Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating member for heating a toner image on a recording material in a heating nip; a pressing member for forming the heating nip in contact with the heating member; a abrading member for abrading a surface of the heating member; a contact-and-separation device for permitting contact and separation of the abrading member with respect to the heating member; and a selecting device for selecting, depending on a basis weight of the recording material to be heated by said heating member, whether or not the contact-and-separation means brings the abrading member into contact with the pressing member before a recording material is conveyed to the heating nip.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus in which a sheet on which a toner image is fixed in a first heating portion is conveyed to a second heating portion through a first conveying path, the conveyed sheet is re-fixed in the second heating portion, and the re-fixed sheet is conveyed through a second conveying path having a curved guide surface. The first conveying path, the second heating portion, and the second conveying path are arranged from above downward in order of mention, and the sheet re-fixed in the second conveying path is allowed to pass so that a surface opposite to a surface on which the image is fixed moves along the guide surface.

Abstract: An inlet guide having, on a recording media contact surface thereof, plural ribs inclining to a further inner side farther toward a recording media conveying direction is arranged upstream in a recording media conveying direction of a nip formed by a fixing roller and a pressing roller for heating and pressing a recording medium having a developer transferred thereon and the recording medium is brought into contact with the ribs of the inlet guide to guide the recording medium to the nip. The plural ribs are arranged such that an acute angle formed by center lines in a longitudinal direction of the plural ribs and a straight line parallel to a center line in width direction of a recording medium to be conveyed is equal to or larger than 5° and equal to or smaller than 20°.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed in which a guide member configured to guide a sheet to a nip section between a heating roller and a pressing roller is disposed close to the upstream side of the rollers and on the pressing roller side. A downstream end of the guide member is disposed on the heating roller side with respect to the nip surface between the rollers so that a header of the sheet to be printed is in contact with the heating roller first, and a downstream end of the fixing device introduction guide member is concavely curved.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a paper separation claw disposed near the surface of at least one of fixing rollers that fix toner on recording paper transported in a sandwiched manner, the paper separation claw being disposed in order to separate the recording paper, and a cavity portion that is open facing the surface of the fixing roller is formed in the paper separation claw.

Abstract: The image-forming device includes an image-forming unit, a fixing unit, a pair of first guides, and a pair of second guides. The recording sheet defines a width in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction. The image-forming unit forms a developing agent image on the recording sheet. The fixing unit includes a heating and a pressure roller. The heating roller heats the recording sheet discharged from the image-forming unit. The pressure roller presses the recording sheet against the heating roller. The heating roller and the pressure roller provide a nip point where the recording sheet is nipped therebetween. The nip point is offset in a thickness direction of the recording sheet from a plane along which the recording sheet is discharged from the image-forming unit. A sheet conveying path is provided from the image-forming unit to the fixing unit.

Abstract: The sheet transport apparatus comprise a sheet supply tray, a separation roll, a support body and a separation roll accommodation portion. The sheet supply tray has a plurality of sheets. The separation roll separates out the sheets one by one by applying a transport resistance to the sheets transported from the sheet supply tray. The support body rotatably supports the separation roll. The separation roll accommodation portion is formed in a transport path along which the sheets are transported, and it accommodates the separation roll and the support body such that they may be detached from a transport surface side of the transport path.

Abstract: A method for reducing gloss variation in prints, in an electrostatic printing system having a fuser for fusing sheets having marking particles thereon, the method including transporting a first sheet to the fuser; transporting a second sheet to the fuser; and abutting a trailing edge of the first sheet to a leading edge of the second sheet prior to the trailing edge of the first sheet entering the fuser.

Abstract: A first guide member and a second guide member guide a recording medium into a nip between a transfer member and a nip-forming member. The first guide member and the second guide member are arranged so as to form a substantial V-shape with tip of the V-shape being toward the nip. A distance between the first guide member and the second guide member at the tip being equal to or less than 5 millimeters.

