Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to transfer an image to a recording sheet; a fixing device to feed the recording sheet and fix the image onto the recording sheet; a branching device to switch between an ejection path to eject the recording sheet fed downstream of the fixing device, to outside the apparatus, and a reversing path for duplex printing; and a back curl correction structure disposed in a sheet feeding path between the fixing device and the branching device. The back curl correction structure includes a drive roller; a driven roller; an auxiliary nip portion; a guide member; and a guide moving device to move the guide member to a first position and a second position depending on the condition of the recording sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad pressing against a pressure rotator via a fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The nip formation pad includes a base and a first thermal conductor sandwiched between the base and the fixing rotator at the fixing nip and having a first thermal conductivity greater than a basic thermal conductivity of the base. A first heater and a second heater are disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A rotatable light shield moves to a shield position where the light shield is interposed between the second heater and the fixing rotator to shield the fixing rotator from the second heater. The second heater is disposed at a location where the light shield screens the second heater more readily than the first heater.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member, and a biasing unit that biases the second rotating member toward the first rotating member. The first and second rotating members pinch a sheet therebetween and convey the sheet in a sheet conveying direction. The second rotating member includes a small-diameter portion that faces a conveying portion of the first rotating member, and a large-diameter portion at a position axially displaced from the conveying portion. The second rotating member can change its orientation to an orientation where a rotating shaft of the second rotating member is tilted relative to a rotating shaft of the first rotating member as viewed in the sheet conveying direction, thereby moving a position of an end portion of the second rotating member on a side of the large-diameter portion away from the rotating shaft of the first rotating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a manual operating unit, at least a part of which being exposed to an outside of the apparatus body and a part of which included inside the apparatus body being exposed to the outside by manually operating from the outside, a condensation part to which moist air in the apparatus body contacts to dew-condense to a water droplet, and a recovery container part containing the water droplet generated by the condensation part and being disposed on an inner surface of the manual operating unit included inside the apparatus body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A plurality of heaters heats the fixing rotator. A sensor is disposed opposite the fixing rotator and includes a plurality of temperature detection elements to detect a temperature of the fixing rotator at a plurality of spots thereon arranged in an axial direction of the fixing rotator. A controller is operatively connected to the sensor and the plurality of heaters to control the plurality of heaters based on the temperature of the fixing rotator detected by the sensor and predict a width of the recording medium in the axial direction of the fixing rotator to be conveyed to the fixing nip.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator and a second rotator pressed against the first rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A thermal insulation cover is disposed opposite the second rotator. A mover is connected to the second rotator to move the second rotator with respect to the first rotator. The mover is coupled with the thermal insulation cover to move the thermal insulation cover while retaining a predetermined interval between the thermal insulation cover and the second rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator contacting the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which recording media of a plurality of sizes are conveyed. The recording media create a plurality of non-conveyance spans on a lateral end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof where the recording media are not conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A multi-view thermopile array is disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof and angled relative to the fixing rotator to detect a temperature of the fixing rotator. The thermopile array includes an inboard temperature detection element directed to a conveyance span on the fixing rotator where the recording medium of a decreased size is conveyed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater that heats a fixing rotator and includes a first heating portion and a second heating portion substantially aligned with the first heating portion in an axial direction of the fixing rotator. A multi-view thermopile array detects a temperature of an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator at a plurality of spots thereon. A heater controller controls the first heating portion and the second heating portion individually based on the temperature of the fixing rotator detected at the plurality of spots thereon. A recording medium conveyance controller determines whether or not to convey the recording medium to the fixing nip based on an increased temperature detected at at least one of the plurality of spots on the fixing rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first support and a second support to rotatably support a fixing rotator at a first lateral end and a second lateral end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof. A first stopper is mounted on the first support. A second stopper is mounted on the second support. A first skew restraint projects from an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator radially at the first lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. A second skew restraint projects from the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator radially at the second lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. The second skew restraint comes into contact with the second stopper as the fixing rotator moves in the axial direction thereof toward the first support.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a feeding device and a detector. The feeding device is configured to feed a sheet to a destination. The detector is configured to detect the sheet at the destination. If the detector does not detect the sheet within a predetermined time after the start of preparation for a feeding operation by the feeding device, it is determined that the sheet is misfed. Further, the start of the feeding operation of a sheet is changed in accordance with the result of detection by the detector of the presence or absence of a sheet standing by at the destination.