JP2000075688A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a high-quality multicolor image with a small color shift amount. SOLUTION: In an image forming apparatus which forms a multicolor image by forming a toner image on an image carrier 1 and repeatedly transferring the toner image to an intermediate transfer member 7, an intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 is provided. The driving force is transmitted via the intermediate transfer member gear 7d. When the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member gear 7d is Z1, and the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22 for driving the intermediate transfer member gear 7d is Z2, Z1 / Z2 = n or Z1 / Z1
It is set so that Z2 = 1 / n (n is an integer).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for forming a multicolor image by forming a toner image on an image carrier and repeatedly transferring the toner image to an intermediate transfer member using an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 shows an example of an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus. According to the present embodiment, a photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier is rotatably arranged, and around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 2, an exposing device 3, a developing device 4, a transfer device 5, a fixing device 6, and the like are provided.

The photosensitive drum 1 is charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by a charging roller 2, and an image exposure L by a laser beam is given to the charged photosensitive drum 1 by an exposure device 3. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to a first color component image (for example, a yellow image) of the color image is formed. Next, the electrostatic latent image is transferred to the yellow developing device 4.
With Y, the image is developed with the first color yellow toner.

The first color yellow toner image formed and carried on the photosensitive drum 1 passes through a primary nip portion T 1 between the photosensitive drum 1 and the intermediate transfer member 7 while the intermediate transfer member 7 Is primary-transferred (intermediate transfer) to the outer peripheral surface.

In the same manner, a second magenta toner image, a third cyan toner image, and a second color toner image formed and carried on the photosensitive drum 1 by a magenta developing unit 4M, a cyan developing unit 4C, and a black developing unit 4Bk, respectively. The four black toner images are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 7, and a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 7. This step is called primary transfer.

The color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member 7 is collectively transferred onto a transfer material P fed from a paper feed cassette at a position of a secondary nip T2.

The transfer material P having the color toner image is conveyed to the fixing section 6 where the transferred image is fixed, and then discharged out of the apparatus.

The secondary transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member 7 without being secondary-transferred is removed by the intermediate transfer member cleaning roller 17 and the secondary transfer residual toner adsorbed on the photosensitive drum 1 is thereafter removed. Is collected by the cleaning device 21.

The drum-shaped intermediate transfer member 7 is integrally formed with a flange 7c disposed at the same center as the rotation shaft 7b of the intermediate transfer member 7, as understood with reference to FIG. It has an intermediate transfer member gear 7d, and is driven in the direction c by the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22 via the intermediate transfer member gear 7d. The intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 is driven by a motor pinion 31 via an idler gear 23 coaxial with the intermediate transfer member driving gear 22.

In the conventional apparatus, the intermediate transfer member gear 7
The number of teeth of d is 207, and the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 is 3
0, the number of teeth of the idler gear 23 coaxial with the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22 is 80, and the number of teeth of the motor pinion 31 is 8.

[0011]

As described above, the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member gear 7d is set to 207, and the intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 is set.
When the number of teeth is 30, the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22 rotates 207/30 = 6.9 when the intermediate transfer member 7 makes one rotation.

That is, the value 6.9 is not an integer, and the intermediate transfer member gear 7d and the intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 are engaged with different teeth each time the intermediate transfer member 7 makes one rotation.

Normally, mechanical parts such as gears are not produced with an error of 0. Therefore, a yellow toner image, a magenta toner image, and a cyan toner image which are sequentially transferred from the photosensitive drum 1 to the intermediate transfer member 7 are formed. Causes a shift of the black toner image. That is, the diameter D of the intermediate transfer member 7
When o is 186 mm, the intermediate transfer member driving gear 2
The area on the intermediate transfer member 7 corresponding to one rotation of 2, color shift occurs at a period corresponding to 186 mm × π / 6.9 ≒ 84.7 (mm).

FIG. 11 shows the state of color misregistration at this time. FIG. 11 is a graph showing the color misregistration of the yellow toner image (Y), the cyan toner image (C), and the black toner image (Bk) based on the magenta toner image (M), and each color has a period of 84.7 mm. It can be seen that the color shift has changed. Moreover, the phases of the yellow toner image (Y), the cyan toner image (C), and the black toner image (Bk) are almost reversed, and the color shift is maximum there.

Further, it has been found that the intermediate transfer member gear 7d and the intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 wear out due to long-term use, and image blur corresponding to one tooth of the gear occurs.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a high-quality multicolor image with a small amount of color shift.

