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 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: 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 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 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 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 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 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 vehicle wheel 1 having a plurality of subsidiary air chambers 3, which is annularly incorporated on a rim outer peripheral surface 4, a cover member 13 having a lug part extended over the entire periphery and a stepped part extended over its periphery along the inside of the lug part 16, and a bottom plate member 14 being superimposed with each other through a seal member made of an elastic member and interposed therebetween in an airtight manner, and the cover member 13 and the rim outer peripheral surface 4 being joined to each other in a joint part 10, wherein the cover member 13 and the rim outer peripheral surface 4 are made into contact with each other so as to form a subsidiary air chamber 3 having air-tightness.

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: A fixing device to be installed in an image forming apparatus includes a housing for defining the fixing device. In the housing, a heating member which heats a recording medium onto which a toner image is transferred to fix the image and a pressing member which is brought into press contact with the heating member are provided. In the housing, a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path which has a path different from the first conveyance path is formed. A switching member which switches a destination of the recording medium to the first conveyance path or the second conveyance path is arranged in the housing. As a result, when the image recording medium is sent to a paper reversing device installed in the image forming apparatus, the length of a conveyance path extending to the switching member can be shortened.

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 fixing device to be installed in an image forming apparatus includes a housing for defining the fixing device. In the housing, a heating member which heats a recording medium onto which a toner image is transferred to fix the image and a pressing member which is brought into press contact with the heating member are provided. In the housing, a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path which has a path different from the first conveyance path is formed. A switching member which switches a destination of the recording medium to the first conveyance path or the second conveyance path is arranged in the housing. As a result, when the image recording medium is sent to a paper reversing device installed in the image forming apparatus, the length of a conveyance path extending to the switching member can be shortened.

Abstract: Carbon black having silica attached to the surface, characterized in that the attached silica has a size of from 0.1 to 20 nm in thickness and from 1 to 40 nm in width.