Abstract: In a fixing device incorporated in an image forming apparatus and operable to fix a toner image on a recording medium, a first rotative member and a second rotative member form a nip portion therebetween, at which the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. A separator separates the recording medium, which has been passed through the nip portion, from one of the first rotative member and the second rotative member. The separator is provided with a first guide face extending in a first direction to guide the separated recording medium to an inlet of a subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus. The first guide face is provided with a rib extending in the first direction.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus, includes a fixing roller which has a middle portion and both end portions in an axis direction thereof, a pressing roller which is brought into press contact with the fixing roller for rotating so that a press contact portion is formed, an exfoliating member which exfoliates a sheet-like record medium from a surface of the fixing roller after the record medium is passed through the press contact portion, and restricting members which is provided at both end portions of the exfoliating member, and is brought into contact with the surface of the fixing roller so that an interval between the surface of the fixing roller and the exfoliating member is restricted. The middle portion of the fixing roller is smaller than the both end portions of the fixing roller in a diameter.

Abstract: A reference time ts, which corresponds to a period of time a sheet S needs to move passed a detection position P1 where a sheet detection sensor 841 is disposed, is set in advance in accordance with the length of the sheet S. After a time t1 from the start of driving of a gate roller, as the leading edge of the sheet S transported to a nip area N which is between the heater roller 91 and a pressurizing roller 92 arrives at the detection position P1, an output from the sheet detection sensor 841 changes to an L-level. When the transportation of the sheet has been normal, the sensor output returns to an H-level after a reference time ts or a longer time. On the contrary, upon occurrence of a jam J2 that the sheet S has got wrapped around the heater roller 91, the leading edge of the sheet S moves backward, and therefore, a duration tm in which the sensor output is kept at the L-level becomes shorter than the reference time ts.

Abstract: A recording medium having a toner image formed thereon is moved to pass through a press contact portion between an endless belt being heated and an pressure roller pressed against the endless belt. When passing through the press contact portion, the toner image is fused and permanently affixed onto the recording medium. An oil application width O of an oil application roller is shorter than belt width B of the endless belt, and a maximum passing width P of a recording medium that may be supplied for the image formation, but is longer than a maximum image-forming width I within which an image may be formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: A reference time ts, which corresponds to a period of time a sheet S needs to move passed a detection position P1 where a sheet detection sensor 841 is disposed, is set in advance in accordance with the length of the sheet S. After a time t1 from the start of driving of a gate roller, as the leading edge of the sheet S transported to a nip area N which is between the heater roller 91 and a pressurizing roller 92 arrives at the detection position P1, an output from the sheet detection sensor 841 changes to an L-level. When the transportation of the sheet has been normal, the sensor output returns to an H-level after a reference time ts or a longer time. On the contrary, upon occurrence of a jam J2 that the sheet S has got wrapped around the heater roller 91, the leading edge of the sheet S moves backward, and therefore, a duration tm in which the sensor output is kept at the L-level becomes shorter than the reference time ts.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus, includes a fixing roller which has a middle portion and both end portions in an axis direction thereof, a pressing roller which is brought into press contact with the fixing roller for rotating so that a press contact portion is formed, an exfoliating member which exfoliates a sheet-like record medium from a surface of the fixing roller after the record medium is passed through the press contact portion, and restricting members which is provided at both end portions of the exfoliating member, and is brought into contact with the surface of the fixing roller so that an interval between the surface of the fixing roller and the exfoliating member is restricted. The middle portion of the fixing roller is smaller than the both end portions of the fixing roller in a diameter.

Abstract: In a fixing device incorporated in an image forming apparatus and operable to fix a toner image on a recording medium, a first rotative member and a second rotative member form a nip portion therebetween, at which the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. A separator separates the recording medium, which has been passed through the nip portion, from one of the first rotative member and the second rotative member. The separator is provided with a first guide face extending in a first direction to guide the separated recording medium to an inlet of a subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus. The first guide face is provided with a rib extending in the first direction.

Abstract: A recording medium having a toner image formed thereon is moved to pass through a press contact portion between an endless belt being heated and an pressure roller pressed against the endless belt. When passing through the press contact portion, the toner image is fused and permanently affixed onto the recording medium. An oil application width O of an oil application roller is shorter than belt width B of the endless belt, and a maximum passing width P of a recording medium that may be supplied for the image formation, but is longer than a maximum image-forming width I within which an image may be formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressure application roller 120 pressed against a fixing belt 110 (or fixing roller) to be heated. One of the them is driven while the other follows the one in rotation. A recording medium S having a toner image thereon is moved to pass through a central part N1 of a press contact portion N, whereby the toner image is fused and fixed on the recording medium. High grip portions G are provided on both side ends of the fixing belt or the pressure application roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressure application roller 120 pressed against a fixing belt 110 (or fixing roller) to be heated. One of the them is driven while the other follows the one in rotation. A recording medium S having a toner image thereon is moved to pass through a central part N1 of a press contact portion N, whereby the toner image is fused and fixed on the recording medium. High grip portions G are provided on both side ends of the fixing belt or the pressure application roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressure application roller 120 pressed against a fixing belt 110 (or fixing roller) to be heated. One of the them is driven while the other follows the one in rotation. A recording medium S having a toner image thereon is moved to pass through a central part N1 of a press contact portion N, whereby the toner image is fused and fixed on the recording medium. High grip portions G are provided on both side ends of the fixing belt or the pressure application roller.

