Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device having a fixing belt assembly including a heater, a fixing belt, a heater temperature sensor, and a belt temperature sensor, and a pressure roller; a drive current sensor; and a life information acquisition portion. The heater temperature sensor detects the temperature of the heater. The belt temperature sensor detects the temperature of the fixing belt. The pressure roller presses against the fixing belt. The drive current sensor detects a drive current of a drive motor that drives the pressure roller. The life information acquisition portion acquires life information of the fixing belt assembly. A controller selects a failure prediction processing mode based on the detection result of the drive current sensor and selects a driving method based on the detection results of the temperature sensors and the acquisition result of the life information acquisition portion in each mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device having a fixing belt assembly including a heater, a fixing belt, a heater temperature sensor, and a belt temperature sensor, and a pressure roller; a drive current sensor; and a life information acquisition portion. The heater temperature sensor detects the temperature of the heater. The belt temperature sensor detects the temperature of the fixing belt. The pressure roller presses against the fixing belt. The drive current sensor detects a drive current of a drive motor that drives the pressure roller. The life information acquisition portion acquires life information of the fixing belt assembly. A controller selects a failure prediction processing mode based on the detection result of the drive current sensor and selects a driving method based on the detection results of the temperature sensors and the acquisition result of the life information acquisition portion in each mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a fixing device configured to fix an image formed by an image forming section on an image receiving medium. The fixing device includes a heating roller, an auxiliary roller arranged at an entering side of the image receiving medium, and a fixing belt which is stretched by a plurality of rollers including the auxiliary roller and cyclically rotates in a state of being contacted with part of the outer periphery of the heating roller; wherein the auxiliary roller is arranged at a position which is closer to the entering side of the image receiving medium than a fixing nip section between the heating roller and the fixing belt and is at a preset distance away from the fixing nip section. The image forming apparatus further comprises an inlet guide configured closer to the entering side of the image receiving medium than the auxiliary roller.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming section configured to be capable of forming an image with erasable coloring agent; a storage section configured to include a first and a second cassettes capable of storing an image receiving medium; an erasing section configured to heat the image receiving medium on which an image is formed with the erasable coloring agent at a pre-set temperature to erase the image; and a conveyance section configured to convey the image receiving medium stacked in the first cassette through a first conveyance path which passes through the image forming section and the erasing section, and convey the image receiving medium the image on which is erased by the erasing section to the second cassette of the storage section through a second conveyance path.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a transfer device configured to transfer an image onto a conveyed recording medium (sheet); a fixer configured to heat, press and convey the sheet to fix the transferred image on the sheet; a sensor configured to detect the bending amount of the sheet between the transfer device and the fixer; and a control section configured to control at least one of the transfer device and the fixer so that the recording medium between the transfer device and the fixer is conveyed in a bent state and the bending amount of the sheet is reduced if the bending amount of the sheet exceeds a preset one according to the detection result of the sensor.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a transfer device configured to transfer an image onto a conveyed recording medium (sheet); a fixer configured to heat, press and convey the sheet to fix the transferred image on the sheet; a sensor configured to detect the bending amount of the sheet between the transfer device and the fixer; and a control section configured to control at least one of the transfer device and the fixer so that the recording medium between the transfer device and the fixer is conveyed in a bent state and the bending amount of the sheet is reduced if the bending amount of the sheet exceeds a preset one according to the detection result of the sensor.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprising a printer section configured to include a first image forming section which forms a monochrome image with inerasable coloring agent and a plurality of color image forming sections at least one of which forms a color image with erasable coloring agent; and a control section configured to control the printer section so that the printer section operates in a first mode of forming a monochrome image through the first image forming section, a second mode of forming an erasable image with the erasable coloring agent, and a third mode of forming an image through the first image forming section and the plurality of color image forming sections.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a fixing section, a pressing section, a plurality of nips, a plurality of conveyance paths, a switch section and a control section. The fixing section is heated through a heat source. The pressing section is pressed against the fixing section to form a nip. The plurality of nips are formed by at least one fixing section and at least one pressing section. The plurality of conveyance paths pass through at least one of the plurality of nips. The switch section switches the plurality of conveyance paths. The control section controls the switch section.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming section configured to form a toner image on a printing recording medium, a fixing section configured to heat the printing recording medium printed with the toner image at a fixing temperature, a temperature control section configured to control the fixing section to a temperature above a color erasing temperature, a conveyance section configured to convey the printing recording medium or a color erasing recording medium to the fixing section, and a speed control section configured to control, according to a setting temperature of the fixing section, a speed ratio of a traveling speed of the fixing section to a conveyance speed of the conveyance section.