Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, and a damage detecting unit. The fixing member includes a heat-insulating elastic layer, to which a conductive thin-film layer is provided. The pressure member presses against the fixing member to form a fixing nip. The damage detecting unit detects the electric resistance of the thin-film layer. The damage detecting unit detects a change in the electric resistance of the thin-film layer, thereby detecting damage to the fixing member. Depending on the extent of the damage, the condition of conveyance of a recording medium to the fixing nip is changed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an image surface side separating member that separates a recording medium from a fixing member; an image surface side conveyance guiding member arranged downstream of the image surface side separating member; a non-image surface side separating member that separates the recording medium from a pressing member; and a non-image surface side conveyance guiding member arranged downstream of the non-image surface side separating member. When the image surface side conveyance guiding member is rotated about its rotation axis so as to be opened or closed, the image surface side separating member is also rotated or slid so as to be opened or closed simultaneously. When the non-image surface side conveyance guiding member is rotated about its rotation axis so as to be opened or closed, the non-image surface side separating member is also rotated or slid so as to be opened or closed simultaneously.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism and an image fixing unit. The image forming mechanism forms a toner image on a recording sheet. The image fixing unit fixes the toner image onto the recording sheet. The image fixing unit includes a magnetic flux generator, a heat member, a magnetic flux adjuster, and a controlling member. The magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux. The heat member is heated inductively by the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux adjuster reduces the magnetic flux active on the heat member to form a heat reduction area in an outer circumferential surface of the heat member in a width direction thereof. The controlling member moves the magnetic flux adjuster to change the heat reduction area.

Abstract: The fixing device using an electromagnetic induction heating (IH) method includes a fixing sleeve having a heating layer, a pressure roller to form a nip while contacting the fixing roller and rotate to drive the fixing sleeve, a temperature detector to detect a temperature on a circumference of the fixing sleeve, and an excitation coil provided near the fixing sleeve and configured to perform induction heating of the heating layer of the fixing sleeve based on the detection result from the temperature detector. The fixing device is configured to change a rotation speed of the fixing sleeve in a standby time during which the fixing sleeve, while rotating, is controlled to be heated so as to maintain a target temperature when a periodic temperature difference occurs on a circumference of the fixing rotary member and having a fluctuation amplitude larger than a predetermined value compared to the target temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism and an image fixing unit. The image forming mechanism forms a toner image on a recording sheet. The image fixing unit fixes the toner image onto the recording sheet. The image fixing unit includes a magnetic flux generator, a heat member, a magnetic flux adjuster, and a controlling member. The magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux. The heat member is heated inductively by the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux adjuster reduces the magnetic flux active on the heat member to form a heat reduction area in an outer circumferential surface of the heat member in a width direction thereof. The controlling member moves the magnetic flux adjuster to change the heat reduction area.

Abstract: A fixing system includes a fixing device that fixes a non-fixed image with heat onto a recording medium. The fixing device includes a fixing roller that generates heat and a pressing roller that presses against the fixing roller. A curl correction device is provided to correct curling of the recording medium passing through the fixing device. The curl correction device includes a heating roller unit that generates heat and an elastic roller that presses against the heating roller unit. A magnetic flux generating device is arranged in the vicinity of the fixing device and the curl correction device and generates magnetic flux.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating source; a heating member heated by the heating source; a pressing member contacting the heating member to form a fixing nip therebetween, at which an unfixed image of toner on a recording sheet is fixed to the recording sheet; a first charging member located at an entrance of the fixing device, from which the recording sheet bearing the unfixed toner image enters the fixing device, so as to face the unfixed toner image. The first charging member is not contacted with the heating member and pressing member, and has a charge with a polarity opposite to a polarity of a charge of the toner to collect floating particles of the toner.

Abstract: An elastic layer is provided on a surface of one of a metal core and a substrate. A fixing member and a pressure member press into each other and collectively create a nip therebetween. A toner image is conveyed and fixed when passing through the nip. A thickness of the elastic layer is different in at least two widthwise regions by the same amount from the other region. A pair of edges of a prescribed size of the transfer sheet pass through these two widthwise regions, respectively.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording medium includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a sheet guide, and a pressure adjusting mechanism. The fixing member heats the unfixed toner image on the recording medium. The pressure member is disposed opposite the fixing member and presses against the fixing member to define a fixing nip through which the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image passes to fix the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium. The position of the fixing nip is changeable. The sheet guide disposed adjacent to the pressure member guides the recording medium to the fixing nip and moves in conjunction with movement of the pressure member. The pressure adjusting mechanism operatively connected to the pressure member adjusts an amount of engagement of the pressure member relative to the fixing member. An image forming apparatus includes the fixing device.

