Abstract: A health data management system includes a health data measurement apparatus and a health management server communicable therewith. The apparatus includes medical and health equipment that measures health data of a user and first circuitry that collects the health data. The management server includes a first memory that stores the health data from the apparatus and second circuitry. Based on the stored health data, the second circuitry generates health management data representing a health state of the user, and analyzes at least one of an item indicating a worsening health state of the user, an item with insufficient measurement data, or an item lacking measurement data as a required check item. When determined that the health management data includes the required check item, the second circuitry transmits to the apparatus a message prompting the user to take a measurement of the required check item, and requests the health data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an intake opening from which an outside air is drawn, a fixing device disposed above the intake opening to heat a recording medium to fix an image onto the recording medium, and a flow path for the air drawn from the intake opening to direct the air onto devices or components provided near the fixing device inside the image forming apparatus by negative pressure generated by an upward current of hot air generated from the fixing device.

Abstract: A fixing device, including a fixing member; an opposing member contacting the fixing member to form a fixing nip; plural separation assisting members; a contact direction biasing member contacting an end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member; a contact and release switching member switching contacting the end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member and releasing the end of the auxiliary separation members therefrom; a fixing exit guide member guiding a recording medium to a discharge direction and separated from the fixing member by the separation assisting member; a first rotating member near the auxiliary separation members downstream from an end thereof; and a second rotating member guiding a recording medium guided by the fixing exit guide member in the recording medium conveyance direction while rotating.

Abstract: A mechanism for guiding a recording medium into a nip formed between a first rotary member subjected to heating, and a second rotary member pressed against the first rotary member includes a guide member and a biasing member. The guide member is disposed upstream from the nip to guide the recording medium therealong. The biasing member is connected to the guide member to mechanically bias the guide member. The guide member is subjected to a constant biasing force from the biasing member and to a pressure force from the recording medium. The pressure force is opposite the biasing force and variable with a stiffness of the recording medium being guided. The guide member is movable to different operational positions depending on the biasing and pressure forces acting thereon.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first opposed body and a second opposed body pressed against the first opposed body. A resilient member exerts a resilient bias to the second opposed body that presses the second opposed body against the first opposed body. A lever assembly is swingable to move the second opposed body against the resilient bias exerted by the resilient member between at least a reduced pressure position where the second opposed body presses against the first opposed body with reduced pressure therebetween and an enhanced pressure position where the second opposed body presses against the first opposed body with enhanced pressure therebetween. A resistance applier engages the lever assembly to exert drag on the lever assembly when the lever assembly moves the second opposed body from the reduced pressure position to the enhanced pressure position.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device that is incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes a recording media container, a sheet feeding unit to feed a recording medium from the recording media container, and a frame to support the recording media container and the sheet feeding unit. The recording media container is detachably attachable to the frame in a first operation in which the recording media container is moved in a sheet conveyance direction in which the recording medium is conveyed upstream or downstream by the sheet feeding unit, and the recording media container is separated from the frame and the sheet feeding unit with the sheet feeding unit remaining in the frame, and a second operation in which the recording media container is moved in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, and the recording media container is separated from the frame together with the sheet feeding unit.

Abstract: A guide device includes a fixing exit guide, a first rotary body, a second rotary body disposed downstream from the first rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction and partially protruding from a guide face through a slot of the fixing exit guide to contact and support an image side of a recording medium conveyed over the second rotary body, and at least one guide rib mounted on the guide face of the fixing exit guide and extending substantially in the recording medium conveyance direction. The guide rib includes a contact face contacting the image side of the recording medium and a downstream end disposed downstream from the contact face in the recording medium conveyance direction to overlap the second rotary body in cross-section taken along a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the second rotary body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first opposed body and a second opposed body pressed against the first opposed body. A resilient member exerts a resilient bias to the second opposed body that presses the second opposed body against the first opposed body. A lever assembly is swingable to move the second opposed body against the resilient bias exerted by the resilient member between at least a reduced pressure position where the second opposed body presses against the first opposed body with reduced pressure therebetween and an enhanced pressure position where the second opposed body presses against the first opposed body with enhanced pressure therebetween. A resistance applier engages the lever assembly to exert drag on the lever assembly when the lever assembly moves the second opposed body from the reduced pressure position to the enhanced pressure position.

Abstract: A mechanism for guiding a recording medium into a nip formed between a first rotary member subjected to heating, and a second rotary member pressed against the first rotary member includes a guide member and a biasing member. The guide member is disposed upstream from the nip to guide the recording medium therealong. The biasing member is connected to the guide member to mechanically bias the guide member. The guide member is subjected to a constant biasing force from the biasing member and to a pressure force from the recording medium. The pressure force is opposite the biasing force and variable with a stiffness of the recording medium being guided. The guide member is movable to different operational positions depending on the biasing and pressure forces acting thereon.

