Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a transfer unit for transferring a toner image from the image bearing member onto the recording material; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the recording material; an electroconductive member contactable to the recording material; a resistance element connected with the electroconductive member; and a capacitor element connected with the electroconductive member, wherein the electroconductive member is disposed so as to be nipped simultaneously by the transfer nip and the fixing nip and so as to be contacted by the recording material, and the electroconductive member and the capacitor element are connected in parallel between the electroconductive member and a ground potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of effectively cooling down a sheet having been subjected to fixing processing while preventing an apparatus from becoming larger in size and a sheet conveyance failure from occurring is provided. The image forming apparatus (10) includes a sheet conveyance path (16), a fixing device (22), a conveyance roller (26), an upper sheet guide (60), a lower sheet guide (62), and a cooling fan (40). The conveyance roller (26) is disposed downstream of a heat-treatment portion in the sheet conveyance path and configured so as to convey a sheet passing the heat-treatment portion to the paper output tray. At a position corresponding to the position of the conveyance rollers (26), the upper sheet guide (60) is provided with a ventilation portion (604) configured so as to make the cooling air from the cooling device (40) pass through.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing unit configured to heat and fix an unfixed image, which is formed on a recording material, on the recording material, a rotating member provided with a metal shaft and configured to convey the recording material that has passed through the fixing unit, a cover member made of injection-molded resin and configured to cover the shaft of the rotating member from a recording material conveyance path side so that a portion of the rotating member in contact with the recording material is exposed, the cover member including a portion that has a U-shaped cross-section when viewed from one end side of the shaft, and a sheet member configured to cover an opening of the U-shaped portion of the cover member.

Abstract: An image forming device comprising a fixing unit for thermally fixing a developer on a recording sheet, a control unit that controls the temperature to maintain the fixing unit at one of a fixing temperature and a stand-by temperature lower than the fixing temperature, and a transport unit that transports the recording sheet to the fixing unit, wherein, when the temperature of the fixing unit has dropped from the fixing temperature to the stand-by temperature, and a printing command is received, the control unit controls the transport unit so as to set a stand-by time to wait before starting to transport the recording sheet after the printing command is received as a second time interval, which is longer than a first time interval of time required for the temperature of the fixing unit to reach the fixing temperature based on information relating to the current temperature of the fixing unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, and a guiding member. The guiding member includes a first guide surface, a second guide surface, and a pair of third guide surfaces consecutively installing both end portions in the axial direction of the first guide surface and both end portions in the axial direction of the second guide surface. The first end edge of the first guide surface has a first circular arc shape arranged such that a center portion in the axial direction projects toward the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to both end portions in the axial direction. The second guide surface is one of a curved surface in a second circular arc shape arranged such that a center portion in the axial direction is close to the first circumference surface with respect to both end portions in the axial direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members and a guide member. The guide member includes a guide plate having a guide surface, a back surface when the guide surface is defined as a front surface, and holes that are spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction of the sheet and that extend through the guide surface and the back surface; and sheet receiving members that are disposed in correspondence with the holes, each sheet receiving member including a body and an insertion portion that protrudes from the body and that is inserted into the corresponding hole, the insertion portions being inserted into the corresponding holes and being moved along the guide surface, so that the sheet receiving members are mounted to the guide plate while the bodies protrude from the guide surface.

Abstract: The print performance of an image forming apparatus is improved by adequately estimating the behavior of a sheet receiving separation air and controlling the output of separation air. A fixing control unit 50 controls a shutter drive unit 52 defining the flow passage area on the basis of the displacement detected of the separation claw 42 to control the output of separation air. Since the sheet receiving separation air exerts a force on the separation claw 42, it is possible to estimate whether or not the behavior of the sheet is appropriate by monitoring the displacement of the separation claw 42. While different types of paper may move in different ways, the influence of separation air is dominant in the behavior of a sheet which is conveyed, and therefore the sheet can be prevented from moving in an inappropriate condition by controlling the output of separation air.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a recording paper to which a toner has been transferred is guided by a guide member and transported to a nip region between two rotatable members that are pressed against each other, and the toner on the recording paper is fixed at the nip region. In this image forming apparatus, a conductive or semiconductive region and an insulating region that are to be brought into contact with the recording paper are sequentially arranged in a recording paper transport direction on a guide face of the guide member, the conductive or semiconductive region is grounded, and the insulating region includes an end portion of the guide member oriented in the recording paper transport direction.