Abstract: A recording medium having a toner image formed thereon is moved to pass through a press contact portion between an endless belt being heated and an pressure roller pressed against the endless belt. When passing through the press contact portion, the toner image is fused and permanently affixed onto the recording medium. An oil application width O of an oil application roller is shorter than belt width B of the endless belt, and a maximum passing width P of a recording medium that may be supplied for the image formation, but is longer than a maximum image-forming width I within which an image may be formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is able to form either single or double sided copies on a recording medium while achieving an excellent image quality in either a matted or glossy finish. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion in which a first roller includes a first temperature and hardness for forming a matted image, whereas a second roller includes a higher temperature and hardness for forming a glossy image. Alternatively, or in addition, to different hardness and temperatures, the recording medium can be conveyed at a first speed to form a matted image, and a slower speed to form a glossy image. The image forming apparatus further includes an inverse and re-fixing sub-mode, which utilizes an inverting and returning passage, for reducing the curl in a recording medium, and thus also reducing the instances in which clogging takes place. The inverting and returning passage has a length sufficient to accommodate a plurality of recording mediums.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is able to form either single or double sided copies on a recording medium while achieving an excellent image quality in either a matted or glossy finish. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion in which a first roller includes a first temperature and hardness for forming a matted image, whereas a second roller includes a higher temperature and hardness for forming a glossy image. Alternatively, or in addition, to different hardness and temperatures, the recording medium can be conveyed at a first speed to form a matted image, and a slower speed to form a glossy image. The image forming apparatus further includes an inverse and re-fixing sub-mode, which utilizes an inverting and returning passage, for reducing the curl in a recording medium, and thus also reducing the instances in which clogging takes place. The inverting and returning passage has a length sufficient to accommodate a plurality of recording mediums.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a heat roller having a heat source therein; and first and second pressing rollers arranged to be pressed sequentially against the heat roller beginning with a more upstream pressing roller in a direction of rotation of the heat roller, wherein when the hardness of the heat roller is Hh, the hardness of the first pressing roller is Hp1 and the ratio of the hardness of the two rollers satisfies Hr1=Hh/Hp1, the heat roller and the first pressing roller are structured in such a manner that the following condition is satisfied: Hr1.gtoreq.1.5.

Abstract: A charger for portable terminal equipment, capable of distinguishing a nickel-hydride battery pack and a nickel-cadmium battery pack and of detecting an on-hook/off-hook condition even when the nickel-hydride battery pack is used. The charger includes a charging circuit, a pair of third charging terminals connected to the charging circuit and adapted to be selectively connected to either a pair of first charging terminals of the nickel-hydride battery pack or a pair of second charging terminals of the nickel-cadmium battery pack, and a third auxiliary terminal adapted to be selectively connected to either a first auxiliary terminal of the nickel-hydride battery pack or a second auxiliary terminal of the nickel-cadmium battery pack.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing device is provided with design features permitting are reduction in device height making it readily suitable for compact utility in a computer assembly, such as, a laptop computer or the like as well as a simplification of parts to provide for a reduction in manufacturing and assembly costs. These features include a structure for miniaturization and simplification of the collet mechanism and its assembly for clamping the recording medium, and the employment of a light guide member in the recording medium detection system for detecting the instantaneous rotational position of the recording medium from which a timing signal is derived. With the improvement of the clamping mechanism and use of a light guide member, significant miniaturization and thinning or reduction in casing height of the device can be achieved.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing device is provided with design features permitting are reduction in device height making it readily suitable for compact utility in a computer assembly, such as, a laptop computer or the like as well as a simplification of parts to provide for a reduction in manufacturing and assembly costs. These features include a structure for miniaturization and simplification of the collet mechanism and its assembly for clamping the recording medium, and the employment of a light guide member in the recording medium detection system for detecting the instantaneous rotational position of the recording medium from which a timing signal is derived. With the improvement of the clamping mechanism and use of a light guide member, significant miniaturization and thinning or reduction in casing height of the device can be achieved.

Abstract: A magnetic head supporting mechanism supports first and second magnetic heads in relation to a flexible magnetic disk in a manner such that the heads move in a generally perpendicular direction to the plane of the flexible disk. The motion of the heads is constrained by the spring rate of the supporting plates in the generally perpendicular direction to the plane of the flexible disk and the warping of the plates is further constrained by the torsional rigidities of the plates. The spring rate and the torsional rigidities of the supporting plates are set within preferred ranges.