Another object of the present invention is that the intermediate transfer member can be easily replaced by a user himself, not by a serviceman, so that maintenance costs can be reduced, running costs can be reduced, and the intermediate transfer member is always stable throughout the life of the apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a high-quality multicolor image.

[0018]

The above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention provides:
In an image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on an image carrier and repeatedly transfers the toner image to an intermediate transfer member to form a multicolor image, the intermediate transfer member includes an intermediate transfer member driving gear and an intermediate transfer member gear. When the driving force is transmitted through the intermediate transfer member gear, the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member gear is Z1, and the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member drive gear for driving the intermediate transfer member gear is Z2.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that Z1 / Z2 = n or Z1 / Z2 = 1 / n (n is an integer).

According to another aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for forming a multicolor image by forming a toner image on an image carrier and repeatedly transferring the toner image to an intermediate transfer member, An image forming apparatus is provided which is detachably provided to an image forming apparatus main body. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a driving force is transmitted to the intermediate transfer member from the intermediate transfer member driving gear via the intermediate transfer member gear, and the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member gear is set to Z.
1. When the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member driving gear for driving the intermediate transfer member gear is Z2, Z1 / Z2 = n or Z
It is set so that 1 / Z2 = 1 / n (n is an integer).

In the present invention, the intermediate transfer member is a unit including the intermediate transfer member drive gear. Further, the intermediate transfer member is formed in a drum shape or a belt shape.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the present invention will be described with reference to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Embodiment 1 Referring to FIG. 1, in this embodiment, a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member serving as an image carrier, that is, a photosensitive drum 1 is rotatably arranged, and a charge is provided around the photosensitive drum 1. A roller 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, a transfer device 5, a fixing device 6, and the like are arranged.

The photosensitive drum 1 has a photoconductive layer on a drum base made of aluminum and is driven to rotate at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) V in the direction of arrow a.

The charging roller 2 is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 with a predetermined pressing force, rotates following the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1, applies a charging bias, and turns the photosensitive drum 1 to a predetermined polarity. Charge to potential.

The developing device 4 includes a yellow developing device 4Y, a magenta developing device 4M, a cyan developing device 4C, and a black developing device 4Y.
Bk is mounted on the rotating body 4a, and the yellow developing unit 4Y, the magenta developing unit 4M, the cyan developing unit 4C, and the black developing unit 4Bk are exposed during the development process by the rotation of the rotating body 4a in the direction of the arrow b by the rotation driving device. It is arranged at a developing position D facing the drum 1.

The transfer device 5 includes a drum-shaped multi-layered intermediate transfer member 7 for performing primary transfer and a transfer belt 8 as a secondary transfer member for performing secondary transfer. The intermediate transfer member 7 is
It contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and also contacts the surface of the transfer belt 8, and rotates in the direction of arrow c.

A primary transfer bias power supply 9 is connected to the intermediate transfer member 7, and applies a predetermined primary transfer bias to the intermediate transfer member 7.

The transfer belt 8 is axially supported in parallel with the intermediate transfer member 7 and contacts the intermediate transfer member 7 from below.
The endless belt is extended and suspended by the transfer roller 10 and the driving roller 11. The upper surface of the belt is rotated in the direction of arrow d by the rotation of the driving roller 11. Further, a secondary transfer bias power supply 12 is connected to the transfer roller 10, and applies a predetermined secondary transfer bias to the transfer roller 10.

The transfer roller 10 and the driving roller 11 are supported by bearings on a transfer frame 13.
A pressure spring 14 and a pressure piece 15 are arranged on one end of the device 3. The pressure piece 15 is supported by a pressure cam 16, and the transfer belt 8 is connected to an electromagnetic clutch (not shown).
And a pressure cam 16 driven by rotation of a driving means (not shown)
With the rotation of, the intermediate transfer body 7 can be freely contacted / separated at a predetermined timing. The transfer roller 10 includes a pressure spring 1
Due to the spring force of No. 4, the intermediate transfer member 7 is brought into contact with a predetermined secondary transfer pressure.

On the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member 7, a roller-shaped intermediate transfer member cleaning roller 17 having a multilayer structure is disposed so as to be able to contact / separate from the roller. , A predetermined bias is applied.

Next, an image forming operation of the color image forming apparatus will be described.

At the time of image formation, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow a at a predetermined peripheral speed V by a driving means (not shown) as described above, and a charging roller 2 to which a predetermined charging bias is applied. As a result, charging is performed to a predetermined polarity and potential.

