Abstract: A system for heated gas fusing of toner on non-porous substrates is provided. The system uses (1) an extended fusing zone held at lower temperatures than needed for a roll nip or radiant fuser, and (2) a very low melt toner which can be fused at greatly reduced temperatures compared to conventional toners. In one form, the system is realized through (a) the use of heated gas as the low temperature extended zone fusing technology, and (b) the use of ultra-low melt (ULM) toner—which requires significantly reduced temperature compared to conventional toner. On non-porous packaging substrates the use of heated gas can limit the substrate temperature to 100° C.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular belt holder, a rotatable flexible fuser belt, a contact member, a pressure member, and a heater. The belt holder extends in an axial direction thereof. The fuser belt is looped around the belt holder extending in the axial direction. The contact member has a central axis thereof extending in the axial direction, accommodated in the belt holder. The pressure member has a central axis thereof extending in the axial direction, disposed opposite the belt holder with the fuser belt interposed between the contact member and the pressure member. The pressure member presses against the contact member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The heater is disposed adjacent to the belt holder to heat a circumferential portion of the fuser belt. The belt holder includes a generally semi-cylindrical section to face the heated circumferential portion of the fuser belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a reflection member; a stay; and a backup member. The fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and is circularly movable. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The reflection member reflects a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member. The reflection member includes a reflection portion and an extending portion. The stay covers the reflection portion and supports the nip member. The extending portion extends outside of the stay. The backup member provides a nip region in cooperation with the nip member upon nipping the tubular flexible fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The extending portion extends between the nip member and the stay. The extending portion is positioned exclusively downstream of the reflection portion in a sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a contacting member fixed in an interior of the fixing member, and a heating unit that emits infrared ray. A mechanism concentrates the infrared ray emitted by the heating unit into a nip portion between the fixing member and the pressing member and into an area narrower than a width of the nip portion.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member, a reflection plate, a backup member, a stay and a temperature sensor. The flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member. The reflection plate is configured to reflect the radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member, the reflection plate having an outer profile. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a conveying unit that conveys a recording material with an image formed thereon toward a predetermined conveying direction so as to cross a fixing area where the image is heated to be fixed; a laser light source that has an irradiation area as the fixing area slantingly extending relative to a predetermined image arrangement reference direction along a width direction of the recording material crossing the conveying direction of the recording material, and irradiates the irradiation area with laser light; and a reflecting member that is provided so as to surround the irradiation area and has a reflecting face that reflects reflected light from the irradiation area so that the irradiation area is again irradiated with the reflected light.

Abstract: In a method for fusing a recording material on a medium, a fusing element is radiated close to and upstream from a fuse nip. Thus, the heat that is provided has very little time to penetrate the fusing element and thus remains at a surface of the fusing element. Therefore, the fusing element does not need to be heated thoroughly, which would require a substantial amount of time. Consequently, in the method, heat may be provided on demand and an energy efficient fuse method is thus provided.

