Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes an image forming mechanism configured to form an image, and a fixing unit configured to fix a toner image formed on a recording medium. The fixing unit includes a fixing device having a first endless moving member configured to rotate, and a second endless moving member configured to rotate to form a nip area together with the first endless moving member to fix, at the nip area, a toner image disposed on the recording medium onto the recording medium with heat and pressure, the second endless moving member including a surface layer having a universal hardness HU and a maximum nip surface pressure P each within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium. A heat source is applied with power for generating heat to thereby heating the heating device. A drive circuit includes a storage capable of being selectively charged or discharged and a charger for charging the storage by being supplied with power from a commercial power supply. A discharging device discharges the storage in a non-use mode in which the apparatus is not used.

Abstract: A fixing device for forming a toner image formed on a recording medium includes a heat roller accommodating a halogen heater. The halogen heater includes a glass tube formed of transparent quartz and provided with a wall thickness of 0.8 mm or below to increase transmission thereof. The increased transmission reduces a heat loss ascribable to the glass tube at the time of warm-up of the fixing device. The heat roller has such a thermal capacity that it can be warmed up in 10 seconds or less. The glass tube is filled with inactive gas whose major component is krypton or xenon. A tungsten filament accommodated in the glass tube has its diameter reduced in order to implement a color temperature of 2,500 K or above. An image forming apparatus using the fixing device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An intermediary transfer apparatus for transferring an unfixed image from an intermediary transfer member to a recording medium is disclosed. The intermediary transfer apparatus includes a heating unit for selectively heating a prescribed portion of the intermediary transfer member on which the unfixed image is situated, in a width direction of the intermediary transfer member, the width direction of the intermediary transfer member perpendicularly intersecting the direction in which the unfixed image is conveyed.

Abstract: A fixing device including a fixing belt, a drive roller and a press roller. The drive roller is configured to drive the fixing belt, and press roller is arranged so as to face the drive roller across the fixing belt, and exert pressure toward the fixing belt. The drive roller and the press roller are able to rotate so that the peripheral velocity of the drive roller is greater than the peripheral velocity of the press roller. According to the fixing device image defects, including image difference, are less likely to occur when fixing an image on a recording sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium. A heat source is applied with power for generating heat to thereby heating the heating device. A drive circuit includes a storage capable of being selectively charged or discharged and a charger for charging the storage by being supplied with power from a commercial power supply. A discharging device discharges the storage in a non-use mode in which the apparatus is not used.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing member to be heated and a pressure-contacting member for pressure contacting the fixing member. The fixing apparatus directs and conveys a recording member through a nip formed between the fixing member and pressure applying member in such a manner that a toner image carried on a recording member contacts the fixing member in order to be fixed thereto with heat and pressure. The fixing apparatus is configured to direct a tip margin of the recording member toward the pressure applying member across a virtual linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip. A fixing member side separation device may be separately provided from the surface of the fixing apparatus so as to separate the recording member exiting from the nip. A gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the fixing member side separation device is set smaller than the width of the tip margin.

Abstract: A fixing member heat bonds a toner on a recording material. The fixing member includes a releasing layer, a layer of elastic material, below the releasing layer, and a layer of adiabatic and hygroscopic material, below the layer of elastic material. The layer of elastic material includes a layer of electrically conducting material to pass electric currents, an adiabatic, elastic, and hydrophobic material, and a porous material to the release of the moisture absorbed by the layer of adiabatic and hygroscopic material.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing member to be heated and a pressure-contacting member for pressure contacting the fixing member. The fixing apparatus directs and conveys a recording member through a nip formed between the fixing member and pressure applying member in such a manner that a toner image carried on a recording member contacts the fixing member in order to be fixed thereto with heat and pressure. The fixing apparatus is configured to direct a tip margin of the recording member toward the pressure applying member across a virtual linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip. A fixing member side separation device may be separately provided from the surface of the fixing apparatus so as to separate the recording member exiting from the nip. A gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the fixing member side separation device is set smaller than the width of the tip margin.

Abstract: A fixing device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an endless belt passed over a plurality of members for conveying a sheet in contact with a toner image carried thereon. A pressing member faces the above members with the intermediary of the belt. A first member, which is one of the plurality of members, constitutes a heating member for heating the belt. A second member, which is another one of the members, faces the pressing member with the intermediary of the belt. A third member, which is another one of the members, constitutes a stationary member facing the pressing member with the intermediary of the belt. The pressing member and first member and the pressing member and second member respectively form a first and a second nip therebetween. The toner image on the sheet is fixed by being sequentially conveyed via the first and second nips.

