IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrying belt which rotates so as to carry an image; a first roller supporting the image carrying belt; a second roller contacting a face opposite to a face of the image carrying belt contacting the first roller, and supporting the image carrying belt; and a control unit which controls rotation of the image carrying belt such that a portion of the image carrying belt, supported by the first roller in a period that the image carrying belt is stopped before image formation, is supported by the second roller in a period that the image carrying belt is stopped after the image formation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overview of an image forming apparatus of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a mechanism for controlling the position of an intermediate transfer belt according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating a control of a stopped position of the intermediate transfer belt;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control of a stopped position of the intermediate transfer belt;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating the intensity of a force pushing out the intermediate transfer belt outward by the inner roller;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the overview of an image forming apparatus of a second embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the overview of an image forming apparatus of a third embodiment.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrying belt which rotates so as to carry an image;a first roller supporting the image carrying belt;a second roller contacting a face opposite to a face of the image carrying belt contacting the first roller, and supporting the image carrying belt; anda control unit which controls rotation of the image carrying belt such that a portion of the image carrying belt, supported by the first roller in a period that the image carrying belt is stopped before image formation, is supported by the second roller in a period that the image carrying belt is stopped after the image formation.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mark detection unit which detects a mark rotating together with the image carrying belt, wherein the control unit controls the rotation of the image carrying belt based on a detection result of the mark detection unit.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation number detection unit which detects a number of rotations of a driving roller which drives the image carrying belt, wherein the control unit controls the rotation of the image carrying belt based on a detection result of the rotation number detection unit.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image carrying belt is an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image is transferred and from which the toner image is further transferred to a recording material.