Abstract: A fixing device comprises: a fixing belt that has a surface release layer of a fluorinated-resin tube, the fixing belt being laid across by a fixing roller and a tension roller; a pressurizing member that presses the fixing roller through the fixing belt; and a release member that presses the fixing belt on the pressurizing member, in a substantial vicinity of a downstream of a pressure contact site of between the fixing roller and the pressurizing member, and strips a recording material from the fixing belt, the fixing device fixing a toner image on the recording material by heat.

Abstract: A fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording material by use of a toner containing a release agent, the fixing device comprising: a fixing member having an outermost layer of a fluorinated resin; and a pressurizing rotary member placed in contact under pressure with the fixing member and forming a nip site where the recording material is to pass, wherein the outermost layer of the fixing member has a surface roughness (Ra) of about 0.05 to about 0.15 ?m.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: a first fusing member provided rotatably; a second fusing member disposed rotatably in press contact with the first fusing member, so as to define, together with the first fusing member therebetween, a nip section through which a recording material which holds an image thereon is to be passed; and a changing unit that changes an angle formed by the nip section and a transport direction of the recording material which is passed through the nip section.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes a toner image carried on a recording medium. The fixing device includes a rotatable fixing roll member, a fixing belt member and a walk adjustment mechanism. The fixing belt member is wound on the fixing roll member so as to be rotatable. The walk adjustment mechanism changes a walk width of the fixing belt member in accordance with a width of the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium, includes: a belt member rotatably provided; a heating section that heats the belt member; a pressurization member, placed so as to be pressed against the belt member, that forms a nip portion to allow the recording medium to pass through between the pressurization member and the belt member; and an uniforming section that uniforms a temperature distribution in a longitudinal direction of the pressurization member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing roll member; a support roll member; a fixing belt member rotated while being mounted on and tensioned by the fixing roll member and the support roll member; a roll heating unit that heats the fixing roll member; a belt heating unit that heats the fixing belt member; a pressing member that is in press contact with a portion of the fixing roll member, around which the fixing belt member is wound, to form a nip portion; and a temperature controlling device that controls and drives the roll heating unit and the belt heating unit. The temperature controlling device controls the fixing roll member and the fixing belt member to be different temperatures.

Abstract: A fixing device which fixes a toner image borne on a recording medium includes a rotatable fixing roll member, a rotatable tension roll member, a rotating fixing belt member stretched between the fixing roll member and the tension roll member, a heater which heats the fixing belt member, a pressing member which presses a portion of the fixing roll member around which the fixing belt member is wound to form a nip part, and a belt moving direction changing member which is interposed between the fixing belt member and the fixing roll member on a downstream side of the nip part, and changes a moving direction of the fixing belt member. Width “Wbe” of the fixing belt member, width “Wpr” of the pressing member, and width “Wpe” of the belt moving direction changing member are set to satisfy the following relation: Wpr?Wbe<Wpe.

Abstract: A fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a recording material includes: a rotatable fixing roll; a fixing belt stretched on the fixing roll; at least one tension roll stretching the fixing belt with the fixing roll; a pressurization member disposed to give a pressure to the fixing roll; and a stripping member disposed to press the outer surface of the fixing belt onto the pressurization member in a vicinity of a downstream side of a first contact portion between the fixing roll and the pressurization member.

Abstract: A fixing device that fixes toner images carried on a recording material, including: a rotary member; a belt member that is brought into contact with the rotary member, wherein a nip part through which the recording material passes is formed between the belt member and the rotary member; and a roller member that stretches the belt member and presses the belt member against the rotary member, wherein the roller member includes an elastic layer, and a surface layer coated on a surface of the elastic layer, the surface layer being made of a material having a higher elastic modulus than that of the elastic layer.

Abstract: A noise masking system in an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer or a copying machine having a drive mechanism acting as a noise generation source during operation, the noise masking system comprising a masking sound generator for generating a sound to mask the noise and masking sound control device which controls the masking sound generator to generate a masking sound of a frequency range including a main-component frequency of the noise. The masking sound thus generated is of a frequency range from a lower-limit frequency to an upper-limit frequency in a critical band of the main-component frequency of the noise. The noise masking system masks noise without decreasing the sound pressure of the noise.

Abstract: A noise masking system in an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer or a copying machine having a drive mechanism acting as a noise generation source during operation, the noise masking system comprising a masking sound generator for generating a sound to mask the noise and masking sound control means which controls the masking sound generator to generate a masking sound of a frequency range including a main-component frequency of the noise. The masking sound thus generated is of a frequency range from a lower-limit frequency to an upper-limit frequency in a critical band of the main-component frequency of the noise. The noise masking system masks noise to eliminate a psychological unpleasant feeling caused by frequency fluctuation. It is small-sized and inexpensive.

Abstract: A toroidal coil motor characterized by the provision of an annular iron core in which laminate-fixing holes whose number is the least common multiple with respect to the number of magnetic poles and the number of toroidal coils are provided symmetrically in a direction of the circumference of the annular iron core.

Abstract: An electric motor, in which the thrust bearing action is performed by the magnetic attraction forces induced between a annular stator core with toroidal coils and magnets confronting the stator core, includes at least a cup-shaped member with a central cylindrical portion opened at the center, the cup-shaped member serving as a magnet yoke and a seat on which an element to be driven by the motor is mounted, and a cylindrical rotary sleeve press-fitted in the central cylindrical portion. This construction contributes to a reduction of the weight, size and manufacturing cost of the motor.

Abstract: An electric motor includes at least a stator core carrying toroidal coils wound thereon, a magnet provided in opposition to the stator core so as to constitute a part of a rotor, and magnetic flux detection elements for detecting changes in magnetic polarity of the magnet so as to control a current flowing in the toroidal coils. The stator is provided with a select number of cut portions at its open end. The number of cut portions is not less than that of the magnetic flux detection elements. The winding positions of the toroidal coils are considered in order to maintain magnetic symmetry, the magnetic flux detection elements being provided in the cut portions.