Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method of controlling a fixing device includes heating a heat unit to a predetermined temperature, and while the heat unit is being heated to the predetermined temperature, rotating a pressure unit that is configured to be moved between a contact position, a separation position, and a semi-contact position. The pressure unit is positioned at the semi-contact position after the heat unit is heated to the predetermined temperature. The pressure unit is moved from the semi-contact position to the contact position before transporting a medium between the heat unit and the pressure unit. The pressure unit is moved from the contact position to the separation position via the semi-contact position after a fixing operation on the medium is completed.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method of controlling a fixing device includes heating a heat unit to a predetermined temperature, and while the heat unit is being heated to the predetermined temperature, rotating a pressure unit that is configured to be moved between a contact position, a separation position, and a semi-contact position. The pressure unit is positioned at the semi-contact position after the heat unit is heated to the predetermined temperature. The pressure unit is moved from the semi-contact position to the contact position before transporting a medium between the heat unit and the pressure unit. The pressure unit is moved from the contact position to the separation position via the semi-contact position after a fixing operation on the medium is completed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a fixing device, a transport unit and a controller. The fixing device includes a heat roller and a pressure roller that is moveable with respect to the heat roller. A movement mechanism moves the pressure roller among a contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a first pressing force, a separation position in which the pressure roller does not contact the heat roller, and a semi-contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a second pressing force smaller than the first pressing force. The transport unit transports a medium between the heat roller and the pressure roller. The controller controls the movement mechanism so that the pressure roller moves from the semi-contact position to the separation position after the pressure unit is in the semi-contact position for more than a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a fixing device, a transport unit and a controller. The fixing device includes a heat roller and a pressure roller that is moveable with respect to the heat roller. A movement mechanism moves the pressure roller among a contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a first pressing force, a separation position in which the pressure roller does not contact the heat roller, and a semi-contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a second pressing force smaller than the first pressing force. The transport unit transports a medium between the heat roller and the pressure roller. The controller controls the movement mechanism so that the pressure roller moves from the semi-contact position to the separation position after the pressure unit is in the semi-contact position for more than a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section configured to form an image on an image receiving medium; a fixing section configured to include a first roller, a second roller facing the first roller and a switching mechanism provided with a cam for switching positions of the first roller; and a control section configured to control a driving of the cam, and the cam includes a first position regulating section setting a contact position, a second position regulating section setting a separation position and a position changing section which is positioned between the first position regulating section and the second position regulating section in a driving direction of the cam and includes a fluctuation section for moving the first roller close to the second roller temporarily during a period of time the first roller is separating from the second roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a fixing device, a transport unit and a controller. The fixing device includes a heat roller and a pressure roller that is moveable with respect to the heat roller. A movement mechanism moves the pressure roller among a contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a first pressing force, a separation position in which the pressure roller does not contact the heat roller, and a semi-contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a second pressing force smaller than the first pressing force. The transport unit transports a medium between the heat roller and the pressure roller. The controller controls the movement mechanism so that the pressure roller is at the semi-contact position in a standby state after a preheating operation of the fixing device is completed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first photoconductive member used during monochrome printing; a plurality of second photoconductive members used together with the first photoconductive member during full-color printing and arranged in parallel to the first photoconductive member; a transfer belt that forms a loop-like moving path; a first transfer roller and a plurality of second transfer rollers provided on an inner peripheral side of the transfer belt; and a link member that shifts, during the full-color printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where the second transfer rollers are brought into press contact with the respective second photoconductive members via the transfer belt and shifts, during the monochrome printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where respective separations between an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt and the respective second transfer rollers are substantially identical.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first photoconductive member used during monochrome printing; a plurality of second photoconductive members used together with the first photoconductive member during full-color printing and arranged in parallel to the first photoconductive member; a transfer belt that forms a loop-like moving path; a first transfer roller and a plurality of second transfer rollers provided on an inner peripheral side of the transfer belt; and a link member that shifts, during the full-color printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where the second transfer rollers are brought into press contact with the respective second photoconductive members via the transfer belt and shifts, during the monochrome printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where respective separations between an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt and the respective second transfer rollers are substantially identical.