Patent 7735634 was granted and assigned to RICOH COMPANY,LTD. on June, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A belt including a first roller is supported by a plurality of rollers, and is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction. An abutting member makes contact with at least one edge of the belt in its width direction. A pressing member applies a pressure on an extended surface of the belt in its thickness direction at a position near a contact portion of the belt with the abutting member and on an upstream side of the contact portion in its moving direction.