The present invention relates to a flat belt (10) that is an open end belt to be fixed to a coupler (31, 41), in which the flat belt (10) contains, formed on both end portions (11, 12) of at least one surface of the flat belt (10), a plurality of projected portions (13) engageable with a plurality of recessed portions (33, 43) formed on the coupler (31, 41).

An image forming apparatus including a belt wound around a plurality of rollers, and a restriction portion disposed outside a specific roller of the plurality of rollers in a rotational axis direction of the specific roller, the restriction portion being configured to restrict movement of the belt in the rotational axis direction by contacting an end surface of the belt in the rotational axis direction, the belt having a first outer circumferential surface of an end portion of the belt in the rotational axis direction, the end portion including the end surface contactable with the restriction portion, and a second outer circumferential surface of a middle portion of the belt in the rotational axis direction, the first outer circumferential surface being positioned outside the second outer circumferential surface in a radial direction of the specific roller, the first outer circumferential surface being parallel to the second outer circumferential surface.

An image forming apparatus including a belt wound around a plurality of rollers, and a restriction portion disposed outside a specific roller of the plurality of rollers in a rotational axis direction of the specific roller, the restriction portion being configured to restrict movement of the belt in the rotational axis direction by contacting an end surface of the belt in the rotational axis direction, the belt having a first outer circumferential surface of an end portion of the belt in the rotational axis direction, the end portion including the end surface contactable with the restriction portion, and a second outer circumferential surface of a middle portion of the belt in the rotational axis direction, the first outer circumferential surface being positioned outside the second outer circumferential surface in a radial direction of the specific roller, the first outer circumferential surface being parallel to the second outer circumferential surface.

A metal belt for a continuously variable transmission includes a metal element wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley and transmits a driving force between the two pulleys, in which a rocking edge is provided at the radially outer end of a front face of a body part. The rocking edge being a fulcrum for pitching of the metal element, and a recess is formed in a rear face of a neck part, and therefore, when the metal element on the rear side is displaced toward the radially outer side with respect to the metal element on the front side, the rocking edge of the metal element on the rear side enters a ring slot and the recess of the metal element on the front side, and the metal element on the rear side moves so as to be closer to the metal element on the front side.

A belt having a longitudinal direction extending around the first wheel and the second wheel and forming a closed shape with a circumference in the longitudinal direction. The belt has a first rigid portion and a second rigid portion each extending from the first wheel to the second wheel. The belt may be included in a drive mechanism including a first wheel, a second wheel. Accordingly, when the first wheel is rotated about its axis of rotation the rotation causes movement of the belt along the longitudinal direction such that the first rigid portion provides a pushing force on the second wheel, and the second rigid portion provides a pulling force on the second wheel. Drive mechanisms may have a longitudinal gap between a belt and wheels of the belt. Belts may have a v-shaped or arcuate cross-section. Belts may have multiple layers.

A notched transmission belt has a plurality of notches whose bottom in a cross-section taken along a plane orthogonal to the width direction of the belt includes a linear portion at a center, and recessed curved portions continuously formed at both sides of the linear portion.

A v-ribbed belt manufactured in a molding or grinding process has in different areas of the structure thereof different elastomer materials. In upper rib segments oriented toward the belt pulley there is an elastomer material that is not electrically conductive. The lower rib segments are made of an electrically conductive elastomer material. The height ratio a/(a+b) of the height (a) of the lower rib segments to the overall height (a+b) of the rib, as measured at the material boundary located at the rib flank, is at least 6 percent, or the absolute height of the lower rib segments is at least 0.12 mm.

A v-ribbed belt manufactured in a molding or grinding process has in different areas of the structure thereof different elastomer materials. In upper rib segments oriented toward the belt pulley there is an elastomer material that is not electrically conductive. The lower rib segments are made of an electrically conductive elastomer material. The height ratio a/(a+b) of the height (a) of the lower rib segments to the overall height (a+b) of the rib, as measured at the material boundary located at the rib flank, is at least 6 percent, or the absolute height of the lower rib segments is at least 0.12 mm.

A variety of transmission mechanisms are provided that include radially inverted pulleys that are nested within each other or otherwise overlap in order to exert inward forces onto a compressive belt that transmits power between the pulleys. By exerted forces inward onto the belt, the belt can be subjected to net compression everywhere along its length. This allows the belt to be less complex and to have a lower cost than belts of transmissions that exert forces outward from pulleys onto a belt, thus requiring expensive and technically challenging belt packs or other elements to sustain the longitudinal tensions experienced by such belts, even when such belts are operated as push belts. Transmissions that include such radially inverted pulleys can exhibit reduced size and cost and increased power capacity compared to transmissions that employ non-radially inverted pulleys.

A variety of transmission mechanisms are provided that include radially inverted pulleys that are nested within each other or otherwise overlap in order to exert inward forces onto a compressive belt that transmits power between the pulleys. By exerted forces inward onto the belt, the belt can be subjected to net compression everywhere along its length. This allows the belt to be less complex and to have a lower cost than belts of transmissions that exert forces outward from pulleys onto a belt, thus requiring expensive and technically challenging belt packs or other elements to sustain the longitudinal tensions experienced by such belts, even when such belts are operated as push belts. Transmissions that include such radially inverted pulleys can exhibit reduced size and cost and increased power capacity compared to transmissions that employ non-radially inverted pulleys.