Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body; a moving unit movable between a first position where the moving unit is inside the apparatus main body and a second position where the moving unit is outside the apparatus main body, the moving unit including an image bearing member, a cleaning member, a conveying member conveying removed toner from the image bearing member, and an outlet disposed at a first end of the moving unit and through which the removed toner is discharged outside the moving unit; a processing unit acting on the image bearing member; and a contact disposed at a second end of the moving unit opposite the first end and through which the processing unit receives power. The apparatus main body includes a container accommodating the removed toner, having an inlet for receiving the removed toner from the outlet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body; a moving unit movable between a first position where the moving unit is inside the apparatus main body and a second position where the moving unit is outside the apparatus main body, the moving unit including an image bearing member, a cleaning member, a conveying member conveying removed toner from the image bearing member, and an outlet disposed at a first end of the moving unit and through which the removed toner is discharged outside the moving unit; a processing unit acting on the image bearing member; and a contact disposed at a second end of the moving unit opposite the first end and through which the processing unit receives power. The apparatus main body includes a container accommodating the removed toner, having an inlet for receiving the removed toner from the outlet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion for fixing a toner image formed on a recording material thereon, the fixing portion including a heating member having a heat source, a pressing member cooperating with the heating member to form a nip while pressing against the heating member, and a frame containing the heating member and the pressing member; a first opening, provided in the frame, for permitting air to flow out of the frame; a second opening, provided in the frame, for permitting air to flow into the frame; and an external duct provided, outside the fixing portion, for guiding the air discharged through the first opening to the second opening. At least a part of an inner wall of the external duct is made of a metal plate, and the air introduced through the second opening is guided to the pressing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion for fixing a toner image formed on a recording material thereon, the fixing portion including a heating member having a heat source, a pressing member cooperating with the heating member to form a nip while pressing against the heating member, and a frame containing the heating member and the pressing member; a first opening, provided in the frame, for permitting air to flow out of said frame; a second opening, provided in the frame, for permitting air to flow into the frame; and a external duct provided, outside the fixing portion, for guiding the air discharged through the first opening to the second opening. At least a part of an inner wall of the external duct is made of a metal plate, and the air introduced through the second opening is guided to the pressing member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a sheet includes an endless belt; a roller contactable with the endless belt to form a nip for nipping and feeding the sheet; a heater provided inside the endless belt; a guiding member, provided inside the endless belt, for guiding rotation of the endless belt; a reinforcing member, provided between the endless belt and the heater in a radial direction of the heater, for reinforcing the guiding member, the reinforcing member being provided with an opening to permit radiant light from the heater to reach the endless belt; a protecting member, provided between the heater and the reinforcing member in the radial direction so as to oppose the endless belt through the opening, thus preventing contact between the endless belt and the heater.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a sheet includes an endless belt; a roller contactable with the endless belt to form a nip for nipping and feeding the sheet; a heater provided inside the endless belt; a guiding member, provided inside the endless belt, for guiding rotation of the endless belt; a reinforcing member, provided between the endless belt and the heater in a radial direction of the heater, for reinforcing the guiding member, the reinforcing member being provided with an opening to permit radiant light from the heater to reach the endless belt; a protecting member, provided between the heater and the reinforcing member in the radial direction so as to oppose the endless belt through the opening, thus preventing contact between the endless belt and the heater.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a sheet includes an endless belt; a roller contactable with the endless belt to form a nip for nipping and feeding the sheet; a heater provided inside the endless belt; a guiding member, provided inside the endless belt, for guiding rotation of the endless belt; a reinforcing member, provided between the endless belt and the heater in a radial direction of the heater, for reinforcing the guiding member, the reinforcing member being provided with an opening to permit radiant light from the heater to reach the endless belt; a protecting member, provided between the heater and the reinforcing member in the radial direction so as to oppose the endless belt through the opening, thus preventing contact between the endless belt and the heater.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt; a heater, provided in an interior of the endless belt, for heating the endless belt; a back-up member contacted to an inner surface of the endless belt; a pressing member for forming a nip for nipping and feeding a recording material together with the back-up member through the endless belt; and a protecting member, provided surrounding the heater in the interior of the endless belt and rotatable around the heater, the protecting member includes a shield portion for blocking between the endless belt and the heater and an opening, arranged in a circumferential direction of the protecting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer an image to a recording material, a fixing unit configured to fix, to the recording material, the image transferred to the recording material, a first curvature detection unit located between the transfer unit and the fixing unit and configured to adjust an amount of curvature of the recording material to a first amount of curvature, and a second curvature detection unit located between the transfer unit and the fixing unit and configured to adjust the amount of curvature of the recording material to a second amount of curvature, wherein the second curvature detection unit is located in a position different from the first curvature detection unit in a width direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main body; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a recording material; a fixing unit; a reverse roller to convey the recording material which is passed through the fixing portion to the image forming portion again after conveying the recording material which has passed through the fixing portion, where a rear end of the recording material passes through the fixing portion and the recording material is conveyed toward the image forming portion by rotating the reverse roller backward. The apparatus has a first and second conveying path, the second conveying path provided outside the first conveying path, and the reverse roller unit is attached to an opening/closing portion which exposes the first convey path when opened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer an image to a recording material, a fixing unit configured to fix, to the recording material, the image transferred to the recording material, a first curvature detection unit located between the transfer unit and the fixing unit and configured to adjust an amount of curvature of the recording material to a first amount of curvature, and a second curvature detection unit located between the transfer unit and the fixing unit and configured to adjust the amount of curvature of the recording material to a second amount of curvature, wherein the second curvature detection unit is located in a position different from the first curvature detection unit in a width direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main body; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a recording material; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the recording material and including a nip forming member which forms a fixing nip that nips and fixes and conveys the recording material; a reverse roller unit for including a reverse roller, and the reverse roller rotates backward to convey the recording material to the image forming portion again after conveying the recording material which has passed through the fixing nip in a same direction as a conveying direction at the fixing nip; and a delivery roller for delivering the recording material which has passed through the fixing nip, out of the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: has a main body; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a recording material; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the recording material and including a nip forming member which forms a fixing nip that nips and fixes and conveys the recording material; a reverse roller unit for including a reverse roller, and the reverse roller rotates backward to convey the recording material to the image forming portion again after conveying the recording material which has passed through the fixing nip in a same direction as a conveying direction at the fixing nip; and a delivery roller for delivering the recording material which has passed through the fixing nip, out of the main body.

