Abstract: A nozzle apparatus of a jet pump includes a nozzle base member, and a plurality of nozzles installed to the nozzle base member and forming a plurality of narrowing portions, in which a fluid passage cross-sectional area of a driving fluid passage formed in the nozzle is reduced.

Abstract: A jet pump comprising: a nozzle apparatus having a header portion including, inside, a first pipe member forming a suction fluid passage for introducing suction fluid and the header portion surrounding the first pipe member, for introducing driving fluid, and a nozzle portion connected to the header portion, surrounding the first pipe member and forming an annular ejection outlet for ejecting the driving fluid; a jet pump body for mixing the driving fluid and the suction fluid sucked by the ejection of the driving fluid, and discharging the mixed fluid; and a second pipe member having one end connected to the nozzle apparatus, for introducing the driving fluid to the header portion, wherein the first pipe member is disposed through the one end inside a driving fluid passage formed in the second pipe member, and forms an opening portion of the suction fluid passage opened to the outside of the second pipe member; and the driving fluid passage is formed so that the driving fluid flowing toward the one end hi

Abstract: A nozzle apparatus of a jet pump includes a nozzle base member, and a plurality of nozzles installed to the nozzle base member and forming a plurality of narrowing portions, in which a fluid passage cross-sectional area of a driving fluid passage formed in the nozzle is reduced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming station and a fixing unit. The fixing unit includes a coil for generating a magnetic field for induction heating the heating member. A first core made of a magnetic material is arranged fixedly around the coil. A second core made of a magnetic material is between the first core and the heating member in a generation direction of the magnetic field to form a magnetic path in cooperation with the first core and capable of changing a posture thereof. A shield made of a nonmagnetic metal is arranged along the outer surface of the second core to shield magnetism in the magnetic field and a magnetic shielding portion for changing the posture of the second core between a first posture where the shield shields the magnetism and a second posture where the shield does not shield the magnetism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit fixing a toner image onto a sheet. The fixing unit includes a heating member having a sheet conveyed region that is set in accordance with the size of the sheet. The fixing unit further includes a coil generating magnetic field, a fixed core forming a magnetic path, movable cores forming a magnetic path together with the fixed core and arranged along the sheet conveyed region, a shielding member arranged on at least one movable core and shielding magnetism, and a magnetism adjustment unit rotating at least one movable core to switch the position of the shielding member between a shielding position where the shielding member is positioned inside the sheet conveyed region to shield the magnetism and a retracted position where the shielding member is positioned outside the sheet conveyed region to permit pass of the magnetism.

Abstract: A nozzle apparatus of a jet pump includes a nozzle base member, and a plurality of nozzles installed to the nozzle base member and forming a plurality of narrowing portions, in which a fluid passage cross-sectional area of a driving fluid passage formed in the nozzle is reduced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a fixing unit. The fixing unit includes a heating member; a coil arranged along an outer surface of the heating member for generating a magnetic field for induction heating the heating member; a core arranged to face the heating member with the coil located therebetween in order to form a magnetic path around the coil and made of a magnetic material; a shielding member arranged near the magnetic path generated by the coil, including a closed frame portion and made of a nonmagnetic metal; and a magnetic shielding portion for displacing the shielding member between a retracted position for permitting a magnetic flux to pass along a frame surface virtually formed inside the closed frame portion and a shielding position for shielding magnetism by the penetration of a magnetic flux inside the frame surface.

Abstract: A steam separator comprises an outer main swirler and an inner auxiliary swirler which is smaller than the main swirler. The swirlers are provided so as to be concentric on the inner wall at the lower side of the first stage inner cylinder. In the steam separator, when the gas-liquid two-phase flow which flows in the vicinity of the axial center of the first stage inner cylinder passes the auxiliary swirler, it is separated into steam and water by the centrifugal force. The separated water (droplets) is introduced into the main swirler. When the separated water (droplets) passes the main swirler, it is separated at the inner wall side of the first stage inner cylinder by the centrifugal force. Pressure loss in a steam separator is reduced and steam separation capability is increased without increasing the moisture from the steam separator.

