Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Shinichi Nitta

Jun Aoto

Kenichi Mashiko

Sayaka Katoh

Hidetaka Kubo

Atsuo Hirai

Shigeo Oonuma

Yoshiharu Mikami

The surface layer of an intermediate transfer belt has a concavo-convex pattern formed thereon by spherical resin particles which are independently embedded in the layer so that the embedment rate in the thickness direction of the layer is higher than 50% but lower than 100%.

Intermediate transfer belt, method for producing the same, and image forming apparatus

An intermediate transfer belt including a base layer, and an elastic layer on the base layer containing spherical particles on a surface thereof and containing an elastic layer ingredient, wherein the elastic layer contains a fatty acid in an amount of 0.001 parts by mass to 0.040 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the elastic layer ingredient.

Intermediate transfer belt method for producing intermediate transfer belt, and image forming apparatus

To provide an intermediate transfer belt for use in an electrophotographic apparatus, including as an outermost surface thereof: uniform convex regions formed by aligning independent spherical resin particles in a surface direction; and depressed regions formed of a lubricant layer which respectively lie between the convex regions.

Intermediate transfer belt and electrophotographic apparatus

To provide an intermediate transfer belt, containing a base, an elastic layer formed on the base, and spherical particles deposited on a surface of the elastic layer, in which wherein the elastic layer has micro rubber hardness of 40&#xb0; or lower in the environment of 10&#xb0; C. and 15% RH, and the intermediate transfer belt is designed to be mounted in an image forming apparatus.

Intermediate transfer belt and image forming apparatus

An intermediate transfer member including a base layer as first layer, an elastic layer as second layer, and a particle layer as third layer and containing fine spherical particles arranged in plane direction thereof where the particle layer has a concavo-convex pattern formed by the fine spherical particles, the elastic layer and the particle layer being formed on the base layer in this order, wherein the intermediate transfer member has a Martens hardness of 1.0 N/mmor lower and an elastic recovery rate of 75% or higher when the intermediate transfer member is indented at a load of 40 mN under conditions of 25&#xb0; C. and 50% RH, wherein an embedment rate of the fine spherical particles in the elastic layer is 33% to 99%, and wherein the intermediate transfer member is configured to receive a toner image formed by developing, with a toner, a latent image on an image bearing member.

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Miyagi, Japan

Shinichi Nitta