Abstract: A belt fuser assembly includes a housing, and a fuser belt rotatably mounted to the housing, with the fuser belt having a direction of rotation. A pivot body has a proximal portion pivotably mounted to the housing and has a first elongate member having a first distal end that extends from the proximal portion. The first elongate member has a width extending perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the fuser belt. The first distal end of the first elongate member has a smooth curved surface extending along the width for pressing against the fuser belt during a sheet jam occurring in the housing to prevent a sheet of media from wrapping around the fuser belt.

Abstract: An axis-to-axis distance between a heating roller and a back-up roller is expanded beforehand in inserting a thick paper to prevent a rush/exhaust impact when fixing the thick paper without changing a condition of pressing mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transferring section for transferring an image to an image receiving medium, a primary fixing section for fixing the image by pressurizing the medium and a secondary fixing section for fixing the image. Conveying lengths of the medium from a transfer position to image fixing positions in the secondary fixing section and the primary fixing section are shorter than a maximum length and a minimum length of the medium in the conveying direction, respectively. In case of the medium of the maximum length, the primary fixing section is brought into a non-fixing state and the transfer is completed when the forward end of the medium reaches the secondary fixing section. In case of the medium of the minimum length, the primary fixing section is brought into a fixing state and the transfer is completed when the forward end of the medium reaches the primary fixing section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image on a recording medium in a transfer unit and fixes the toner image on the recording medium in a fixing unit. The image forming apparatus performs duplex image formation in a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a mode in which a toner image is transferred and fixed on a second side of a recording medium after a toner image is transferred and fixed on a first side thereof. The second mode is a mode in which, after a toner image is transferred and fixed on a first side of a recording medium fed at first, a second side of the recording medium is subjected to fixing without transferring thereon a toner image.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a first conveying path on which a sheet is conveyed, a first fixing unit that fixes a toner image on a sheet conveyed on the first conveying path, a second conveying path on which a sheet is conveyed, wherein the second conveying path branches from the first conveying path in a bifurcation provided on a upstream of the first fixing unit and joins into the first conveying path in a confluence provided on a downstream of the first fixing unit, and a second fixing unit provided on a upstream of the bifurcation or on a downstream of the confluence or on the second conveying path. Time to convey a sheet from the bifurcation to the confluence through the first conveying path and time to convey a sheet from the bifurcation to the confluence through the bypass conveying path are nearly equal.

Abstract: A fixing unit fixing an image on a paper and an image-forming apparatus having the same are provided. The fixing unit includes a heat roller, pressure rollers, a bracket, springs, and a paper guide. The heat roller has a heat source therein and the pressure rollers face the heat roller to form fixing nips. The bracket rotatably supports the pressure rollers and is also adapted to pivot. The springs elastically pressurize the bracket to closely attach the pressure rollers on the heat roller and the paper guide guides a paper so that a paper jam may not occur between the pressure rollers.