An image exposure L by a laser beam is given by the exposure device 3 onto the charged photosensitive drum 1,
An electrostatic latent image corresponding to a first color component image (for example, a yellow toner image) of a target color image is formed. Then
The electrostatic latent image is latent-imaged by the yellow developing device 4Y with the first color yellow toner.

The first color yellow toner image formed and carried on the photosensitive drum 1 passes through a primary nip portion T1 between the photosensitive drum 1 and the intermediate transfer member 7 during the primary transfer. Due to the pressure at the nip portion T1 and the electric field generated by the primary transfer bias applied to the intermediate transfer member 7 from the primary transfer bias power source 9, the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member 7
Next transfer (intermediate transfer) is performed.

Hereinafter, similarly, a magenta toner image of the second color, a third cyan toner image, and a fourth image of the second color formed and carried on the photosensitive drum 1 by the magenta developing unit 4M, the cyan developing unit 4C, and the black developing unit 4Bk, respectively. Are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 7 to form a composite color toner image corresponding to the target color image. This step is called primary transfer.

On the other hand, a transfer material P such as paper from a paper feed cassette (not shown) passes through a pair of registration rollers 19 and a pre-transfer guide 20, and a secondary transfer nip between the intermediate transfer body 7 and the intermediate transfer belt 8 It is fed to the section T2. At this time, 2
A secondary transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 10 from the next transfer bias power supply 12, and the composite color toner image superimposedly transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer body 7 is transferred onto the transfer material P.

The transfer material P on which the color toner image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing unit 6 where the transferred image is fixed by a fixing roller 6a.
After being fixed at 6b, the sheet is discharged to a discharge tray on the upper surface of the apparatus by a discharge roller (not shown).

The secondary transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member 7 without being secondary-transferred is supplied to the cleaning bias power source 1.
After being charged by the intermediate transfer member cleaning roller 17 to which a predetermined bias has been applied from 8 to the polarity opposite to the original polarity, the intermediate transfer member is electrostatically attracted to the photosensitive drum 1 and the intermediate transfer member 7 is cleaned. The secondary transfer residual toner adsorbed on the photosensitive drum 1 is thereafter collected by the cleaning blade 21a of the cleaning device 21.

Next, the structure of the intermediate transfer member gear 7d and the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer member 7 is an intermediate transfer member gear 7 formed integrally with a flange 7c disposed at the same center as the rotation shaft 7b of the drum-shaped intermediate transfer member 7.
d, and is driven in the direction c by the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22 via the intermediate transfer member gear 7d. The intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 is driven by a motor pinion 31 via an idler gear 23 coaxial with the intermediate transfer member driving gear 22.

According to the present invention, when the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member gear 7d is Z1, and the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22 for driving the intermediate transfer member gear 7d is Z2, Z1 / Z2 = n,
Alternatively, it is set so that Z1 / Z2 = 1 / n (n is an integer).

In this embodiment, the number of teeth Z1 of the intermediate transfer member gear 7d = 216, and the number of teeth Z2 of the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22
= 18, the number of teeth Z3 of the idler gear 23 coaxial with the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22 is 69, and the number of teeth Z4 of the motor pinion 31 is 12.

Therefore, when the image forming portion 7a of the intermediate transfer member 7 makes one rotation, the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22 rotates Z1 / Z2 = 216/18 = 12, that is, 12 rotations. That is, this value 12 is an integer, and the same teeth mesh with the intermediate transfer body gear 7d and the intermediate transfer body drive gear 22 each time the intermediate transfer body image forming section 7a makes one rotation.

Therefore, according to the present invention, an intermediate transfer member image formation of a yellow toner image, a magenta toner image, a cyan toner image, and a black toner image when sequentially transferred from the image carrier 1 to the intermediate transfer member image forming portion 7a. Since the phases of the portions 7a can be matched, the shift of each color is reduced.

FIG. 4 shows a state of color misregistration during image formation according to the present embodiment. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, using the image forming apparatus of the present invention, FIG.
An image in which the line images of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black Bk are printed from the front end to the rear end of the transfer material P as shown in FIG. Next, the distance between a certain reference color and the other three colors is measured. In this embodiment, magenta M is used as the reference color. As shown in FIG. 5B, the sign of the distance is − in the leading direction of the transfer material and + in the trailing direction of the transfer material. FIG. 4 is a graph in which the results measured by the method shown in FIG. 5A are plotted for yellow Y, cyan C, and black Bk.

