intermediate transfer member 102 and the auxiliary member 500 and sandwiching the contact member 311 by both members, the deflection of the contact member 311 is suppressed and the intermediate transfer member 102 and Stabilization of the contact state (contact nip) of
It can be said that the auxiliary member 500 is disposed on the opposite side to the contact portion 106, and functions as a restricting member that restricts the movement of the contact member 311 in the direction away from the intermediate transfer member 102. The direction away from the intermediate transfer member 102 refers to the direction in which the contact member 311 bends, and by using the thin contact member 311 by backing the auxiliary member 500 to the contact member 311 from the bending direction. Also, the strength of the contact member 311 can be compensated, and the transferability can be improved, and stabilization of the contact state (contact nip) with the intermediate transfer member 102 due to bending can be achieved.
The auxiliary member 500 is attached to the base of the image transfer device 319 so that the state in contact with the outer peripheral surface 311a of the contact member 311 can be maintained. Alternatively, the auxiliary member 500 may be urged by a spring or the like so as to be pressed against the outer peripheral surface 311a of the abutting member 311 to apply an urging force.

  As the shape of the auxiliary member 500, as shown in FIG. 29 (a), at least an abutting surface 500a that abuts on the outer peripheral surface 311a of the abutting member 311 has a flat end surface and is constituted by a rectangular or cubic block member Yes. When the contact surface 500a in contact with the outer peripheral surface 311a of the contact member 311 is a flat end face as described above, the contact state with the outer peripheral surface 311a is good and bending of the contact member 311 can be further suppressed. .

  The auxiliary member may be a rotating body 501 whose surface 501a abuts on the outer peripheral surface 311a of the abutting member 311 as shown in FIG. When the auxiliary member is configured as the rotating body 501 as described above, there is an advantage that rubbing with the contact member 311 is eliminated by moving the contact member 311 and the joint member, and abrasion of the contact member 311 can be prevented.

  When the auxiliary member is configured as the rotating body 501, the material may be formed of an elastic material. That is, an elastic roller may be used as the auxiliary member. As shown in FIG. 29 (c), it is possible to absorb the vibrations of the rotating member 501 serving as the contact member 311 and the auxiliary member, and it is possible to suppress problems due to vibration.

When the contact member 311 and the rotating member 501 are in contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 30A, the rotating member 501 and the intermediate transfer member 102 are brought into a non-contact state so that the intermediate transfer member 102 moves. The rotating body 501 is rotated together with the rotating contact member 311. For this reason, there is an advantage that the load on the rotation of the contact member 311 and the movement of the intermediate transfer body 102 is small, the friction is eliminated with a simple configuration, and the wear of the contact member 311 can be further prevented.
In the case of FIG. 30A, since the rotation of the rotating body 501 is generated by the frictional force with the contact member 311, it becomes a load with respect to the rotation of the contact member 311. It becomes the load of the drive system. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 30B, the rotating body 501 is opposed to the contact member 311 by the drive motor M7 so that the outer surface 311a of the contact member 311 and the outer surface 501a have the same linear velocity. The position may be rotationally driven in the same direction. Since the rotating body 501 functioning as a backup roller can be rotationally driven in this manner, there is little load on the rotation of the contact member 311 and the movement of the intermediate transfer body 102, and there is no sliding friction. There is an advantage that wear can be more prevented.

  Alternatively, the driving force with respect to the rotating body 501 is not that of the drive motor M7, but as shown in FIG. 30C, the intermediate transfer body 102 is brought into contact or pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface 501a of the rotating body 501 It may be obtained from 102. In this case, the rotational directions of the rotating body 501 and the abutting member 311 are determined by the relationship between the frictional force between the rotating body 501 and the abutting member 311 and the abutting member 311 and the intermediate transfer body 102. Therefore, in the case where the rotational direction of the contact member 311 and the rotating body 501 rotates in the direction along with the movement of the intermediate transfer member 102 indicated by the solid line arrow, and the movement of the intermediate transfer member 102 indicated by the broken line arrow. On the other hand, it may rotate in a direction that does not rotate. However, since the rotating body 501 can obtain a driving force without the driving motor M7, the configuration can be simplified. Further, since the cleaning member 10 is brought into contact with the rotating body 501, the installation area of the intermediate transfer body 102 can be narrowed as compared with the case where the intermediate transfer body 102 is not brought into contact, and downsizing can be achieved.

