Abstract: A fixing member according to the present invention is such one as is brought into pressure contact with a conveyed sheet to fix an image onto the sheet. The fixing member comprises a cylindrical or annular base material, a rubber layer provided so as to cover an outer surface of the base material and having elasticity, and an outer layer provided so as to cover an outer surface of the rubber layer for aiding release of the sheet. A siloxane content in a central section of the rubber layer is less than twice the siloxane content in an end portion of the rubber layer with respect to a width direction vertical to a circumferential direction on the base material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cylindrical or annular fixing member, an outer surface of which is brought into pressure contact with a conveyed sheet to fix an image onto the sheet; and a heating source for heating the fixing member to a specified target temperature. The fixing member includes a cylindrical or annular base material, a rubber layer with elasticity, and an outer layer for aiding release of the sheet. An end portion of the rubber layer and an end portion of the outer layer are each positioned inner than an end portion of the base material with respect to a width direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction on the base material. A filter member capable of trapping ultra fine particles generated from the rubber layer is provided on the base material in a position facing the end portion of the rubber layer along the circumferential direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carrier rollers placed on an inner circumferential side of an annular conveying path so as to face the annular conveying path and so as to be juxtaposed in a sheet conveying direction along the annular conveying path. Opposed rollers are provided on the outer circumferential side of the annular conveying path. The respective image carrier rollers and the opposed rollers which are in pressure contact therewith constitute pairs of transfer rollers, respectively. Imaging sections for forming intrinsic color images on surfaces of the respective image carrier rollers are provided. A sheet is introduced to the annular conveying path and is conveyed along the sheet conveying direction sequentially through nip sections of the pairs of transfer rollers, while the images formed on the surfaces of the respective image carrier rollers by the imaging sections are transferred one by one onto the sheet.

Abstract: In a beltless tandem-type image forming apparatus of the invention, a plurality of pairs of transfer rollers are placed side by side at intervals along a conveying direction of sheets. A control section independently conveys sheets in sequence through nip sections of respective pairs of transfer rollers driven by a driving section while sequentially transferring images formed by an imaging section onto the sheets. Conveying speeds of the respective pairs of transfer rollers controlled by the driving section are gradually decreased for every pair of transfer rollers from an upstream side toward a downstream side along a conveying direction of the sheets, and consequently, a driving period for driving the respective pairs of transfer rollers to convey each sheet is gradually increased for every pair of transfer rollers from the upstream side toward the downstream side along the conveying direction of the sheets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a development unit for forming a toner image on the image carrier by supplying a toner contained in a developer reservoir to a latent image formed on the image carrier by means of a developer carrier; a transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a transfer medium; a recovery unit for recovering the toner remaining on the image carrier after image transfer; a return unit for transporting the recover toner recovered by the recovery unit so as to return the recover toner into the developer reservoir of the development unit; and a separator/feeder for separating the toner contained in the developer reservoir from the recover toner thereby exclusively feeding the toner contained in the developer reservoir to the latent image formed on the image carrier by means of the developer carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a development unit for forming a toner image on the image carrier by supplying a toner contained in a developer reservoir to a latent image formed on the image carrier by means of a developer carrier; a transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a transfer medium; a recovery unit for recovering the toner remaining on the image carrier after image transfer; a return unit for transporting the recover toner recovered by the recovery unit so as to return the recover toner into the developer reservoir of the development unit; and a separator/feeder for separating the toner contained in the developer reservoir from the recover toner thereby exclusively feeding the toner contained in the developer reservoir to the latent image formed on the image carrier by means of the developer carrier.

Abstract: A tractor feeds a perforated continuous paper sheet to a printing position. The feeding force of a fusing device located downstream of the printing position is set larger than the feeding force of the tractor in order to apply tension to the continuous paper sheet at the printing position. A braking device located upstream of the tractor applies a braking force balancing with the feeding force of the fusing device to the continuous paper sheet. The braking force of the braking device is varied depending upon the properties of the paper sheet or the environmental conditions. This arrangement makes it possible to stabilize the feeding state even under situations where the sheet feeding force is likely to become unstable, thereby realizing printing without any deviation from the predetermined position. Further, this arrangement can also prevent hole breakage to occur.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rolling a recording paper is disclosed which is characterized by causing first nipping means disposed on a cylindrical drum to nip one end of the recording paper, rotating the cylindrical drum thereby rolling the recording paper around the cylindrical drum, causing second nipping means to nip the other end of the recording paper, and moving the first nipping means so as to bring the recording paper into close contact with the cylindrical drum. Owing to the construction, the recording paper and the ink sheet can be easily and infallibly brought into close contact with the cylindrical drum.