Here, comparing FIG. 4 which is a color misregistration graph of the image forming apparatus of the present invention with FIG. 11 which is a color misregistration graph of the conventional image forming apparatus, it is clear that FIG. Is smaller, and the phase shift of cyan C and black Bk is not reversed with respect to yellow Y as in the conventional example.

As described above, by setting the ratio of the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member gear 7d and the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 to an integer, the same teeth always mesh with each other every time the intermediate transfer member image forming section 7a makes one rotation. Since the yellow toner image, the magenta toner image, the cyan toner image, and the black toner image are transferred from the image carrier 1 to the intermediate transfer body image forming unit 7a, the phases of the intermediate transfer body image forming unit 7a can be matched. In addition, primary transfer can be performed without shifting each color, and a high-quality image with a small amount of color shift can be obtained.

Embodiment 2 Next, attachment and detachment of the intermediate transfer member 7 constructed according to the present invention with respect to the apparatus main body will be described.

In the first embodiment, the ratio of the number of teeth between the intermediate transfer member gear 7d and the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22 is set to an integer for the purpose of reducing color misregistration. It is a disadvantageous condition.

That is, in the drive structure of the intermediate transfer member described in the first embodiment, the gears wear faster because the same teeth always mesh. When the gear wears, a blur corresponding to one gear tooth appears remarkably in the image. In the case of the present embodiment, image blurring occurs at a pitch of 186 × π / 216 = 2.7 (mm) from the front end to the rear end of the transfer material.

Accordingly, in the present invention, the intermediate transfer member 7 is detachably mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus in order to solve the problem caused by the wear of the gear teeth having the integer ratio.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a method of attaching and detaching the intermediate transfer body 7 to and from the image forming apparatus main body. FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the intermediate transfer body.

The intermediate transfer member 7 is provided with swing center bosses 25a and 25b on both sides thereof.
Reference numerals 5a and 25b are accommodated at predetermined swing center positions on the intermediate transfer member guides 30 arranged at the front and the back in the image forming apparatus main body, respectively. An intermediate transfer member pressing lever 27 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body.

Further, a pressure cap 26 is attached to the intermediate transfer member 7.
A compression spring (not shown) is provided in the pressure cap 26. The pressure cap 26 of the intermediate transfer member 7 is
At this time, the intermediate transfer body 7 swings about the swing center bosses 25a and 25b, and is held at a predetermined position and with a predetermined pressure against the image carrier 1.

Next, the method of attaching and detaching the intermediate transfer member 7 will be described. First, referring to FIG. 6, the front door 29 and the intermediate transfer member door 28 of the image forming apparatus main body are opened. Next, the intermediate transfer member pressing lever 27 is released (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6). Next, the intermediate transfer member handle 24 is held by both hands, and the intermediate transfer member swing center boss 25 a is attached to the intermediate transfer member guide 30.
The intermediate transfer body 7 can be easily taken out from the main body of the image forming apparatus by pulling out the intermediate transfer body 25b along the side.

When the intermediate transfer member 7 is mounted on the apparatus main body, the intermediate transfer member 7 can be easily mounted on the image forming main body by performing a procedure reverse to the above-described procedure at the time of removal.

As described above, the intermediate transfer member drive motor pinion 31 provided in the image forming apparatus main body applies a driving force to the intermediate transfer member 7 via the idler gear 23 which is coaxial with the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22. introduce. The detachable intermediate transfer member 7 is configured as a unit including an intermediate transfer member drive gear 22.

As described above, by arranging the intermediate transfer body 7 in a detachable manner with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and by forming the intermediate transfer body 7 into a unit structure including the intermediate transfer body drive gear 22, the intermediate transfer body 7 Body Gear 7d and Intermediate Transfer Body Drive Gear 2
Even if an image defect occurs due to the wear of 2, the user can replace the intermediate transfer body 7 with a new one to maintain high image quality until the life of the image forming apparatus main body.

Even when the ratio of the number of teeth between the intermediate transfer member gear 7d and the intermediate transfer member drive gear 22 is a non-integer, the progress is slower than in the case of the integer, but the gear teeth are worn due to long-term use. . Also in this case, by replacing the intermediate transfer member 7 with a new intermediate transfer member 7, an image defect can be avoided, and high image quality can be maintained until the life of the image forming apparatus main body.

Embodiment 3 In the above embodiment, the intermediate transfer member 7 is described as being in the form of a drum, that is, as an intermediate transfer drum. However, the principle of the present invention is as shown in FIG. The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus using an intermediate transfer member, that is, an intermediate transfer belt.