Next, with reference to FIG. 31, an example of the contact member 311 formed of a rotary body and a support structure 510 of the rotary body 501 as a rotatable auxiliary member will be described.
The support structure 510 shown in FIGS. 31 (a) and 31 (b) brings the rotating body 501 into pressure contact with the abutting member 311, and keeps the distance between the abutting member 311 and the rotating body 501 constant. Both are integrally movable in the approaching / separating direction A with respect to the intermediate transfer member 102. One direction of the approaching / separating direction A is the bending direction A1 of the contact member 311, and the opposite direction is the urging direction A2 to the intermediate transfer member 102.
The support structure 510 includes a fixed plate 513 that rotatably supports both ends of the support shaft 312 of the contact member 311 and the support shaft 502 of the rotating body 501 via the pair of bearings 511 and 511 and the pair of bearings 512 and 512, respectively. 514. The fixing plates 513 and 514 are disposed to face each other, and rotatably support the support shaft 312 and the support shaft 502 so as to be parallel to each other in the axial direction. The fixing plates 513 and 514 are movably mounted in the approaching and separating direction A and held in long holes 553 and 554 formed in the side plates 551 and 552 which are fixing portions of the image transfer apparatus.
The support structure 510 includes a pair of coil springs 515 and 515 as biasing members that bias the fixing plates 513 and 514 in the biasing direction A2. Each coil spring 515 is interposed between the long holes 553 and 554 of the side plates 551 and 552 and the fixing plates 513 and 514, respectively.

  By providing the support structure 510 having such a configuration, the outer peripheral surface 501a of the rotating body 501 can be held in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface 311a of the contact member 311, so the diameter of the contact member 311 is reduced. Even when the rigidity is lowered, the contact member 311 can be prevented from bending by being backed by the rotating body 501 as an auxiliary member.

In the supporting structure 530 shown in FIG. 32, the rotating member 501 is brought into pressure contact with the contact member 311, and the interaxial distance between the contact member 311 and the rotating member 501 is made variable, It is possible to move in the approach and separation direction A with respect to 102.
The support structure 530 includes a fixing plate 533 rotatably supporting both ends of the support shaft 312 of the contact member 311 and the support shaft 502 of the rotating body 501 via the pair of bearings 531, 531 and the pair of bearings 532, 532. 534. The fixing plates 533 and 534 are disposed to face each other, and rotatably support the support shaft 312 and the support shaft 502 so as to be parallel to each other in the axial direction. The fixing plates 533 and 534 are mounted and held on side plates 551 and 552 which are fixing portions of the image transfer apparatus. A pair of long holes 541 and 541 and a pair of long holes 542 and 542 extending in the approaching / separating direction A are formed in the fixing plates 533 and 534, respectively. The pair of long holes 541 and 541 are formed in the end portions 533a and 534a of the fixing plates 533 and 534 near the biasing direction A2, and are arranged to face each other. Bearings 531 and 531 rotatably supporting the support shaft 312 are inserted into and supported by the long holes 541 and 541 so as to be movable in the approaching and separating direction A, respectively. The pair of long holes 542 and 542 are respectively formed at the end portions 533 b and 534 b closer to the bending direction A1 than the long holes 541 and 541 formed in the fixing plates 533 and 534 and arranged to face each other Yes. Bearings 532 and 532 for rotatably supporting the support shaft 502 are inserted in and supported by the long holes 542 and 542 so as to be movable in the approaching / separating direction A, respectively.

  The support structure 530 includes a pair of coil springs 535, 535 and a pair of coil springs 536, 536 as biasing members for biasing the support shaft 312 and the support shaft 502 in the biasing direction A2. One end of each of the pair of coil springs 535 and 535 is fixed to the fixing plates 533 and 534, and both ends of the support shaft 312 are urged in the urging direction A2. A pair of coil springs 5356, 536 and one end thereof are fixed to the fixing plates 533, 534, and both ends of the support shaft 502 are urged in the urging direction A2.

