Multi-directional driving mechanism and transfer device for an image forming machine using such mechanism

A transfer device for an image forming machine having an image bearing member, said transfer device comprising:

• a belt unit including a driving roller, a driven roller disposed at a distance from the driving roller, and a transfer belt looped around the driving roller and the driven roller and adapted to be disposed opposite the image bearing member;
• cleaning means disposed on the side of the transfer belt loop opposite the side which is adapted to be adjacent the image bearing member, for cleaning a surface of the transfer belt;
• a multi-directional driving mechanism including a contacting/separating unit for moving the belt unit between a transfer position and a non-transfer position, a moving mechanism for moving the cleaning means between an operating position and a non-operating position, a supporting shaft, a moving plate supported pivotably on the supporting shaft and having an input portion and a plurality of output portions, a causing the moving plate to pivot through a predetermined angle, and a plurality of coupling members, each coupling member having a first end coupled to one of the plurality of output portions on the moving plate and a second end coupled to the contacting/separating unit or the moving mechanism.