Abstract: A fixing unit (14) of an image forming apparatus (1) includes a heating member (48) having a first area where a sheet does not come into contact with the heating member (48) and a second area where the sheet comes into contact with the heating member (48). The fixing unit (14) further includes a coil (52) forming a magnetic field, cores (54,56) forming a magnetic path near the coil (52), a nonmagnetic magnetism adjusting member (90) arranged on the magnetic path and having a closed frame, and a switcher (58,60) capable of switching the magnetism adjusting member (90) between a first state where the magnetism adjusting member (90) generates an induction current resulting from the magnetic field to shield the magnetism in the first area, and a second state where the magnetism adjusting member (90) generates no induction current and the magnetism is not shielded in the first area.

Abstract: A jet pump has a plurality of nozzles installed to a nozzle base, a throat and a diffuser. A first nozzle straight-tube portion, a first nozzle narrowing portion, a second nozzle straight-tube portion, a second nozzle narrowing portion, and a nozzle lower end portion formed in those nozzles are disposed in this order from the nozzle base to a ejection outlet. A narrowing angle of the second nozzle narrowing portion is larger than of the first nozzle narrowing portion. The jet pump forms, in a lower end portion of the throat, a flow passage narrowing portion having a flow passage cross-sectional area that gradually diminishes. This flow passage narrowing portion is inserted into an upper end portion of the diffuser.

Abstract: A fixing device for image forming apparatus includes: a first nip member in a shape of an endless belt and a second nip member that rotates while pressed against the first nip member. A heat source heats at least one of the nip members. A pressure receiver receives pressure applied to the first nip member from the second nip member. A sliding contact has a contact surface that makes sliding contact with an inner surface of an axial end of the first nip member. A supporting mechanism supports the sliding contact to displace the contact surface thereof away from the pressure receiver as the first nip member moves away from the sliding contact along the axial direction. The displacement increases frictional forces between the contact surface and the inner surface of the first nip member, thus suppressing axial displacement of the first nip member from the sliding contact.

Abstract: A fixing device 6 according to the present invention has an endless-shaped heating belt 8, a first and a second roller 9 and 10 for stretching the heating belt 8, and a pressure roller 11 for nipping paper 2, together with the heating belt 8. The first roller 9 is supported so as to be rotatable by bearings 13 arranged at both ends of the first roller 9. The second roller 10 is supported so as to be rotatable by bearings 14 arranged at both ends of the second roller 10. The bearing 13 for supporting the first roller 9 is arranged more inward in an axial direction Z1 of the rollers than the bearing 14 for supporting the second roller 10.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a fixing unit. The fixing unit includes a heating member; a coil arranged along an outer surface of the heating member for generating a magnetic field for induction heating the heating member; a core arranged to face the heating member with the coil located therebetween in order to form a magnetic path around the coil and made of a magnetic material; a shielding member arranged near the magnetic path generated by the coil, including a closed frame portion and made of a nonmagnetic metal; and a magnetic shielding portion for displacing the shielding member between a retracted position for permitting a magnetic flux to pass along a frame surface virtually formed inside the closed frame portion and a shielding position for shielding magnetism by the penetration of a magnetic flux inside the frame surface.