By providing the support structure 530 having such a configuration, the outer peripheral surface 501a of the rotating body 501 can be held in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface 311a of the contact member 311. Therefore, the diameter of the contact member 311 is reduced. Even when the rigidity is reduced, bending of the contact member 311 can be prevented by backing with the rotating body 501 as an auxiliary member.
In the support mechanisms 510 and 530 described above, the rotating body 501 and the roller-shaped contact member 311 are supported. However, the block-shaped auxiliary member 500 is supported together with the contact member 311 in place of the rotating body 501. May be.

The present invention includes at least the following forms.
"Form 1"
While contacting an image carrier as a transfer source on which an image is carried and a transfer target as a transfer destination to which an image on the image carrier is transferred,
At least one of the image carrier and the transfer object is movable,
An image transfer method comprising: sequentially transferring an image on the image carrier to the transfer member in a direction not to pass through the contact portion at a contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target.
"Form 2"
In the image transfer device according to aspect 1,
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer object, at least the relative movement direction between the image carrier and the transfer object is reversed, so that the image on the image carrier is An image transferring method characterized in that the contact portion is sequentially transferred to the transfer target in a direction not to go under;
"Form 3"
In the image transfer device according to aspect 1,
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target, at least a difference in relative speed is generated between the image carrier and the transfer target, so that the image support is prevented from passing through the contact portion. An image transfer method comprising sequentially transferring images on a body.
"Form 4"
In the image transfer method according to aspect 3,
When the linear velocity of the transfer medium is α and the linear velocity of the image carrier is β,
An image transfer method characterized in that the linear velocity α> β.
"Form 5"
In the image transfer method according to aspect 3,
When the linear velocity of the transfer medium is α and the linear velocity of the image carrier is β,
An image transfer method characterized in that the linear velocity α <β.
"Form 6"
In the image transfer method according to any one of Forms 1 to 5,
The image carrier and the transferred body are at least one of a contact member that contacts the transferred object via the image carrier or a contact member that contacts the image supported body via the transferred body. An image transfer method characterized in that a contact state is set.
"Form 7"
In the image transfer method according to aspect 2,
At least one of the contact member that contacts the transferred object via the image carrier and the contact member that contacts the image supported body via the transferred object, and the image carrier and the transferred object And the abutting member is moved to reverse the relative movement direction between the image carrier and the transferred body at the contact portion between the image carrier and the transferred body. 3. An image transfer method comprising: sequentially transferring an image on the image carrier to the transfer target in a direction that does not go under the contact portion.
"Form 8"
In the image transfer method according to any one of Forms 3 to 5,
At least one of the contact member that contacts the transferred object via the image carrier and the contact member that contacts the image supported body via the transferred object, and the image carrier and the transferred object And a contact member is moved, thereby generating a relative speed difference between the image carrier and the transferred body at the contact portion between the image carrier and the transferred body. Then, the image transfer method is characterized in that the images on the image carrier are sequentially transferred in a direction that does not pass through the contact portion.
"Form 9"
An image transfer apparatus having at least an image carrier that is a transfer source and a transfer target that is a transfer destination to which an image on the image carrier is transferred, and in which the image carrier and the transfer target are in contact with each other There,
An image transfer apparatus, which transfers an image from the image carrier to the transfer target using the image transfer method according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.
"Form 10"
Means for forming an image on an image carrier as a transfer source;
An image transfer apparatus for converting an image formed on the image carrier into a transfer target as a transfer destination;
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image transfer apparatus is an image transfer apparatus according to a ninth aspect.
"Form 11"
An image carrier that carries an image on the surface;
A transferred object whose surface is in contact with the surface of the image carrier at the contact portion;
The image carrier and the surface of the image carrier are sequentially entered from the first side to the contact portion, and the surface of the transfer body is sequentially ejected from the contact portion to the first side. A drive source for driving at least one of the transfer objects;
An image forming apparatus comprising:
"Form 12"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 11,
The image is a toner image formed of toner particles,
The toner particles have a particle size of 8 μm or less,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 14 μm or less.
"Form 13"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 12,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the particle diameter of the toner particles is 6 μm or less, and the average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 10 μm or less.
"Form 14"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 11,
