Abstract: A grounding structure for an endless belt includes: an endless belt including a conductive layer, the endless belt being configured to move; a conductive conducting unit that is in contact with the conductive layer which is exposed at an end surface of the conducting unit in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the endless belt such that the conducting unit is electrically connected to the conductive layer; a pressure contacting unit that brings the conducting unit into pressure contact with the end surface of the conductive layer of the endless belt; and a grounding unit that grounds the conducting unit.

Abstract: A grounding structure for an endless belt includes: an endless belt including a conductive layer, the endless belt being configured to move; a conductive conducting unit that is in contact with the conductive layer which is exposed at an end surface of the conducting unit in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the endless belt such that the conducting unit is electrically connected to the conductive layer; a pressure contacting unit that brings the conducting unit into pressure contact with the end surface of the conductive layer of the endless belt; and a grounding unit that grounds the conducting unit.

Abstract: A pressure device includes: a first pressure element; a second pressure element that is disposed so as to oppose the first pressure element and that applies pressure to a medium nipped between the first pressure element and the second pressure element; a moving device that moves the second pressure element toward and away from the first pressure element, between a contact position and a retracted position; an urging member that urges the first pressure element toward the second pressure element when the second pressure element is located at the contact position; and a driving device that applies a driving force to the second pressure element, thus allowing the first pressure element to rotate in a driven manner when the second pressure element is located at the contact position.

Abstract: An attachment structure for an attachable body includes an attachable body, a connecting unit, a first regulating device, and a second regulating device. The attachable body is attachable to an apparatus body and has a leading end and a trailing end in an attachment direction in which the attachable body is attached to the apparatus body. The connecting unit is provided on a leading end side of the attachable body in the attachment direction. The connecting unit is connected to the apparatus body. The first regulating device regulates a movement of the attachable body in the attachment direction from a trailing end side. The second regulating device is provided at a position closer to the connecting unit than to the first regulating device in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the attachment direction. The second regulating device regulates the movement of the attachable body.

Abstract: An attachment structure for an attachable body includes an attachable body, a connecting unit, a first regulating device, and a second regulating device. The attachable body is attachable to an apparatus body and has a leading end and a trailing end in an attachment direction in which the attachable body is attached to the apparatus body. The connecting unit is provided on a leading end side of the attachable body in the attachment direction. The connecting unit is connected to the apparatus body. The first regulating device regulates a movement of the attachable body in the attachment direction from a trailing end side. The second regulating device is provided at a position closer to the connecting unit than to the first regulating device in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the attachment direction. The second regulating device regulates the movement of the attachable body.

Abstract: A transport device includes: a first rotational member; a second rotational member that forms a nip with the first rotational member; a guide member that guides the medium in a predetermined direction; a changing part that supports the second rotational member so as to be rotatable and that moves the second rotational member to change a nip state between the second rotational member and the first rotational member; and an interposed member supported by the changing part and nipped between the first rotational member and the guide member, the interposed member including, in an intersecting direction intersecting a direction in which the interposed member is nipped, multiple portions having different thicknesses, the interposed member being nipped at any one of the multiple portions, while being moved in the intersecting direction in accordance with the movement of the second rotational member.

Abstract: A transport device includes: a first rotational member; a second rotational member that forms a nip with the first rotational member; a guide member that guides the medium in a predetermined direction; a changing part that supports the second rotational member so as to be rotatable and that moves the second rotational member to change a nip state between the second rotational member and the first rotational member; and an interposed member supported by the changing part and nipped between the first rotational member and the guide member, the interposed member including, in an intersecting direction intersecting a direction in which the interposed member is nipped, multiple portions having different thicknesses, the interposed member being nipped at any one of the multiple portions, while being moved in the intersecting direction in accordance with the movement of the second rotational member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and an image forming apparatus body. The fixing device includes a pressure unit, a heating unit, a pressure adjuster that adjusts a pressure between the pressure unit and the heating unit, and a fixing-device-side connecting device. The image forming apparatus body to which the fixing device is detachably attached includes an electrical power unit, a drive device to which electrical power is supplied from the electrical power unit so as to drive the pressure adjuster, and a body-side connecting device connected to the electrical power unit. When the fixing device is detached from the image forming apparatus body, the body-side connecting device and the fixing-device-side connecting device are disconnected from each other and electrical power supply to the drive device is interrupted.

Abstract: A decurler includes an endless decurling belt that is disposed so as to face an image surface of a recording medium to which an image has been thermally fixed, a decurling roller that contacts the decurling belt so as to form a decurling region between the decurling roller and the decurling belt, and a support member that is made of a thermally conductive synthetic resin having a thermal conductivity of 1 (W/mK) or higher and that directly or indirectly contacts the decurling belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and an image forming apparatus body. The fixing device includes a pressure unit, a heating unit, a pressure adjuster that adjusts a pressure between the pressure unit and the heating unit, and a fixing-device-side connecting device. The image forming apparatus body to which the fixing device is detachably attached includes an electrical power unit, a drive device to which electrical power is supplied from the electrical power unit so as to drive the pressure adjuster, and a body-side connecting device connected to the electrical power unit. When the fixing device is detached from the image forming apparatus body, the body-side connecting device and the fixing-device-side connecting device are disconnected from each other and electrical power supply to the drive device is interrupted.