Abstract: A fixing unit, an electro-photographic image forming apparatus having the same, and a printing method thereof are provided. The electro-photographic image forming apparatus includes a printing unit that forms a toner image on a recording medium by an electro-photographic method, a heat roller, a first pressure roller that faces the heat roller and forms a first fixing nip therebetween, one or more second pressure rollers that face the heat roller and form a second fixing nip therebetween, and a guide member that changes its position to a first position for guiding the recoding medium to the second fixing nip after the recording medium passes through the first fixing nip or to a second position for blocking the recording medium from moving to the second fixing nip after the recording medium passes through the first fixing nip.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a printing apparatus and method including a media sheet registration system, a fuser roll assembly and a fuser roll RDS (registration distribution system). The media sheet registration system steers media sheets to alternative target positions to smooth fuser roll edge wear area profiles associated with the RDS and media sheets passing through the fuser roll assembly.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has a heat member for heating an unfixed image and is configured so that a longitudinal center of the heat member becomes a conveyance center of the recording material, the image forming apparatus including a central portion temperature detection part adjacent to the conveyance center, an end portion temperature detection part for detecting an end portion temperature of the heat member, and a width detection part for detecting a lateral width of the recording material, wherein the width detection part is disposed at a side opposite to a side at which the end portion temperature detection part is disposed with respect to the conveyance center position of the recording material. The image forming apparatus achieves the control for error setting of the recording material based on the width detection part and the end portion temperature detection part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body; an image forming unit; a first fixing device; and a second fixing device, the first and second fixing device being selectively attached, and the apparatus body including: a first attaching region that is formed by detaching the first fixing device; a sheet-discharging region in which, in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the apparatus body, a sheet subjected to a fixing operation by the first fixing device is discharged into an upper portion of the apparatus body while downwardly directing a face on which the fixing operation is performed; and a second attaching region to which the second fixing device is attached, and that includes the first attaching region and the sheet-discharging region.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a first conveying path on which a sheet is conveyed, a first fixing unit that fixes a toner image on a sheet conveyed on the first conveying path, a second conveying path on which a sheet is conveyed, wherein the second conveying path branches from the first conveying path in a bifurcation provided on a upstream of the first fixing unit and joins into the first conveying path in a confluence provided on a downstream of the first fixing unit, and a second fixing unit provided on a upstream of the bifurcation or on a downstream of the confluence or on the second conveying path. Time to convey a sheet from the bifurcation to the confluence through the first conveying path and time to convey a sheet from the bifurcation to the confluence through the bypass conveying path are nearly equal.

Abstract: A discharge guide of an image forming apparatus. The discharge guide includes: a guide body disposed between a fixing unit and a discharging unit of the image forming apparatus; and a guide member disposed on the guide body. The guide member includes a guide edge, which forms different amounts of gap with a central portion end portions of a heating roller of the fixing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrying belt, a second image carrying belt, a first transfer unit, a second transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a controller. Each of the first and second image carrying belt carries a toner image on their respective surface. The first and second transfer unit transfer the toner image from the respective first and second image carrying belt to a first and second face of a recording medium, respectively. The fixing unit receives the recording medium directly from the second image carrying belt and fixes the toner image on the respective first and second face of the recording medium. The controller variably controls a transport speed of the second image carrying belt depending on types of the recording medium when the second image carrying belt transports the recording medium from the second transfer unit to the fixing unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for fixing photocurable inks includes: a light source for irradiating light for fixation to a recording side of a recording medium printed with photocurable ink; a fixing member which is disposed in a conveyance path of the printed recording medium, is formed in a cylindrical shape, and can transmit the light for fixation; a conveying member disposed so as to face the fixing member over the conveyance path; and a pressurizing unit for nipping the fixing member and the conveying member. The recording medium is conveyed between the fixing member and the conveying member which are nipped by the pressurizing unit, the fixing member and the recording side of the recording medium are made come into tight contact with each other, and a contact part between the fixing member and the recording side of the recording medium is irradiated by the light for fixation which transmits the fixing member to thereby cure/fix the photocurable ink on the recording side of the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device that causes a toner image to be fixed onto a recording medium; an opposing unit that is disposed opposing the fixing device and forms a conveyance path in between the fixing device, the recording medium being conveyable on the conveyance path; a holding member for the recording medium that is disposed at the opposing unit and positioned between the recording medium conveyed on the conveyance path and the fixing device; and a withdrawal mechanism that causes the opposing unit to be withdrawn in a direction away from the fixing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus a first fixing device fixing the toner image on the sheet; a second fixing device fixing the toner image, fixed on the sheet by the first fixing device; a fixing conveyance path guiding the sheet carrying the toner image fixed by the second fixing device; a detour conveyance path diverging from the fixing conveyance path on an upstream side of the second fixing device, and joining the fixing conveyance path at a joining point on a downstream side of the second fixing device so that the sheet is guided detouring the second fixing device; a joined conveyance path guiding the sheet on a downstream side of the joining point; a first curl applying unit disposed on the joined conveyance path and applying a curl to the sheet; and a second curl applying unit disposed on the detour conveyance path and applying a curl to the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the reduction of wrinkles formed in sheets of paper media which may contain various levels of absorbed moisture across the surface and which are processed through a fuser section of a printing or copying device. Protruding features may be provided laterally spaced apart by a desired paper width at the fuser nip to create a pressure contact area which constrains the outer longitudinal edges of the sheet of paper as it enters the nip.