The image forming apparatus of this embodiment has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus described in the first embodiment, and differs only in the configuration of the intermediate transfer member. Members having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

According to the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 32 as the intermediate transfer member is supported by the image carrier contact roller 33, the transfer roller contact roller 34, and the cleaning roller contact roller 35. An intermediate transfer member gear 36 is provided coaxially with the image carrier contact roller 33. Accordingly, the intermediate transfer belt 32 is driven by the intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 via the intermediate transfer member gear 36.

Also in this embodiment, the intermediate transfer member gear 36
Is Z1 and the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 for driving the intermediate transfer member gear 36 is Z2, Z1 / Z2 =
n or Z1 / Z2 = 1 / n (n is an integer).

As described above, also in the present embodiment using the intermediate transfer belt 32, by setting the ratio of the number of teeth between the intermediate transfer member gear 36 and the intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 to an integer, the intermediate transfer from the image carrier 1 is performed. The phases of the intermediate transfer belt 32 of the yellow toner image, the magenta toner image, the cyan toner image, and the black toner image at the time of transfer to the belt 32 can be matched, and a high-quality image with a small color shift amount can be obtained. it can. Further, even if the intermediate transfer member gear 36 and the intermediate transfer member driving gear 22 are worn, by replacing the intermediate transfer member with a new intermediate transfer member, high image quality can be maintained until the life of the image forming apparatus main body.

[0066]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a toner image is formed on an image carrier, and a toner image is repeatedly transferred to an intermediate transfer member to form a multicolor image. In the apparatus, the driving force is transmitted to the intermediate transfer member from the intermediate transfer member driving gear via the intermediate transfer member gear,
Assuming that the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member gear is Z1 and the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member drive gear for driving the intermediate transfer member gear is Z2, Z1 /
Since Z2 = n or Z1 / Z2 = 1 / n (n is an integer), the intermediate transfer body image forming unit is
The same teeth always mesh with each other every time they rotate, and the phase of the intermediate transfer member when each color toner image is transferred from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member can be matched, so that the primary transfer is performed without shifting each color. And a high-quality image with a small amount of color shift can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, the intermediate transfer member is configured so as to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. Preferably, the intermediate transfer member is connected to the intermediate transfer member driving gear. With the unit configuration including the above, even if an image defect occurs due to wear of the intermediate transfer member gear and the intermediate transfer member driving gear, the user can replace the intermediate transfer member with a new intermediate transfer member, and until the life of the image forming apparatus main body, , High image quality can be maintained. In addition, since the user can easily replace the intermediate transfer member instead of the service person, maintenance costs can be reduced and running costs can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the intermediate transfer member.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the intermediate transfer member.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a color shift when an intermediate transfer member is driven according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for creating the graph of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a mode of attaching and detaching an intermediate transfer member according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a unitized intermediate transfer member.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a unitized intermediate transfer member.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing a color shift when an intermediate transfer member is driven in a driving mode of a conventional configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 image carrier 4 developing device 5 transfer device 7, 32 intermediate transfer member 7d, 36 intermediate transfer member gear 22 intermediate transfer member drive gear

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H030 AA01 AD03 BB02 BB23 BB42 2H032 AA05 AA15 BA08 BA09 BA19 BA30 2H071 BA13 BA15 CA02 CA05 DA06 DA07 DA08 DA09 DA13 DA21 EA18

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on an image carrier and repeatedly transferring the toner image to an intermediate transfer member to form a multicolor image, wherein the intermediate transfer member is driven by an intermediate transfer member drive gear Driving force is transmitted via the intermediate transfer member gear, and when the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member gear is Z1 and the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member drive gear for driving the intermediate transfer member gear is Z2, Z1 / Z2 = N or Z1 / Z2 = 1 / n (n is an integer). 2. An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on an image carrier, and repeatedly transferring the toner image to an intermediate transfer member to form a multicolor image, wherein the intermediate transfer member is provided with respect to an image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus, which is detachably disposed. 3. The intermediate transfer body receives a driving force transmitted from an intermediate transfer body drive gear via an intermediate transfer body gear, sets the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer body gear to Z1, and drives the intermediate transfer body gear. 3. The image according to claim 2, wherein Z1 / Z2 = n or Z1 / Z2 = 1 / n (where n is an integer) when the number of teeth of the intermediate transfer member drive gear is Z2. Forming equipment. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate transfer member is a unit including said intermediate transfer member drive gear. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate transfer member is formed in a drum shape. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate transfer member is formed in a belt shape.