Abstract: A transport device includes: a first rotating body including a shaft portion, a cylindrical portion on an outer periphery of the shaft portion, and a recessed portion in an outer surface of the cylindrical portion; a second rotating body capable of moving from the first rotating body while contacting an outer surface of the first rotating body and nipping a recording medium; a transport unit that includes a holding portion that holds the recording medium, and that transports the recording medium by moving the holding portion in a rotation direction of the first rotating body while the holding portion is disposed in the recessed portion; and a moving mechanism including a cam portion on a side of the cylindrical portion and a contact portion connected to the second rotating body and that comes into contact with the cam portion to separate the second rotating body from the first rotating body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a first roller on which an elastic layer is formed; and a second roller that forms a clamping portion at which a recording medium is clamped between the first roller and the second roller, a groove extending in an axial direction being formed in an outer peripheral surface of the second roller, and the second roller not including an elastic layer.

Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes: a first member that rotates; a second member that rotates, the first member or second member having a recess, the first member and second member forming a nip area therebetween and transporting a recording medium while nipping the recording medium in the nip area; a gripping member that grips the recording medium; a separating member that separates the recording medium having passed through the nip area from the first member or the second member; and a control mechanism that controls opening and closing of the gripping member and movement of the separating member such that the gripping member is opened so as to release the recording medium in a state in which the gripping member is located in the recess, and the separating member lifts the recording medium from a state in which the tip of the separating member is located in the recess.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a medium; a heating unit that is provided on a downstream side in a transport path from the image forming unit and that is configured to heat a medium being transported in a non-contact manner; a fixing unit that is provided on a downstream side in the transport path from the heating unit and fixes the toner image on the medium; a shielding unit to which force is applied so as to be inform a closed state in which the heating unit is shielded; and an open state forming unit configured to receive power supply to drive the shielding unit so as to form an open state in which the heating unit is opened, and maintain the open state while the power is being supplied.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a heating unit configured to heat a medium to be conveyed along a conveyance path by radiation; and a shielding unit made of non-metallic material, the shielding unit being configured to form a shielding state in which radiation from the heating unit is shielded and a non-shielding state in which radiation from the heating unit is not shielded, in which the shielding unit being expanded in a direction intersecting the radiation in the shielding state and is stored in the non-shielding state.

Abstract: A transport device includes: a first rotating body including a shaft portion, a cylindrical portion on an outer periphery of the shaft portion, and a recessed portion in an outer surface of the cylindrical portion; a second rotating body capable of moving from the first rotating body while contacting an outer surface of the first rotating body and nipping a recording medium; a transport unit that includes a holding portion that holds the recording medium, and that transports the recording medium by moving the holding portion in a rotation direction of the first rotating body while the holding portion is disposed in the recessed portion; and a moving mechanism including a cam portion on a side of the cylindrical portion and a contact portion connected to the second rotating body and that comes into contact with the cam portion to separate the second rotating body from the first rotating body.

Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes: a first member that rotates; a second member that rotates, the first member or second member having a recess, the first member and second member forming a nip area therebetween and transporting a recording medium while nipping the recording medium in the nip area; a gripping member that grips the recording medium; a separating member that separates the recording medium having passed through the nip area from the first member or the second member; and a control mechanism that controls opening and closing of the gripping member and movement of the separating member such that the gripping member is opened so as to release the recording medium in a state in which the gripping member is located in the recess, and the separating member lifts the recording medium from a state in which the tip of the separating member is located in the recess.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a first roller on which an elastic layer is formed; and a second roller that forms a clamping portion at which a recording medium is clamped between the first roller and the second roller, a groove extending in an axial direction being formed in an outer peripheral surface of the second roller, and the second roller not including an elastic layer.

Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes: a rotating first and second member, the first and second member forming a nip area therebetween and transporting a recording medium while nipping; a gripping member that grips the recording medium; a separating member that separates the recording medium passing through the nip area from the first or second member; and a control mechanism that controls contact and separation between the first and second member and opening and closing the gripping member where, in a first section, the gripping member passes between the first and second member, the first and second member are separated, and the gripping member is opened to release the recording medium until the first and second member come into contact with each other and, in a second section subsequent to the first section and before the recording medium reaches the separating member, the gripping member opens wider than the first section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a medium; a heating unit that is provided on a downstream side in a transport path from the image forming unit and that is configured to heat a medium being transported in a non-contact manner; a fixing unit that is provided on a downstream side in the transport path from the heating unit and fixes the toner image on the medium; a shielding unit to which force is applied so as to be inform a closed state in which the heating unit is shielded; and an open state forming unit configured to receive power supply to drive the shielding unit so as to form an open state in which the heating unit is opened, and maintain the open state while the power is being supplied.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a heating unit configured to heat a medium to be conveyed along a conveyance path by radiation; and a shielding unit made of non-metallic material, the shielding unit being configured to form a shielding state in which radiation from the heating unit is shielded and a non-shielding state in which radiation from the heating unit is not shielded, in which the shielding unit being expanded in a direction intersecting the radiation in the shielding state and is stored in the non-shielding state.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a light source that radiates a laser beam, a converging member that converges the laser beam, and a roller that is positioned so as to be in contact with the converging member and that transports a recording medium, which enters between the roller and the converging member. The converging member includes a lens that converges the laser beam, which is incident on a first surface of the lens, and emits the laser beam from a second surface of the lens and a holding member made of a material that does not transmit the laser beam, the holding member holding the lens. In the cross-sectional view perpendicular to a rotation axis of the roller, a contact surface in which the roller and the converging member are in contact with each other includes at least a portion of a surface of the holding member and the second surface.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a light source that emits laser light; a condensing member including a lens having a first surface from which the laser light enters and a second surface from which the laser light emerges, the lens condensing the laser light that has entered from the first surface and emitting the laser light from the second surface; and a roller provided in contact with the condensing member and that transports a recording medium advanced into a position between the roller and the condensing member. A portion of the second surface is made of a material that blocks the laser light. In a section perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the roller, a plane of contact between the roller and the condensing member includes at least a part of the portion made of the material that blocks the laser light.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a light source that emits laser light; a condensing member including a lens having a first surface from which the laser light enters and a second surface from which the laser light emerges, the lens condensing the laser light that has entered from the first surface and emitting the laser light from the second surface; and a roller provided in contact with the condensing member and that transports a recording medium advanced into a position between the roller and the condensing member. A portion of the second surface is made of a material that blocks the laser light. In a section perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the roller, a plane of contact between the roller and the condensing member includes at least a part of the portion made of the material that blocks the laser light.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a light source that radiates a laser beam, a converging member that converges the laser beam, and a roller that is positioned so as to be in contact with the converging member and that transports a recording medium, which enters between the roller and the converging member. The converging member includes a lens that converges the laser beam, which is incident on a first surface of the lens, and emits the laser beam from a second surface of the lens and a holding member made of a material that does not transmit the laser beam, the holding member holding the lens. In the cross-sectional view perpendicular to a rotation axis of the roller, a contact surface in which the roller and the converging member are in contact with each other includes at least a portion of a surface of the holding member and the second surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus body and fixes a developer image onto a recording medium; a setting unit that is provided in the fixing device and in which a size of a recording medium to be used in the fixing device is set; an acquiring unit that is provided in the apparatus body and acquires size information of a recording medium onto which the developer image is to be fixed; a determining unit that compares the size of the recording medium set in the setting unit with the size of the recording medium acquired by the acquiring unit so as to determine whether or not a fixing process is performable by the fixing device; and a notifying unit that at least provides notification of a negative determination result obtained by the determining unit.

Abstract: An applying device includes an applying member that applies an applying material to an outer peripheral surface of a fixing member that rotates, while a peripheral velocity difference is caused to exist between a peripheral velocity of the fixing member and a peripheral velocity of the applying member. The applying material contains a fluorocarbon resin material.

Abstract: A heating device includes a first rotating member and a second rotating member revolving in contact with the first rotating member. The second rotating member heats a passing recording medium having a toner image and held between the first and second rotating members, thereby fixing the toner image on the recording medium. The heating device further includes a pair of supporting plates supporting the first and second rotating members by being arranged on both sides across the first and second rotating members in a width direction crossing the passing direction of the recording medium. The supporting plates each have a tabular section with a first surface facing the first and second rotating members. The heating device further includes a resistance element arranged on a second surface side opposite to the first surface of the tabular section, and representing the type of a fixing device by using resistance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus body and fixes a developer image onto a recording medium; a setting unit that is provided in the fixing device and in which a size of a recording medium to be used in the fixing device is set; an acquiring unit that is provided in the apparatus body and acquires size information of a recording medium onto which the developer image is to be fixed; a determining unit that compares the size of the recording medium set in the setting unit with the size of the recording medium acquired by the acquiring unit so as to determine whether or not a fixing process is performable by the fixing device; and a notifying unit that at least provides notification of a negative determination result obtained by the determining unit.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device including: a heating member that, while rotating, heats and fixes a developer image onto a recording medium; a pressing member that nips and presses the recording medium between itself and the heating member; an external heating member configured to make contact with an outer surface of the heating member and to move away from the outer surface of the heating member, the external heating member making contact with the outer surface of the heating member and heating the heating member; and a moving section that computes a contact position of a leading edge of the recording medium and the outer surface of the heating member, and moves the external heating member such that the external heating member contacts the outer surface of the heating member based on the computed position.