Abstract: A fixing device to fix a toner image on a sheet includes a first rotary member that rotates in a predetermined direction and a second rotary member that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the first rotary member. A stationary member is fixed inside the first rotary member to press the first and second rotary members together to form a nip portion between the rotary members. A reinforcement member is fixedly provided inside the first rotary member and pressed against the stationary member. The fixing device includes heat source to heat the first rotary member and a reflector to reflect heater light emitted from the heat source toward the first rotary member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first irradiation unit that irradiates a laser beam in a first irradiation region toward a recording medium in which unfixed image is formed; a second irradiation unit that irradiates a laser beam toward a second irradiation region; an image information acquiring unit that acquires image information of the first irradiation region; a coating information acquiring unit that divides the first irradiation region into one or a plurality of divided regions, and that acquires coating information that relates to the coating level on the basis of the image information; a transmission information acquiring unit that acquires transmission information that relates to the laser beam which is irradiated to the first irradiation region and passes through the recording material on the basis of the coating information; an irradiation control unit that controls the irradiation energy of the second irradiation unit based on the transmission information.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first radiating portion that includes plural light sources arranged along a first direction at a determined interval, and radiates light on a recording medium on which a toner image is formed and which is transported in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and an optical member that includes plural transmission regions through which the light radiated by the plural light sources is transmitted and includes plural light diffusion portions diffusing the light in the first direction on each of the plural transmission regions.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, includes: a flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable; a heating element; a nip member disposed in such a manner as to contact with a surface of the flexible fusing member and to allow the flexible fusing member to slide along the nip member; a reflecting plate configured to reflect radiant heat from the heating element in a direction toward the nip member; a backup member configured to nip the flexible fusing member with the nip member to thereby form a nip portion for the recording sheet between the flexible fusing member and the backup member; and a stay configured to support both end portions of the nip member. The reflecting plate has at least one flange portion, and the flange portion is held and supported between the nip member and the stay.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a radiating portion that radiates light on a recording medium on which a toner image is formed and that is transported along a transport path, a partition member that transmits the light radiated from the radiating portion and partitions between the radiating portion and the transport path, and a drive section that moves a scraping member scraping toner that adheres to the partition member and is heated by the radiation of the light from the radiating portion so as to contact a surface of the partition member of the transport path side.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a belt unit, a coil unit, a rotatable driving member, and positioning and urging mechanisms. The belt unit includes an endless belt to heat a toner image on a sheet at a nip portion. The coil unit opposes an outer surface of the belt and generates a magnetic flux for heating the belt. The driving member rotates the belt and forms the nip portion with the belt. The positioning mechanism positions the coil unit with respect to the belt unit and includes two positioning portions on each side of the coil unit with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof. The urging mechanism urges the coil unit toward the belt unit. The coil unit is supported by the belt unit at three of the four positioning portions.

Abstract: In a fixing device, the surface of the recording paper carrying belt passes through a position satisfying a relation: f<L?f+a, where L is a distance (mm) from the center of a condensing lens 112 to the position along the optical axial direction, the condensing lens 112 being the last condensing lens that laser light irradiated from a laser light source passes through, f is a focal distance (mm) of the condensing lens 112, and a is a range (mm) along the optical axial direction from the focal position of the condensing lens 112 to a position, within which range fixability of toner is within a set permissible range.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide materials, apparatus, and methods for forming an image. Exemplary imaging apparatus can include one or more light sources configured to treat toner images after they are transferred on an image receiving substrate (e.g., a copy sheet). The toner images can be formed of an opto-thermal toner containing opto-thermal elements in a toner composition. The fuser subsystem may or may not be configured in the disclosed imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a laser source that irradiates an image with laser light, the image being formed on a moving recording material with a thermoplastic image-forming material; and a support member arranged to face the laser source and having a curved portion, the curved portion being curved to extend in a recording-material moving direction and to protrude toward the laser source, the curved portion having a supporting portion of the recording material corresponding to at least an irradiation area of the laser light in a curved manner.

Abstract: Printers are provided. One printer has an ink jet printer with an inkjet printhead to print an inkjet image on a receiver using an inkjet ink having a liquid with a boiling point a toner print engine to generate a toner image conforming to the ink jet image using toner particles with a glass transition temperature that is below the boiling point and to transfer the toner image into an unabsorbed volume of liquid ink of the inkjet image on the receiver and a fixing system having a first energy source to apply a first energy to the toner and the liquid sufficient to bring the liquid to the boiling point without bringing a heated surface into contact therewith. The toner particles are heated above the glass transition temperature by the combination of heat from the liquid and heating of the toner particles by the first energy.

Abstract: Printing methods are provided. In one method, an inkjet image is printed on a receiver using an inkjet ink having a liquid with a boiling point and a toner image conforming to the ink jet image is generated using toner particles with a glass transition temperature that is below the boiling point and the toner image is transferred into an unabsorbed volume of liquid ink of the inkjet image on the receiver. A first energy is applied to the toner and the liquid sufficient to bring the liquid to the boiling point without bringing a heated surface into contact therewith. The toner particles are heated above the glass transition temperature by the combination of heat from the liquid and heating of the toner particles by the radiant energy without requiring that the receiver is heated to the glass transition temperature of the toner.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a laser light source that irradiates an irradiation region with a laser light, the irradiation region extending along a direction crossing a transporting direction of a recording medium with respect to a heating-fixable image which is on the recording medium. The fixing device further includes; a reflective member that is provided to enclose the irradiation region and includes a reflective surface reflecting a reflected light so that the irradiation region is re-irradiated with the reflected light from the irradiation region by the laser light radiated from the laser light source; and a light absorption member that is provided so as to continue to an end of a side of the reflective member directed to the recording medium and includes a portion facing a transporting surface of the recording medium and extending toward an outside of the reflective member, and is capable of absorbing the laser light.

