Image forming apparatus receiving alternative devices, at least one of which includes an intermediary transfer member

• US 6,941,094 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Omata, Yasukuni, Mochimaru, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Susan
• Application Number:
  US10/321,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20030118367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 399/121, 399/116, 399/124, 399/110, 399/1, 399/2
• US Class Current: 399/121
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/1605 using at least one intermediate support G03G15/1625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0132 vertical medium transport path at the secondary transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1642 for the transfer unit

Abstract

An image forming apparatus having a visible image bearing member in a main housing a recording medium conveying path formed in the main housing, and an installing part provided in the main housing that provides or easy installation and removal of any of at least two devices, with at least one of the two devices providing for transferring the visible image from the visible image bearing member to an intermediary image bearing member in the at least one device prior to forming the final image on the recording medium.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising:

a main body housing;

a main image carrier in said main body configured to carry a transferable image;

a recording medium conveying path formed in the main body housing; and

an installing part provided in the main body housing along a part of the recording medium conveying path and configured to permit easy installation and removal of any of at least two devices, with at least one of the two devices being configured, when installed in the installing part of the main body housing, to transfer the transferable image from the main image carrier to an intermediary image bearing member in the at least one of the at least two devices prior to forming a final image on the recording medium.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving and guiding mechanism provided to the main body housing and configured to receive and guide the any of at least two devices being installed in or removed from the installing part of the main body housing.

3. An image forming apparatus comprising:

at least one image bearing member on which a visible image is formed;

an intermediary transfer member onto which visible images of different colors formed on the at least one image bearing member are transferred to be superimposed one upon another, thereby forming a first image thereupon; and

an installing part provided in a main body housing of the apparatus and configured such that any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size is easily installed or removed, wherein each of the intermediary image bearing members different in size is configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing of the apparatus, the intermediary image bearing members different in size will have the first image transferred thereupon,

wherein the image forming apparatus is configured such that when the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size is installed in the installing part of the main body housing of the apparatus, the first image on the installed any of at least two intermediary image bearing members is transferred onto one side of a recording medium and a second image formed on the installed any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size by other visible images subsequently transferred from the at least one image bearing member being superimposed one upon another is transferred onto the other side of the recording medium.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a receiving and guiding mechanism provided to the main body housing of the apparatus and configured to receive and guide the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size being installed in or removed from the installing part of the main body housing of the apparatus.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the main body housing is configured to include a fixed housing and a movable housing supported by the fixed housing to open and close relative to the fixed housing, and

wherein the receiving and guiding mechanism is provided to the movable housing, so that the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size is received, when the movable housing is being opened, and is guided, when the movable housing is closed, to be installed in the installing part of the main body housing, and when the movable housing is opened, to be removed from the installing part of the main body housing, by the movable housing.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the intermediary transfer member is mounted to the fixed housing of the main body housing, and

wherein the movable housing is supported by the fixed housing such that when the movable housing is opened, the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members, received and guided by the movable housing, separates from the intermediary transfer member mounted to the fixed housing.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the movable housing is supported by the fixed housing to rotate to be opened, and when opened, to be supported at a first position, and a second position where the movable housing is opened more largely than at the first position.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the movable housing includes at least two cover members connected with each other and configured to be bent relative to each other when opened.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are different from each other in width in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of surfaces thereof.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are different from each other in circumferential length.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are different from each other in circumferential length.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are formed as endless belts and are spanned around a plurality of supporting rollers to be driven to rotate, respectively.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size and formed as endless belts and the plurality of supporting rollers around which the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size and formed as endless belts are spanned around, respectively, are integrated to form belt units, respectively.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein the installing part of the main body housing is configured such that the belt units can be installed therein or removed therefrom in a detachable manner, and

