Abstract: Provided is a fixing device that includes a first rotating member that rotates while pinching a sheet which holds an image on a first surface of the sheet and is transported, fixes the image to the sheet, and heats the image while coming into contact with the first surface. Further provided is a second rotating member that comes into contact with a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface, a third rotating member that guides the sheet by rotating while coming into contact with the first surface of the sheet fed from a gap between the first and second rotating members, and a support member that supports the first, second, and third rotating members with a space through which the heat of the first rotating member is transferred to the third rotating member interposed between the first and third rotating members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body in which an image forming section that forms an image on a recording material and a drive mechanism that generates a rotational driving force are provided; a fixing section that transports the recording material while receiving the rotational driving force and fixes the image on the recording material, the fixing section being held by the apparatus body at two axial ends thereof; and a transmission mechanism that is provided at one of the two axial ends of the fixing section and is connected to the drive mechanism, the transmission mechanism transmitting the rotational driving force from the drive mechanism to the fixing section. When a pulling force is applied to a recording material that is present in the fixing section, the drive mechanism and the transmission mechanism are disconnected from each other.

Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a shaft member that extends in an axial direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction, and a roller that includes plural components which are assembled together so as to surround the shaft member. The components have a shape such that a joint between the components is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the roller which is formed by assembling the components together. The joint extends from one end to another end of the outer peripheral surface in the axial direction while bending or curving at least at a portion in the middle thereof.

Abstract: A unit mounting and dismounting mechanism includes a unit mountable in and dismountable from an apparatus body, an engaging portion provided in one of the apparatus body and the unit, a pressing member provided in the other of the apparatus body and the unit, the pressing member engaging with the engaging portion and pressing the unit against the apparatus body with a biasing force of a biasing member in a mounting direction of the unit when the unit is mounted in the apparatus body, and a release member provided in the unit, the release member being operated in a direction different from a dismounting direction of the unit from the apparatus body so as to move the pressing member against the biasing force of the biasing member in a direction to release pressing.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical rotating member rotating in a circumferential direction thereof and having a slot at an end thereof and a protruding section extending along an edge of the slot at a front side in a rotational direction of the rotating member, the rotating member receiving a rotational driving force via the slot; a pressing member pressing a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image on a surface thereof by nipping the recording medium together with the rotating member so as to fix the toner image onto the surface; a heat source heating the recording medium; and a driving member having an engagement section engaged with the slot and in contact with the protruding section at a position separated from a peripheral wall of the cylinder by a certain distance, the driving member imparting the rotational driving force to the rotating member via the engagement section.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotating body that heats a developer image formed on a recording medium, a pressurizing rotating body that pressurizes the recording medium by nipping the recording medium between the pressurizing rotating body and the heating rotating body, a pair of support plates that rotatably support both ends of one of the pressurizing rotating body and the heating rotating body, and a release member including an attachment portion attached to the support plates to hold the support plates from both sides in a thickness direction, and an operating portion. When an external force in a predetermined direction acts on the operating portion, the release member releases pressing of the one of the pressurizing rotating body and the heating rotating body against the other by moving the support plates in a direction away from the other.

Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a shaft member that extends in an axial direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction, and a roller that includes plural components which are assembled together so as to surround the shaft member. The components have a shape such that a joint between the components is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the roller which is formed by assembling the components together. The joint extends from one end to another end of the outer peripheral surface in the axial direction while bending or curving at least at a portion in the middle thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body in which an image forming section that forms an image on a recording material and a drive mechanism that generates a rotational driving force are provided; a fixing section that transports the recording material while receiving the rotational driving force and fixes the image on the recording material, the fixing section being held by the apparatus body at two axial ends thereof; and a transmission mechanism that is provided at one of the two axial ends of the fixing section and is connected to the drive mechanism, the transmission mechanism transmitting the rotational driving force from the drive mechanism to the fixing section. When a pulling force is applied to a recording material that is present in the fixing section, the drive mechanism and the transmission mechanism are disconnected from each other.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical rotating member rotating in a circumferential direction thereof and having a slot at an end thereof and a protruding section extending along an edge of the slot at a front side in a rotational direction of the rotating member, the rotating member receiving a rotational driving force via the slot; a pressing member pressing a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image on a surface thereof by nipping the recording medium together with the rotating member so as to fix the toner image onto the surface; a heat source heating the recording medium; and a driving member having an engagement section engaged with the slot and in contact with the protruding section at a position separated from a peripheral wall of the cylinder by a certain distance, the driving member imparting the rotational driving force to the rotating member via the engagement section.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing roller, an endless fixing belt, a pressing unit having first and second pressing members that press a surface of the fixing belt against the fixing roller, a fixed support member that supports the fixing roller rotatably, a movable support member that supports the first pressing member in a fixed state and supports the second pressing member such as to be movable closer to and away from the fixing roller, a first pressure spring that presses the movable support member closer to the fixing roller, a second pressure spring that presses the second pressing member closer to the fixing roller, and a switch mechanism that switches between a first state in which the first and second pressing members are pressed against the fixing roller and a second state in which only the second pressing member is pressed against the fixing roller.

Abstract: A fixing device has a regulating mechanism for maintaining a contact portion of a pressing member in a state in which the contact portion does not contact with a fixing roll through a fixing belt from a second area to a first area or a state in which a pressure is reduced so that the contact portion contacts with the fixing roll when switching from a state in which the contact portion is placed in the second area to a state in which the contact portion is placed in the first area is carried out by a switching mechanism, and making a transition for the contact portion of the pressing member into a contact state at a predetermined pressure when the first area is reached.

