A belt member is formed with a seam portion by overlapping and adhering both
longitudinal
end portions thereof to constitute an endless belt stretched and circulated by
a rotative, first stretching member and a second stretching member. A length of
the seam portion is no less than a length between a first point at which the endless
belt is separated from one of the first stretching member and the second stretching
member and a second point at which the endless belt is brought into contact with
the other one of the first stretching member and the second stretching member.