Abstract: The object of the present invention is to fix the thermoplastic ink in powder state used to print digital images by means of an electrographic laser motor on self-adhesive web media such as self-adhesive paper webs, self-adhesive film webs such as polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polyesters, and vinyls, with different thicknesses and finishes, allowing work to be stopped between one production batch and another and/or stops for self-calibration of the print motor without changing the self-adhesive media, preventing problems due to overheating of the printout. The apparatus according to the present invention makes it possible to enhance the fixed prints with a glossy, matt, or holographed finish, without the need for subsequent treatment and/or the use of chemical materials afterwards, offering greater flexibility and economy at work.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a motor that drives a fixing device; and a controller. The motor outputs a signal corresponding to a driving current value of the motor. The controller performs a first operation where a magnitude value of the signal has fallen out of a first range while driving the motor in a first operation mode. The controller performs a second operation where the magnitude value of the signal has fallen out of a second range while driving the motor in a second operation mode.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable endless belt; a planar heat-generating section in which at least a downstream end portion in a movement direction of the belt is in pressure contact with a rotating body via a pressure contact portion and a cross-sectional shape of a downstream edge portion being in contact with an inner surface of the belt is formed in a curved shape having a curvature radius of 0.01 mm or more 0.2 mm or less or in a shape in which the edge portion is cut out over the dimension; and a holding section that is disposed inside the belt and holds the planar heat-generating section to be in pressure contact with the rotating body.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heating rotator, a pressure rotator, a planar heater, and a holder. The pressure rotator is configured to press against the fixing rotator to form a nip through which the recording medium is conveyed. The planar heater includes a plurality of heat generators arranged side by side and at least one separation region between the plurality of heat generators. The holder holds the planar heater and contacts the planar heater in a pressure direction in which the pressure rotator presses the heating rotator. The holder includes at least one clearance structure configured to cause a contact area between the planar heater and a portion of the holder corresponding to the at least one separation region to be smaller than a contact area between the planar heater and a portion of the holder not corresponding to the at least one separation region.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus having a heating rotary member, a pressing rotary member, a flange, a fusing frame, a pressing member, and a plate. The heating rotary member heats a recording medium and includes a heater and a film that rotates. The pressing rotary member rotates to press an outer circumferential surface of the film and performs fusing of a toner image on the recording medium. The flange supports the heater. The fusing frame supports the pressing rotary member and has a positioning hole. The pressing member presses the flange. The plate includes a pressure receiving portion and an insertion portion. The pressure receiving portion is pressed by the pressing member and the insertion portion is inserted into a positioning hole and positioned in a first state. The insertion portion is removed from the positioning hole in a second state where the pressing member further contracts from the first state.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including: a first rotary member; a second rotary member; a nip forming member; and a heater. The nip forming member includes: a first projection portion inside a nip area; and a second projection portion located outside the nip area. The first and second projection portion abut against the inner circumferential surface of the first rotary member. In a direction orthogonal to a nip tangent, a distance between a tip of the second projection portion and the nip tangent is larger than a distance between a tip of the first projection portion and the nip tangent. The second projection portion extends toward the second rotary member without exceeding the nip tangent. A radius of curvature at a tip portion of the second projection portion is smaller than a radius of an inner circumferential circle of the first rotary member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member to form a nip portion which sandwiches a recording material between the first rotating member and the second rotating member, a heater unit provided inside the first rotating member and having a heater for heating an image on the recording material sandwiched by the nip portion, and a sheet member provided to overlap a part of the heater and electrically connected to the heater. The sheet member includes a first sheet member connected to one end of the heater in a longitudinal direction of the heater and a second sheet member connected to the other end of the heater, the first sheet member extends from the one end of the heater in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction, and the second sheet member extends from the other end of the heater in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A resistance heating component is to come into contact with and heat a fixing belt made of a heat resistant material, and is to be provided at a position away from a fixing area between which the resistance heating component and the fixing belt a recording material is held and conveyed, the resistance heating component including: a metal base material having a low heat capacity; and a resistance heating layer laminated on a front surface or a rear surface of the base material with an insulating layer interposed between the base material and the resistance heating layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a removable information sheet includes: forming a toner image on a recording medium; applying an energy-ray-curable pressure-sensitive composition precursor onto the medium to form an energy-ray-curable pressure-sensitive composition precursor layer; irradiating, with an energy ray, the medium to cure the layer and form an energy-ray-curable pressure-sensitive composition; and attaching faces with the composition and pressure-bonding the faces. A region size of a toner-image flat part is 200 ?m or less in the image, which is determined by a measurement method including: defining a site at a depth of 2 ?m or more from a surface of a solid part of the image as a recess; defining a site other than the recess as the flat part; acquiring and binarizing a micrograph of the solid part; drawing circles out of contact with the recess; and defining a largest circle diameter as the size of the flat part.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member, a nip member, a reflection member, and a support member. The support member configured to transit to a pressurized state and a non-pressurized state, the pressurized state being a state in which a first position and a second position of the support member are pressurized in a pressurization direction toward the second rotary member, the non-pressurized state being in which the pressurized state of the support member is released. The support member includes a contact surface in contact with the reflection member in the pressurized state. The contact surface takes such a posture that a center position between the first and second positions in the rotation axial direction is close to the second rotary member rather than the first and second positions in a case where the support member is in the non-pressurized state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a cover, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, an intermediate transfer belt and a movable cam. The movable cam is movable among a first position when the cover is in the open position, a second position and a third position when the cover is in the closed position. In a case where the movable cam is in the first position, the photosensitive drum is in a first drum position spaced from the intermediate transfer belt, and the developing roller is in a first developing position spaced from the photosensitive drum. In a case where the movable cam is in the second position, the photosensitive drum is positioned toward the intermediate transfer belt from the first drum position. In a case where the cam is in the third position, the developing roller is positioned toward the photosensitive drum from the first developing position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating roller, a pressing roller, a heating part, a heat insulating member and a bearing. The pressing roller holds a sheet with the heating roller. The heating part heats the heating roller. The heat insulating member is fitted on an end portion in an axial direction of the heating roller, has a heat-resistance to heat applied from the heating roller and has an inclined shape in which an outer diameter becomes small toward an inside in the axial direction of the heating roller. The bearing supports the heating roller through the heat insulating member.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a heating device includes a cylindrical belt, a heater, a press roller, and a holder. The heater is disposed on an inner surface of the belt. The press roller rotates and is configured to contact an outer surface of the belt at a position opposite the heater to form a nip. The end portions of the press roller project by a first amount in a radial direction more than the central portion of the press roller. A holder has a first surface supporting the heater to face the cylindrical belt. The holder has a second surface that is opposite of the first surface with a center portion projecting in a direction orthogonal to the first surface more than the end portions of the second surface by a second projection amount that is greater than the first projection amount.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to mitigate deterioration of printing fluid in a tank of a printer. The method comprises: draining printing fluid from a tank of a printer, and stopping the draining before the tank is empty, wherein the printing fluid comprises solids suspended in imaging oil, filtering the printing fluid drained from the tank, to separate at least some of the solids from the imaging oil, passing the filtered imaging oil to a reservoir; and then passing imaging oil from the reservoir to the tank. Also disclosed is a printer and a system to perform the method.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylinder, a heater, a contact body, and a soaking member. The heater has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The heater includes a heating element extending along a longitudinal direction of the heater. The first surface engages with an inner surface of the cylinder. The contact body is configured to engage with the inner surface of the cylinder. The contact body is configured to be heated at a first position along the longitudinal direction at a first temperature increase rate and at a second position along the longitudinal direction at a second temperature increase rate that is lower than the first temperature increase rate. The soaking member is positioned to engage with the opposing second surface of the heater. The soaking member has a second thermal capacity lower than a first thermal capacity at the respective second and first positions.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a heating device includes a cylindrical belt, a heat generating member, and a support member. The heat generating member is disposed in an interior region surrounded by the belt and in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt. The support member is provided in the interior region surrounded by the belt and contacts and supports the heat generating member.

