Power transmission apparatus and image forming apparatus comprising the same

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier;
• a power transmission apparatus configured to drive the image carrier;
• a charging unit configured to uniformly charge a circumferential surface of the image carrier;
• an exposure unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image by exposing the circumferential surface of the image carrier uniformly charged by the charging unit;
• a developer unit configured to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image by using toner;
• a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image to a sheet;
• and
• a fixing unit configured cause the toner image to be fixed to the sheet, wherein
• the power transmission apparatus comprises:
• a first pulley rotationally driven by a driving unit;
• a second pulley;
• a belt extended around the first pulley and the second pulley;
• and
• a supply unit configured to supply a voltage such that the first pulley and the belt are electrostatically attracted to each other and that the second pulley and the belt are electrostatically attracted to each other,
• the belt includes a conductor layer,
• at least one pulley among the first pulley and the second pulley includes a first electrode to which a first voltage is applied and a second electrode that is insulated from the first electrode and to which a second voltage is applied, and
• an insulating layer or a dielectric layer is arranged between the conductor layer of the belt and the first electrode of the at least one pulley, and
• another insulating layer or another dielectric layer is arranged between the conductor layer of the belt and the second electrode of the at least one pulley.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier;
• a charging unit configured to uniformly charge a circumferential surface of the image carrier;
• an exposure unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image by exposing the circumferential surface of the image carrier uniformly charged by the charging unit;
• a developer unit configured to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image by using toner;
• a primary transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image to an intermediate transfer belt;
• and
• a power transmission apparatus configured to drive the intermediate transfer belt;
• a secondary transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt to a sheet;
• and
• a fixing unit configured cause the toner image to be fixed to the sheet, wherein
• the power transmission apparatus comprises:
• a first pulley rotationally driven by a driving unit;
• a second pulley;
• a belt extended around the first pulley and the second pulley;
• and
• a supply unit configured to supply a voltage such that the first pulley and the belt are electrostatically attracted to each other and that the second pulley and the belt are electrostatically attracted to each other,
• the belt includes a conductor layer,
• at least one pulley among the first pulley and the second pulley includes a first electrode to which a first voltage is applied and a second electrode that is insulated from the first electrode and to which a second voltage is applied, and
• an insulating layer or a dielectric layer is arranged between the conductor layer of the belt and the first electrode of the at least one pulley, and
• another insulating layer or another dielectric layer is arranged between the conductor layer of the belt and the second electrode of the at least one pulley.