Belt driving device, transfer device, and image forming apparatus

A transfer device comprising:

• an annular belt member comprising an outer peripheral surface, the annular belt member being configured to transfer an image onto a recording material by (i) the outer peripheral surface coming into contact with the recording material and (ii) receiving a voltage;
• a plurality of rotary members that extend in parallel and rotate, the belt member being wound around the rotary members, the belt member circulating;
• a protrusion that protrudes from an inner peripheral surface of the belt member, the protrusion extending along an edge of the belt member, the protrusion and each rotary member being arranged in an extending direction of the rotary member;
• and
• a removing member having a plate-shaped outer shape, wherein
• a portion of the removing member, where the removing member faces one of the rotary members with the belt member being interposed therebetween, is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the belt member, so as to remove unnecessary matters from the outer peripheral surface of the belt member, and
• the removing member extends to an outside of end portions of the rotary members in the extending direction.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a transport unit configured to transport a recording material;
• an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording material transported by the transport unit;
• and
• a belt driving device assembled to at least one of the transport unit or the image forming unit, wherein
• the belt driving device comprises
• an annular belt member,
• a plurality of rotary members that extend in parallel and rotate, the belt member being wound around the rotary members, the belt member circulating,
• a protrusion that protrudes from an inner peripheral surface of the belt member, the protrusion extending along an edge of the belt member, the protrusion and each rotary member being arranged in an extending direction of the rotary member, and
• a removing member having a plate-shaped outer shape,
• a portion of the removing member, where the removing member faces one of the rotary members with the belt member being interposed therebetween, is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the belt member, so as to remove unnecessary matters from the outer peripheral surface of the belt member, and
• the removing member extends to an outside of end portions of the rotary members in the extending direction.