Abstract: A fixing device to fix a toner image on a sheet includes a first rotary member that rotates in a predetermined direction and a second rotary member that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the first rotary member. A stationary member is fixed inside the first rotary member to press the first and second rotary members together to form a nip portion between the rotary members. A reinforcement member is fixedly provided inside the first rotary member and pressed against the stationary member. The fixing device includes heat source to heat the first rotary member and a reflector to reflect heater light emitted from the heat source toward the first rotary member.

Abstract: A laser fixing device, which is for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, including: a carrying device for carrying a sheet; and a laser array section which is made up of a plurality of laser sources arrayed in a line, the plurality of laser sources irradiating a non-fixed toner image, which is attached to the sheet that is being carried by the carrying device, with a laser beam so that the non-fixed toner image is fused and fixed to the sheet. In the laser fixing device, an irradiation region length and a sheet carrying speed are set so that tn?0.259·mt1.5139, where mt is a maximum level of an attached-toner amount per unit area of the sheet (mg/cm2) in the image forming apparatus, and tn is an irradiation region crossing time (msec), which is found by dividing the irradiation region length by the sheet carrying speed, the irradiation region length being a length, in the direction in which the sheet is carried, of a region on the sheet which region is irradiated with the laser beam.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer is configured such that an infrared heater is installed at a position between a plurality of electrophotographic print units installed in of the flow direction of a recording material, and a part (an inter-unit extension part) situated between print units of the recording material is irradiated with infrared light from the infrared heater to perform a partial evaporative removal of a carrier liquid of the recording material and a partial fixing of a toner.

Abstract: A microwave heating device includes a microwave generating portion outputting a microwave, a conductive heating chamber into which the microwave is led and having a short-circuited terminal end in a traveling direction of the microwave, and a tuner provided between the microwave generating portion and the heating chamber. The heating chamber has an opening for passing a member to be heated therethrough. The tuner re-reflects the microwave reflected at the terminal end of the heating chamber onto the heating chamber side. The microwave output end of the microwave generating portion and the tuner are connected by a square tubular waveguide made of a conductive material. The tuner and the terminal end of the heating chamber are connected by a square tubular waveguide, which is made of a conductive material except for the opening for passing the member to be heated therethrough.

