Abstract: A toner image formed on a recording member is fixed onto the recording member by a fixing device having a heatable member, a heater for heating the heatable member positioned on one side of the heatable member, the recording member being positioned on an opposite side of the heatable member and spaced from the heatable member to heat the recording member by radiation from the heatable member, and a fixing structure for fixing the toner image on the heated recording member. The heatable member can be a fixing belt arranged in a loop while the heater is an electromagnetic induction coil positioned substantially within the loop. The electromagnetic induction coil generates a magnetic flux perpendicular to the transport direction of the fixing belt to produce an eddy-like induction current in a conductive member of the fixing belt to heat the fixing belt. The fixing belt, in turn, heats the recording member on the exterior side of the belt to soften the toner image thereon. The fixing structure, e.g.

Abstract: A fixing device having a pair of rollers which rotate with pressure contacting each other so as to fix an unfixed toner image onto a sheet by passing the sheet therebetween. At least one of the roller has at least one end portion on a peripheral surface thereof which is formed by a material having a coefficient of friction greater than that of a rest portion of the peripheral surface, thereby the slip caused between the rollers is prevented.

Abstract: An induction heating fixing device comprises a heat roller in which coil assemblies are disposed. The coil assemblies are aligned axially of the roller to produce magnetic flux in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the heat roller.

Abstract: An optical pickup guide mechanism for guiding the optical pickup of an optical disk player is capable of correctly guiding the optical pickup regardless of the position of the optical pickup relative to the guide rails of the optical pickup guide mechanism. The optical pickup guide mechanism comprises a fixed guide rail, a movable guide rail, and a holding mechanism capable of holding the movable guide rail constantly in parallel to the fixed guide rail and of resiliently biasing the movable guide rail toward the fixed guide rail so that the movable guide rail can be translated. The movable rail is held always in parallel to the fixed guide rail regardless of the position of the optical pickup relative to the fixed guide rail and the movable guide rail and, consequently, the optical pickup can be guided for smooth movement radially to the center of the optical disk loaded on the optical disk player in a plane parallel to the optical disk, so that the optical pickup is able to function satisfactorily.

Abstract: An objective lens supporting device for an optical pickup including an objective lens opposed to an optical disc, a lens holder for holding the objective lens, a plurality of supporting rods formed of elastic material and arranged in parallel to each other, the lens holder being operatively supported by the supporting rods, and a driving mechanism for driving the lens holder in both a direction of an optical axis of the objective lens and a direction along an information recorded surface of the optical disc. A pair of neck portions is formed at both end portions of each supporting rod. Each neck portion has a section such that a geometrical moment of inertia with respect to a first axis intersecting a primary axis and extending in the direction of the optical axis of the objective lens is equal to a geometrical moment of inertia with respect to a second axis intersecting the primary axis and extending in the direction along the information recorded surface of the optical disc.