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first photoconductive member used during monochrome printing; a plurality of second photoconductive members used together with the first photoconductive member during full-color printing and arranged in parallel to the first photoconductive member; a transfer belt that forms a loop-like moving path; a first transfer roller and a plurality of second transfer rollers provided on an inner peripheral side of the transfer belt; and a link member that shifts, during the full-color printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where the second transfer rollers are brought into press contact with the respective second photoconductive members via the transfer belt and shifts, during the monochrome printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where respective separations between an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt and the respective second transfer rollers are substantially identical.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image transfer device includes an endless transfer belt which is belted movably around a pair of separate supporting members to form a belt loop, a transfer member facing an image carrier via the transfer belt, to transfer a developed image formed on the image carrier onto the transfer belt, and a belt pressing member configured to act the transfer belt to increase an area of the transfer belt contacting the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first photoconductive member used during monochrome printing; a plurality of second photoconductive members used together with the first photoconductive member during full-color printing and arranged in parallel to the first photoconductive member; a transfer belt that forms a loop-like moving path; a first transfer roller and a plurality of second transfer rollers provided on an inner peripheral side of the transfer belt; and a link member that shifts, during the full-color printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where the second transfer rollers are brought into press contact with the respective second photoconductive members via the transfer belt and shifts, during the monochrome printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where respective separations between an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt and the respective second transfer rollers are substantially identical.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first photoconductive member used during monochrome printing; a plurality of second photoconductive members used together with the first photoconductive member during full-color printing and arranged in parallel to the first photoconductive member; a transfer belt that forms a loop-like moving path; a first transfer roller and a plurality of second transfer rollers provided on an inner peripheral side of the transfer belt; and a link member that shifts, during the full-color printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where the second transfer rollers are brought into press contact with the respective second photoconductive members via the transfer belt and shifts, during the monochrome printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where respective separations between an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt and the respective second transfer rollers are substantially identical.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image developed on a photosensitive material is transferred while the intermediate transfer member rotates plural times; a transfer roller that is provided to be able to move into contact with and apart from the intermediate transfer member and transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a paper sheet while conveying the paper sheet pressed to the intermediate transfer member; a grooved cam having different grooves formed respectively in front and back surfaces of the grooved cam. A link mechanism for color image printing and a link mechanism for monochrome printing are reciprocated independently from each other, with ends of the link mechanism engaged respectively in the grooves of the grooved cam, thereby to control contact and separation of the transfer roller and the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A pressure release cam and a boomerang cam are provided. The pressure release cam is interlocked with a belt cleaner when the latter is turned, whereas the boomerang cam is interlocked with the belt cleaner when the latter is mounted in position. As the belt cleaner is turned to move the cleaning blade away from an intermediate transfer belt, the pressure release cam is moved to a release position to release the cleaning member from the pressure applied to it by a pushing unit. The pressure applied by the pushing unit to the cleaning member is restored when the boomerang cam is turned as a motion interlocked with the operation of mounting the belt cleaner in position and the pressure release cam is taken out from the release position. The cleaner frame is provided with first and second guide rails for allowing the belt cleaner to slide and a toner anti-fall dish.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first photoconductive member used during monochrome printing; a plurality of second photoconductive members used together with the first photoconductive member during full-color printing and arranged in parallel to the first photoconductive member; a transfer belt that forms a loop-like moving path; a first transfer roller and a plurality of second transfer rollers provided on an inner peripheral side of the transfer belt; and a link member that shifts, during the full-color printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where the second transfer rollers are brought into press contact with the respective second photoconductive members via the transfer belt and shifts, during the monochrome printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where respective separations between an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt and the respective second transfer rollers are substantially identical.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image developed on a photosensitive material is transferred while the intermediate transfer member rotates plural times; a transfer roller that is provided to be able to move into contact with and apart from the intermediate transfer member and transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a paper sheet while conveying the paper sheet pressed to the intermediate transfer member; a grooved cam having different grooves formed respectively in front and back surfaces of the grooved cam. A link mechanism for color image printing and a link mechanism for monochrome printing are reciprocated independently from each other, with ends of the link mechanism engaged respectively in the grooves of the grooved cam, thereby to control contact and separation of the transfer roller and the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A pressure release cam and a boomerang cam are provided. The pressure release cam is interlocked with a belt cleaner when the latter is turned, whereas the boomerang cam is interlocked with the belt cleaner when the latter is mounted in position. As the belt cleaner is turned to move the cleaning blade away from an intermediate transfer belt, the pressure release cam is moved to a release position to release the cleaning member from the pressure applied to it by a pushing unit. The pressure applied by the pushing unit to the cleaning member is restored when the boomerang cam is turned as a motion interlocked with the operation of mounting the belt cleaner in position and the pressure release cam is taken out from the release position. The cleaner frame is provided with first and second guide rails for allowing the belt cleaner to slide and a toner anti-fall dish.