Abstract: A defective laser element detector gives a fault detection of every laser element in each laser array. A controller determines whether the fault can be compensated for by the other laser elements, taking into account the arrangement, variation and other factors of available laser elements. If it is determined that the fault can be compensated, the controller increases the power of other laser elements individually based on comprehensive evaluation from the parameters such as irradiation areas, amounts of irradiation, irradiation timing and the like of the other adjacent laser elements in the same array including the fault and in the other arrays, so as to compensate the area of irradiation to be irradiated by the defective laser element as a whole.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating toner on a receiver having an ignition energy, having an energy source for providing input energy; and a membrane disposed adjacent to the receiver. The membrane receives the input energy from the energy source; stores a portion of the input energy; and radiates emitted energy that is absorbed by the toner, the receiver, or a combination thereof, wherein the absorption causes the temperature of the toner to rise above a desired temperature. The stored portion of the input energy is less than the ignition energy.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a laser fixing device includes a laser beam generating device and an airflow generating unit. The laser beam generating device generates laser beams and irradiates a recording medium transported with the laser beams. The airflow generating unit generates airflow flowing between the laser beam generating device and the recording medium. A flow speed of the airflow in a transport direction of the recording medium in an irradiation position of the laser beams is higher than a transport speed of the recording medium.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a fixing device includes a first laser unit and a second laser unit. The first laser unit outputs a first laser beam to irradiate a visible image formed of image forming material on a recording medium with the first laser beam. The second laser unit outputs a second laser beam to irradiate the visible image with the second laser beam after being irradiated with the first laser beam. The first laser beam and the second laser beam is configured to satisfy relations: W1<W2 and t1>t2, W1 is an optical output per unit area of the first laser beam, W2 is an optical output per unit area of the second laser beam, t1 is an irradiation time per unit area of the first laser beam, and t2 is an irradiation time per unit area of the second laser beam.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a raster image data generating unit, a halftone image data generating unit, a size control unit, an image forming unit and a flash fixing unit. The raster image data generating unit generates raster image data of a plurality of color components from document data. The halftone image data generating unit generates halftone image data from the raster image data. The size control unit controls minimum halftone dot sizes of the halftone image data. The image forming unit forms color toner images to be fixed on a recording medium using color toners corresponding to the plurality of color components, based on the halftone image data whose minimum halftone dot sizes are controlled by the size control unit. The flash fixing unit emits flash light from a flash light source to the recording medium to fix the color toner images transferred onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A toner fixing apparatus characterized by provision of a provisional fixing portion provided with a provisional fixing component having an infrared heater irradiating infrared radiation onto a printed surface of the web and a main fixing portion provided downstream in the web flow in the provisional fixing portion and nipping the web with heat rollers performing a main fixing operation or having a plurality of main fixing units. According to this invention, a toner fixing apparatus and an electrophotographic printing device including the toner fixing apparatus are provided which display excellent fixing properties during multicolor image formation, excellent heating efficiency and excellent economy with respect to installation space.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a transport member that transports a recording medium in a first direction, the recording medium having on one side thereof an image formed of an image forming material that is to be fixed by absorbing light; a first chip that has a first light-emitting area in which a plurality of light-emitting elements that emit light toward the one side of the recording medium are arranged two-dimensionally; and a second chip that has a second light-emitting area in which a plurality of light-emitting elements that emit light toward the one side of the recording medium are arranged two-dimensionally. A gap between the first light-emitting area and the second light-emitting area extends at an angle with respect to the first direction, and a portion of the first light-emitting area and a portion of the second light-emitting area overlap each other in the first direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an irradiation unit, disposed opposite a recording medium, that includes laser light sources arranged in a direction crossing a movement direction of the recording medium and capable of emitting laser light with variable emission intensity and that irradiates a surface of the recording medium with the laser light emitted from the laser light sources in a substantially elongated irradiation region extending at a corresponding position in the arrangement direction of the laser light sources; an irradiation-width changing unit that changes the irradiation width of the irradiation region in a longitudinal direction thereof, with all the laser light sources of the irradiation unit turned on; and an irradiation-intensity adjusting unit that adjusts the irradiation intensity in the irradiation region having the irradiation width thereof changed by the irradiation-width changing unit to a predetermined required irradiation intensity.

Abstract: A color toner for optical fixing containing an infrared light absorbent and being compatible with an optical fusing device to irradiate an unfixed toner attached on a surface of a recording medium with infrared light to melt and fix the unfixed toner on the recording medium, wherein an optical absorptance of the color toner is set to be lower than an optical absorptance of a black toner in a wavelength region of the infrared light emitted from the optical fusing device.

Abstract: A positively chargeable two-component developer, including at least a toner and a carrier, wherein the toner contains a binder resin, a colorant, a wax, and a charge control agent, the binder resin contains at least a polyester resin and an addition polymerization resin grafted with a polyolefin, the wax and the addition polymerization resin grafted with a polyolefin are contained at a wax:addition polymerization resin grafted with a polyolefin ratio of from about 40:60 to about 80:20, and the carrier is a magnetic powder having a coating layer containing a methyl-containing silicone resin.