Abstract: An image glossing apparatus including a recording sheet feeder feeding a recording sheet bearing a toner image; a glossing device including a heater heating a glossing portion of the toner image to gloss the portion; a glossiness information obtaining device obtaining position information on the position of the glossing portion; and a position detector including a tip detector detecting tip of the fed recording sheet, and a distance measuring device measuring the moving distance of the recording sheet after the tip of the recording sheet is detected. The position detector detects the position of a portion of the recording sheet facing the heater based on the information on the tip of the recording sheet and the information on the moving distance of the recording sheet. When the portion of the recording sheet facing the heater is the glossing portion, the heater heats the portion to gloss the glossing portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit and a gloss equalizing unit. The fixing unit is disposed in a media conveyance path to fix a toner image on a recording medium conveyed therethrough. The fixing unit includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, and a media stripper. The fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is pressed against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween. The media stripper is held in contact with the pressure member to allow the recording medium to separate from the pressure member. The gloss equalizing unit is disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path. The gloss equalizing unit includes a pair of first and second rotary glossing rollers, at least one of which is heated and at least one of which is pressed against the other to form a gloss equalizing nip therebetween.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: electrostatic latent image bearing member; electrostatic latent image forming unit; developing unit configured to develop with toner to form visible image; transferring unit; fixing unit; and discharging unit, the toner containing binder resin, colorant, and releasing agent, the binder resin containing crystalline resin containing urethane or urea bond, or both, the toner satisfying: C/(C+A)?0.15, C being integrated intensity of part of spectrum derived from crystalline structure of the binder resin, A being integrated intensity of part of the spectrum derived from non-crystalline structure, the spectrum being diffraction spectrum of the toner as obtained by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, storage elastic modulus G?(70) of the toner at 70° C. being 5.0×104 Pa?G?(70)?1.0×106 Pa, and storage elastic modulus G?(160) thereof at 160° C. being 1.0×103 Pa?G?(160)?1.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing drum having a heating heater internally equipped therein, the fixing drum positioned spaced part and downstream from a sheet delivery site at a downstream-most side of printing units and is adapted to rotate at a peripheral speed identical to a speed of travel of the sheet of paper. A first sprocket is positioned adjoining the sheet delivery site at the downstream-most side of the printing units, and a second sprocket is positioned coaxially with the fixing drum and being adapted to rotate integrally with the fixing drum. A conveyer chain having a gripper is wound around and engaging with the first and second sprockets to wind and convey a sheet of paper on a peripheral surface of the fixing drum upon gripping in turn with the gripper the sheet of paper traveling from the sheet delivery site at the downstream-most side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a duplex printing function may include a closeable and openable portion. In one example, the portion may correspond to a cover of the image forming apparatus. The cover may include guiding portions configured to define a return path for duplex printing. In another example, the portion may correspond to a document reading unit including an outer casing. A portion of the outer casing may be configured to guide a recording sheet that is conveyed out of a housing of the image forming apparatus by a switchback roller. In one example, the switchback roller may convey a recording sheet to a position above an upper surface of the outer casing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a fixing device configured to fix a toner image onto a sheet by heating the sheet having the toner image formed thereon; a wire-shaped guide configured to guide the sheet having the toner image fixed thereto; and a holder, configured to hold the wire-shaped guide, to which the wire-shaped guide is fixed by using elasticity of the wire-shaped guide.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an adjustment unit that adjusts an image transfer position of the sheet of paper along a main scanning direction that is orthogonal to a transporting direction of the sheet of paper, a fixing unit that fixes on the sheet of paper an toner image using fixing rollers and performs a fluctuation of the fixing roller to the main scanning direction, a detection unit that detects whether or not the fixing rollers of the fixing unit nip the sheet of paper, and a controller. The controller controls the fixing unit to perform the fluctuation of the fixing rollers when determining that the fixing rollers of the fixing unit do not nip the sheet of paper based on a detection result of the detection unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing nip and a guide member to guide a recording medium transported through a recording media transport pathway to the fixing nip, disposed upstream from the fixing nip in a direction in which the recording medium is transported and facing an unfixed-image side of the recording media. The guide member includes a guide face, the guide face including a first guide face and a second guide face located where at least a trailing-edge of the recording medium approaches the guide member as the recording medium is transported through the recording media transport pathway and which is inclined with respect to the first guide face away from the recording media transport pathway, and a first spur rotatably provided on the guide member and projecting into the recording media transport pathway from a connection portion between the first guide face and the second guide face.

