Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body to rotate in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressing rotary body pressed against the fixing rotary body to rotate in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the fixing rotary body and form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A heat generator is disposed opposite the fixing rotary body at a section other than the nip to heat the fixing rotary body. A moving assembly is disposed opposite the heat generator to generate a magnetic force to move the heat generator with respect to the fixing rotary body so as to change one of a pressure and a distance between the heat generator and the fixing rotary body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism for forming an image on a recording medium with a developer according to image data and a fixing mechanism for fixing the developer forming the image on the recording medium. The fixing mechanism includes a pressing member, a fixing member, a tension roller, and a cleaner. The fixing member and the pressing member respectively apply heat and pressure to the recording medium conveyed through a nip formed between the pressing member and the fixing member. The tension roller contacts one of the pressing member and the fixing member that contacts the developer forming the image on the recording sheet to apply tension to the one of the pressing member and the fixing member. The cleaner contacts the tension roller and removes contaminants including the developer adhered to the tension roller.

Abstract: A fixing device in an image forming apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a recording medium at a fixing nip where an image carried on the recording medium is fixed onto it; a plurality of temperature detectors to detect temperature of the conveyance member, the detectors being disposed at both end portions of the conveyance member outside an area where a maximum-sided recording medium passes through; a guide member to guide the recording medium toward the fixing nip; and a guide plate displacing unit to displace a part of the guide member in a direction orthogonal to a conveyed surface of the recording medium to be conveyed at the fixing nip, based on temperature difference detected by the plurality of temperature detectors.

Abstract: A thermal fixing device includes a fixing member, a flexible endless belt, a flexible endless belt, a rotary pressure member, a heating unit, and a rotation detector. The flexible endless belt is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member. The rotary pressure member is disposed parallel to and pressing against the fixing member via the endless belt. The heating unit heats the endless belt. The rotation detector detects a rotation speed of the endless belt. The heating unit is powered off when the rotation speed of the endless belt detected by the rotation detector is at or below a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a fixing member to fuse a toner image on a recording medium on the recording medium; a pressure member to press against the fixing member to define a first nip between the fixing member and the pressure member through which the recording medium is transported; a shifting unit to move the pressure member relative to the fixing member to increase or decrease a pressure of the first nip; a curling correction unit disposed downstream from the first nip in a transport direction of the recording medium that imparts a second curling direction to the recording medium; and a variable setting unit operatively connected to the curling correction unit to variably set an amount of the second curling direction to the recording medium by the curling correction unit depending on the first nip pressure increased or decreased by the shifting unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, an induction heating unit, a pressing member, and a damage detection unit. The fixing member heats a toner image on a recording medium to fix the toner image onto the recording medium. The induction heating unit heats the fixing member by electromagnetic induction. The pressing member presses the fixing member to form a fixing nip portion. The fixing member includes a heat insulating elastic layer and a sleeve layer. The sleeve layer is located outside the heat insulating elastic layer and is provided with an outer conductive layer that generates heat from a magnetic flux generated by the induction heating unit. The damage detection unit is connected to the outer, conductive layer.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an image surface side separating member that separates a recording medium from a fixing member; an image surface side conveyance guiding member arranged downstream of the image surface side separating member; a non-image surface side separating member that separates the recording medium from a pressing member; and a non-image surface side conveyance guiding member arranged downstream of the non-image surface side separating member. When the image surface side conveyance guiding member is rotated about its rotation axis so as to be opened or closed, the image surface side separating member is also rotated or slid so as to be opened or closed simultaneously. When the non-image surface side conveyance guiding member is rotated about its rotation axis so as to be opened or closed, the non-image surface side separating member is also rotated or slid so as to be opened or closed simultaneously.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, and a damage detecting unit. The fixing member includes a heat-insulating elastic layer, to which a conductive thin-film layer is provided. The pressure member presses against the fixing member to form a fixing nip. The damage detecting unit detects the electric resistance of the thin-film layer. The damage detecting unit detects a change in the electric resistance of the thin-film layer, thereby detecting damage to the fixing member. Depending on the extent of the damage, the condition of conveyance of a recording medium to the fixing nip is changed.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a rotatable fixing member and a rotatable pressure applying member. The rotatable fixing member has a heat generating layer to generate heat when subject to a magnetic flux. The rotatable pressure applying member contacts the rotatable fixing member and applies pressure to the fixing member. The rotatable fixing member and the rotatable pressure applying member form a nip therebetween, to which a recording medium is passed through to fix an image on the recording medium. The rotatable fixing member includes a magnetism regulating layer deformable when subject to pressure from the rotatable pressure applying member.

Abstract: The fixing device using an electromagnetic induction heating (IH) method includes a fixing sleeve having a heating layer, a pressure roller to form a nip while contacting the fixing roller and rotate to drive the fixing sleeve, a temperature detector to detect a temperature on a circumference of the fixing sleeve, and an excitation coil provided near the fixing sleeve and configured to perform induction heating of the heating layer of the fixing sleeve based on the detection result from the temperature detector. The fixing device is configured to change a rotation speed of the fixing sleeve in a standby time during which the fixing sleeve, while rotating, is controlled to be heated so as to maintain a target temperature when a periodic temperature difference occurs on a circumference of the fixing rotary member and having a fluctuation amplitude larger than a predetermined value compared to the target temperature.