The image is an image formed of ink droplets,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the image bearing member has an average surface roughness (Ra) of 10 μm or less.
"Form 15"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 11,
The linear velocity of the transfer object is 200 mm / sec or less,
An image forming apparatus, wherein an average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 40 μm or less.
"Form 16"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 11,
The linear velocity of the transfer object is greater than 200 mm / sec and not greater than 400 mm / sec,
An image forming apparatus, wherein an average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 30 μm or less.
"Form 17"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 11,
The linear velocity of the transferred body is greater than 400 mm / sec,
An image forming apparatus, wherein an average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 20 μm or less.
"Form 18"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 11,
The image carrier has a belt shape,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a contact member that contacts the back surface of the image carrier at the contact portion.
"Form 19"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 11,
The transfer object has a belt shape,
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an abutting member that contacts the back surface of the transfer object at the contact portion.
"Form 20"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 18 or 19,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the contact member is a rotating body.
"Form 21"
The image forming apparatus according to Form 20,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an auxiliary member configured to suppress bending of the contact member.
"Form 22"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 21,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a contact surface of the auxiliary member that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the contact member is a flat end surface.
"Form 23"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 21,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member is a rotating body whose surface abuts against an outer peripheral surface of the abutting member.
"Form 24"
The image forming apparatus according to Form 23,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the rotating body is made of an elastic material.
"Form 25"
A first image carrier for carrying a toner image;
A second image carrier in contact with the first image carrier at a contact portion;
A first motor rotating the first image carrier in a first rotation direction;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a second motor that rotates the second image carrier in the first rotation direction.
"Form 26"
The image forming apparatus according to Form 25,
The toner image on the first image carrier is transferred to the second image carrier by rotating the first image carrier and the second image carrier in the first rotation direction. An image forming apparatus.
"Form 27"
The image forming apparatus according to Form 26,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner image on the first image carrier is transferred to the second image carrier before the toner image enters the contact portion.
"Form 28"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 26 or 27,
A transfer roller in contact with the second image carrier via the recording paper;
An image forming apparatus, wherein the toner image on the second image carrier is transferred to the recording paper.
"Form 29"
The image forming apparatus according to Form 28,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing device for fixing the toner image to the recording sheet.
"Form 30"
An image carrier for carrying a toner image;
A conveying roller for conveying the recording sheet by bringing the recording sheet into contact with the image carrier at a contact portion;
A first motor for driving the image carrier so that the image carrier moves in the first direction at the contact portion;
A second motor for driving the transport roller so that the recording paper driven by the transport roller moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction at the contact portion. Image forming apparatus.
"Form 31"
The image forming apparatus according to Form 30,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the toner image on the image carrier is transferred onto the recording paper by driving the image carrier and the conveyance roller;
"Form 32"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 31,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner image on the image carrier is transferred to the recording paper before the toner image enters the contact portion.
"Form 33"
A first image carrier carrying a toner image on the surface;
A second image carrier whose surface comes in contact with the surface of the first image carrier at a contact portion;
The surface of the first image carrier is moved in the first direction by the contact portion, and the surface of the second image carrier is moved by the contact portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction. An image forming apparatus comprising: a drive source for movement.
"Form 34"
The image forming apparatus according to Form 33,
By moving the first image carrier in the first direction at the contact portion and moving the second image carrier in the second direction at the contact portion, the first image carrier is moved. An image forming apparatus, wherein the toner image on the body is transferred to the second image carrier.
"Form 35"
An image carrier that contacts the surface of the recording paper at the contact portion and carries a toner image on the surface;
A drive source that moves the surface of the image carrier in the first direction at the contact portion and moves the surface of the recording paper in the second direction opposite to the first direction at the contact portion. An image forming apparatus.
"Form 36"
In the image forming apparatus according to Form 35,
The toner image on the image carrier is moved to the recording paper by moving the image carrier in the first direction at the contact portion and moving the recording paper in the second direction at the contact portion. An image forming apparatus, wherein