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a fixing belt including a conductive layer, an induction-current generating section to electromagnetically induction-heat the conductive layer, an opposed section to form a nip in cooperation with the fixing belt, an auxiliary heat generating section electromagnetically induction-heated by the induction-current generating section, and a moving section to move the auxiliary heat generating section with respect to the fixing belt.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a heat roller, an endless belt, a first press roller and a second press roller. The heat roller rotates and contacts a toner surface side of a sheet, and heats the sheet. The endless belt contacts a part of an outer peripheral surface of the heat roller. The first press roller contacts a part of an inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, and is provided at an insertion part of the sheet in a nip portion where the heat roller contacts the endless belt. The second press roller contacts a part of the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, is provided at an exit part of the sheet in the nip portion, and has a lower rotational resistance than the first press roller.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a fuser including a cylindrical fixing belt, a heating unit configured to heat the fixing belt, a pressurized section, a first nip forming section, a second nip forming section, and a moving mechanism. The pressurized section is arranged in contact with the fixing belt. The first nip forming section is fixed in a position where the first nip forming section presses the fixing belt against the pressurized section. The second nip forming section is configured to be movable between a position where the second nip forming section can press the fixing belt against the pressurized section and a position where the second nip forming section is separated from the fixing belt. The moving mechanism moves the second nip forming section.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt including a metal layer, a pressing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing belt, an induction current generating coil that faces an outer periphery of the fixing belt, and heats the fixing belt located at a nip position through a hollow inside of the fixing belt, and a coil controller supplies a high frequency to the induction current generating coil.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a fixing belt including a conductive layer, an induction-current generating section to electromagnetically induction-heat the conductive layer, an opposed section to form a nip in cooperation with the fixing belt, an auxiliary heat generating section electromagnetically induction-heated by the induction-current generating section, and a moving section to move the auxiliary heat generating section with respect to the fixing belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an image erasing section including a first member which has an elastic layer and heats a recording medium having a thermally decolorizable toner image on the toner image side and a second member which erases the toner image by allowing the recording medium in cooperation with the first member; an image forming section which transfers a thermally decolorizable toner image onto the recording medium on which the toner image is erased to form an unfixed toner image; and an image fixing section including a third member which does not have an elastic layer and heats the recording medium on the unfixed toner image side and a fourth member which fixes the unfixed toner image by allowing the recording medium in cooperation with the third member.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a fixing belt including a conductive layer, an induction-current generating section to electromagnetically induction-heat the conductive layer, an opposed section to form a nip in cooperation with the fixing belt, an auxiliary heat generating section electromagnetically induction-heated by the induction-current generating section, and a moving section to move the auxiliary heat generating section with respect to the fixing belt.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a fuser including a cylindrical fixing belt, a heating member, an auxiliary heat generating member, a plurality of heat pipes, a pressurizing pad, and a pressurizing roller. The heating member heats the fixing belt. The auxiliary heat generating member auxiliary heats the fixing belt. The plural heat pipes are sparsely arranged in the center in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary heat generating member and more densely arranged at the ends in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary heat generating member than in the center. The pressurizing pad is arranged on the inside of the fixing belt. The pressurizing roller is arranged in contact with the outer circumference of the fixing belt. The pressurizing roller presses the fixing belt against the pressurizing pad.

Abstract: A fuser is equipped with a heating roller, fixing belt, pressure roller, pad, and spring. The heating roller is located on the downstream side of the fixing belt with respect to the sheet conveyance direction, and as the heating roller rotates, contacts the sheet toner side of a sheet, heating the sheet. The fixing belt contacts the side of the sheet opposite to the toner side of the sheet. The pressure roller comes into contact with the heating roller via the fixing belt. The pad is of a softer material than the fixing belt, and, as the pad exerts a force on the heating roller by pressing on the fixing belt, a downstream side of the pad with respect to the sheet conveyance direction is inclined away from the pressure roller. Springs urge the pad toward the pressure roller and the heating roller.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a heat roller, an endless belt, a first press roller and a second press roller. The heat roller rotates and contacts a toner surface side of a sheet, and heats the sheet. The endless belt contacts a part of an outer peripheral surface of the heat roller. The first press roller contacts a part of an inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, and is provided at an insertion part of the sheet in a nip portion where the heat roller contacts the endless belt. The second press roller contacts a part of the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, is provided at an exit part of the sheet in the nip portion, and has a lower rotational resistance than the first press roller.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a heat roller, an endless belt, a first press roller and a second press roller. The heat roller rotates and contacts a toner surface side of a sheet, and heats the sheet. The endless belt contacts a part of an outer peripheral surface of the heat roller. The first press roller contacts a part of an inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, and is provided at an insertion part of the sheet in a nip portion where the heat roller contacts the endless belt. The second press roller contacts a part of the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, is provided at an exit part of the sheet in the nip portion, and has a lower rotational resistance than the first press roller.