Abstract: A support for an oxygen separation membrane element to support a dense and cylindrical electrolytic membrane having oxygen ion permeability, comprises a base axially extending and having a cylindrical surface extending axially, and a plurality of ribs formed on the cylindrical surface of the base, radially projecting and axially extending, for supporting the electrolytic membrane at their ends being radially distant from the cylindrical surface of the base.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image and a fixing device to fix the toner image transferred from the image carrier onto a recording medium by applying at least heat to at least one of the toner image and the recording medium. Such a fixing device includes: a magnetic flux generator to generate a magnetic flux; and a heat generating member disposed at least partially in the magnetic flux. The heat generating member includes a heat generating layer to generate heat via eddy currents therein induced by the magnetic flux, magnitudes of the eddy currents varying according to positions thereof in a width direction of the heat generating layer. Included within the heat generating layer is a magnetic layer having a Curie point in a range, e.g., from about 100 degrees centigrade to about 300 degrees centigrade.

Abstract: An elastic layer is provided on a surface of one of a metal core and a substrate. A fixing member and a pressure member press into each other and collectively create a nip therebetween. A toner image is conveyed and fixed when passing through the nip. A thickness of the elastic layer is different in at least two widthwise regions by the same amount from the other region. A pair of edges of a prescribed size of the transfer sheet pass through these two widthwise regions, respectively.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating source; a heating member heated by the heating source; a pressing member contacting the heating member to form a fixing nip therebetween, at which an unfixed image of toner on a recording sheet is fixed to the recording sheet; a first charging member located at an entrance of the fixing device, from which the recording sheet bearing the unfixed toner image enters the fixing device, so as to face the unfixed toner image. The first charging member is not contacted with the heating member and pressing member, and has a charge with a polarity opposite to a polarity of a charge of the toner to collect floating particles of the toner.

Abstract: A fixing system includes a fixing device that fixes a non-fixed image with heat onto a recording medium. The fixing device includes a fixing roller that generates heat and a pressing roller that presses against the fixing roller. A curl correction device is provided to correct curling of the recording medium passing through the fixing device. The curl correction device includes a heating roller unit that generates heat and an elastic roller that presses against the heating roller unit. A magnetic flux generating device is arranged in the vicinity of the fixing device and the curl correction device and generates magnetic flux.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording medium includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a sheet guide, and a pressure adjusting mechanism. The fixing member heats the unfixed toner image on the recording medium. The pressure member is disposed opposite the fixing member and presses against the fixing member to define a fixing nip through which the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image passes to fix the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium. The position of the fixing nip is changeable. The sheet guide disposed adjacent to the pressure member guides the recording medium to the fixing nip and moves in conjunction with movement of the pressure member. The pressure adjusting mechanism operatively connected to the pressure member adjusts an amount of engagement of the pressure member relative to the fixing member. An image forming apparatus includes the fixing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image and a fixing device to fix the toner image transferred from the image carrier onto a recording medium by applying at least heat to at least one of the toner image and the recording medium. Such a fixing device includes: a magnetic flux generator to generate a magnetic flux; and a heat generating member disposed at least partially in the magnetic flux. The heat generating member includes a heat generating layer to generate heat via eddy currents therein induced by the magnetic flux, magnitudes of the eddy currents varying according to positions thereof in a width direction of the heat generating layer. Included within the heat generating layer is a magnetic layer having a Curie point in a range, e.g., from about 100 degrees centigrade to about 300 degrees centigrade.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a second rotary member disposed opposite a first rotary member forms a nip between the first rotary member and the second rotary member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A first separation member rotatively provided on a rotary shaft of the first rotary member separates the recording medium passing through the nip from the first rotary member. A rotation angle adjuster connected to the first separation member changes a rotation angle position of the first separation member.

Abstract: A fixer configured to fix an image on an recording medium passing through a fixing nip includes a holder including an elastic layer, a fixing rotator including a heating layer, provided overlying the holder, and a pressurizer configured to pressurize the holder via the fixing rotator to form the fixing nip. A part of the pressurizer, which forms the fixing nip, has a length not less than a length of the heating layer in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an excitation coil, a heat-generating layer, a magnetic shunt layer, and a degaussing member. The excitation coil generates a magnetic flux. The heat-generating layer generates heat using the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil. The magnetic shunt layer transmits heat generated by the heat-generating layer. The degaussing member sandwiches the magnetic shunt layer together with the excitation coil, and selectively performs degaussing by generating a repelling magnetic flux for canceling the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil so as to activate a self-temperature-control function. The degaussing member selectively refrains from degaussing so as to deactivate the self-temperature-control function.