1, 10, 101, 112, 202 Image carrier (first image carrier)
2, 20, 40, 102 transfer target (second image carrier)
6, 61 to 66, 106, 118, 208 Contact portion 30, 130, 130A Image, toner image 230 Image 11, 21, 31, 111, 121, 211 Contact member 311 Rotating body (contact member)
311a Outer peripheral surface 312 Support shaft 100, 200 (Y, M, C, K) Image forming means 105, 122 Transfer roller 109, 119 Fixing device 300-319 Image transfer device 400 Protection means 401 Application member 402 Lubricant 403 Spring 500 Auxiliary member 500a Contact surface 501 Rotating body (auxiliary member)
501a Surface of rotating body Ra Average surface roughness α Linear velocity of transferred member β Linear velocity of image bearing member P Recording paper (transferred member)
M1, M4 First motor M2, M3, M5 Second motor

Patent No. 4088559 Patent No. 4818795

Claims (22)

While contacting an image carrier as a transfer source on which an image is carried and a transfer target as a transfer destination to which an image on the image carrier is transferred,
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target, the moving direction of the image carrier and the moving direction of the transfer target are opposite to each other, and between the image carrier and the transfer target An image on the image carrier is sequentially transferred to the image receiving member in a direction not to go under the contact portion without using a transfer electric field. In the image transfer method according to claim 1,
When the linear velocity of the transfer medium is α and the linear velocity of the image carrier is β,
An image transfer method characterized in that the linear velocity α> β. In the image transfer method according to claim 1,
When the linear velocity of the transfer medium is α and the linear velocity of the image carrier is β,
An image transfer method characterized in that the linear velocity α <β. The image transfer method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
Wherein the abutment portion abutting member to said image bearing member via the transfer material Accordingly, the said image carrier is brought into contact with the material to be transferred, by moving the abutment member, the image bearing There is a relative speed difference between the image bearing member and the transferred object at the contact portion between the body and the transferred object, and the images on the image bearing member are sequentially transferred in a direction that does not pass through the contacted part. An image transfer method characterized by While contacting an image carrier as a transfer source on which an image is carried and a transfer target as a transfer destination to which an image on the image carrier is transferred,
The transfer object is fixed, and the image carrier is movable;
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target, the moving direction of the image carrier is opposite to the apparent transfer direction of the transfer member as viewed from the image carrier.
The image carrier is rotated in the same direction as the moving direction of the image carrier while rotating the image carrier at the second speed at the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target. By translating the provided unit at a first speed, the image on the image carrier is sequentially transferred to the transfer target in a direction not to go under the contact portion without using a transfer electric field. Image transfer method. The image transfer method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
At least one of the contact member that contacts the transferred object via the image carrier and the contact member that contacts the image supported body via the transferred object, and the image carrier and the transferred object And a contact state. While contacting an image carrier as a transfer source on which an image is carried and a transfer target as a transfer destination to which an image on the image carrier is transferred,
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target, the moving direction of the image carrier and the moving direction of the transfer target are opposite to each other,
Wherein the abutment portion abutting member to said image bearing member via the transfer material Accordingly, the said image carrier is brought into contact with the material to be transferred, by moving the abutment member, the image bearing In the contact portion between the body and the transfer target, the relative movement direction between the image support and the transfer target is reversed so that the image on the image support does not use the transfer electric field. An image transfer method comprising sequentially transferring the contact portion to the transfer target in a direction that does not pass through the contact portion. An image transfer apparatus having at least an image carrier that is a transfer source and a transfer target that is a transfer destination to which an image on the image carrier is transferred, and in which the image carrier and the transfer target are in contact with each other There,
An image transfer apparatus, which transfers an image from the image carrier to the transfer target using the image transfer method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Means for forming an image on an image carrier as a transfer source;
An image transfer device for transferring an image formed on the image carrier to a transfer target serving as a transfer destination;
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image transfer apparatus is the image transfer apparatus according to claim 8. An image carrier that carries an image on the surface;
A transferred object whose surface is in contact with the surface of the image carrier at the contact portion;
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target, the moving direction of the image carrier and the moving direction of the transfer target are opposite to each other,
The image carrier and the image carrier such that the surface on the image carrier sequentially enters the contact portion from the first side, and the surface of the transfer target sequentially exits from the contact portion to the first side. Provided with a drive source for driving each transfer object,
The image is a toner image formed of toner particles,
The toner particles have a particle size of 8 μm or less,
The average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 14 μm or less,
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image on the image carrier is sequentially transferred from the image carrier to the transferee without using a transfer electric field and in a direction which does not go under the contact portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10,
The toner particles have a particle size of 6 μm or less,
An image forming apparatus, wherein an average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 10 μm or less. An image carrier that carries an image on the surface;
A transferred object whose surface is in contact with the surface of the image carrier at the contact portion;
