Transfer device having notches, method and image forming apparatus using the same transfer device or method

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a rotary image carrier that carries an image;
• an image carrier driving device that rotates the image carrier;
• a transfer device including a transfer member having a transfer surface that forms a nip part between the image carrier and the transfer member and that transfers the image on the image carrier to a transfer material passing through the nip part, the transfer member having on the transfer surface thereof notches slanting relative to a direction perpendicular to the transfer surface;
• and
• a driving force transmission device that transmits a driving force to the transfer member such that the transfer surface moves at a circumferential speed different from that of the image carrier;
• and
• a bent sheet conveying device configured for conveying the transfer material to the nip part,
• wherein the notches of the transfer member are slanted in a direction relative to the direction perpendicular to the transfer surface, such that alien substances substantially are not caused to enter a concave portion of the notches when by the transfer material moving relative to the transfer surface, and the transfer material is conveyed toward the nip part with its leading edge portion bent toward the transfer member by being conveyed through the bent sheet conveying device.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a rotary image carrier capable of carrying an image;
• an image carrier driving device that rotates the image carrier;
• a transfer device including a transfer member having a transfer surface that forms a nip part between the image carrier and the transfer member so as to transfer the image on the image carrier to a transfer material passing through the nip part, the transfer member having on the transfer surface notches slanting relative to a direction perpendicular to the transfer surface;
• a pushing member positioned to push the transfer member to the image carrier so as to oppose to a pushing force from the transfer material to the transfer member;
• and
• a driving force transmission device that transmits a driving force to the transfer member such that the transfer surface of the transfer member moves at a circumferential speed different from that of the image carrier,
• wherein the notches of the transfer member are slanted in a direction relative to the direction perpendicular to the transfer surface, such that alien substances substantially are not caused to enter a concave portion of the notches by the transfer material moving relative to the transfer surface.

A transfer device, comprising:

• transfer means for forming a nip part between a rotary image carrier carrying an image and a transfer surface of the transfer means and for transferring the image on the image carrier to a transfer material passing through the nip part, the transfer means having on a surface thereof notches slanting relative to a direction perpendicular to the transfer surface;
• means for pushing the transfer means to the image carrier so as to oppose to a pushing force from the transfer material to the transfer means;
• and
• driving force transmission means for transmitting a driving force to the transfer means such that a surface of the transfer means moves at a circumferential speed different from that of the image carrier,
• wherein the notches of the transfer means are slanted in a direction relative to the direction perpendicular to the transfer surface, such that alien substances substantially are not caused to enter a concave portion of the notches by the transfer material moving relative to the transfer surface.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• image carrier means for carrying an image;
• image carrier driving means for rotating the image carrier means;
• transfer means for transferring the image on the image carrier means to a transfer material, the transfer means including transfer member means for forming a nip part between the image carrier means and the transfer member means and for transferring the image on the image carrier means to the transfer material passing through the nip part, the transfer member means having on a transfer surface thereof notches slanting relative to a direction perpendicular to the transfer surface;
• driving force transmission means for transmitting a driving force to the transfer member means such that the transfer surface of the transfer member means moves at a circumferential speed different from that of the image carrier means;
• and
• bent sheet conveying means for conveying the transfer material to the nip part, wherein the notches of the transfer member means are slanted in a direction relative to the direction perpendicular to the transfer surface such that alien substances substantially are not caused to enter a concave portion of the notches by the transfer material moving relative to the transfer surface, and the transfer material is conveyed toward the nip part with its leading edge portion bent toward the transfer member means by being conveyed through the bent sheet conveying means.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• image carrier means for carrying an image;
• image carrier driving means for rotating the image carrier means;
• transfer means for transferring the image on the image carrier means to a transfer material, the transfer means including transfer member means for forming a nip part between the image carrier means and a transfer surface of the transfer member means and for transferring the image on the image carrier means to the transfer material passing through the nip part, the transfer member means having on the transfer surface thereof notches slanting relative to a direction perpendicular to the transfer surface;
• means for pushing the transfer member means to the image carrier means so as to oppose to a pushing force from the transfer material to the transfer member means;
• and
• driving force transmission means for transmitting a driving force to the transfer member means such that the transfer surface of the transfer member means moves at a circumferential speed different from that of the image carrier means,
• wherein the notches of the transfer member means are slanted in a direction relative to the direction perpendicular to the transfer surface such that alien substances substantially are not caused to enter a concave portion of the notches by the transfer material moving relative to the transfer surface.

A method of transferring an image on an image carrier to a transfer material passing through a nip part between the image carrier and a transfer surface of a transfer member having on the transfer surface notches slanting relative to a direction perpendicular to the transfer surface, the method comprising steps of:

• moving the transfer surface of the transfer member at a circumferential speed different from that of the image carrier;
• and
• pushing the transfer member to the image carrier so as to oppose to a pushing force from the transfer material to the transfer member,
• wherein the notches of the transfer member are slanted in a direction relative to the direction perpendicular to the transfer surface such that alien substances substantially are not caused to enter a concave portion of the notches by the transfer material moving relative to the transfer surface.

A method of forming an image in an image forming apparatus, comprising steps of:

• moving a transfer surface of a transfer member, the transfer surface having notches slanting relative to a direction perpendicular to the transfer surface, such that the transfer surface moves at a circumferential speed different from that of an image carrier carrying an image;
• conveying a transfer material to a nip part between the image carrier and the transfer surface through a bent sheet conveying path;
• and
• passing the transfer material through the nip part to transfer the image on the image carrier to the transfer material;
• wherein the notches of the transfer member are slanted in a direction relative to the direction perpendicular to the transfer surface such that alien substances substantially are not caused to enter a concave portion of the notches by the transfer material moving relative to the transfer surface, and the transfer material is conveyed toward the nip part with its leading edge portion bent toward the transfer member by being conveyed through the bent sheet conveying path.

A method of forming an image in an image forming apparatus, comprising steps of:

• moving a transfer surface of a transfer member, the transfer surface having notches slanting relative to a direction perpendicular to the transfer surface, such that the transfer surface moves at a circumferential speed different from that of an image carrier carrying an image;
• passing a transfer material through a nip part between the image carrier and the transfer surface to transfer the image on the image carrier to the transfer material;
• and
• pushing the transfer member to the image carrier so as to oppose to a pushing force from the transfer material to the transfer member,
• wherein the notches of the transfer member are slanted in a direction relative to the direction perpendicular to the transfer surface such that alien substances substantially are not caused to enter a concave portion of the notches by the transfer material moving relative to the transfer surface.