wherein the belt units are respectively configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing, at least respective one components thereof corresponding to each other are installed in substantially a same position in the main body housing.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the belt units respectively include transfer devices configured to perform, when installed in the installing part of the main body housing, a function of transferring the first image formed on the intermediary transfer member onto the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size and a function of transferring the second image formed on the intermediary transfer member onto the recording medium, respectively, and are configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing, the transfer devices are installed in substantially a same position in the main body housing, respectively.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the belt units are respectively configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing, a recording medium conveying path extending substantially in a vertical direction is formed by the any of at least two image bearing members different in size and formed as endless belts so that the recording medium is conveyed to transfer positions where the first and the second images are transferred onto the recording medium, respectively, from a position below the transfer positions, and respective supporting rollers supporting a part of the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members, forming the recording medium conveying path, are installed in substantially same positions in the main body housing.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the belt units respectively include opposing electrodes arranged to oppose, when the belt units are installed in the installing part of the main body housing, a transfer device to transfer the first image on the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size onto one side of the recording medium while sandwiching the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members with the opposing electrodes and the transfer device, respectively, and are configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing, the opposing electrodes are installed in substantially a same position in the main body housing, respectively.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the belt units respectively include cleaning devices to clean a surface of the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size after transferring the first image onto the other side of the recording medium, and are configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing, the cleaning devices are installed in substantially a same position in the main body housing, respectively.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein the belt units respectively include backing members arranged to oppose cleaning members of the cleaning devices, respectively, and are configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing, the backing members are installed in substantially a same position in the main body housing, respectively.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the belt units are configured such that respective driving rollers of the supporting rollers supporting the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are installed in substantially a same position in the main body housing, respectively.

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the belts units respectively includes transfer devices configured to transfer the first image on the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size and formed as endless belts onto the one side of the recording medium, and are configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing, the transfer devices of the belt units are installed in substantially a same position in the main body housing, respectively.

22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21,

wherein the transfer device of the belt unit is arranged inside of the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size and formed as endless belts.

23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein the belt units respectively include covers covering respective components thereof, and

wherein the movable housing includes an opening formed such that when the belt units are installed in the installing part of the main body housing, parts of the covers of the belt units are allowed to protrude from parts of the main body housing adjacent to the covers of the belt units, respectively.

24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23,

wherein parts of the covers of the belt units, that are exposed when the belt units are installed in the installing part the main body housing, are configured to serve as parts of an exterior part of the apparatus, respectively.

25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23,

wherein the apparatus includes a sheet feeding cassette accommodating the recording medium and installed in the main body housing to be drawn out from the main body housing, and

wherein the opening of the movable housing is formed such that when the belt units are installed in the installing part of the main body housing, the parts of the covers of the belt units protrude in a direction in which the sheet feeding cassette is drawn out, respectively.

26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein the belt units respectively include transfer devices for transferring the first image on the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size and formed as endless belts onto the one side of the recording medium.

27. The image forming apparatus according to claim 26,

wherein the transfer devices of the belt units are arranged inside of the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size and formed as endless belts, respectively.

28. The image forming apparatus according to claim 27,

wherein the transfer devices transferring the first image formed on the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size and formed as endless belts onto one side of the recording medium include transfer rollers to which a transfer voltage is applied, respectively.

29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the installing part and the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are configured such that an intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, that is relatively long in circumferential length, protrudes, when installed in the installing part, toward a side opposite to the intermediary transfer member, more than another intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, that is shorter in circumferential length than the intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, that is relatively long in circumferential length, protrudes.

30. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a recognition device configured to recognize a size of the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, installed in the installing part of the main body housing.

31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein an intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size is formed in such a size that when a recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a long side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, the first image to be transferred thereon can be accommodated, and another intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members is formed in such a size that when a recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a short side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed, the first image to be transferred thereon can be accommodated.

32. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein at least one of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size is formed in such a size that when a recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a long side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed, an image to be transferred thereon can be accommodated, and when an image forming operation is performed in succession while a recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a short side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed, during a time in which the either of at least two intermediary image bearing members is rotated one time, at least two pages of the first image to be transferred onto two sheets of the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size conveyed in succession can be transferred thereon, and

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the two pages of the first image transferred onto the either of at least two intermediary image bearing members are transferred onto respective one sides of the two sheets of the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size conveyed in succession, respectively.

33. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

an operation panel provided to the main body housing and configured to input an operation instruction; and

a control device configured to control the apparatus not to perform an image forming operation when an instruction to form an image on each side of a recording medium larger in size than a surface size of the either of at least two intermediary image bearing members is inputted by the operation panel or by a host computer connected with the apparatus.

34. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein a surface resistivity of each of the at least two intermediary image bearing members is in a range of about 10⁵−

10¹²Ω

/□

.

35. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein each of the at least two intermediary image bearing members includes a releasing-type coat layer on a surface thereof.

36. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a control device configured to control an order of forming the first image and the second image such that the first image is put on an even page and the second image is put on an odd page; and

a recording medium conveying path configured such that the recording medium is fed out from the image forming apparatus with the second image thereon face down.

37. An image forming system, comprising:

the image forming apparatus according to claim 3; and

a host computer connected with the image forming apparatus.

97. A belt unit comprising:

an intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt; and

a plurality of supporting rollers supporting the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt,

wherein the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt and the plurality of supporting rollers supporting the intermediary image bearing member are integrated to form the belt unit, and

wherein the belt unit is configured to be installed in the installing part of the main body housing of any of the image forming apparatuses according to any one of claim 3, 38 and 68.

38. An image forming apparatus comprising:

at least one image bearing member on which a visible image is formed;

an intermediary transfer member onto which visible images of different colors formed on the at least one image bearing member are transferred to be superimposed one upon another, thereby forming a first image thereupon; and

an installing part provided in a main body housing of the apparatus and configured to easily install or remove either a transfer device configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing of the apparatus, the first image formed on the intermediary transfer member is transferred onto a recording medium, or an intermediary image bearing member configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing of the apparatus, the first image formed on the intermediary transfer member is transferred thereupon,

wherein the image forming apparatus is configured such that when the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing of the apparatus, the first image transferred onto the intermediary image bearing member from the intermediary transfer member is transferred onto a first side of the recording medium and a second image formed on the intermediary transfer member by other visible images of different colors, subsequently transferred from the at least one image bearing member being superimposed one upon another, is transferred onto a second side of the recording medium.

39. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising:

a receiving and guiding mechanism provided to the main body housing of the apparatus and configured to receive and to guide the either a transfer device or an intermediary image bearing member being installed in or removed from the installing part of the main body housing.

40. The image forming apparatus according to claim 39,

wherein the main body housing is configured to include a fixed housing and a movable housing supported by the fixed housing to open and close relative to the fixed housing, and

wherein the receiving and guiding mechanism is provided to the movable housing, so that the either a transfer device or an intermediary image bearing member is received, when the movable housing is being opened, and is guided, when the movable housing is closed, to be installed in the installing part of the main body housing, and when the movable housing is opened, to be removed from the installing part of the main body housing, by the movable housing.

41. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40,

wherein the intermediary transfer member is mounted to the fixed housing, and

wherein the movable housing is supported by the fixed housing such that when the movable housing is opened, the either the transfer device or the intermediary image bearing member, received and guided by the movable housing, separates from the intermediary transfer member mounted to the fixed housing.

42. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40,

wherein the movable housing is supported by the fixed housing to rotate to be opened, and when opened, to be supported at a first position, and a second position where the movable housing is opened more largely than at the first position.

43. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40,

wherein the movable housing includes at least two cover members connected with each other and configured to be bent relative to each other when opened.

44. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38,

wherein the installing part is further configured to easily install or remove any of at least two intermediary image bearing members that are different in size and respectively configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing of the apparatus, the first image on the intermediary transfer member is transferred thereupon.

45. The image forming apparatus according to claim 44,

wherein the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are different from each other in width in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of surfaces thereof.

