Belt unit, transfer unit and image forming apparatus
View Patent ↗A belt unit includes an endless belt that transports a recording medium thereon. The endless belt has a Young's modulus in the range of 3.5≦Y≦7.0. The endless belt is disposed about a plurality of rollers, and runs about the rollers. The endless belt has a thickness such that 0.0025≦Y×T 3 ≦0.007 where Y is the Young's modulus and T is the thickness. A cleaning member removes deposits from the surface of the endless belt. The belt unit may also operate as a transfer unit and include a cleaning member disposed about a plurality of rollers. The cleaning member removes deposits from the surface of the endless belt. An image forming apparatus may include the belt unit or transfer unit.
1. A belt unit, comprising:
an endless belt having a Young's modulus in the range of 3.5≦Y≦7.0, where Y is the Young's modulus in gigapascals;
a plurality of rollers about which said endless belt is disposed and runs; and
a cleaning member that removes deposits from a surface of said endless belt;
wherein said endless belt has a thickness such that 0.0025≦Y×T 3 ≦0.007, where Y is the Young's modulus in gigapascals and T is the thickness in millimeters.
2. The belt unit according to claim 1 , wherein said cleaning member is in pressure contact with said belt and removes the deposits.
3. The belt unit according to claim 1 , wherein said cleaning member is in the shape of a blade.
4. The belt unit according to claim 1 , wherein said endless belt is formed of a resin material.
5. The belt unit according to claim 1 , wherein said endless belt is formed of a polyamide-imide.
6. A transfer unit, comprising:
an endless belt having a Young's modulus in the range of 3.5≦Y≦7.0, where Y is the Young's modulus in gigapascals;
at least two rollers about which said endless belt is disposed and runs;
a transfer member positioned between said at least two rollers; and
a cleaning member that removes deposits from a surface of said endless belt;
wherein said endless belt has a thickness such that 0.0025≦Y×T 3 ≦0.007, where Y is the Young's modulus in gigapascals and T is the thickness in millimeters.
7. The transfer unit according to claim 6 , wherein said cleaning member is in pressure contact with said belt and removes the deposits.
8. The transfer unit according to claim 6 , wherein said cleaning member is in the shape of a blade.
9. The transfer unit according to claim 6 , wherein said endless belt is formed of a resin material.
10. The transfer unit according to claim 6 , wherein said endless belt is formed of a polyamide-imide.
11. The transfer unit according to claim 6 , wherein said endless belt runs with a recording medium thereon.
12. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an endless belt having a Young's modulus in the range of 3.5≦Y≦7.0, where Y is the Young's modulus in gigapascals;
at least two rollers about which said endless belt is disposed and runs; and
a cleaning member that removes deposits from a surface of said endless belt;
wherein said endless belt has a thickness such that 0.0025≦Y×T 3 ≦0.007, where Y is the Young's modulus in gigapascals and T is the thickness in millimeters.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said cleaning member is in pressure contact with said belt and removes the deposits.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said cleaning member is in the shape of a blade.
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a transfer member positioned between said at least two rollers.