Abstract: A jet pump comprising: a nozzle apparatus having a header portion including, inside, a first pipe member forming a suction fluid passage for introducing suction fluid and the header portion surrounding the first pipe member, for introducing driving fluid, and a nozzle portion connected to the header portion, surrounding the first pipe member and forming an annular ejection outlet for ejecting the driving fluid; a jet pump body for mixing the driving fluid and the suction fluid sucked by the ejection of the driving fluid, and discharging the mixed fluid; and a second pipe member having one end connected to the nozzle apparatus, for introducing the driving fluid to the header portion, wherein the first pipe member is disposed through the one end inside a driving fluid passage formed in the second pipe member, and forms an opening portion of the suction fluid passage opened to the outside of the second pipe member; and the driving fluid passage is formed so that the driving fluid flowing toward the one end hi

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image forming station and a fixing unit including a heating member. The fixing unit includes a coil for generating a magnetic field for induction heating the heating member; a first core arranged to face the heating member with the coil located therebetween; a bar-shaped second core including a cut-off portion and arranged in a magnetic path between the first core and the heating member, when seen in a magnetic field generation direction by the coil, to form the magnetic path together with the first core; and a magnetic adjusting mechanism for changing the posture of the second core between a first posture for guiding a magnetic field by retracting the cut-off portion from the magnetic path and a second posture for increasing magnetic resistance by locating the cut-off portion in the magnetic path by rotating the second core about an axis thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit fixing a toner image onto a sheet. The fixing unit includes a heating member having a sheet conveyed region that is set in accordance with the size of the sheet. The fixing unit further includes a coil generating magnetic field, a fixed core forming a magnetic path, movable cores forming a magnetic path together with the fixed core and arranged along the sheet conveyed region, a shielding member arranged on at least one movable core and shielding magnetism, and a magnetism adjustment unit rotating at least one movable core to switch the position of the shielding member between a shielding position where the shielding member is positioned inside the sheet conveyed region to shield the magnetism and a retracted position where the shielding member is positioned outside the sheet conveyed region to permit pass of the magnetism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming station and a fixing unit. The fixing unit includes a coil for generating a magnetic field for induction heating the heating member. A first core made of a magnetic material is arranged fixedly around the coil. A second core made of a magnetic material is between the first core and the heating member in a generation direction of the magnetic field to form a magnetic path in cooperation with the first core and capable of changing a posture thereof. A shield made of a nonmagnetic metal is arranged along the outer surface of the second core to shield magnetism in the magnetic field and a magnetic shielding portion for changing the posture of the second core between a first posture where the shield shields the magnetism and a second posture where the shield does not shield the magnetism.

Abstract: A fixing unit (14) of an image forming apparatus (1) includes a heating member (48) having a first area where a sheet does not come into contact with the heating member (48) and a second area where the sheet comes into contact with the heating member (48). The fixing unit (14) further includes a coil (52) forming a magnetic field, cores (54,56) forming a magnetic path near the coil (52), a nonmagnetic magnetism adjusting member (90) arranged on the magnetic path and having a closed frame, and a switcher (58,60) capable of switching the magnetism adjusting member (90) between a first state where the magnetism adjusting member (90) generates an induction current resulting from the magnetic field to shield the magnetism in the first area, and a second state where the magnetism adjusting member (90) generates no induction current and the magnetism is not shielded in the first area.

Abstract: A fixing device 6 according to the present invention has an endless-shaped heating belt 8, a first and a second roller 9 and 10 for stretching the heating belt 8, and a pressure roller 11 for nipping paper 2, together with the heating belt 8. The first roller 9 is supported so as to be rotatable by bearings 13 arranged at both ends of the first roller 9. The second roller 10 is supported so as to be rotatable by bearings 14 arranged at both ends of the second roller 10. The bearing 13 for supporting the first roller 9 is arranged more inward in an axial direction Z1 of the rollers than the bearing 14 for supporting the second roller 10.

Abstract: A fixing device 6 according to the present invention has an endless-shaped heating belt 8, a first and a second roller 9 and 10 for stretching the heating belt 8, and a pressure roller 11 for nipping paper 2, together with the heating belt 8. The first roller 9 is supported so as to be rotatable by bearings 13 arranged at both ends of the first roller 9. The second roller 10 is supported so as to be rotatable by bearings 14 arranged at both ends of the second roller 10. The bearing 13 for supporting the first roller 9 is arranged more inward in an axial direction Z1 of the rollers than the bearing 14 for supporting the second roller 10.