46. The image forming apparatus according to claim 45,

wherein the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are different from each other in circumferential length.

47. The image forming apparatus according to claim 44,

wherein the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are different from each other in circumferential length.

48. The image forming apparatus according to claim 44,

wherein the installing part and the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are configured such that an intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, that is relatively long in circumferential length, protrudes, when installed in the installing part, toward a side opposite to the intermediary transfer member, more than another intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, that is shorter in circumferential length than the intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, that is relatively long in circumferential length, protrudes.

49. The image forming apparatus according to claim 44, further comprising:

a recognition device configured to recognize a size of the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, installed in the installing part of the main body housing.

50. The image forming apparatus according to claim 44,

wherein an intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size is formed in such a size that when a recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a long side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, the first image to be transferred thereon can be accommodated, and another intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members is formed in such a size that when a recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a short side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed, the first image to be transferred thereon can be accommodated.

51. The image forming apparatus according to claim 44,

wherein at least one of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size is formed in such a size that when a recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a long side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed, an image to be transferred thereon can be accommodated, and when an image forming operation is performed in succession while a recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a short side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed, during a time in which the either of at least two intermediary image bearing members is rotated one time, at least two pages of the first image to be transferred onto two sheets of the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size conveyed in succession can be transferred thereon, and

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the two pages of the first image transferred onto the either of at least two intermediary image bearing members are transferred onto respective one sides of the two sheets of the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size conveyed in succession, respectively.

52. The image forming apparatus according to claim 44, further comprising:

an operation panel provided to the main body housing and configured to input an operation instruction; and

a control device configured to control the apparatus not to perform an image forming operation when an instruction to form an image on each side of a recording medium larger in size than a surface size of the either of at least two intermediary image bearing members is inputted by the operation panel or by a host computer connected with the apparatus.

53. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38,

wherein the intermediary image bearing member is formed as an endless belt and is spanned around a plurality of supporting rollers to be driven to rotate.

54. The image forming apparatus according to claim 53,

wherein the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt and the plurality of supporting rollers around which the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt is spanned around are integrated to form a belt unit.

55. The image forming apparatus according to claim 54,

wherein the belt unit includes a transfer device for transferring the first image on the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt onto the one side of the recording medium.

56. The image forming apparatus according to claim 55,

wherein the transfer device of the belt unit is arranged inside of the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt.

57. The image forming apparatus according to claim 56,

wherein the transfer device transferring the first image formed on the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt onto the one side of the recording medium includes a transfer roller to which a transfer voltage is applied.

58. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38,

wherein the transfer device includes a plurality of supporting rollers and an endless transfer belt spanned around the plurality of supporting rollers and configured to be driven to rotate,

wherein the plurality of supporting rollers and the endless transfer belt are integrated to form a belt unit, and

wherein the image forming apparatus is configured such that the recording medium is caused to pass a nip part of the transfer belt of the transfer device and the intermediary transfer member so that the visible image on the intermediary transfer member is transferred onto the recording medium.

59. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising:

a fixing device configured to fix transferred images on the recording medium,

wherein a fixing temperature of the fixing device is set higher when the intermediary image bearing member is installed than when the transfer device is installed in the installing part of the main body housing.

60. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising:

a recognition device configured to recognize if the transfer device is installed or the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing; and

a control device configured to perform a control of the image forming apparatus based upon a recognition result of the recognition device.

61. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising:

an inlet for inserting a storage medium; and

a control device configured to perform, when the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing, by inserting the storage medium into the inlet, a control of the image forming apparatus to be performed when the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing.

62. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising:

an operation panel provided to an outer surface of the main body housing; and

a control device configured to display on the operation panel, when the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body hosing, information that the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing.

63. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38,

wherein a surface resistivity of the intermediary image bearing member is in a range of about 10⁵−

10¹²Ω

/□

.

64. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38,

wherein the intermediary image bearing member includes a releasing-type coat layer on a surface thereof.

65. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising:

a control device configured to control an order of forming the first image and the second image such that the first image is put on an even page and the second image is put on an odd page; and

a recording medium conveying path configured such that the recording medium is fed out from the image forming apparatus with the second image thereon face down.

66. An image forming system, comprising:

the image forming apparatus according to claim 38; and

a host computer connected with the image forming apparatus.

67. The image forming system according to claim 66,

wherein the image forming apparatus includes an operation panel provided to an outer surface of the main body housing and a control device configured to display, when the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body hosing, information that the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing at least on either the operation panel or a display device of the host computer.

68. An image forming apparatus comprising:

at least one image bearing member on which a visible image is formed; and

an installing part provided in a main body housing of the apparatus and configured to easily install or remove either a transfer device configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing of the apparatus, the visible image formed on the at least one image bearing member is transferred onto a recording medium, or an intermediary image bearing member configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing of the apparatus, visible images formed on the at least one image bearing member are transferred thereon to be superimposed one upon another, thereby forming a first image thereupon,

wherein the image forming apparatus is configured such that when the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing of the apparatus, the first image on the intermediary image bearing member is transferred onto a first side of the recording medium and a second image formed by other visible images subsequently formed on the at least one image bearing member is transferred onto a second side of the recording medium.

69. The image forming apparatus according to claim 68, further comprising:

a receiving and guiding mechanism provided to the main body housing of the apparatus and configured to receive and to guide the either a transfer device or an intermediary image bearing member to be installed in or removed from the installing part of the main body housing.

70. The image forming apparatus according to claim 69,

wherein the main body housing is configured to include a fixed housing and a movable housing supported by the fixed housing to open and close relative to the fixed housing, and

wherein the receiving and guiding mechanism is provided to the movable housing, so that the either a transfer device or an intermediary image bearing member is received when the movable housing is being opened, and is guided, when the movable housing is closed, to be installed in the installing part of the main body housing, and when the movable housing is opened, to be removed from the installing part of the main body housing, by the movable housing.

71. The image forming apparatus according to claim 70,

wherein the movable housing is supported by the fixed housing to rotate to be opened, and when opened, to be supported at a first position, and a second position where the movable housing is opened more largely than at the first position.

72. The image forming apparatus according to claim 70,

wherein the movable housing includes at least two cover members connected with each other and configured to be bent relative to each other when opened.

73. The image forming apparatus according to claim 68,

wherein the installing part is configured to easily install or remove any of at least two intermediary image bearing members, different in size and respectively configured such that when installed in the installing part of the main body housing of the apparatus, the visible image on the image bearing member is transferred thereupon.

74. The image forming apparatus according to claim 73,

wherein the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are different from each other in width in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of surfaces.

75. The image forming apparatus according to claim 73,

wherein the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are different from each other in circumferential length.

76. The image forming apparatus according to claim 73,

wherein the installing part and the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size are configured such that an intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, that is relatively long in circumferential length, protrudes, when installed in the installing part, toward a side opposite to the image bearing member, more than another intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, that is shorter in circumferential length than the intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, that is relatively long in circumferential length, protrudes.

77. The image forming apparatus according to claim 73, further comprising:

a recognition device configured to recognize a size of the any of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size, installed in the installing part of the main body housing.

78. The image forming apparatus according to claim 73,

wherein an intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size is formed in such a size that when a recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a long side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, the first image to be transferred thereon can be accommodated, and another intermediary image bearing member of the at least two intermediary image bearing members is formed in such a size that when a recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a short side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed, the first image to be transferred thereon can be accommodated.

79. The image forming apparatus according to claim 73,

wherein at least one of the at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size is formed in such a size that when a recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a long side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed, an image to be transferred thereon can be accommodated, and when an image forming operation is performed in succession while a recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed with a short side thereof corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size is conveyed, during a time in which the either of at least two intermediary image bearing members is rotated one time, at least two pages of the first image to be transferred onto two sheets of the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size conveyed in succession can be transferred thereon, and

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the two pages of the first image transferred onto the either of at least two intermediary image bearing members are transferred onto respective one sides of the two sheets of the recording medium half in size of the recording medium of a standard size conveyed in succession, respectively.