Abstract: A thermistor is disposed confronting a surface of a heat roller on a downstream side in a rotational direction of a heat roller from a contact position between the heat roller and a pressure roller. Side guide members are provided on both sides of the thermistor and spaced away from the thermistor in the axial direction of the heat roller, and a regulating guide member is disposed connecting the side guide members on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the heat roller. In addition, a separation plate for separating a sheet of paper is provided at a predetermined space from the surface of the heat roller between the contact position and the thermistor in the rotational direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image formation portion for forming a toner image on a sheet, and a fixation device for fixing the toner image formed by the image formation portion on the sheet. When a sheet jam occurs, it is controlled whether the fixation device should be driven such that the sheet is discharged from the fixation device based on a sheet type.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a printing apparatus and method comprising a media sheet registration system, a fuser roll assembly and a fuser roll RDS (registration distribution system). The media sheet registration system steers media sheets to alternative target positions to smooth fuser roll edge wear area profiles associated with the RDS and media sheets passing through the fuser roll assembly.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a first conveying path on which a sheet is conveyed, a first fixing unit that fixes a toner image on a sheet conveyed on the first conveying path, a second conveying path on which a sheet is conveyed, wherein the second conveying path branches from the first conveying path in a bifurcation provided on a upstream of the first fixing unit and joins into the first conveying path in a confluence provided on a downstream of the first fixing unit, and a second fixing unit provided on a upstream of the bifurcation or on a downstream of the confluence or on the second conveying path. Time to convey a sheet from the bifurcation to the confluence through the first conveying path and time to convey a sheet from the bifurcation to the confluence through the bypass conveying path are nearly equal.

Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus includes: a heating roller and a pressure roller that heats and presses a toner image to fix the toner image onto the sheet; a pressure roller detection unit that detects a contact posture of the rollers; a sheet meander correction mechanism that corrects a meander of the sheet by varying a difference in pressures between the rollers at both ends of the rollers; and a microprocessor that computes and stores the amount of the meander and the amount of correction, wherein the toner is fixed on the sheet when the contact posture is within a fixable range, and wherein when the pressure roller detection unit detects that the contact posture is out of the fixable range during transport of the sheet, the contact posture is controlled to return to a predetermined fixable posture, and the microprocessor corrects an error in the amount of correction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a main body, an image forming assembly accommodated in the main body, a withdrawable unit accommodated in the main body in such a manner as to be withdrawable to the outside, a fixing unit for fixing a toner image to a recording sheet with heat from the heating member by conveying the recording sheet having the toner image transferred thereto while nipping it between a heating member and the pressure member, and a temperature raising device for raising the temperature of the heating member. The fixing unit is detachably mounted on the withdrawable unit. On the other hand, the temperature raising device includes a mounting portion different from that of the heating member, and is fixedly attached to the withdrawable unit and is kept attached to the withdrawable unit even if the fixing unit is separated from the withdrawable unit.

Abstract: A toner including toner particles including a resin, a colorant, a wax, and a charge controlling agent, and an external additive, wherein the toner satisfies the relationships (1) 0.15×Q?2?T?0.15×Q?0.15, and (2) 1.0?T?2.5, wherein Q represents the charge of the toner in units of ?C/g, and T represents the torque of the toner in units of mN·m determined by a method using a cone-shaped rotor while controlling a space ratio of the toner at 58%. A developer including the toner and a carrier. An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, a transfer device, a fixing device and a double side image forming unit, and using the toner, wherein the receiving material includes moisture in an amount of not greater than 5% by weight after the toner image on the first side is fixed.

Abstract: In a construction wherein at the start of fixing, a pressure belt is brought into contact with a fixing roller at uniform timing, it has sometimes been the case that the temperature of the pressure belt at a point of time whereat the fixing is started does not become a desired temperature but faulty fixing occurs. The timing for bringing the pressure belt into contact with the fixing roller at the start of fixing is changed in accordance with the detected temperature of the pressure belt. By such a construction, faulty fixing can be prevented from occurring.