Abstract: A pouch comprises a plurality of plastic sheets sealed on periphery, has a contents spout and a plastic zipper arranged in a fused state between the sheets whose outer periphery is sealed, and is heat-sterilized after being filled with contents. A a barrier portion is formed in a portion of the pouch interior set further toward the contents and away from the plastic zipper, the barrier portion formed in a state in which a film base material has been folded over. As a result, even if any damage is imparted during the step for manufacturing the plastic zipper or the step for mounting the zipper in the pouch, there will be no incidence of the contents leaking from the barrier portion and reaching the zipper portion due to heat and pressure encountered when retort sterilization, boiling, or another type of heat sterilization is performed after the pouch has been filled with foodstuffs or other material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units, each provided with an image bearing member, detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; an opening, provided in a side surface of the main assembly, for permitting insertion of the plurality of image forming units into the opening; a guide portion for guiding the plurality of image forming units toward the opening; and a projected portion, provided on the guide portion, for positioning a part of an associated image forming unit outside the opening by contacting the associated image forming unit when the associated image forming unit is inserted into the opening with an attitude different from the attitude of the associated image forming unit at the time when the associated image forming unit is disposed in the main assembly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion. The image forming apparatus further includes a fixing portion having a fixing nip portion that heats and fixes the unfixed image and an discharge roller that discharges the recording material. In the case where the recording material is a plain paper that is equal to or larger than a predetermined size, the discharge roller conveys the plain paper in a range from a front edge to a rear edge at a predetermined speed. In the case where the recording material is a plain paper smaller than the predetermined size, the discharge roller conveys the plain paper at a first speed until the rear edge passes through the fixing nip portion, and the discharge roller conveys the plain paper at a second speed higher than the first speed after the rear edge has passed through the fixing nip portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a recording material; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the recording material and including a nip forming member which forms a fixing nip that nips and conveys the recording material; a reverse roller unit for including a reverse roller, and the reverse roller rotates backward to convey the recording material to the image forming portion again after conveying the recording material which has passed through the fixing nip in a same direction as a conveying direction at the fixing nip; and a delivery roller for delivering the recording material which has passed through the fixing nip, out of the main body. The reverse roller unit is attached to the fixing unit, and is removably installable in the main body integrally with the fixing unit.

Abstract: In a sheet discharging unit including a pair of sheet discharge rollers which discharges a sheet P, the outer diameter of a sheet discharge drive roller included in the pair of sheet discharge rollers is set so that the outer diameter of a straight portion which is a central portion in the width direction perpendicular to the discharging direction of the sheet P is larger than the outer diameters of both end portions in the width direction. Further, in the sheet discharging unit, the pair of sheet discharge rollers respectively include metal shafts extending in the width direction and elastic layers respectively wound around the metal shafts and continuously formed to be longer in the width direction than the width of a sheet P with a passable maximum size. Further, at least one elastic layer of the pair of sheet discharge rollers is formed of a foamed material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion; a fixing portion having a fixing nip portion which heats and fixes the unfixed image and an discharge roller which discharges the recording material, wherein in the case where the recording material is the plain paper which is equal to or larger than the predetermined size, the discharge roller conveys the plain paper in a range from a front edge to a rear edge at a predetermined speed, in the case where the recording material is the plain paper smaller than the predetermined size, the discharge roller conveys the plain paper at a first speed until the rear edge passes through the fixing nip portion, and the discharge roller conveys the plain paper at a second speed higher than the first speed after the rear edge passed through the fixing nip portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion; a fixing portion having a fixing nip portion which heats and fixes the unfixed image and an discharge roller which discharges the recording material, wherein in the case where the recording material is the plain paper which is equal to or larger than the predetermined size, the discharge roller conveys the plain paper in a range from a front edge to a rear edge at a predetermined speed, in the case where the recording material is the plain paper smaller than the predetermined size, the discharge roller conveys the plain paper at a first speed until the rear edge passes through the fixing nip portion, and the discharge roller conveys the plain paper at a second speed higher than the first speed after the rear edge passed through the fixing nip portion.