80. The image forming apparatus according to claim 73, further comprising:

an operation panel provided to the main body housing and configured to input an operation instruction; and

a control device configured to control the apparatus not to perform an image forming operation when an instruction to form an image on each side of a recording medium larger in size than a surface size of the either of at least two intermediary image bearing members is inputted by the operation panel or by a host computer connected with the apparatus.

81. The image forming apparatus according to claim 68,

wherein the intermediary image bearing member is formed as an endless belt and is spanned around a plurality of supporting rollers to be driven to rotate.

82. The image forming apparatus according to claim 81,

wherein the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt and the plurality of supporting rollers around which the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt is spanned around are integrated to form a belt unit.

83. The image forming apparatus according to claim 82,

wherein the belt unit includes a transfer device for transferring the first image on the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt onto the one side of the recording medium.

84. The image forming apparatus according to claim 83,

wherein the transfer device of the belt unit is arranged inside of the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt.

85. The image forming apparatus according to claim 84,

wherein the transfer device transferring the first image formed on the intermediary image bearing member formed as an endless belt onto the one side of the recording medium includes a transfer roller to which a transfer voltage is applied.

86. The image forming apparatus according to claim 84,

wherein the transfer device transferring the first image formed on the either of at least two intermediary image bearing members different in size and formed as endless belts onto the one side of the recording medium includes a transfer roller to which a transfer voltage is applied.

87. The image forming apparatus according to claim 68,

wherein the transfer device includes a plurality of supporting rollers and an endless transfer belt spanned around the plurality of supporting rollers and configured to be driven to rotate,

wherein the plurality of supporting rollers and the endless transfer belt are integrated into a belt unit, and

wherein the image forming apparatus is configured such that the recording medium is caused to pass a nip part of the transfer belt of the transfer device and the intermediary transfer member so that the visible image on the at least one image bearing member is transferred onto the recording medium.

88. The image forming apparatus according to claim 68, further comprising:

a fixing device configured to fix transferred images on the recording medium,

wherein a fixing temperature of the fixing device is set higher when the intermediary image bearing member is installed than when the transfer device is installed in the installing part of the main body housing.

89. The image forming apparatus according to claim 68, further comprising:

a recognition device configured to recognize if the transfer device is installed or the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing; and

a control device configured to perform a control of the image forming apparatus based upon a recognition result of the recognition device.

90. The image forming apparatus according to claim 68, further comprising:

an inlet for inserting a storage medium; and

a control device configured to perform, when the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing, by inserting the storage medium into the inlet, a control of the image fanning apparatus to be performed when the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing.

91. The image forming apparatus according to claim 68, further comprising:

an operation panel provided to an outer surface of the main body housing; and

a control device configured to display on the operation panel, when the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body hosing, information that the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing.

92. The image forming apparatus according to claim 68,

wherein a surface resistivity of the intermediary image bearing member is in a range of about 10⁵−

10¹²Ω

/□

.

93. The image forming apparatus according to claim 68,

wherein the intermediary image bearing member includes a releasing-type coat layer on a surface thereof.

94. The image forming apparatus according to claim 68, further comprising:

a control device configured to control an order of forming the first image and the second image such that the first image is put on an even page and the second image is put on an odd page; and

a recording medium conveying path configured such that the recording medium is fed out from the image forming apparatus with the second image thereon faced down.

95. An image forming system, comprising:

the image forming apparatus according to claim 68; and

a host computer connected with the image forming apparatus.

96. The image forming system according to claim 95,

wherein the image forming apparatus includes an operation panel provided to an outer surface of the main body housing and a control device configured to display, when the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing, information that the intermediary image bearing member is installed in the installing part of the main body housing at least on either the operation panel or a display device of the host computer.