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target, the moving direction of the image carrier and the moving direction of the transfer target are opposite to each other,
The image carrier and the image carrier such that the surface on the image carrier sequentially enters the contact portion from the first side, and the surface of the transfer target sequentially exits from the contact portion to the first side. Provided with a drive source for driving each transfer object,
The image is an image formed of ink droplets,
The average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 10 μm or less,
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image on the image carrier is sequentially transferred from the image carrier to the transferee without using a transfer electric field and in a direction which does not go under the contact portion. An image carrier that carries an image on the surface;
A transferred object whose surface is in contact with the surface of the image carrier at the contact portion;
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target, the moving direction of the image carrier and the moving direction of the transfer target are opposite to each other,
The image carrier and the image carrier such that the surface on the image carrier sequentially enters the contact portion from the first side, and the surface of the transfer target sequentially exits from the contact portion to the first side. Provided with a drive source for driving each transfer object,
The linear velocity of the transfer object is 200 mm / sec or less,
The average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 40 μm or less,
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image on the image carrier is sequentially transferred from the image carrier to the transferee without using a transfer electric field and in a direction which does not go under the contact portion. An image carrier that carries an image on the surface;
A transferred object whose surface is in contact with the surface of the image carrier at the contact portion;
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target, the moving direction of the image carrier and the moving direction of the transfer target are opposite to each other,
The image carrier and the image carrier such that the surface on the image carrier sequentially enters the contact portion from the first side, and the surface of the transfer target sequentially exits from the contact portion to the first side. Provided with a drive source for driving each transfer object,
The linear velocity of the transfer object is greater than 200 mm / sec and not greater than 400 mm / sec,
The average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 30 μm or less,
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image on the image carrier is sequentially transferred from the image carrier to the transferee without using a transfer electric field and in a direction which does not go under the contact portion. An image carrier that carries an image on the surface;
A transferred object whose surface is in contact with the surface of the image carrier at the contact portion;
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target, the moving direction of the image carrier and the moving direction of the transfer target are opposite to each other,
The image carrier and the image carrier such that the surface on the image carrier sequentially enters the contact portion from the first side, and the surface of the transfer target sequentially exits from the contact portion to the first side. Provided with a drive source for driving each transfer object,
The linear velocity of the transferred body is greater than 400 mm / sec,
The average surface roughness (Ra) of the image carrier is 20 μm or less,
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image on the image carrier is sequentially transferred from the image carrier to the transferee without using a transfer electric field and in a direction which does not go under the contact portion. An image carrier that carries an image on the surface;
A transferred object whose surface is in contact with the surface of the image carrier at the contact portion;
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target, the moving direction of the image carrier and the moving direction of the transfer target are opposite to each other,
The image carrier and the image carrier such that the surface on the image carrier sequentially enters the contact portion from the first side, and the surface of the transfer target sequentially exits from the contact portion to the first side. Provided with a drive source for driving each transfer object,
The image carrier has a belt shape,
And a contact member contacting the back surface of the image carrier at the contact portion,
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image on the image carrier is sequentially transferred from the image carrier to the transferee without using a transfer electric field and in a direction which does not go under the contact portion. An image carrier that carries an image on the surface;
A transferred object whose surface is in contact with the surface of the image carrier at the contact portion;
At the contact portion between the image carrier and the transfer target, the moving direction of the image carrier and the moving direction of the transfer target are opposite to each other,
The image carrier and the image carrier such that the surface on the image carrier sequentially enters the contact portion from the first side, and the surface of the transfer target sequentially exits from the contact portion to the first side. Provided with a drive source for driving each transfer object,
The transfer object has a belt shape,
A contact member in contact with the back surface of the transfer object at the contact portion;
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image on the image carrier is sequentially transferred from the image carrier to the transferee without using a transfer electric field and in a direction which does not go under the contact portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16 or 17,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the contact member is a rotating body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18.
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an auxiliary member configured to suppress bending of the contact member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a contact surface of the auxiliary member that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the contact member is a flat end surface. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member is a rotating body whose surface abuts against an outer peripheral surface of the abutting member. In the image forming apparatus according to claim 21,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the rotating body is made of an elastic material.

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