Abstract: Energy consumption in a fixing process of an electrophotographic image-forming apparatus is reduced. An unfixed toner image T1 is fixed on a recording medium by applying a photopolymerizable composition D1 to the unfixed toner image T1 formed on the recording medium and then performing irradiation with light having a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength range of from 420 to 470 nm using a light emitting diode or an organic EL device for curing the photopolymerizable composition D1 by photopolymerization.

Abstract: A toner image fixing method reduces energy consumed in a fixing step in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A photopolymerization composition is coated on an unfixed toner image formed on a recording medium. Then, the photopolymerization composition is irradiated with light, which does not have an emission wavelength band in a far infrared range and which has a maximum emission wavelength of 360 nm or longer to 420 nm or shorter, by using an LED, whereby the photopolymerization composition is cured and the unfixed toner image is fixed to the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a first, heated roller and a second roller movable from spaced apart condition in their nonoperative mode into mutual pressure contact with each other for operatively fixing a toner image to a support sheet passed therebetween, and a cleaning blade maintained in continuous contact with the first roller to clean contaminating matter from its surface. In operation, the first roller is rotated through at least one full revolution prior to contact with the second roller so that residual contaminating matter can be cleaned from the first roller surface before contact with the second roller and image fixing take place.

Abstract: An inspection machine for detecting flaws in the surface of cylindrical fuel pellets, which comprises a pellet infeed section for successively transporting pellets to be inspected, a conveyer section for successively conveying delivered pellets to a plurality of inspection points, a plurality of inspection stations for detecting, at each inspection point, flaws at the corners, peripheral surface and end faces of the pellets by utilizing variations in back pressure prevailing in a sensor caused by the contact of an air stream with said flaws, an unacceptable pellet rejection station for rejecting pellets assessed to be unacceptable at any inspection station, and an acceptable pellet outfeed section for successively collecting pellets assessed as being acceptable.