Abstract: A method for fixing toner onto a receiver medium includes depositing a pattern of toner onto a surface of the receiver medium. The toner has a toner glass transition temperature. At least one surface of the receiver medium is brought into contact with a heating liquid, the heating liquid being at a temperature greater than the toner glass transition temperature. Heat is transferred from the heating liquid to the toner, thereby raising a temperature of the toner to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.

Abstract: A toner fixing system fixes toner onto a receiver medium. A reservoir contains a heating liquid. A liquid-heating system warms the heating liquid in the reservoir to a temperature greater than a toner glass transition temperature. A media-transport system transports the receiver medium along a transport path which passes through the reservoir. The receiver medium is submerged in the warmed heating liquid, so heat is transferred from the warmed heating liquid to the toner. The temperature of the toner is raised to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.

Abstract: A fusing device and an image forming apparatus including the fusing device are provided, the fusing device having a structure that ensures a stable transport of a printing medium by preventing a printing medium from deviating from a transport path between a transfer nip and a fusing nip. The fusing device includes a heating member, a pressing member to contact the heating member to form a fusing nip, and a guide member to guide a printing medium to the fusing nip. An end of the guide member is shaped such that a height of the end decreases as the end extends from a center thereof to opposite sides thereof, and disposed closer to the heating member than to the pressing member, with respect to an imaginary line extending from the fusing nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material; and a guide member for guiding the recording material. The guide member is provided at an entrance to the fixing portion and at an end portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material The guide member is moved when the guide member is pushed by the recording material.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing processing to fix a developer to a medium where the developer is transferred onto the medium, according to the invention, includes: a fixing processing unit for the fixing processing of the medium fed from an upstream side in a medium conveyance direction; a medium guide unit for guiding the medium fed from the upstream side in a medium conveyance direction, to the fixing processing unit; and a conductive member having a relatively high conductivity, being connected to a ground level, and contacting to the medium guide unit.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus to fuse a toner image transferred to a printing medium by applying heat and pressure. The fusing apparatus includes a separation member that is rotatably mounted on a rotation axis to separate the printing medium from one of a heating roller and a pressing roller. The separation member includes a hollow portion into which the rotation axis is inserted, and a separation portion that contacts an outer circumference of the heating roller. The separation member is installed so as to be pitched around the rotation axis and a pitching axis having an inclination angle within a range of ±10° with respect to a line that connects a contact point between the separation portion and the outer circumference of the roller from which the printing medium is to be separated and a center of the roller from which the printing medium is to be separated.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises a heating unit configured to heat a sheet when the sheet is conveyed between a pair of rollers, a first guide unit that supports and guides movement of the heating unit in a first direction towards a predetermined position exterior to the sheet processing apparatus, and a second guide unit that supports and guides further movement of the heating unit in the first direction in cooperation with the first guide unit, the second guide unit including an abutment section configured to stop movement of the heating unit in the first direction when the heating unit reaches the predetermined position.

