Abstract: A transport roller is provided in a transport path in order to transport paper, the transport roller transporting the paper downstream in the transport path by making contact with the paper, and At least one contact portion that makes contact with the paper is provided in the transport roller. The contact portion is deformable in a direction that releases pressing force received from the paper when transporting the paper.

Abstract: A switchback transport mechanism includes a first transport section, a second transport section, a third transport section, and a transport control section. The first transport section applies propelling force to a sheet in the guiding path. The second transport section applies propelling force to a sheet in the ejecting path. The third transport section has a first transport member and a second transport member placed so as to be attached to and detached from each other. The third transport section selectively applies propelling forces in a frontward direction and a backward direction to a sheet in the switchback transport path through the first and second transport members. The transport control section controls operations of the first, second, and third transport sections. The transport control section detaches the first and second transport members from each other in a time period when no sheet is being transported by the third transport section.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the present invention is provided with (i) a roller, to which releaser gets applied (ii) a releaser applying member for applying the releaser on the roller by touching the roller while the roller is rotating, and (iii) a releaser dripping section for dripping the releaser to be applied on the roller by the releaser applying section, the fixing apparatus further including a guiding member for receiving the releaser dripped from the releaser dripping section, and for guiding, along a surface thereof, a certain amount of a total amount of the thus received releaser to a touch position at which the releaser applying member touches the roller.

Abstract: In the present applying mechanism, a part of a guide sheet 33 bulges (arches) away from an oil application roller 16, with respect to a vertical line S passing through the center of a pipe 31. In other words, in the present applying mechanism, a part of the guide sheet 33 has a shape of avoiding (bypassing) the oil application roller 16 that has a high temperature. With this, oil flowing on the guide sheet 33 is kept away from the high-temperature oil application roller 16. On this account, it is possible to restrain the degradation of the oil flowing on the guide sheet 33 on account of the heat from the application roller.

Abstract: In a sheet detecting sensor, light emitted from a linear light emitting element is blocked by a sheet from entering a light receiving element which is located immediately below the sheet. Only light receiving elements which are not immediately below the sheet, receive light from the linear light emitting element. Light passing through a point in a vicinity of an edge portion of the sheet enters only a light receiving element which is located immediately below that point, but not the other light receiving elements. In addition, even when the position of a sheet varies vertically, the same light receiving element receives light passing through the same point in a vicinity of the edge portion of the sheet. Therefore, even when the position of a sheet varies vertically, the edge position of the sheet can be accurately detected.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the present invention is provided with (i) a roller, to which releaser gets applied (ii) a releaser applying member for applying the releaser on the roller by touching the roller while the roller is rotating, and (iii) a releaser dripping section for dripping the releaser to be applied on the roller by the releaser applying section, the fixing apparatus further including a guiding member for receiving the releaser dripped from the releaser dripping section, and for guiding, along a surface thereof, a certain amount of a total amount of the thus received releaser to a touch position at which the releaser applying member touches the roller.

Abstract: An electromagnet includes a plate-like yoke, shaped like L, with a curved surface portion, a rectangular iron core connected to said yoke and wound by a coil, an armature rotatably and pivotally supported by one end of said yoke, said armature being driven by said coil and coupling device for coupling said yoke with said iron core by spin press-fitting.

Abstract: An electromagnet includes a plate-like yoke, shaped like L, with a curved surface portion, a rectangular iron core connected to said yoke and wound by a coil, an armature rotatably and pivotally supported by one end of said yoke, said armature being driven by said coil and coupling device for coupling said yoke with said iron core by spin press-fitting.

Abstract: By application of a voltage from a power source, a transfer roller carries out both transfers of (A) a first transfer for transferring a toner image on a photoreceptor to an intermediate transfer medium and (B) a second transfer for transferring overlapped color toner image on the intermediate transfer medium at once onto a recording sheet. A transfer voltage in accordance with, for example, a sheet thickness, as detected by sheet type detection of a sheet type detecting section is applied to the transfer roller in each stage. When the sheet type detecting section detects that the recording sheet is longer than a periphery of a fixing belt, a heater lamp is turned on in advance at any instant between a time when the recording sheet is brought into contact with the fixing roller and a time when the fixing roller completes one rotation, taking into consideration a time required for conduction of heat from the heater lamp to the fixing belt.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus having a post-processing tray arranged upright, a post-processing device such as stapler etc., an offset tray to which post-processed sheets are discharged, includes: the third and forth discharge rollers for introducing the sheet into the post-processing tray from its bottom and discharging the sheet after post-processing to the offset tray; a sheet guide arranged opposing the post-processing tray, a pusher mechanism and paddlers, for aligning the sheets to be stacked so as to be substantially upright and pressing the sheet by particular portions when the sheet is introduced into the post-processing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which applies a voltage from a power source, to a transfer roller for performing a first transfer for transferring a toner image on a photoreceptor to an intermediate transfer medium, and a second transfer for transferring overlapped color toner image on the intermediate transfer medium to a recording sheet. A transfer voltage based on sheet thickness is detected by a sheet type detecting section and applied to the transfer roller in each transfer stage. When the sheet type detecting section detects that the recording sheet is longer than a periphery of a fixing belt, a heater lamp is turned on between a time when the recording sheet is brought into contact with the fixing roller, and a time when the fixing roller completes one rotation. As a result, it is possible to reduce ozone generated in the image forming apparatus and to make the apparatus compact.

