Abstract: The present invention provides a drive device having slip stoppers that can reliably prevent skewed movement of or damage to a belt.The drive device pertaining to the present invention has a roller, a drive roller, a belt that is suspended and moves over these rollers, and slip stoppers that are mounted to the roller and prevent the belt from moving in a skewed fashion. The slip stopper comprises a base into which the roller is inserted, a first wall that is located on the edge of the base that faces the belt and that is essentially perpendicular to the inner surface of the base and a second wall that extends outward continuously from the first wall and is tilted toward the other edge of the base.

Abstract: A belt fixing device of a type gripping and transporting a recording member bearing an unfixed toner image between an endless belt and a back-up member to fuse the unfixed toner image on the surface of the recording member and comprising a fixing/drive roller, heating/driven roller heated by a heater, a heated endless belt wound around the drive roller and driven roller, and a back-up member pressed against the drive roller through the endless belt. The belt fixing member is capable of transporting a recording member so as to cause the least damage possible, e.g., wrinkling and the like, to the recording member, and precisely maintaining the belt transport speed and transport member transport speed at a predetermined speed so as to produce excellent fixed images. The drive roller has a surface layer of elastic material which is treated by a polishing process along the exterior and in a direction opposite the direction of powered rotation of the drive roller.

Abstract: A fixing device including rollers which rotate in mutual contact, a heating source for heating at least one of the rollers, a temperature sensor placed in contact with a roller heated by the heating source to detect the temperature of the roller, and a collar placed in contact with the temperature sensor to cover the area of contact between the temperature sensor and the heated roller. The fixing device has rollers and a temperature sensor having excellent wear resistance and is capable of inexpensive and stable temperature detection.

Abstract: A belt fixing system for fixing a toner image to a sheet includes an endless belt. This belt is rotatably supported by a plurality of supporting members, or rollers. Also, the belt is heated by a heater such as lamp and rotated around the supporting members by a drive member such as motor. When a toner fixing has finished, the heater is switched off and then after a predetermined time period the drive member is halted. Preferably, the time period is a time required for the belt to make two revolutions. This approach prevents the belt from being heated too much, which extends the durability of the belt.

Abstract: A detachable imaging unit is provided in an image forming device. The detachable unit includes an image bearing member, one of a pair of registration rollers and a developing device. A relative position between the image bearing member and the one of the pair of registration rollers is provided so as to permit precise transport of a recording sheet against the image bearing member.