Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing device, output tray, a toner container, a cooling fan, an outer wall, and a downstream branch duct. The toner container is located under the tray and beside the fixing device, and accommodates a toner. The cooling fan is located between the toner container and the fixing device. The outer wall is provided under the output tray so as to cover an upper portion of the toner container, to form an upstream duct that allows air to flow therethrough over the toner container toward the cooling fan. The downstream branch duct conducts the air discharged from the cooling fan to the fixing device, and to a transport route of the recording sheet from the fixing device to the output tray. The outer wall includes a plurality of intake holes for sucking air into the upstream duct.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing device, output tray, a toner container, a cooling fan, an outer wall, and a downstream branch duct. The toner container is located under the tray and beside the fixing device, and accommodates a toner. The cooling fan is located between the toner container and the fixing device. The outer wall is provided under the output tray so as to cover an upper portion of the toner container, to form an upstream duct that allows air to flow therethrough over the toner container toward the cooling fan. The downstream branch duct conducts the air discharged from the cooling fan to the fixing device, and to a transport route of the recording sheet from the fixing device to the output tray. The outer wall includes a plurality of intake holes for sucking air into the upstream duct.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer portion, a fixing portion, a container mounting portion, an air blower, and an air duct portion. The transfer portion has a transfer belt extending in a first direction. The fixing portion is provided on one side in the first direction with respect to the transfer portion. The container mounting portion is provided so as to be spaced via a first air passage having a predetermined interval in a second direction perpendicular to the transfer belt and perpendicular to the first direction. In the container mounting portion, one or a plurality of toner containers containing a developer are mounted. The air blower is provided on another side in the first direction with respect to the container mounting portion, and configured to send air to the first air passage. The air duct portion guides air sent from the air blower, to the first air passage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer portion, a fixing portion, a container mounting portion, an air blower, and an air duct portion. The transfer portion has a transfer belt extending in a first direction. The fixing portion is provided on one side in the first direction with respect to the transfer portion. The container mounting portion is provided so as to be spaced via a first air passage having a predetermined interval in a second direction perpendicular to the transfer belt and perpendicular to the first direction. In the container mounting portion, one or a plurality of toner containers containing a developer are mounted. The air blower is provided on another side in the first direction with respect to the container mounting portion, and configured to send air to the first air passage. The air duct portion guides air sent from the air blower, to the first air passage.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a housing, an induction heating unit, a first rotator, a second rotator, a shield member, an airflow generation unit, a cooling air path, and inlets. The shield member opposes the induction heating unit on a side thereof opposite from the first rotator. The airflow generation unit generates an airflow to cool the induction heating unit. The cooling air path is provided extending along the shield member on a side thereof opposite from the induction heating unit. The inlets open in the shield member, plurally arranged at intervals and paralleling the axis, for causing the airflow from the cooling air path to flow in toward the induction heating unit. The intervals between adjacent axially end-ward inlets are set narrower than the interval between axially central adjacent inlets.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a housing, an induction heating unit, a first rotator, a second rotator, a shield member, an airflow generation unit, a cooling air path, and inlets. The shield member opposes the induction heating unit on a side thereof opposite from the first rotator. The airflow generation unit generates an airflow to cool the induction heating unit. The cooling air path is provided extending along the shield member on a side thereof opposite from the induction heating unit. The inlets open in the shield member, plurally arranged at intervals and paralleling the axis, for causing the airflow from the cooling air path to flow in toward the induction heating unit. The intervals between adjacent axially end-ward inlets are set narrower than the interval between axially central adjacent inlets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which passes a sheet bearing a toner image between a heat roller and a pressure roller constituting a fixing device to fix the toner image onto the sheet. The image forming apparatus comprises thermistors and a controller. The controller starts heating of the heat roller while stopping the heat roller and the pressure roller, then starts rotations of both rollers when the surface temperature of the heat roller, as detected by the thermistor, reaches a set value which is lower than a fixing standby temperature, and permits the use of the fixing device when the surface temperature of the pressure roller, as detected by the thermistor, reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A jam detecting device according to the present invention quickly outputs a jam detection signal when a part of a sheet is insufficiently conveyed during conveyance. A discharge detecting switch 55 is provided in the vicinity of discharge rollers 36. In addition, a plurality of (for example, three) pulse output units 230, 231 and 232 are provided in relation to the discharge detecting switch 55. Each of the pulse output units 230, 231 and 232 is so constructed as to output a pulse as the sheet is moved. In a jam judging circuit 235, when a signal of the discharge detecting switch 55 is on, a jam signal is outputted on the basis of the fact that no pulses are applied for not less than a predetermined time period from at least one of the pulse output units 230, 231 and 232. When a Jam occurs, therefore, the jam can be quickly detected.

Abstract: A structure for supporting a press roller of a fixing unit is provided. The fixing unit has the press roller and a heat roller, between which a sheet is passed. The sheet is pressed against the heat roller by the press roller. The press roller has a cylinder and an elastic layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder. Opposite ends of the cylinder are elastically supported by the first elastic support mechanisms. A shaft extending through the cylinder rotatably supports the central portion of the cylinder via a pair of bearings. Opposite ends of the shaft are elastically supported by second elastic support mechanisms. Each of the bearings is preferably spaced away from adjacent one of the first elastic support mechanisms by a distance one third to one fifth a distance between the first elastic support mechanisms.