Abstract: A heating roller including a core of hollow cylinder form and wherein a thickness of the core is thicker in a center portion thereof than in both end portions thereof. Further, a heating device may have the heating roller, a fixing device may have the heating roller and the heating device, and an image forming apparatus may have the heating roller, the heating device and the fixing device.

Abstract: A fixing device included in an image forming apparatus for fixing a toner image formed on a sheet of the present invention includes a rotatable member and a pressing member forming a nip, which corresponds to a conveying zone, therebetween. The rotatable member and pressing member convey the sheet via the nip for thereby fixing the toner image on the sheet. A heating member heats the surface of the rotatable member in contact with therewith. Part of the rotatable member and part of the heating member contacting each other respectively have a convex shape and a concave shape complementary to the convex shape.

Abstract: A fixing device for forming a toner image formed on a recording medium includes a heat roller accommodating a radiation heater. The radiation heater includes a glass tube formed of transparent quartz and provided with a wall thickness of 0.8 mm or below to increase transmission thereof. The increased transmission reduces a heat loss ascribable to the glass tube at the time of warm-up of the fixing device. The heat roller has such a thermal capacity that it can be warmed up in 10 seconds or less. The glass tube is filled with inactive gas whose major component is krypton or xenon. A tungsten filament accommodated in the glass tube has its diameter reduced in order to implement a color temperature of 2,500 K or above. An image forming apparatus uses the fixing device.

Abstract: A heating roller including a core of hollow cylinder form and wherein a thickness of the core is thicker in a center portion thereof than in both end portions thereof. Further, a heating device may have the heating roller, a fixing device may have the heating roller and the heating device, and an image forming apparatus may have the heating roller, the heating device and the fixing device.

Abstract: A fixing device for forming a toner image formed on a recording medium includes a heat roller accommodating a halogen heater. The halogen heater includes a glass tube formed of transparent quartz and provided with a wall thickness of 0.8 mm or below to increase transmission thereof. The increased transmission reduces a heat loss ascribable to the glass tube at the time of warm-up of the fixing device. The heat roller has such a thermal capacity that it can be warmed up in 10 seconds or less. The glass tube is filled with inactive gas whose major component is krypton or xenon. A tungsten filament accommodated in the glass tube has its diameter reduced in order to implement a color temperature of 2,500 K or above. An image forming apparatus using the fixing device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium conveyed to a nip for fixation of the present invention includes a rotary body, a stationary heating member not forming the nip, a fixing belt passed over the rotary body and heating member, and a pressing member held in contact with the fixing belt. A resistance heating body is formed on the heating member with the intermediary of an electric insulation layer.

Abstract: A fixing device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an endless belt passed over a plurality of members for conveying a sheet in contact with a toner image carried thereon. A pressing member faces the above members with the intermediary of the belt. A first member, which is one of the plurality of members, constitutes a heating member for heating the belt. A second member, which is another one of the members, faces the pressing member with the intermediary of the belt. A third member, which is another one of the members, constitutes a stationary member facing the pressing member with the intermediary of the belt. The pressing member and first member and the pressing member and second member respectively form a first and a second nip therebetween. The toner image on the sheet is fixed by being sequentially conveyed via the first and second nips.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium. A heat source is applied with power for generating heat to thereby heating the heating device. A drive circuit includes a storage capable of being selectively charged or discharged and a charger for charging the storage by being supplied with power from a commercial power supply. A discharging device discharges the storage in a non-use mode in which the apparatus is not used.

Abstract: A fixing device for forming a toner image formed on a recording medium includes a heat roller accommodating a halogen heater. The halogen heater includes a glass tube formed of transparent quartz and provided with a wall thickness of 0.8 mm or below to increase transmission thereof. The increased transmission reduces a heat loss ascribable to the glass tube at the time of warm-up of the fixing device. The heat roller has such a thermal capacity that it can be warmed up in 10 seconds or loss. The glass tube is filled with inactive gas whose major component is krypton or xenon. A tungsten filament accommodated in the glass tube has its diameter reduced in order to implement a color temperature of 2,500 K or above. An image forming apparatus using the fixing device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heating device of the present invention includes a main power source and an auxiliary power source implemented by a chargeable capacitor. A heater is made up of a main heating element that heats when supplied with power from the main power source and an auxiliary heating element that heat when supplied with power from the auxiliary power source. A charger charges the capacitor of the auxiliary power source when supplied with power from the main power source. A switch selectively causes the auxiliary power source to be charged or to feed power to the auxiliary heating element. A controller adjusts the power to be fed from the auxiliary power source to the auxiliary heating element.