Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus fuses an image to a recording medium by heat and pressure. To ensure that the recording medium does not stick to the fusing roller, a non-printable margin is normally reserved at the leading edge of the recording medium. When the recording medium has sufficient stiffness, however, as determined from its thickness and other factors such as its width or orientation, marginless printing is permitted. The setting of an unnecessary margin is thereby avoided.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, a fixing roller, a pressure roller, a sheet heating element, and a support. The fixing roller and support are positioned on the inside of the endless belt. The endless belt is entrained about the fixing roller and the support. The support supports the sheet heating element. The pressure roller is positioned on the outside of the endless belt. The pressure roller cooperates with the fixing roller to hold the endless belt between the fixing roller and the pressure roller in sandwiched relation such that a nip is formed between the endless belt and the pressure roller. The sheet heating element is in contact with the inside of the endless belt and heats the endless belt. The sheet heating element is disposed in an area outside of the nip.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides a fixing device that comprises: an endless fixing belt; a first rotating body arranged at an inner side of the fixing belt; and a heater arranged to face an inner surface of the fixing belt and configured to heat the fixing belt and to suspend the fixing belt in a tensioned state together with the first rotating body, the heater comprising: a heat generating unit arranged at an end portion of the heater on a downstream side in a direction of travel of the fixing belt and configured to heat the fixing belt; and a support including metal and configured to support the heat generating unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a heat source for heating the fixing member, a pressure member urged against the fixing member so as to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, and a release agent applying unit that applies a release agent to the fixing member or the pressure member. An amount A (weight parts) of wax contained in the toner, and an amount B (mg/sheet) of a release agent applied to the fixing member or the pressure member by the release agent applying unit per printing medium of A4 size satisfy the following relationships (1) through (3): 0?A?20 ??(1) 0?B?1.0 ??(2) 8?A+(12×B)?32.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, a fixing roller, a pressure roller, a sheet heating element, and a support. The fixing roller and support are positioned on the inside of the endless belt. The endless belt is entrained about the fixing roller and the support. The support supports the sheet heating element. The pressure roller is positioned on the outside of the endless belt. The pressure roller cooperates with the fixing roller to hold the endless belt between the fixing roller and the pressure roller in sandwiched relation such that a nip is formed between the endless belt and the pressure roller. The sheet heating element is in contact with the inside of the endless belt and heats the endless belt. The sheet heating element is disposed in an area outside of the nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a determining unit, an image forming unit, a fixing member, a pressing member, a separating member and a release agent applying member. The determining unit determines whether to print a borderless image or not. The image forming unit forms a developer image on a recording medium in accordance with the printing data so that the developer image reaches the vicinity of a leading end of the recording medium. The fixing member fixes the developer image to the recording medium. The pressing member is pressed against the fixing member to form a nip portion therebetween. The separating member is disposed on a downstream side of the nip portion so that the separating member has no contact with the fixing member. The separating member separates the recording medium from the fixing member. The release agent applying member applies a release agent to the fixing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a heat source for heating the fixing member, a pressure member urged against the fixing member so as to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, and a release agent applying unit that applies a release agent to the fixing member or the pressure member. An amount A (weight parts) of wax contained in the toner, and an amount B (mg/sheet) of a release agent applied to the fixing member or the pressure member by the release agent applying unit per printing medium of A4 size satisfy the following relationships (1) through (3): 0?A?20??(1) 0?B?1.0??(2) 8?(A+12×B)?32??(3).

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus fuses an image to a recording medium by heat and pressure. To ensure that the recording medium does not stick to the fusing roller, a non-printable margin is normally reserved at the leading edge of the recording medium. When the recording medium has sufficient stiffness, however, as determined from its thickness and other factors such as its width or orientation, marginless printing is permitted. The setting of an unnecessary margin is thereby avoided.