Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a heating unit configured to heat an endless belt stretched around a plurality of rollers, a lower pressure roller pressed into contact with the fixing belt, and a control unit configured to control the temperature of the fixing belt by controlling the heating unit, and fixes an unfixed toner image formed on a continuous paper to the continuous paper by heat from the heated object under a nipping pressure applied at the nip portion which is formed by engagement between the fixing belt and the lower pressure roller. The control unit controls the temperature of the fixing belt to be a stand-by temperature lower than such a first temperature, which is set up in advance, that paper trouble might occur if the continuous paper is continuously heated at a temperature not lower than the first temperature in a stand-by state in which fixing is not performed.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus includes: a case having a hollow portion; a shaft passing through the hollow portion; and a sealing member sealing between the case and the shaft, and including a resin ring and a ring-shaped rubber cap. The rubber cap includes a base portion and a lip portion. The lip portion includes a first lip contacting the resin ring and a second lip configured to contact an inner peripheral surface of the case. If a pressure of a first chamber of the lip portion side is lower than a pressure of a second chamber at the side of the base portion, the second lip is separated from the case to relieve the pressure of the second chamber to the first chamber. The base portion includes a first restricting surface for restricting the base portion from moving, and a second surface for restricting the base portion from moving.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a heating unit configured to heat an endless belt stretched around a plurality of rollers, a lower pressure roller pressed into contact with the fixing belt, and a control unit configured to control the temperature of the fixing belt by controlling the heating unit, and fixes an unfixed toner image formed on a continuous paper to the continuous paper by heat from the heated object under a nipping pressure applied at the nip portion which is formed by engagement between the fixing belt and the lower pressure roller. The control unit controls the temperature of the fixing belt to be a stand-by temperature lower than such a first temperature, which is set up in advance, that paper trouble might occur if the continuous paper is continuously heated at a temperature not lower than the first temperature in a stand-by state in which fixing is not performed.

Abstract: A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus and image forming system are described, with which banner paper can be processed by appropriately detecting the banner paper in the fixing position when the conveyance of the banner paper is halted. The image forming apparatus comprises a paper conveying unit for conveying banner paper, an image forming unit for transferring an image to the banner paper, a fixing unit for fixing the image to the banner paper in a fixing nip by heating and pressing the banner paper conveyed along a conveying route, and a control unit. This control unit identifies information about the paper position which coincides with the fixing nip when the conveyance of the banner paper is halted and information about the amount of paper deformation of the banner paper in the paper position, and outputs the information which is identified.

Abstract: An annular seal member configured to seal a gap between a shaft hole and a shaft inserted into the shaft hole, the annular seal member comprises: an annular base part; an annular lip, which includes a lip edge that is configured to be contact with one of a hole face of a shaft hole and an outer periphery of a shaft, the one of which is a seal mating face; a first convex part, a second convex part and a passage recess, which is provided at a face of the base part facing the seal mating face; a concave part, which is formed at a position between the second convex part and the base end portion of the annular lip, and which has a circumferential size larger than a recess width of the passage recess.

Abstract: A lubricant coating device includes a photoconductor and a leveling blade that levels a lubricant applied on a surface of the photoconductor, the leveling blade configured to abut the photoconductor in a trail direction with respect to a rotational direction of the photoconductor, wherein a hardness of a tip of the leveling blade, the tip being positioned on a side that abuts the surface of the photoconductor, is higher than hardness of a non-abutting portion that does not abut the surface of the photoconductor.

Abstract: An annular seal member configured to seal a gap between a shaft hole and a shaft inserted into the shaft hole, the annular seal member comprises: an annular base part; an annular lip, which includes a lip edge that is configured to be contact with one of a hole face of a shaft hole and an outer periphery of a shaft, the one of which is a seal mating face; a first convex part, a second convex part and a passage recess, which is provided at a face of the base part facing the seal mating face; a concave part, which is formed at a position between the second convex part and the base end portion of the annular lip, and which has a circumferential size larger than a recess width of the passage recess.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus includes: a case having a hollow portion; a shaft passing through the hollow portion; and a sealing member sealing between the case and the shaft, and including a resin ring and a ring-shaped rubber cap. The rubber cap includes a base portion and a lip portion. The lip portion includes a first lip contacting the resin ring and a second lip configured to contact an inner peripheral surface of the case. If a pressure of a first chamber of the lip portion side is lower than a pressure of a second chamber at the side of the base portion, the second lip is separated from the case to relieve the pressure of the second chamber to the first chamber. The base portion includes a first restricting surface for restricting the base portion from moving, and a second surface for restricting the base portion from moving.