Abstract: An optical fixing apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a recording medium in a first direction in a first fixing process and a second fixing process subsequent thereto and transports the recording medium in a second direction after the first fixing process and before the second fixing process; a light irradiating unit that irradiates the recording medium with light having a predetermined intensity while the recording medium is transported in the first and second fixing processes; a controller that performs a control so that the intensity of the light is lower than the predetermined intensity in a first period before the end of the first fixing process and a second period after the start of the second fixing process, and so that an area of the recording medium irradiated in the first period and an area of the recording medium irradiated in the second period overlap.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit and a switching unit. The fixing unit includes an emitting unit that emits light and a housing that houses the emitting unit. The fixing unit fixes a toner image to a recording medium by emitting the light to a surface of the recording medium, the recording medium having the toner image formed thereon and having been transported to a predetermined fixing position that is away from the housing. The switching unit switches a state of the fixing device from a first state in which the housing and the recording medium are positioned away from each other to a second state in which the surface of the recording medium at the fixing position is sealed with the housing.

Abstract: A fusing system and a method of operating the fusing system, including a first heating zone to heat marking material and a substrate using a non-condensing heat source to less than a target temperature; and a second heating zone to heat the marking material and the substrate to about the target temperature to fuse the marking material to the substrate.

Abstract: A fixing device irradiates an unfixed toner image formed on the recording paper that is conveyed by an endless belt for conveying recording paper, with laser light so as to fuse the toner and fix the toner image. The fixing device includes a controller which makes such control as to convey the recording paper so as to pass through the position of the focal point of the laser light and bring the surface of the endless belt away from the position of the focal point of the laser light when conveyance of the recording paper is stopped.

Abstract: A method for drying printed material operates with the aid of a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of radiation sources which can be driven individually or in groups. At the same time, the high-resolution image data describing the printing image or a content of printing forms for individual color separations is transformed into image data of lower resolution. Position data which describes the position of the printed image in the transport direction is also obtained from a device for transporting the printing material. Control data for modulation of an intensity of the radiation sources or groups of radiation sources of the array are generated from the image data of lower resolution and the position data, so that the printing material is swept over in the transport direction with time-modulated radiation points which in each case include a plurality of image points of the higher-resolution printed image.

Abstract: A device and a method for applying and fusing a toner image on a substrate is described. The device has at least one printing unit, a transport unit for transporting the substrate through a print area of the printing units and a fusing unit for fusing toner on the substrate. The transport unit has an endless transport belt which passes continuously around at least two rollers to form a transport side. The fusing unit is in a transport direction of the endless transport belt behind the at least one printing unit and has at least one microwave applicator arranged adjacently to the endless transport belt for introducing microwaves into the substrate while the latter is being transported through it. With the method, a substrate to be printed is held on an endless transport belt and moved thereon through a print area of at least one printing unit and then through a fusing unit.

Abstract: A laser fixing device includes: a laser beam irradiating device which irradiates a recording medium that is conveyed while carrying an unfixed toner image, with a laser beam; and a laser beam absorbing member which is disposed in an optical path of the laser beam that is emitted to a back side of a position where the recording medium is conveyed, and which absorbs the laser beam.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first irradiation unit that irradiates a laser beam in a first irradiation region toward a recording medium in which unfixed image is formed; a second irradiation unit that irradiates a laser beam toward a second irradiation region; an image information acquiring unit that acquires image information of the first irradiation region; a coating information acquiring unit that divides the first irradiation region into one or a plurality of divided regions, and that acquires coating information that relates to the coating level on the basis of the image information; a transmission information acquiring unit that acquires transmission information that relates to the laser beam which is irradiated to the first irradiation region and passes through the recording material on the basis of the coating information; an irradiation control unit that controls the irradiation energy of the second irradiation unit based on the transmission information.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus in which multiple number of laser beams are controlled to perform fixing based on the toner concentration in the developing device, or based on the density and weight of the toner image adhering on the recording medium before fixing. The controller in the image forming apparatus compares the toner concentration detected by the toner concentration detector with the reference toner concentration, calculates the output level of the laser irradiator, controls the laser irradiator based on the calculation, controls to increase the output level of the laser irradiator in accordance with the detected toner concentration when the toner concentration is lower than the reference toner concentration, and controls to lower the output level of the laser irradiator in accordance with the detected toner concentration when the toner concentration is higher than the reference toner concentration.