Abstract: An image formation device includes an image formation unit and a paper feed mechanism. The image formation unit is configured to print an image on a recording paper. The paper feed mechanism includes a feed roller, a press roller, cylindrical press rings and press roller bearings. The feed roller is configured to impart conveyance force to the recording paper. The feed roller has grip portions being configured to contact the recording paper. The press roller is disposed across from the feed roller. The press roller is configured to press the recording paper against the feed roller. A paper feed path through which the recording paper is fed to the image formation unit is formed between the feed roller and the press roller. The cylindrical press rings are attached to the press roller at locations adjacent to ends of the press roller. The press roller bearings support the press roller and bias the press roller toward the feed roller via the press rings.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a fixing device and a sheet storing member. The fixing device performs both tentative fixing and regular fixing. In at least one embodiment, the fixing device performs tentative fixing for tentatively fixing a toner image on a recording sheet. Further, the fixing device performs regular fixing for further fixing the tentatively fixed toner image by contacting a gloss sheet onto the tentatively fixed toner image on the recording sheet. The sheet storing member temporarily stores the recording sheet bearing the tentatively fixed toner image before the recording sheet is sent to the fixing device for the further fixing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit for forming a toner image on a sheet, a fixing unit for fixing the toner image transferred on the sheet by heat, a cooling fan for cooling the sheet by supplying air to the sheet fixed by the fixing unit and an oscillating member. The oscillating member has a flat portion formed at the leading end side and shields the flow of air supplied by the cooling fan into the fixing unit.

Abstract: There is provided a technology capable of avoiding troubles caused by accidentally holding a handle for holding a transfer belt unit in maintaining the transfer belt unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording material transporting path that extends in a direction from bottom to top of a body of the image forming apparatus and transports a recording material, a fixing device provided on the recording material transporting path, which includes a rotatable heating member that has an internal heat source and a rotatable pressure member that forms a nip area with the heating member by being located in contact with and pressed against the heating member, to nip the recording material for carrying out a fixing process, and an ejection guide member that guides a recording material ejected from the nip area to the outside of the image forming apparatus. The ejection guide member has a guide surface formed to intersect a tangent line of the heating member at the most downstream point of the nip area, and the guide surface intersects the tangent line at an obtuse angle.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing part having a heater disposed therein, a second fixing part, disposed to oppose to the first fixing part, for pinching a recording medium to form a first nip portion, a pair of transfer rollers, disposed at a downstream side of the recording medium, for forming a second nip portion, a guide for biasing the recording medium discharged from the transfer rollers towards the first fixing part side from one of the transfers rollers, and means part for biasing the guide towards the recording medium side.

Abstract: A fixing device has a roller pair; a cover for defining a forward transport path, and a backward transport path for transporting a sheet discharged from the roller pair back to an image former for forming toner images on both sides of the sheet. A sheet detection arm has opposite ends extending respectively in the forward and backward transport paths. A first shaft in the cover is mounted to a center of pivotal movement of the sheet detection arm and extends orthogonal to the sheet transport direction. A secondary shaft transmits rotation of the first shaft when the cover is closed, but not when the cover is opened. A sensor detects whether the sheet is being transported forward or backward based on rotation of the second shaft. The sheet detection arm pivots out of the backward transport path in response to opening of the cover.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments to facilitate the characterization of fuser stripping performance. Recognizing that the characteristics of a substrate exiting a fusing nip are indicative of the operation of the nip and the stripping operation itself, several contact and non-contact sensing methods are described to detect or predict degraded stripping performance, thereby permitting one or more compensation techniques to be employed, or to identify the need for fuser subsystem replacement.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a movable lever which functions as a recording medium detector for detecting the passage of a recording medium and a temperature detecting portion provided on the movable lever. The temperature of the recording medium is detected without providing an additional space for a sensor for detecting the temperature of the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion; a fixing portion having a fixing nip portion which heats and fixes the unfixed image and an discharge roller which discharges the recording material, wherein in the case where the recording material is the plain paper which is equal to or larger than the predetermined size, the discharge roller conveys the plain paper in a range from a front edge to a rear edge at a predetermined speed, in the case where the recording material is the plain paper smaller than the predetermined size, the discharge roller conveys the plain paper at a first speed until the rear edge passes through the fixing nip portion, and the discharge roller conveys the plain paper at a second speed higher than the first speed after the rear edge passed through the fixing nip portion.

