Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a latent image support for supporting a latent image and a developing device configured to us toner to develop the latent image on said latent image support, the estimated average halftone granularity of the toner imager after developing being 0.25 or less.

Abstract: A belt fixing unit, an image forming apparatus, and a toner material are disclosed capable of obviating undesirable fixing belt deformation and low image quality. The belt fixing unit includes a fixing roller, a heating roller, a fixing belt, and a pressing roller in contact with the fixing roller to form a fixing nip having the fixing belt intervening there between, the fixing belt including at least a base member formed of a heat-resisting resin having a thickness of 90 ?m or smaller and acted upon by a tensile force of 0.49 N/mm or less. The toner is a low-melting point toner formed by subjecting a toner preparatory solution containing at least a prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant and a releasing agent dispersed in an organic solvent to extension and/or crosslinking reactions in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a latent image support for supporting a latent image and a developing device configured to us toner to develop the latent image on said latent image support, the estimated average halftone granularity of the toner imager after developing being 0.25 or less.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of reliably forming an image with density gradation, one which does not have a low-quality appearance. The estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer was set at 0.25 or less. The average halftone granularity was found by measuring the granularity of a toner image at locations of different average brightness by means of newly proposed formula, and averaging the measured values for which the average brightness is 40 to 80. The estimated average halftone granularity was obtained by estimating the average halftone granularity of the toner image on a photoreceptor by means of a newly proposed method.

Abstract: A belt fixing unit, an image forming apparatus, and a toner material are disclosed capable of obviating undesirable fixing belt deformation and low image quality. The belt fixing unit includes a fixing roller, a heating roller, a fixing belt, and a pressing roller in contact with the fixing roller to form a fixing nip having the fixing belt intervening there between, the fixing belt including at least a base member formed of a heat-resisting resin having a thickness of 90 ?m or smaller and acted upon by a tensile force of 0.49 N/mm or less. The toner is a low-melting point toner formed by subjecting a toner preparatory solution containing at least a prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant and a releasing agent dispersed in an organic solvent to extension and/or crosslinking reactions in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner image is formed on a photosensitive element and a transfer roller, which carries a transfer medium, is pressed against a photosensitive element at a pressure of from 20.4 N/cm2 to 200 N/cm2.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of reliably forming an image with density gradation, one which does not have a low-quality appearance. The estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer was set at 0.25 or less. The average halftone granularity was found by measuring the granularity of a toner image at locations of different average brightness by means of newly proposed formula, and averaging the measured values for which the average brightness is 40 to 80. The estimated average halftone granularity was obtained by estimating the average halftone granularity of the toner image on a photoreceptor by means of a newly proposed method.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of reliably forming an image with density gradation, one which does not have a low-quality appearance. The estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer was set at 0.25 or less. The average halftone granularity was found by measuring the granularity of a toner image at locations of different average brightness by means of newly proposed formula, and averaging the measured values for which the average brightness is 40 to 80. The estimated average halftone granularity was obtained by estimating the average halftone granularity of the toner image on a photoreceptor by means of a newly proposed method.

Abstract: A belt fixing unit, an image forming apparatus, and a toner material are disclosed capable of obviating undesirable fixing belt deformation and low image quality. The belt fixing unit includes a fixing roller, a heating roller, a fixing belt, and a pressing roller in contact with the fixing roller to form a fixing nip having the fixing belt intervening there between, the fixing belt including at least a base member formed of a heat-resisting resin having a thickness of 90 ?m or smaller and acted upon by a tensile force of 0.49 N/mm or less. The toner is a low-melting point toner formed by subjecting a toner preparatory solution containing at least a prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant and a releasing agent dispersed in an organic solvent to extension and/or crosslinking reactions in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: A belt fixing unit, an image forming apparatus, and a toner material are disclosed capable of obviating undesirable fixing belt deformation and low image quality. The belt fixing unit includes a fixing roller, a heating roller, a fixing belt, and a pressing roller in contact with the fixing roller to form a fixing nip having the fixing belt intervening there between, the fixing belt including at least a base member formed of a heat-resisting resin having a thickness of 90 ?m or smaller and acted upon by a tensile force of 0.49 N/mm or less. The toner is a low-melting point toner formed by subjecting a toner preparatory solution containing at least a prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant and a releasing agent dispersed in an organic solvent to extension and/or crosslinking reactions in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner image is formed on a photosensitive element and a transfer roller, which carries a transfer medium, is pressed against a photosensitive element at a pressure of from 20.4 N/cm2 to 200 N/cm2.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of reliably forming an image with density gradation, one which does not have a low-quality appearance. The estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer was set at 0.25 or less. The average halftone granularity was found by measuring the granularity of a toner image at locations of different average brightness by means of newly proposed formula, and averaging the measured values for which the average brightness is 40 to 80. The estimated average halftone granularity was obtained by estimating the average halftone granularity of the toner image on a photoreceptor by means of a newly proposed method.