Abstract: A guide device includes a fixing exit guide, a first rotary body, a second rotary body disposed downstream from the first rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction and partially protruding from a guide face through a slot of the fixing exit guide to contact and support an image side of a recording medium conveyed over the second rotary body, and at least one guide rib mounted on the guide face of the fixing exit guide and extending substantially in the recording medium conveyance direction. The guide rib includes a contact face contacting the image side of the recording medium and a downstream end disposed downstream from the contact face in the recording medium conveyance direction to overlap the second rotary body in cross-section taken along a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the second rotary body.

Abstract: A fixing device, including a fixing member; an opposing member contacting the fixing member to form a fixing nip; plural separation assisting members; a contact direction biasing member contacting an end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member; a contact and release switching member switching contacting the end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member and releasing the end of the auxiliary separation members therefrom; a fixing exit guide member guiding a recording medium to a discharge direction and separated from the fixing member by the separation assisting member; a first rotating member near the auxiliary separation members downstream from an end thereof; and a second rotating member guiding a recording medium guided by the fixing exit guide member in the recording medium conveyance direction while rotating.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium using heat and pressure includes a fusing roller; an endless pressing belt disposed opposite the fusing roller; and a pressing member for pressing the endless pressing belt onto the fusing roller. A recording medium with a transferred toner image is passed through a fusing nip between the fusing roller and the pressing belt. The fusing roller includes positive and negative crown portions along the axial direction. The pressing member includes convex and concave surface portions along the longitudinal direction. When the pressing member is pressed onto the fusing roller, the positive and negative crown portions of the fusing roller are engaged with the concave and convex surface portions, respectively, of the pressing member. The pressing member exerts a greater pressing force on the fusing roller at a central portion than at an end portion.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device that is incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes a recording media container, a sheet feeding unit to feed a recording medium from the recording media container, and a frame to support the recording media container and the sheet feeding unit. The recording media container is detachably attachable to the frame in a first operation in which the recording media container is moved in a sheet conveyance direction in which the recording medium is conveyed upstream or downstream by the sheet feeding unit, and the recording media container is separated from the frame and the sheet feeding unit with the sheet feeding unit remaining in the frame, and a second operation in which the recording media container is moved in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, and the recording media container is separated from the frame together with the sheet feeding unit.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing device including: a heating roller that generates a heat and is formed to have a mold releasing property; a pressure belt that is brought into contact with the heating roller and is driven according to a rotation of the heating roller; an arm that presses the pressure belt toward the heating roller; and a belt regulating member that contacts an end face of the pressure belt to regulate a shift thereof and is configured to be swingable with respect to the arm.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an intake opening from which an outside air is drawn, a fixing device disposed above the intake opening to heat a recording medium to fix an image onto the recording medium, and a flow path for the air drawn from the intake opening to direct the air onto devices or components provided near the fixing device inside the image forming apparatus by negative pressure generated by an upward current of hot air generated from the fixing device.

Abstract: A fixing unit where an operating force for releasing a nip can be reduced with a small-sized configuration. The fixing unit has a heating roller including a heating element, a pressure belt, pressure arms, pressure springs, and nip load releasing units. The pressure belt is supported in an intermediate position between the pressure arms 3. One end portions of the pressure arms are brought into contact with the pressure springs respectively. The other end portions of the pressure arms are brought into contact with the nip load releasing units respectively. When a load applied to the pressure belt is released by the nip load releasing units, the other end portions of the pressure arms move away from the heating roller.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device including: a roller that develops an electric latent image formed on an image holding body; a chamber that stores a toner; a case that houses the roller and the chamber; a concave portion that is inwardly concaved from the case and that includes: a sidewall, a bottom, and a filling port formed in the bottom; and a first lid that closes the filling port.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium using heat and pressure includes a fusing roller; an endless pressing belt disposed opposite the fusing roller; and a pressing member for pressing the endless pressing belt onto the fusing roller. A recording medium with a transferred toner image is passed through a fusing nip between the fusing roller and the pressing belt. The fusing roller includes positive and negative crown portions along the axial direction. The pressing member includes convex and concave surface portions along the longitudinal direction. When the pressing member is pressed onto the fusing roller, the positive and negative crown portions of the fusing roller are engaged with the concave and convex surface portions, respectively, of the pressing member. The pressing member exerts a greater pressing force on the fusing roller at a central portion than at an end portion.

Abstract: A ratio of a radius of curvature of a pressure applying member with an elastic layer, which pushes an endless belt wound around an endless heating member with pressure, in a transferring direction to a radius of curvature of an outer diameter of the heating roller is set to 1.1 or more.

Abstract: A fixing unit where an operating force for releasing a nip can be reduced with a small-sized configuration. The fixing unit has a heating roller including a heating element, a pressure belt, pressure arms, pressure springs, and nip load releasing units. The pressure belt is supported in an intermediate position between the pressure arms 3. One end portions of the pressure arms are brought into contact with the pressure springs respectively. The other end portions of the pressure arms are brought into contact with the nip load releasing units respectively. When a load applied to the pressure belt is released by the nip load releasing units, the other end portions of the pressure arms move away from the heating roller.