Abstract: A heat-resistant sheet, which has slits formed therein, is provided between a fixing roller and a pressure member. The heat-resistant sheet, which has a thickness of 300 .mu.m, is coated with a synthetic resin material having superior toner-releasing and heat-resisting properties, or incorporates such a synthetic resin material inside thereof. Here, a recording material is transported between the fixing roller and the heat-resistant sheet. As the surface temperature of the fixing roller rises, the heat-resistant sheet starts expanding gradually, causing its surface to be warped. However, unless the temperature of the fixing roller exceeds a set temperature, the expansion of the heat-resistant sheet and its surface deflection are all absorbed by the slits, and the slit width becomes zero.

Abstract: An elastically-deformable heat-resistant belt is made in the form of a cylinder made of nickel, which accommodates therein a heater lamp and a reflecting plate for concentrically directing radiant heat from the heater lamp to the vicinity of an area wherein the cylinder-like belt comes into contact with a recording paper sheet carrying a toner image. When the recording paper is transferred along a guide plate, the driving roller rotates the heat-resistant belt in contact with the recording paper. At this time, the rotating belt and the guide plate are pressed against each other and, furthermore, the movable guide plate is further pushed toward the belt by rotation of an eccentric cam with an operating lever to vary the pressed condition of the belt to form a flat surface of a paper transferring portion with a variable nip width therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to save warm-up time of a toner image fixing device for fixing a toner image by heating and reduce manufacturing cost of the device. Elastically-deformable heat-resistant belt is made in form of a cylinder of nickel which accommodates therein a heater lamp and a reflecting plate for concentrically transferring radiant heat from the heater lamp onto a contacting portion of the cylinder-like belt with a recording paper carrying a toner image. When the recording paper is transported along a guiding plate , the driving roller rotates the heat-resistant belt in contact with the recording paper. At this time, the rotating belt and the guide plate are pressed against each other, thereby the belt is elastically deformed in radial direction. The recording paper is transported being pressed by the belt and, thereby, the toner image is fixed onto the recording paper by heat.

Abstract: A toner image fixing device comprises a heat roller and a lamp heater. The lamp heater is formed from a nicrome wire stretched between clamp terminals, a silica tube and ceramic holders closely fitted to respective ends of the silica tube and which have an external diameter which is substantially the same as the diameter of the heating roller. The lamp heater is secured by a lamp holder and frame to the shaft of the heat roller. The heat roller is rotatably supported by a bearing and is driven by a driving gear.

Abstract: A charger performs corona discharge by applying a voltage to a discharging electrode. The charger includes an electrode plate formed in the shape of a panel on the discharging electrode, a plurality of projecting portions disposed in an end portion of the electrode plate, and a plurality of projection groups formed in each of the projecting portions such that the projection groups are adjacent to each other in a thickness direction of the electrode plate.

Abstract: A charger charges a recording medium before irradiation of light to form an electrostatic latent image by irradiating light as an optical image onto a surface of the recording medium. The charger includes a discharging electrode having a plurality of projections for generating corona discharge to charge the recording medium surface, a conductive shield case having an opening face opposite to the recording medium and opposed to the discharging electrode, a holding member for holding the discharging electrode in the shield case in a state in which the discharging electrode is electrically insulated from the shield case, a conductive grid electrode electrically insulated and held between the discharging electrode and the recording medium, and a power supplying device for supplying a high voltage for discharge to the discharging electrode and setting a ratio of electric currents flowing through the grid electrode and the shield case such that these electric currents are approximately equal to each other.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to reduce the number of parts which are required for supporting a photosensitive drum in a photosensitive drum cartridge. Engaging bodies of supporting members are inserted through mounting holes of a cartridge main body. Supporting shafts are inserted into supporting shaft insertion holes formed on the sides of a photosensitive drum. When the supporting members are rotated, the side walls of the cartridge main body are fitted into gaps between flat plates and engaging pieces. The supporting members are positioned with respect to and fixed to the cartridge main body, whereby the photosensitive drum is supported in the cartridge main body.

Abstract: A method of obtaining an excellent recycled pulp from waste pressure-sensitive adhesive paper which has previously been discarded. This method being characterized in that the waste paper is defiberized, then a defiberized suspension thereof is diluted, the diluted suspension is coarse screened by a screen having a slit width of below 0.5 mm, the pulp suspension after coarse screening is dewatered so as to have a solid matter consistency of 15 to 40% by weight, the dewatered stuff is mechanically agitated, the difference between the temperature of the stuff before the agitation and the temperature thereof after the agitation being below 12.degree. C., the obtained stuff is being diluted again, the diluted suspension is fine screened by a screen having a slit width of below 0.

Abstract: In a developing device for use in a picture forming apparatus such as a laser printer and the like and having a developing tank and a supply tank, a sealing member for closing a path in communication with the supply tank and a toner supply outlet is provided. The sealing member is automatically switched from closed state to opened state by frictional force of a supply roller when the supply roller is rotated.