Abstract: A method for forming a receiver transport member for an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus. The transport member transports receiver members with respect to a fuser assembly and is frictional coupled to a transfer member for driving the transfer member. The method for forming the transport member provides a substrate bearing a high friction layer that includes inorganic particles, with a compound of aluminum selected from the group consisting of aluminum hydroxide, alumina hydrate, aluminum oxide, pseudo-boehmite, boehmite alumina, aluminum salts, and mixtures thereof, dispersed in an organic binder so that the high friction layer is capable of preventing a loss of frictional coupling due to release oil applied to a receiver member bearing a fused toner image.

Abstract: A fixing unit, an electro-photographic image forming apparatus having the same, and a printing method thereof are provided. The electro-photographic image forming apparatus includes a printing unit that forms a toner image on a recording medium by an electro-photographic method, a heat roller, a first pressure roller that faces the heat roller and forms a first fixing nip therebetween, one or more second pressure rollers that face the heat roller and form a second fixing nip therebetween, and a guide member that changes its position to a first position for guiding the recoding medium to the second fixing nip after the recording medium passes through the first fixing nip or to a second position for blocking the recording medium from moving to the second fixing nip after the recording medium passes through the first fixing nip.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of fusing and fusing apparatus for print media, particularly for fusing toner to print media and other variations. According to various aspects of the invention, an improved temperature control is provided for a fusing apparatus wherein control is prioritized. According to various further aspects of the invention, a device having a fuser controller is provided operative to control a fusing control parameter based at least in part upon a print media thickness. Numerous other variations and aspects are included within the scope of the invention.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus for preventing a paper sheet such as a plain paper or a tracing paper from being waved immediately after fixation. Between a fixing roller (17) of a fixing roller pair in a fixing unit and a delivery roller (19) in a delivery unit, there is provided a unit for regulating a delivery direction of the paper sheet. The delivery direction of the paper sheet is once forcibly directed upward or downward with respect to a tangential direction of a nip portion of the fixing roller pair, thereby preventing waving of the paper sheet.

Abstract: A sheet nipping mechanism is applied to an image forming apparatus and has a transfer belt for transporting a sheet having a toner image through a photosensitive drum. A fixing roller and a pressure roller are downstream of the transfer belt and are vertically aligned in a paired manner to define a nip zone therebetween for nipping the sheet. A guide is disposed between the nip zone and the downstream end of the transfer belt. The fixing roller has a reverse-crown shape whose diameter is gradually reduced in a direction extending from each of the opposite transverse ends to the central region of the fixing roller. The guide has an edge opposed to the nip zone and is formed in a crown shape conformable to the reverse-crown shape. The sheet nipping mechanism prevents crimples and bouncing of sheet in the nip zone.

Abstract: A fixing unit and an image forming apparatus using the same. The fixing unit includes: a pair of fixing rollers that rotate and face each other and apply heat and pressure to a toner image transferred to the sheet of paper using electrophotography; a plurality of guide members disposed in the width direction of the sheet of paper to guide the sheet of paper discharged from the pair of fixing rollers to the discharge path, each of the guide members including a first guiding portion extending toward the discharge path from an outlet of the pair of fixing rollers; a first arm rotatably installed between the guide membersthat elastically contact the sheet of paper drawn out of the pair of fixing rollers and guide the sheet of paper to the discharge path; and an elastic member elastically biasing the first arm such that the first arm contacts the sheet of paper, wherein a guide member adjacent to the first arm has a second guide portion that is shorter than the first guide portion.