Abstract: A heat fixing apparatus has a heating unit for heating a recording medium having a substrate, a fixing layer and a surface layer so as to sublimate sublimating ink applied in advance to the surface layer for transferring the sublimated ink to the fixing layer. The heating unit includes a heating transporting mechanism for transporting the recording medium within a heating space, a heater body for heating air, and a blower mechanism for supplying hot air heated by the heater body to the recording medium being transported by the heating transporting mechanism. The apparatus further includes a flat guide member for coming into contact with the surface of the recording medium being transported by the heating transporting mechanism and a heater for heating the guide member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit having a print head for applying ink to a surface layer of a recording medium transported thereto; a loop-forming unit capable of temporarily storing the recording medium discharged from the printing unit; and a heating unit for heating the recording medium fed from the loop-forming unit for fixing the ink applied to the surface layer onto its fixing layer. The heating unit includes a preliminary heating subunit for heating the recording medium from a normal temperature level to a ink fixing temperature level, a main heating unit for heating the recording medium at the ink fixing temperature level and a slow cooling subunit for slowly cooling the recording medium to the normal temperature level.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus fixes, by heating, an image formed on a sheet-like recording medium thereto with sublimating ink. The apparatus includes a heating fixing unit for receiving and heating the recording medium and then discharging the heat-fixed recording medium, the heating fixing unit including a heating space for heating the recording medium and a transporting mechanism for transporting the medium in the heating space. The apparatus further includes a smoothing-out mechanism for discharging the recording medium from the heating space while smoothing out or flattening the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus fixes, by heating, an image formed on a sheet-like recording medium thereto with sublimating ink. The apparatus includes a heating fixing unit for receiving and heating the recording medium and then discharging the heat-fixed recording medium, the heating fixing unit including a heating space for heating the recording medium and a transporting mechanism for transporting the medium in the heating space. The apparatus further includes a smoothing-out mechanism for discharging the recording medium from the heating space while smoothing out or flattening the recording medium.

Abstract: A heat fixing apparatus has a heating unit for heating a recording medium having a substrate, a fixing layer and a surface layer so as to sublimate sublimating ink applied in advance to the surface layer for transferring the sublimated ink to the fixing layer. The heating unit includes a heating transporting mechanism for transporting the recording medium within a heating space, a heater body for heating air, and a blower mechanism for supplying hot air heated by the heater body to the recording medium being transported by the heating transporting mechanism. The apparatus further includes a flat guide member for coming into contact with the surface of the recording medium being transported by the heating transporting mechanism and a heater for heating the guide member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit having a print head for applying ink to a surface layer of a recording medium transported thereto; a loop-forming unit capable of temporarily storing the recording medium discharged from the printing unit; and a heating unit for heating the recording medium fed from the loop-forming unit for fixing the ink applied to the surface layer onto its fixing layer. The heating unit includes a preliminary heating subunit for heating the recording medium from a normal temperature level to a ink fixing temperature level, a main heating unit for heating the recording medium at the ink fixing temperature level and a slow cooling subunit for slowly cooling the recording medium to the normal temperature level.

Abstract: An automatic developing machine for developing photosensitive material while feeding the photosensitive material through a feed path through which developing solution is circulated. The feed path has a narrow, slit-shaped section. The feed path is defined between a pair of opposed wall members, one of which can be disassembled from the other. The members planted with fiber are detachably fitted on guide surfaces of the wall members which face an emulsion surface of the photosensitive material.