Abstract: A fixation control device is provided which controls the operation of a fixing unit having a heat roller and a press roller between which a sheet is passed. When copies are successively made on a plurality of narrow-size sheets, the temperature of the end portions of the press roller rises and, therefore, the difference between the temperatures of the end portions and the central portion of the press roller becomes greater. The greater temperature difference results in a diameter difference between the central portion and the end portions of the press roller due to thermal expansion, thereby reducing sheet transportation ability of the heat roller and press roller. However, the fixation control device of the present invention can compensate the reduction in the transportation ability by increasing the rotational speed of the heat roller and press roller when the temperature difference becomes greater.

Abstract: A fixation temperature control device is to be applied to a copying machine or the like. A control section determines a heat roller control temperature in consideration of a detected press roller temperature. When the heat roller temperature is lower than a reference temperature, a correction value is added to a heat roller reference temperature to set the heat roller control temperature higher than usual. When a fixing unit is in a stand-by status and the press roller temperature is in a temperature range between 80.degree. C. and 90.degree. C., a heat roller and a press roller are preferably rotated at a speed lower than a usual rotational speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming device for forming a toner image corresponding to an image of an original document at a set operative copying magnification, a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto a copy item, a fixing device for fixing the toner image on the copy item under heat, a memory for storing correction values for a plurality of types of copy item usable in the image forming apparatus respectively, the correction value being adapted for correcting a change in length of a copy item due to the heat of the fixing device, a judge device for judging what type the present copy item is of, and a magnification setting device for setting an operative copying magnification to correct a shrink of the present copy item due to the fixing heat.

Abstract: A roll paper cutting device is attachable to the main body of an image forming apparatus main body. The roll paper cutting device includes a cutter for cutting the paper of a roll of paper contained therein, as well as an arrangement for feeding the cut sheet to the image forming apparatus. The roll paper cutting device has at least one transport roller for transporting the roll paper, as well as a drive system for driving the transport roller, and a drive change device such as a clutch for selectively bringing the transport roller into idle rotation or into a driven state. A detector detects the travel of the roll paper. A control device such as a CPU controls the rotation of the transport rollers with predetermined timing based on the time when the travel of the roll paper is detected with all the transport rollers in idle rotation in a standby state for paper feeding.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming apparatus main body with a sheet inlet. The main body is arranged to form an image on a sheet inserted into the sheet inlet. A roll paper cutting device contains roll paper and includes a cutting arrangement for cutting the roll paper and discharging cut sheets. The cutting device is attachable to the main body of the apparatus, and is selectively positionable to a feed position where its outlet is in register with the sheet inlet, or a standby position wherein the outlet thereof is out of register with the sheet inlet. A guide arrangement is provided on the main body for guiding the cutting device for movement in the vertical direction between the feed position and the standby position.

Abstract: The rolled-paper feed unit for an image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises; a movable body for reeling out and feeding rolled paper and for cutting the rolled paper into a cut sheet having a predetermined length; and a stationary frame which holds the movable body vertically moved from an upper position where the rolled paper is fed to a lowered retreat position where the operator is adapted to carry out certain operations. When feeding the rolled paper to the image forming apparatus main body, the movable body is held at the upper position. When resupplying cut paper to a cassette mounted on the image forming apparatus, or executing a jam processing or the like, the movable body is lowered.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixing device wherein a pressure belt is rotated independently of a heating roller in the paper delivery direction by second driving means including a one-way clutch which allows racing thereof in the paper delivery direction. The pressure belt is rotated at a peripheral speed less than that of the heating roller by the second driving means. The fixing device can surely perform fixation without causing defective delivery or crumple regardless of papers or plastic films.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which includes a rotating unit for slightly rotating an upper unit. The upper unit is provided with a heating member and is located in the image fixing unit. The upper unit is rotatably mounted on a lower unit which is provided with a pressure member in the image fixing unit to release the contact of the heating member with the pressure member. This image forming apparatus can easily and safely remove a jammed paper sheet from the image fixing unit.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a paper delivery section for guiding paper to a space between a photoreceptor and a transferring corona discharger, the paper being guided as turned over after having passed between a pair of arcuate reversing guides. A portion of the paper delivery section is formed as a unit which can be integrally pulled out from the body of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes guide lifting and lowering means adapted to retreat downward the inner reversing guide out of the pair of reversing guides in association with a unit pulling operation, and adapted to lift up the inner reversing guide in association with a unit insertion operation. Accordingly, when the unit is inserted in and pulled out from the apparatus body, the guide lifting and lowering means vertically moves the inner reversing guide, thus preventing the inner reversing guide from coming into collision with the photoreceptor.

Abstract: A copying machine, including a photosensitive drum; a corona charger; an exposure device for exposing the photosensitive drum to an optical image of an original; a developing unit for developing a toner image on the photosensitive drum; a transfer corona charger for transferring the developed toner image to copy paper; a device for mechanically separating the imaged copy paper from the photosensitive drum; and a system for cleaning the drum after the image transfer, which includes an eraser lamp disposed adjacent the copy paper delivery side of the transfer corona charger at a position for illuminating copy paper from the rear side thereof upon image transfer thereto, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the transfer corona charger and the eraser lamp, thereby assuring smooth separation of copy paper after image transfer and efficient transport of the paper.