Abstract: A printing arrangement and printing method are disclosed for two-sided printing on a recording medium, in which intermediate fixing by superheated steam takes place after printing on the first side of the recording medium. Owing to the intermediate fixing, damage to the print image of the first side during subsequent printing on the second side is avoided without the recording medium being impaired by the intermediate fixing.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit with a nip, two rollers, a guide member, a detection unit and an urging unit. The detection unit is disposed substantially parallel to the guide member opposite to the guide member across a recording medium conveyed between the nip and the two rollers. The detection unit detects jamming of the recording medium on the basis of a pressure greater than a predetermined value applied by the recording medium between the nip and the two rollers. The distance between the guide member and the detection unit is greater than the distance between the guide member and the recording medium passing between the nip and the two rollers while being urged by the urging unit.

Abstract: A fixing device in an image forming apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a recording medium at a fixing nip where an image carried on the recording medium is fixed onto it; a plurality of temperature detectors to detect temperature of the conveyance member, the detectors being disposed at both end portions of the conveyance member outside an area where a maximum-sided recording medium passes through; a guide member to guide the recording medium toward the fixing nip; and a guide plate displacing unit to displace a part of the guide member in a direction orthogonal to a conveyed surface of the recording medium to be conveyed at the fixing nip, based on temperature difference detected by the plurality of temperature detectors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharge unit, fixing unit, movable guide, cover, and retaining part. The discharge unit discharges a sheet out of a main body. The fixing unit thermally fixes developer image deposited on the sheet to provide an image-fixed sheet. The movable guide is movable between a first position and second position. The movable guide guides one surface of the sheet in the first position. The movable guide exposes a conveying path in the second position. The cover is movable between an open position where the movable guide is exposed and a closed position where the movable guide is covered. The movable guide is in the first position while the cover moves from the closed position to the open position. The retaining part is configured to retain the movable guide in the second position after the movable guide moves from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, discharge unit, first and second guides, and top cover. The discharge unit is disposed obliquely above a heating member of the fixing unit. The first guide extends from a position above the heating member toward the discharge unit and has an upstream portion in a conveying direction of an image-fixed sheet. The second guide is disposed above the heating member and faces the upstream portion. The second guide defines an upper portion of the conveying path. A part of the second guide faces the upstream portion in the first position, and exposes the upstream portion in the second position. The top cover is movable between an open position where the second guide is exposed and a closed position where the second guide is covered. The first guide has a guide surface sloping downward in the conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, sheet discharge unit, fixing unit, and conveying guide. The fixing unit thermally fixes a developer image deposited on a sheet to provide an image-fixed sheet. The conveying guide defines at least a part of a conveying path. The conveying guide guides one surface of the image-fixed sheet. The conveying guide includes a fixed guide unit and movable guide unit. The fixed guide unit guides end portions of the image-fixed sheet in a widthwise direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the image-fixed sheet. The fixed guide unit is immovable relative to the main body. The movable guide unit is disposed adjacent to the fixed guide unit in the widthwise direction and movable relative to the fixed guide unit. The movable guide unit guides the image-fixed sheet in a first position. The movable guide unit exposes the conveying path in a second position.

