Abstract: The image forming apparatus is provided with: a replaceable image forming structure body including elements for image formation; a recording medium transporting structure body including elements for transporting a recording medium to the image forming structure body; an output recording medium transporting structure body transporting, to an output port, a recording medium outputted from the image forming structure body; and a connection structure body electrically connected to structure bodies. They each form at least a part of the appearance of the image forming apparatus. The latter three bodies are adjacent to each other, and attachable in a state where the image forming structure body is not attached, the image forming structure body is in contact with at least three surfaces included in surfaces of the other bodies adjacent to each other, and the image forming structure body is attachable in a state where the other bodies have been attached.

Abstract: A fixing device comprises a heating roll; an endless belt; and a pressurizing member that forms a pressure contact portion for pushing the endless belt against an outer peripheral surface part of the heating roll from an inner peripheral surface side of the pressurizing member so that a recording medium holding an unfixed image passes between the pressure contact portion and the heating roll, wherein the pressurizing member includes: a hard pressurizing member and a soft pressurizing member the hard pressurizing member, and the soft pressurizing member are disposed in a state in which a clearance is present between the hard pressurizing member and the soft pressurizing member in a specific region part so that at least a specific recording medium passes in a fixing region of the pressure contact portion in the rotating axis direction of the heating roll.

Abstract: A fixing device of the present invention is equipped with a heated body whose fixing temperature applied to toner is changed and which is heated in accordance with a type of toner that has been discriminated by a toner type discriminating unit that discriminates types of toner classified at least as a result of their melting points differing. When toner with a relatively high melting point has been used, the fixing device is rotated on the basis of a limiting control unit that limits a number of sheets of recording paper that can be continuously fixed.

Abstract: A cylindrical rotating member rotatably supported in a device in state where it is configured to contact a medium and that is heated in state where it is supported in the device, including: an elastically deformable base body that is a metal cylinder extending in a width direction of the medium, the width direction intersecting a transport direction of the medium, the base body being configured such that: when the base body is rotated and a portion of the base body reaches a contact-portion at which the base body contacts the medium, the portion of the base body elastically deforms, applies pressure to the medium, increases the size of a contact-area with the medium and applies heat to the medium; and after the base body is further rotated and the portion of the base body has passed the contact-portion, the base body elastically recovers its original shape is provided.

Abstract: A fuser includes a fusing press section, a cooling section, a peeling section and a limitation section. The fusing press section has a nip part is between a fixing belt and a pressurization member. The fusing press section fuses a toner image on a record sheet and fixes the toner image on the record sheet. The cooling section cools the record sheet which has the toner image. The record sheet is attached onto the fixing belt. The peeling section peels off the record sheet cooled by the cooling section from the fixing belt. And the limitation section is disposed between the fusing press section and the cooling section. The limitation section limits a move of heat from the fusing press section to the cooling section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body; an image forming unit; a first fixing device; and a second fixing device, the first and second fixing device being selectively attached, and the apparatus body including: a first attaching region that is formed by detaching the first fixing device; a sheet-discharging region in which, in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the apparatus body, a sheet subjected to a fixing operation by the first fixing device is discharged into an upper portion of the apparatus body while downwardly directing a face on which the fixing operation is performed; and a second attaching region to which the second fixing device is attached, and that includes the first attaching region and the sheet-discharging region.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating section, a fixing belt, a pressing section and a cooling section. The heating section includes a first layer which is partially deformed when the first layer is pressed and which is restored when the first layer is not pressed. The fixing belt includes a second layer which is partially deformed when the second layer is pressed and which is restored when the second layer is not pressed. The fixing belt is wound around the heating section. The pressing section forms a nip portion in conjunction with the heating belt and the fixing belt. A toner image on a recording sheet is fused and pressed onto the recording sheet at the nip portion. The cooling section cools the recording sheet. The separating section separates the recording sheet cooled by the cooling section from the fixing belt.

Abstract: An image formation device is provided, at which a fixing apparatus is disposed inside a housing of a printer main body, and which is configured in a fanless ventilation structure. This image formation device is provided with: a fixing unit mounting portion positioned at an upper portion of the housing, and surrounded by a partition wall and a heat-shielding member extending from a side face of the partition wall, the fixing apparatus being placed on the heat-shielding member, and the fixing unit mounting portion being isolated such that hot air will not flow to equipment inside the housing; a cover member for covering the fixing unit mounting portion; a ventilation portion which includes ventilation apertures formed through the cover member; and a conveyance portion for the recording medium.

Abstract: An image formation device is provided, at which a fixing device is disposed inside a housing of a printer main body, and which is configured in a fanless ventilation structure. This image formation device is provided with a fixing unit mounting portion positioned at an upper portion of the housing, and surrounded by a partition wall and a heat-shielding member extending from a side face of the partition wall, the fixing apparatus being placed on the heat-shielding member, and the fixing unit mounting portion being isolated such that hot air will not flow to equipment inside the housing; a cover member for covering the fixing unit mounting portion; a ventilation portion which includes ventilation apertures formed through the cover member, and a conveyance portion for the recording medium.

Abstract: A coating system selecting kinds of coating heads and operation sequences with no errors even when two or more kinds of coating heads are used in exchange in a single coating line. The coating system uses an automatic discriminating device which automatically discriminates at least kinds of a plurality of coating heads used in exchange in a single coating line, thereby discriminating the kind of the coating head which is set in the coating line.

Abstract: A coating system selecting kinds of coating heads and operation sequences with no errors even when two or more kinds of coating heads are used in exchange in a single coating line. The coating system uses an automatic discriminating device which automatically discriminates at least kinds of a plurality of coating heads used in exchange in a single coating line, thereby discriminating the kind of the coating head which is set in the coating line.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding paper fed from either an automatic or manual paper source. Paper is conveyed from an appropriate input inlet through one of two paths to a folding apparatus where it is accumulated between roller pairs. When the folding is complete, the folded paper is discharged from the apparatus.