Image Forming Apparatus and Image Forming System

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt having a coated layer as a surface layer that carries an developer image on the surface layer, a light-emitting member that emits light rays having a predetermined wavelength toward the surface layer of the intermediate transfer belt, and a sensing member that senses the light rays reflected from the intermediate transfer belt. The intermediate transfer belt includes a metal layer whose light reflection coefficient is larger than that of the coated layer and an intermediate layer positioned between the coated layer and the metal layer, and the intermediate layer that restrains the different light rays having a wavelength other than the predetermined wavelength from reflecting from the intermediate transfer belt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing main components which constitute a printer 10.

FIG. 2 is a pattern diagram showing a patch sensor 64.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the printer 10 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a pattern diagram for explaining a structure of an intermediate transfer belt 70.

FIG. 5 is a pattern diagram showing a state in which different light rays are reflected by the intermediate transfer belt 70 provided with an intermediate layer 416.

FIG. 6 is a pattern diagram for explaining a structure of the intermediate transfer belt 70 provided with the intermediate layer 416 having a plurality of layers.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory drawing showing an appearance of an image forming system.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG. 7.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an intermediate transfer belt having a coated layer as a surface layer that carries an developer image on the surface layer;a light-emitting member that emits light rays having a predetermined wavelength toward the surface layer of the intermediate transfer belt; anda sensing member that senses the light rays reflected from the intermediate transfer belt,wherein the intermediate transfer belt includes:a metal layer whose light reflection coefficient is larger than that of the coated layer and;an intermediate layer positioned between the coated layer and the metal layer for restraining the different light rays having a wavelength other than the predetermined wavelength from reflecting from the intermediate transfer belt.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate transfer belt includes a base layer on the side opposite from the intermediate layer when viewed from the metal layer.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer includes a plurality of layers for restraining the different light rays of a plurality of types having different wavelengths from each other from reflecting from the intermediate transfer belt.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing member senses the light rays reflected from the intermediate transfer belt and detect the density of the developer image carried on the intermediate transfer belt.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a controller that controls the density of the image on the basis of the result of detection of the density of the developer image by the sensing member.

6. An image forming apparatus comprising: an intermediate transfer belt having a coated layer as a surface layer that carries an developer image on the surface layer;a light-emitting member that emits light rays having a predetermined wavelength toward the surface layer of the intermediate transfer belt; anda sensing member that senses the light rays reflected from the intermediate transfer belt,wherein the intermediate transfer belt includes:a metal layer whose light reflection coefficient is larger than that of the coated layer; andan intermediate layer positioned between the coated layer and the metal layer for restraining the different light rays having a wavelength other than the predetermined wavelength from reflecting from the intermediate transfer belt,wherein the intermediate transfer belt includes a basic layer on the side opposite from the intermediate layer when viewed from the metal layer, the intermediate layer including a plurality of layers for restraining the different light rays of a plurality of types having different wavelengths from each other from reflecting from the intermediate transfer belt,wherein the sensing member senses the light rays reflected from the intermediate transfer belt and detects the density of the developer image carried on the intermediate transfer belt, andwherein the intermediate transfer belt includes a controller that controls the density of the image on the basis of the result of detection of the density of the developer image by the sensing member.

7. An image forming system comprising: a computer andan image forming apparatus which is connectable to the computer, the image forming apparatus including an intermediate transfer belt having a coated layer as a surface layer that carries an developer image on the surface layer, a light-emitting member that emits light rays having a predetermined wavelength toward the surface layer of the intermediate transfer belt and a sensing member that senses the light rays reflected from the intermediate transfer belt,wherein the intermediate transfer belt includes:a metal layer whose light reflection coefficient is larger than that of the coated layer; andan intermediate layer positioned between the coated layer and the metal layer and the intermediate layer that restrains the different light rays having a wavelength other than the predetermined wavelength from reflecting from the intermediate transfer belt.