Abstract: A fixing unit which may be disposed in an image forming includes a heating roller, at least one pressure roller being in pressure contact with the heating roller to form a nip together with the heating roller, and a pressure releasing member partially restricting application of pressure to the nip. The nip includes an effective fixing section used for fixing. The pressure releasing member includes a pair of pressure releasing parts inserted into sections of the nip other than the effective fixing section, a connection part connecting the pair of pressure releasing parts, and guide parts extending from the connection part in the same direction as the pair of pressure releasing parts. The pressure releasing member prevents deformation of a portion of an elastic layer formed on the heating roller which corresponds to the effective fixing section.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately curing curl which is apt to be generated at a fixing-completed sheet. An intersection angle ?2 between respective axis lines 81c, 82c of an upper conveying roller 81 and a lower conveying roller 82 in a conveying apparatus 80 is set to be in the opposite direction to an intersection angle ?1 between respective axis lines 50c and 51c of a fixing roller 50 and a pressure roller 51 in the fixing apparatus 40. Accordingly, curl generated at a sheet S at the time of pressure fixing at the fixing apparatus 40 can be returned into a state before fixing as being appropriately corrected in the opposite direction by the upper conveying roller 81 and the lower conveying roller 82.

Abstract: A self-positioning belt roll fuser stripping apparatus and system includes an internal pressure roll entraining a fuser belt. The internal pressure engages an external pressure roll to form a fusing nip. The internal pressure roll includes an internal pressure roll bearing to which a mounting plate is attached, allowing the mounting plate to move about a rotational axis of the internal pressure roll. A strip bar is attached to the mounting plate, and configured to force the fuser belt toward the external pressure roll. A mounting plate ski is configured to contact an external pressure roll bearing to limit movement of the mounting plate, positioning the strip shoe as desired when the mounting plate is moved to guide the strip show toward the fusing nip.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a heating member for heating a recording sheet and a pressuring member disposed below the heating member are supported by a fixing unit frame. A noncontact temperature sensor disposed facing the heating member detects a temperature of the heating member without contacting the heating member. An upper frame covers an upper portion of the heating member and an upstream portion of the heating member in a conveying direction of the recording sheet. A plate-shaped upper sheet guide protrudes upstream in the conveying direction from an upstream end of the upper frame and extends in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and to a vertical direction. The upper sheet guide and a lower sheet guide disposed below and facing the upper sheet guide the recording sheet in the conveying direction toward the heating member and the pressuring member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes: first and second rotatable member configured to heat-fix, at a nip therebetween, an unfixed toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a casing, configured to accommodate the first and second rotatable member, including a sheet introducing opening and a sheet discharging opening; and a suppressing portion configured to suppress diffusion, toward the sheet discharging opening, of particles having a predetermined diameter resulting from a parting agent in the neighborhood of the sheet introducing opening, wherein the suppressing portion is provided in a position of 0.5 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less from a surface of the first rotatable member in a space in the casing from the sheet introducing opening to the sheet discharging opening.