Abstract: A fixing device having an endless fixing belt configured to convey a sheet-like medium on which a toner image is to be fixed, heating and fixing rollers having the fixing belt wound thereon, and a pressing roller disposed opposite to the fixing roller having fixing belt wound thereon to form a nip portion between the fixing belt and pressing roller. The fixing device also including first to third heaters provided in the heating, pressure and fixing rollers respectively, and first to third voltage applying devices configured to apply voltages to the first to third heaters respectively. The nip portion is configured to perform the fixing only by pressure contact between said fixing and pressing rollers via said fixing belt.

Abstract: A fixing device having an endless fixing belt configured to convey a sheet-like medium on which a toner image is to be fixed, heating and fixing rollers having the fixing belt wound thereon, and a pressing roller disposed opposite to the fixing roller having fixing belt wound thereon to form a nip portion between the fixing belt and pressing roller. The fixing device also including first to third heaters provided in the heating, pressure and fixing rollers respectively, and first to third voltage applying devices configured to apply voltages to the first to third heaters respectively. The nip portion is configured to perform the fixing only by pressure contact between said fixing and pressing rollers via said fixing belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type transferring a toner image from a photoconductive element to a recording medium by way of an intermediate transfer belt is disclosed. Toner images of different colors are sequentially transferred from the photoconductive element to the intermediate transfer belt one above the other, forming a full-color image. When the full-color image is to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to a paper or similar recording medium, a secondary transfer belt is brought into contact with the portion of the intermediate transfer belt contacting a secondary transfer roller. As a result, the secondary transfer belt deforms complementarily to the shape of the secondary transfer roller, forming a nip between it and the intermediate transfer belt. In this condition, the secondary transfer belt contacts the intermediate transfer belt evenly and prevents an excessive pressure from acting locally on the toner image existing on the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type transferring a toner image from a photoconductive element to a recording medium by way of an intermediate transfer belt is disclosed. Toner images of different colors are sequentially transferred from the photoconductive element to the intermediate transfer belt one above the other, forming a full-color image. When the full-color image is to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to a paper or similar recording medium, a secondary transfer belt is brought into contact with the portion of the intermediate transfer belt contacting a secondary transfer roller. As a result, the secondary transfer belt deforms complementarily to the shape of the secondary transfer roller, forming a nip between it and the intermediate transfer belt. In this condition, the secondary transfer belt contacts the intermediate transfer belt evenly and prevents an excessive pressure from acting locally on the toner image existing on the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing image on a recording sheet or film comprises a fixing roller having a surface comprising a fluororesin and contacting with a toner, a heating means for heating said fixing roller, a rotating pressing roller urged against said fixing roller, and means for applying a releasing agent to the surface of said fixing roller, characterized in that said releasing agent comprises a fluorosilicone represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein a, b, c, d, e and f independently denote an integer of 0 to 3, l and m are an integer of 0 to 3 with a proviso that 1.ltoreq.1+m.ltoreq.6, and n is an integer of 1 or more.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing roller for fixing a toner on a transferring material and a pressing roller for coming into contact with and pressing against a fixing roller. The apparatus further includes a cleaning roller which comes into contact with and cleans the fixing roller as well as a blade which scratches off toner and foreign particles transferred to the cleaning roller from the fixing roller. In the apparatus of the present invention, a coated layer including polyimide and polytetrafluorethylene is disposed on the surface of the cleaning roller.

Abstract: A device disposed in an exhaust section of image forming equipment for removing ozone generated in the equipment. An ozone filter and an agent container containing an ozone decomposing agent therein are constructed into a single unit. The agent contained in the body of the container is prevented from blocking small openings which allow the volatile matter of the agent to pass therethrough. A seal member and flanges surrounding the open end of the container body are adhered to each other by a layer of adhesive and a two-sided adhesive tape, whereby the open end is closed before the device is used.

Abstract: A fixing method for a wet process copier which develops an electrostatic latent image by using a heat-bridging type toner, transfers the resulting toner image to a paper sheet, and fixes the toner image transferred on the paper sheet by transporting the paper sheet through a nipping section defined by a heating roller and a pressing roller such that the side of the paper sheet carrying the toner image directly contacts the heating roller. At least a surface portion of the heating roller is made of either one of monomeric, additive-free RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanized) and LTV (Low Temperature Vulcanized) silicone rubbers. The heating roller has average surface roughness of less than 3 microns.