Abstract: A heating device includes a housing, a heating member, a pressure member, a pair of openings, and a thermal insulator. The heating member and the pressure member extend along a longitudinal direction and press each other to form a nip portion in the housing. The heating member transfers heat to a recording medium passing through the nip portion. The pair of openings is disposed in the housing and opens facing both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the heating member so that air passes through the pair of openings. The thermal insulator is disposed inside the housing between the pair of openings and faces an outer peripheral surface of the heating member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first rotary member, a second rotary member, a frame member, a guide portion, and a cover. The first rotary member is configured to heat a toner image formed on a recording material. The second rotary member is configured to contact the first rotary member and form a fixing nip portion with the first rotary member. The frame member is configured to support the first rotary member and the second rotary member. The guide portion is configured to guide the first rotary member to be moved upstream in a conveyance direction of the recording material when the first rotary member is being removed. The cover is attached to the frame member and configured to turn around a rotation shaft to open and close the guide portion. The cover is configured to turn in a direction toward the conveyance direction to open the guide portion.

Abstract: A photo finisher includes a heating roller, a pressing roller, a belt, a supporting roller and a duct. The heating roller is to generate heat. The pressing roller is pressed against the heating roller to form a heating nip. The belt is supported by the supporting roller and the heating roller to pass through the heating nip, and the belt is extending to a downstream side of the heating nip. The duct is positioned apart from the belt, the duct includes a first end in the width direction being provided with an air inlet port and a second end, opposite to the first end, being blocked, and the duct includes an air discharge port opening towards the belt.

Abstract: A pressing rotating member comprising a base layer, an elastic layer and a surface layer, in this order, the surface layer having pores, wherein when placing an observation region of 8 ?m long×11 ?m wide at a cross section of the surface layer in a thickness direction of the surface layer—a direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the pressing rotating member, a degree of orientation f of the pores observed in the observation region is 0.20 or higher, and an orientation angle ? of the pores observed in the observation region is 0° to 10°.