Abstract: A decurler includes an endless decurling belt that is disposed so as to face an image surface of a recording medium to which an image has been thermally fixed, a decurling roller that contacts the decurling belt so as to form a decurling region between the decurling roller and the decurling belt, and a support member that is made of a thermally conductive synthetic resin having a thermal conductivity of 1(W/mK) or higher and that directly or indirectly contacts the decurling belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus body and fixes a developer image onto a recording medium; a setting unit that is provided in the fixing device and in which a size of a recording medium to be used in the fixing device is set; an acquiring unit that is provided in the apparatus body and acquires size information of a recording medium onto which the developer image is to be fixed; a determining unit that compares the size of the recording medium set in the setting unit with the size of the recording medium acquired by the acquiring unit so as to determine whether or not a fixing process is performable by the fixing device; and a notifying unit that at least provides notification of a negative determination result obtained by the determining unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that is rotated by a driving unit and that fixes a developer image on a recording medium; an external heating member that is driven and rotated while contacting an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member, and that heats the fixing member; a moving unit that moves the external heating member between a separation position and a contact position, and that moves the external heating member from the separation position to the contact position after starting the fixing by the fixing member; a drive transmitting mechanism including a fixing-side gear, an external-heating-member-side gear, and a drive transmitting member; and a driving force transmitting/non-transmitting unit that is provided at the drive transmitting mechanism.

Abstract: A driving mechanism includes: a first contacting member that comes into contact with a contacted member; a supporting member that supports the first contacting member and is reciprocatably provided, the supporting member moving the first contacting member into contact with or retracts from the contacted member; a cam that reciprocates the supporting member; and a driving force transmission member that is provided to transmit a driving force to the cam, the driving force transmission member is engaged with the cam by transmit a first driving force, and is disengaged from the cam by a second driving force. In the driving mechanism, the second driving force is applied to the driving force transmission member after the cam is stopped in a state where the cam comes into contact with the supporting member on a small radius end of the cam.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus body and fixes a developer image onto a recording medium; a setting unit that is provided in the fixing device and in which a size of a recording medium to be used in the fixing device is set; an acquiring unit that is provided in the apparatus body and acquires size information of a recording medium onto which the developer image is to be fixed; a determining unit that compares the size of the recording medium set in the setting unit with the size of the recording medium acquired by the acquiring unit so as to determine whether or not a fixing process is performable by the fixing device; and a notifying unit that at least provides notification of a negative determination result obtained by the determining unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a first rotating member; a second rotating member that extends along the first rotating member, sandwiches a recording medium with a toner image formed thereon between the first and second rotating members, rotates together with the first rotating member, and heats the recording medium to fix the toner image on the recording medium; a heating device whose circumferential surface circularly moves while contacting an external circumferential surface of the second rotating member, and the heating device heats the second rotating member; a temperature detecting device disposed to face the external circumferential surface of the second rotating member without contacting the external circumferential surface to detect a temperature thereof; and a cleaning device cleaning the circumferential surface of the heating device and disposed between the heating device and the temperature detecting device along the surface of the second rotating member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing member that fixes a developer image on a recording medium while rotating; an external heating member that heats the fixing member, the external heating member being driven-rotated by rotation of the fixing member while contacting with an outer peripheral face of the fixing member; an oil supply member that supplies oil to a surface of the external heating member; a switching unit that switches between contact and non-contact of the external heating member to the outer peripheral face of the fixing member, the switching unit causing the external heating member to contact with the outer peripheral face of the fixing member after a fixing operation by the fixing member is started; and a rotation mechanism that rotates the fixing member and rotates the external heating member in a state where the external heating member is separated from the fixing member by the switching unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a rotating member supporting section supporting a first rotating member rotatably and movable in direction in which the first rotating member approaches and leaves a second rotating member; a compression spring pushing the rotating member supporting section in the direction of approaching the second rotating member; and a pressing member pressing the compression spring to the rotating member supporting section.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that is rotated by a driving unit and that fixes a developer image on a recording medium; an external heating member that is driven and rotated while contacting an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member, and that heats the fixing member; a moving unit that moves the external heating member between a separation position and a contact position, and that moves the external heating member from the separation position to the contact position after starting the fixing by the fixing member; a drive transmitting mechanism including a fixing-side gear, an external-heating-member-side gear, and a drive transmitting member; and a driving force transmitting/non-transmitting unit that is provided at the drive transmitting mechanism.

Abstract: A driving mechanism includes: a first contacting member that comes into contact with a contacted member; a supporting member that supports the first contacting member and is reciprocatably provided, the supporting member moving the first contacting member into contact with or retracts from the contacted member; a cam that reciprocates the supporting member; and a driving force transmission member that is provided to transmit a driving force to the cam, the driving force transmission member is engaged with the cam by transmit a first driving force, and is disengaged from the cam by a second driving force. In the driving mechanism, the second driving force is applied to the driving force transmission member after the cam is stopped in a state where the cam comes into contact with the supporting member on a small radius end of the cam.