Abstract: A laser fixing apparatus includes a laser light generator that generates laser light to be projected onto a recording medium; and a first condenser that reflects and condenses light reflected at an irradiation position of the laser light, such that the reflected light reenters at the irradiation position or near the irradiation position. The first condenser has a concave cylindrical surface and is arranged such that a center axis position of the cylindrical surface is located at the irradiation position of the laser light or near the irradiation position, and a reflecting surface of the first condenser is covered by a light transmitting body.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a light irradiation unit and a reflector. The light irradiation unit irradiates a recording medium conveyed in a conveying direction with laser light along a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction. The reflector reflects first to fourth angular components of a part of the laser light reflected at an irradiation position at which the recording medium is irradiated, such that a first intersection point between the first and third angular components after the reflection and a second intersection point between the second and fourth angular components after the reflection as seen in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction and the first direction are at different positions in a direction of displacement of the recording medium, the direction of displacement crossing the conveying direction. A developing agent on the recording medium is melted by the laser light.

Abstract: A heating device includes an illuminating unit that applies laser light towards a strip-like illumination area formed along a direction crossing a direction of movement of a recording medium; and a reflecting member that surrounds the illumination area, the reflecting member reflecting again reflected light from the illumination area. The reflecting member has protruding reflecting surfaces that protrude continuously towards the recording medium along a widthwise direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the illumination area, the protruding reflecting surfaces being disposed side by side in the longitudinal direction of the illumination area. The protruding reflecting surfaces are positioned at substantially equal distances from the illumination area along the widthwise direction of the illumination area, and changed so that an entire or a portion of a cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal direction of the illumination area is curved or inclined.

Abstract: A recording sheet has an unfixed toner image that is formed thereon, and is conveyed to a fixing device. A surface reforming device of the fixing device performs surface reformation for the surface of the toner on the recording sheet by, for example, plasma irradiation or the like, thereby generating a polar group of a hydrophilic property on the surface of the toner. Next, the recording sheet is conveyed to a laser irradiation portion by a recording sheet conveyance device to be irradiated with a laser, in which the toner is fused to be fixed to the recording sheet. The toner on the recording sheet is subjected to surface reforming treatment, thus having increased affinity (adhesion force) with the recording sheet, so that it is possible to secure favorable fixability without pressing.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a rotatable image heater for heating a recording material, a coil, outside the heater, for generating magnetic flux for heating the heater and having an end outside an end of the heater with respect to the rotational axis direction, a pressor contacting the heater outer surface for forming a nip nipping and conveying the recording material, a metal member for pressing the pressor through the heater and having an end which is located outside the end of the heater and outside an end of the coil with respect to the rotational axis direction, and a magnetic flux confiner disposed inside the heater between the coil and the metal member, for confining the magnetic flux from the coil so as not to extend toward the metal member and having an end located outside the end of the heater with respect to the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a first reflection plate covers a part of an outer circumferential surface of an infrared heater in a circumferential direction of the infrared heater along an axial direction of the infrared heater substantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the infrared heater. The first reflection plate reflects light emitted by the infrared heater toward a fixing member. At least one light control mirror is provided in at least one end of the first reflection plate in an axial direction of the first reflection plate. At least one second reflection plate opposes the infrared heater via the at least one light control mirror to reflect the light emitted by the infrared heater and passing through the at least one light control mirror toward a center portion of the fixing member in an axial direction of the fixing member.

Abstract: A fixer includes a fixing member with a rotary heat generator, a pressure member, an excitation coil disposed facing a heat generation layer of the rotary heat generator to generate magnetic flux that inductively heats the heat generation layer, a loop-shaped demagnetization coil unit disposed facing the heat generation layer to generate magnetic flux that partly counteracts the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil, a first magnetic core disposed in a first area that is enclosed by both the excitation coil and the demagnetization coil unit, and a second magnetic core disposed in a second area that is outside a loop of the demagnetization coil unit and enclosed by the excitation coil. The first magnetic core and the second magnetic core are magnetically continuous in a rotary axial direction of the rotary heat generator. A fixing method fixes an image on the sheet used in a fixer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit and a re-heating unit. The fixing unit fixes a toner image on a recording medium by applying heat to the toner image with a first glossiness level. The re-heating unit re-heats the toner image, fixed on the recording medium by the fixing unit, to set a second glossiness level lower than the first glossiness level.