Abstract: A fixing device may include a first fixing member, and a second fixing member, and may be configured to heat-fix a developer image on a recording sheet at a fixing nip formed between the first fixing member and the second fixing member. The fixing device may further include a charge-removing member arranged upstream of the fixing nip in a conveyance direction of the recording sheet and in a vicinity of a conveyance path of the recording sheet conveyed towards the fixing nip, and including a main body part and an end edge positioned at an edge of the main body part, and an insulating member arranged between the conveyance path and at least the entire end edge of the charge-removing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members and a guide member. The guide member includes a guide plate having a guide surface, a back surface when the guide surface is defined as a front surface, and holes that are spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction of the sheet and that extend through the guide surface and the back surface; and sheet receiving members that are disposed in correspondence with the holes, each sheet receiving member including a body and an insertion portion that protrudes from the body and that is inserted into the corresponding hole, the insertion portions being inserted into the corresponding holes and being moved along the guide surface, so that the sheet receiving members are mounted to the guide plate while the bodies protrude from the guide surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device that can interrupt power supply to the resistive heat layer more reliably than the conventional technology, for example, at occurrence of abnormality. Electrodes 52a and 52b are provided on a circumferential surface of a fixing roller that includes a resistive heat layer that generates heat by receiving power supply, and power is supplied to the resistive heat layer when power supplying electrodes 54a and 54b that are electrically connected to an electric power source 55 are slidingly in contact with the electrodes 52a and 52b. An insulating tape 522a is attached on the electrode 52a, and the drive controller 59 rotates a motor 58 until the electrode 52a and the insulating tape 522a are in contact with each other, so that power supply to the resistive heat layer is interrupted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a gloss applying mode for applying gloss to an image on a sheet and a non-gloss-applying mode. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a fixing member and a pressurizing member that is pressed into contact with the fixing member to form a fixing nip portion in which toner is fixed to the sheet; and a gloss applying device including a first roller including a heating unit and a second roller that is pressed into contact with the first roller to form a gloss applying nip portion in which gloss is applied to the toner. The fixing device and the gloss applying device are provided on a sheet conveying path line. When the sheet is conveyed in the non-gloss-applying mode, nip pressure of the gloss applying nip portion in the gloss applying device is lower than that in the gloss applying mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a fixing device that fixes the image formed on the recording medium at the image forming unit while nipping and transporting the image formed on the recording medium at the image forming unit; a transporting section provided downstream from the fixing device in a direction of transportation of the recording medium, the transporting section nipping and transporting the recording medium; and a controller that performs control for changing a transporting velocity of the fixing device and a transporting velocity of the transporting section on the basis of information used for triggering a change in the transporting velocity of the fixing device when the recording medium is held by the fixing device and the transporting section.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing unit configured to heat and fix an unfixed image, which is formed on a recording material, on the recording material, a rotating member provided with a metal shaft and configured to convey the recording material that has passed through the fixing unit, a cover member made of injection-molded resin and configured to cover the shaft of the rotating member from a recording material conveyance path side so that a portion of the rotating member in contact with the recording material is exposed, the cover member including a portion that has a U-shaped cross-section when viewed from one end side of the shaft, and a sheet member configured to cover an opening of the U-shaped portion of the cover member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fusing a heat curable toner to a carrier sheet having said toner thereon. In the method, the toner is sandwiched between said carrier sheet and a movable fuser belt and heated to a first temperature by a first means, which first temperature is above a first glass transformation temperature of the toner. The toner is kept at an elevated temperature for a predetermined time by a second means, which elevated temperature is above the first glass transformation temperature, thereby raising the glass transformation temperature of the toner to a second glass transformation temperature. The apparatus has at least a first endless fuser belt, first heating means for heating the toner to a first temperature, second heating means located downstream of said first heating means for keeping the toner at an elevated temperature for a predetermined time and control means for controlling the first and second heating means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a transfer nip, a first conveyance belt, a second conveyance belt, a fixing nip, a fixing drive unit, and a control unit. The first conveyance belt conveys the sheet to which a toner image is transferred and fixed. The fixing drive unit drives the fixing nip so that the fixing nip conveys the sheet at a speed that is higher than the transfer speed in a high speed fixing mode in which the fixing nip fixes the toner image to the sheet while conveying the sheet. The control unit sets a circumferential speed of the first conveyance belt and a circumferential speed of the second conveyance belt so that the sheet bridging the first and second conveyance belts is pulled by the second conveyance belt to slide on the first conveyance belt in the high speed fixing mode.

Abstract: To prevent a flap of an envelope to stick to an envelope main body, provided is an image forming apparatus including: an image forming portion forming a toner image on the envelope; a fixing device fixing the toner image onto the envelope by heating the envelope while conveying the envelope on which the toner image is formed by the image forming portion; and a conveying roller pair that rotates while nipping the envelope, onto which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device, to convey the envelope. A driven roller of the conveying roller pair includes driven runners divided in a rotary shaft center direction, and one driven runner located at one end is inclined in a direction separating from another driven runner so that an outer peripheral surface of the one driven runner is brought into contact with a corner portion of a rubber roller.