Abstract: A connector device for interconnecting circuit substrates is obtained, in which a pitch for electrically conducting paths can easily be aligned with a pitch for electrodes on the side of circuit substrates. The connector includes a rectangular parallelepiped connecting element (9) and a connector housing (11). The rectangular parallelepiped connecting element (9) has a plurality of electrically conducting paths disposed on a rectangular parallelepiped insulating base thereof at an insulating interval and the connector housing (11) is mounted on a first circuit substrate (1) with the rectangular parallelepiped connecting element (9) received therein.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a second rotary member disposed opposite a first rotary member forms a nip between the first rotary member and the second rotary member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A first separation member rotatively provided on a rotary shaft of the first rotary member separates the recording medium passing through the nip from the first rotary member. A rotation angle adjuster connected to the first separation member changes a rotation angle position of the first separation member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an excitation coil, a heat-generating layer, a magnetic shunt layer, and a degaussing member. The excitation coil generates a magnetic flux. The heat-generating layer generates heat using the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil. The magnetic shunt layer transmits heat generated by the heat-generating layer. The degaussing member sandwiches the magnetic shunt layer together with the excitation coil, and selectively performs degaussing by generating a repelling magnetic flux for canceling the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil so as to activate a self-temperature-control function. The degaussing member selectively refrains from degaussing so as to deactivate the self-temperature-control function.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device to fix a toner image on a recording medium by applying heat. Such a fixing device includes at least a magnetic flux generator, a heat generating roller, a magnetic shunt layer, and a protective layer. The magnetic flux generator is configured to generate magnetic flux. The heat generating roller including a heat generating layer is configured to generate heat by the magnetic flux. The magnetic shunt layer may be formed independently of the heat generating layer. The protective layer is provided on an inner surface of the magnetic shunt layer and configured to cover a crack formed in the magnetic shunt layer during fabrication of the magnetic shunt layer. An image is fixed onto the recording medium by the heat from the heat generating roller. Alternatively, the magnetic shunt layer may be integrally provided with the heat generating layer.

Abstract: A liquid applicator having a discharge roller (3) that discharges a liquid fed from feeding means in a prescribed pattern. The liquid discharged from the discharge roller (3) is applied to a moving substrate (S). The discharge roller (3) includes a surface plate (31) and a roller main body (32). The roller main body (32) has on its peripheral portion a recess (33) of prescribed shape, in which a liquid is introduced through the inside of the roller main body (32) and spread along the surface of the surface plate (31). The surface plate (31) has, in its portion covering the recess (33), a liquid exit part (3b) that permits exit of the liquid in a pattern different from the opening shape of the recess (33) and a liquid block part (3c) that blocks passage of a liquid. The liquid exit part (3b) is formed of a porous material having a large number of fine pores.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a magnetic flux generator, a rotating heat generation member, a magnetic flux adjuster, and a driver. The magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux. The rotating heat generation member rotates and applies heat to a recording medium bearing an image, and includes a heat-generating layer to generate heat using the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux adjuster is provided outside the rotating heat generation member, and decreases the magnetic flux applied to the heat-generating layer at least in a desired area in an axial direction of the rotating heat generation member. The driver changes the desired area by driving the magnetic flux adjuster in a direction of rotation of the rotating heat generation member.

Abstract: A belt driving mechanism includes an endless belt wound around first and second belt supporters, rotated by a driving source, a pressure member that presses against the first belt supporter via the endless belt, a deviation detector to detect a deviation of the endless belt in its thrust direction, a cam mechanism including a rotary cam shaft extending the thrust direction of the endless belt and a first pressure change member of irregular shape, and a controller to changes a rotational position of the first pressure change member according to a detection result by the deviation detector. The first pressure change member has multiple different lengths of radii between a center portion of the cam shaft and its outer circumference and is attached to the cam shaft to press a first end portion of one of the first belt supporter and the pressure member.

Abstract: A connector device for interconnecting circuit substrates is provided, in which no electric element for protection needs to be mounted separately on circuit substrates. A rectangular parallelepiped connecting element having an electrical component (9) is received in a connector housing (11). The rectangular parallelepiped connecting element having an electrical component (9) includes a plurality of first electrically conducting path portions (17a) and a plurality of second electrically conducting path portions (17b) disposed on a rectangular parallelepiped insulating base (13), and a plurality of electric elements (19) that are electrically connected in series with the plurality of first electrically conducting path portions (17a) and the plurality of second electrically conducting path portions (17b).

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing section, a sheet-width detector, a heating-width changing mechanism, a mixed feeding detector, and a controller. The fixing section includes at least a fixing member that fixes a toner image on a recording medium upon application of heat thereto. The sheet-width detector detects a width of the recording medium and outputs a sheet-width signal. The heat-width changing mechanism changes a heating width of the fixing member. The mixed feeding detector detects whether or not mixed feeding of a plurality of sheets of the recording medium having different widths is performed during a successive sheet feeding, and outputs a mixed feeding signal. The controller controls the heating-width changing mechanism to control the heating width based on the sheet-width signal and the mixed feeding signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of suppressing coloration of catechins, which contains adding, to catechins, a water-soluble polymer forming a water-insoluble complex with catechins, as well as hydrogel particles containing a water-insoluble complex between catechins and a polymer forming a water-insoluble complex with catechins. Further, the present invention relates to a dentifrice composition containing hydrogel particles containing catechins and a polymer forming a water-insoluble complex with catechins, a binder and water.

Abstract: A connector device for interconnecting circuit substrates is obtained, in which a pitch for electrically conducting paths can easily be aligned with a pitch for electrodes on the side of circuit substrates. The connector includes a rectangular parallelepiped connecting element (9) and a connector housing (11). The rectangular parallelepiped connecting element (9) has a plurality of electrically conducting paths disposed on a rectangular parallelepiped insulating base thereof at an insulating interval and the connector housing (11) is mounted on a first circuit substrate (1) with the rectangular parallelepiped connecting element (9) received therein.