Abstract: A paper transport device includes a transport section that transports paper on a first transport path, and reverses a transport direction to transport the paper onto a second transport path, and a detecting section that detects that the paper has arrived at the reversal position, wherein the detecting section includes a first member that is arranged on the first transport path, and changes posture thereof among a first posture, a second posture, and a third posture, a second member that changes posture thereof between a fourth posture and a fifth posture, a detector that detects whether the second member is in the fourth posture or in the fifth posture, and a joint member that couples the first member and the second member together, allows the second member to be in the fourth posture, rotates the second member to the fifth posture, and keeps the second member in the fourth posture.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing rotating member; a pressing rotating member pressed to the fixing surface of the fixing rotating member; a displacing mechanism that can displace the pressing rotating member at least at a first setting position that the pressing rotating member pressed to the fixing surface is located in a first position relative to the fixing rotating member and at a second setting position the pressing rotating member pressed to the fixing surface is in a second position shifted from the first position in the downstream or upstream side of a passing direction of the recording medium at the fixing process part; a guide member having a guide part that guides the recording medium to an introducing portion of the fixing process part; an adjusting mechanism that can adjust the position of the guide member in accordance with the displacement of the pressing rotating member to the first setting position or the second setting position.

Abstract: A unit mounting and dismounting mechanism includes a unit mountable in and dismountable from an apparatus body, an engaging portion provided in one of the apparatus body and the unit, a pressing member provided in the other of the apparatus body and the unit, the pressing member engaging with the engaging portion and pressing the unit against the apparatus body with a biasing force of a biasing member in a mounting direction of the unit when the unit is mounted in the apparatus body, and a release member provided in the unit, the release member being operated in a direction different from a dismounting direction of the unit from the apparatus body so as to move the pressing member against the biasing force of the biasing member in a direction to release pressing.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotating body that heats a developer image formed on a recording medium, a pressurizing rotating body that pressurizes the recording medium by nipping the recording medium between the pressurizing rotating body and the heating rotating body, a pair of support plates that rotatably support both ends of one of the pressurizing rotating body and the heating rotating body, and a release member including an attachment portion attached to the support plates to hold the support plates from both sides in a thickness direction, and an operating portion. When an external force in a predetermined direction acts on the operating portion, the release member releases pressing of the one of the pressurizing rotating body and the heating rotating body against the other by moving the support plates in a direction away from the other.

Abstract: A medium pressurizing device includes: two rotating bodies that rotate and allow a recording medium held in a contact part to pass; a pressurizing member that applies, to one of the rotating bodies, a pressure of pressing the one toward the other; a drive roll disposed downstream from the contact part in a conveyance direction, and rotating thereby transmitting a conveyance driving force to the recording medium; and a following roll contacting the drive roll, and rotating by following rotation of the drive roll, thereby conveying the recording medium held therebetween. The device further includes: an axis member rotating by receiving a driving force; and a cam member fixed to the axis member, acting on the pressurizing member, and following rotation of the axis member, thereby changing the pressure. The following roll has a hollow, and the axis member is disposed to pass through a space in the hollow.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotating member that rotates while pinching a sheet which holds an image on a first surface of the sheet and is transported, fixes the image to the sheet, and heats the image while coming into contact with the first surface; a second rotating member that comes into contact with a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface; a third rotating member that guides the sheet by rotating while coming into contact with the first surface of the sheet fed from a gap between the first and second rotating members; and a support member that supports the first, second, and third rotating members with a space through which the heat of the first rotating member is transferred to the third rotating member interposed between the first and third rotating members.

Abstract: A paper transport device includes a transport section that transports paper on a first transport path, and reverses a transport direction to transport the paper onto a second transport path, and a detecting section that detects that the paper has arrived at the reversal position, wherein the detecting section includes a first member that is arranged on the first transport path, and changes posture thereof among a first posture, a second posture, and a third posture, a second member that changes posture thereof between a fourth posture and a fifth posture, a detector that detects whether the second member is in the fourth posture or in the fifth posture, and a joint member that couples the first member and the second member together, allows the second member to be in the fourth posture, rotates the second member to the fifth posture, and keeps the second member in the fourth posture.

Abstract: A medium pressurizing device includes: two rotating bodies that rotate and allow a recording medium held in a contact part to pass; a pressurizing member that applies, to one of the rotating bodies, a pressure of pressing the one toward the other; a drive roll disposed downstream from the contact part in a conveyance direction, and rotating thereby transmitting a conveyance driving force to the recording medium; and a following roll contacting the drive roll, and rotating by following rotation of the drive roll, thereby conveying the recording medium held therebetween. The device further includes: an axis member rotating by receiving a driving force; and a cam member fixed to the axis member, acting on the pressurizing member, and following rotation of the axis member, thereby changing the pressure. The following roll has a hollow, and the axis member is disposed to pass through a space in the hollow.

Abstract: A fixing device including a heating member, a pressing member that presses the heating member, a switching unit that switches a press contact force of the pressing member and a container body that accommodates the heating member, the pressing member, and the switching unit, wherein the switching unit, includes a drive member that moves the pressing member in a predetermined direction and an auxiliary drive member that is connected to the drive member and relatively moves with the drive member, and the auxiliary drive member, in a case where the container body is placed in an image forming apparatus including a lid, switches between a operative association state and a nonoperative association state, and the auxiliary drive member including a returning section that returns a tip of the auxiliary drive member to a position crossing a movement trajectory of the lid in the nonoperative association state.