Abstract: An image forming device has a housing, a cover, a frame, a heating member, a transfer roller, a first shaft, and a shielding assembly. The housing has an opening. The cover opens and closes the opening. The frame is provided in the housing. The heating member is supported to the frame and heating a recording sheet. The transfer roller is rotatably positioned between the heating member and the opening in the frame. The transfer roller conveys the recording sheet in a sheet conveying direction and is positioned downstream of the heating member in the sheet conveying direction. The first shaft is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. The first shaft supports the transfer roller and facing the frame through a gap through which the sheet passes. The heating member is exposed to the opening through the gap.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixing device for thermally fixing an unfixed image onto the recording sheet, the fixing device comprising: a fixing belt; and a meander regulation member provided adjacent to an edge of the fixing belt in a width direction thereof, and operable to prevent meandering of the fixing belt, wherein the fixing belt includes: a resistive heat layer that is tubular and generates heat when an electric current is applied thereto; and first and second electrodes that are provided circumferentially on an outer circumferential surface of the resistive heat layer, and that receive and apply the electric current to the resistive heat layer, and the first electrode is provided closer to the meander regulation member than to the second electrode, and is at a distance from the edge of the fixing belt in the width direction thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a fixing unit configured to fix the image formed by the image forming unit on the sheet, a cooling unit configured to cool the sheet having the image fixed thereon by the fixing unit, a curl amount changing unit configured to change an amount of curl of the sheet by bending the sheet having the image fixed thereon, and a path configured to guide the sheet having the image fixed thereon to the image forming unit, after the sheet is conveyed through the curl amount changing unit and the curl amount changing unit. The curl amount changing unit changes an amount of bending the sheet according to whether the sheet is stopped at the cooling unit or not.

Abstract: Driving of a driving unit is controlled so as to satisfy relationship of L>|X+Y| (|X|?X0, |Y|?Y0), wherein a distance between an outside end of a separation claw in a width direction when a fixing unit and the separation claw are at respective reference positions and a side end of a sheet, which is winding around a heating roller, in the width direction is L, a displacing amount of the fixing unit detected by a first detecting unit is X, a maximum displacing amount of the fixing unit is X0, a displacing amount of the separation claw detected by a second detecting unit is Y, and a maximum displacing amount of the separation claw is Y0.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes: a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a sheet at a nip; and a guiding member for guiding the sheet toward the nip. The guiding member includes: an electroconductive metal plate which is electrically grounded; and an insulating resin member, provided to cover a part of the metal plate, slidable with the sheet. The resin member includes: a plurality of openings, provided at different positions with respect to a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction, for permitting exposure of the metal plate along the sheet conveyance direction; and a downstream portion, substantially free from a stepped portion, which is provided at a downstreammost portion with respect to the sheet conveyance direction and which is extended flat in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction in a sheet conveyance region.

Abstract: A power transmission, which transmits a driving force from a driving roller to a driven roller by using a friction roller. The power transmission includes a driving roller, a driven roller spaced apart from the driving roller, and a friction roller to transmit a driving force from the driving roller to the driven roller. The friction roller is disposed above a line connecting between centers of the driving roller and the driven roller. With this construction, the friction roller transmits the driving force in a state of being interposed between the driving rollers and the driven rollers by rotation thereof, thereby allowing the power transmission to have a simplified structure, which does not require a separate pressing spring, and at the same time, to generate a minimum amount of power loss.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a fixing member fixing a toner image onto a recording medium and a fixation pressing member coming into pressure contact with the fixing member to form a fixation pressing area, through which the recording medium passes, between the two members; a transport unit transporting the recording medium output from the fixing unit; and a guide unit disposed between the fixing and transport units and having a substantially arc-shaped transport path along which the output recording medium is guided and transported toward the transport unit. The guide unit has a substantially rib-shaped guide extending along the transport path and coming into contact with the recording medium at a predetermined position of the guide to guide the recording medium, and a recess provided downstream, in a recording-medium transport direction, of the predetermined position and recessed inward from the substantially arc-shaped transport path.