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and an abutment rotator contacting the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A thermopile array is disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to detect a temperature of the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The thermopile array is tilted with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to cause a bisector dividing a view angle of the thermopile array in an axial direction of the fixing rotator into two equal parts and a rotation axis of the fixing rotator to define an outboard angle and an inboard angle disposed inboard from the outboard angle in the axial direction of the fixing rotator and different from the outboard angle.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus and in which a method of preventing sheet skew is performed, includes a sheet conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed, a first conveying unit disposed in a sheet conveying direction and including a shaft extending in a lateral direction, multiple rollers attached to the shaft along the shaft, and a rotation regulator disposed between each of the multiple rollers and the shaft to idly rotate each of the multiple rollers in a given range about the shaft, a second conveying unit disposed along the sheet conveying path and downstream from the first conveying unit in the sheet conveying direction, and a sheet abutting part provided at the second conveying unit, against which a leading edge of the sheet abuts to form a slack of the sheet to correct skew of the sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator and a second rotator pressed against the first rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A thermal insulation cover is disposed opposite the second rotator. A mover is connected to the second rotator to move the second rotator with respect to the first rotator. The mover is coupled with the thermal insulation cover to move the thermal insulation cover while retaining a predetermined interval between the thermal insulation cover and the second rotator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a manual operating unit, at least a part of which being exposed to an outside of the apparatus body and a part of which included inside the apparatus body being exposed to the outside by manually operating from the outside, a condensation part to which moist air in the apparatus body contacts to dew-condense to a water droplet, and a recovery container part containing the water droplet generated by the condensation part and being disposed on an inner surface of the manual operating unit included inside the apparatus body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and including a heated face and a heater including a contact face contacting the heated face of the fixing rotator. The contact face has a Vickers hardness not greater than about 600 Hv.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator contacting the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which recording media of a plurality of sizes are conveyed. The recording media create a plurality of non-conveyance spans on a lateral end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof where the recording media are not conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A multi-view thermopile array is disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof and angled relative to the fixing rotator to detect a temperature of the fixing rotator. The thermopile array includes an inboard temperature detection element directed to a conveyance span on the fixing rotator where the recording medium of a decreased size is conveyed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a manual operating unit, at least a part of which being exposed to an outside of the apparatus body and a part of which included inside the apparatus body being exposed to the outside by manually operating from the outside, a condensation part to which moist air in the apparatus body contacts to dew-condense to a water droplet, and a recovery container part containing the water droplet generated by the condensation part and being disposed on an inner surface of the manual operating unit included inside the apparatus body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first support and a second support to rotatably support a fixing rotator at a first lateral end and a second lateral end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof. A first stopper is mounted on the first support. A second stopper is mounted on the second support. A first skew restraint projects from an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator radially at the first lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. A second skew restraint projects from the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator radially at the second lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. The second skew restraint comes into contact with the second stopper as the fixing rotator moves in the axial direction thereof toward the first support.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and an abutment rotator contacting the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A thermopile array is disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to detect a temperature of the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The thermopile array is tilted with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to cause a bisector dividing a view angle of the thermopile array in an axial direction of the fixing rotator into two equal parts and a rotation axis of the fixing rotator to define an outboard angle and an inboard angle disposed inboard from the outboard angle in the axial direction of the fixing rotator and different from the outboard angle.

Abstract: A guide device for guiding a recording medium discharged from a fixing device includes a first conveyance wall plate and at least one rib assembly mounted on the first conveyance wall plate. The at least one rib assembly includes a plurality of primary ribs contacting the first conveyance wall plate, each having a first thickness in a recording medium conveyance direction; and a plurality of secondary ribs mounted on selected ones of the plurality of primary ribs. Each secondary rib includes a bottom contacting the primary rib and having a second thickness in the recording medium conveyance direction that is smaller than the first thickness of the primary rib; and a top contacting the recording medium and having a third thickness in the recording medium conveyance direction that is smaller than the second thickness of the bottom of the secondary rib.