Abstract: In a foil transfer device for transferring a transfer layer from a foil film onto a sheet laid on the foil film, the foil film is wound on a supply reel, and taken up on a take-up reel. A heating member heats the foil film, and a pressure member is provided to press the foil film and the sheet between the pressure member and the heating member. A separator changes a traveling direction of the foil film having passed through between the heating member and the pressure member into a direction different from a direction of conveyance of the sheet, to thereby separate the foil film from the sheet. A first fan blows air toward the foil film positioned between the heating member and the separator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a layer transfer device which transfers a layer of a multilayer film onto a surface of a sheet. The layer transfer device includes a heating member including a first portion and a second portion, a first heater, a second heater, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the first heater with an input power set at a predetermined input power, control the second heater with an input power set at a first input power if both of the multilayer film and the sheet pass over a surface of the second portion, and control the second heater with an input power set at a second input power that is smaller than the first input power if at least one of the multilayer film and the sheet does not pass over the surface of the second portion.

Abstract: In a foil transfer device for transferring a transfer layer from a foil film onto a sheet laid on the foil film, the foil film is wound on a supply reel, and taken up on a take-up reel. A heating member heats the foil film, and a pressure member is provided to press the foil film and the sheet between the pressure member and the heating member. A separator changes a traveling direction of the foil film having passed through between the heating member and the pressure member into a direction different from a direction of conveyance of the sheet, to thereby separate the foil film from the sheet. A first fan blows air toward the foil film positioned between the heating member and the separator.

Abstract: A layer transfer device configured to transfer at least one layer of a multilayer film onto a toner image includes: a sheet conveying unit; a supply reel; a wind-up reel; a film transfer unit; and a peeling roller disposed between the film transfer unit and the wind-up reel in a conveyance path and configured to peel off the multilayer film from a sheet, and the film transfer unit includes: a first roller provided to contact the sheet; and a second roller provided to contact the multilayer film, and a tangent line of the second roller at a downstream end of a nip part passes between a center of the second roller and a center of the peeling roller, and an angle formed by the tangent line and a film tension portion of the multilayer film tensed between the nip part and the peeling roller is 15 to 37 degrees.

Abstract: Disclosed is a layer transfer device which transfers a layer of a multilayer film onto a surface of a sheet. The layer transfer device includes a heating member including a first portion and a second portion, a first heater, a second heater, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the first heater with an input power set at a predetermined input power, control the second heater with an input power set at a first input power if both of the multilayer film and the sheet pass over a surface of the second portion, and control the second heater with an input power set at a second input power that is smaller than the first input power if at least one of the multilayer film and the sheet does not pass over the surface of the second portion.

Abstract: A layer transfer device configured to transfer at least one layer of a multilayer film onto a toner image includes: a sheet conveying unit; a supply reel; a wind-up reel; a film transfer unit; and a peeling roller disposed between the film transfer unit and the wind-up reel in a conveyance path and configured to peel off the multilayer film from a sheet, and the film transfer unit includes: a first roller provided to contact the sheet; and a second roller provided to contact the multilayer film, and a tangent line of the second roller at a downstream end of a nip part passes between a center of the second roller and a center of the peeling roller, and an angle formed by the tangent line and a film tension portion of the multilayer film tensed between the nip part and the peeling roller is 15 to 37 degrees.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: an endless fusing belt; a heater; a nip member; and a backup member. The endless fusing belt is configured to circularly move in a moving direction. The endless fusing belt has widthwise ends in a widthwise direction. The backup member is configured to nip the endless fusing belt in cooperation with the nip member. The nip member includes: a base portion having a contact surface; and protruding portions respectively provided at positions outside the widthwise ends of the endless fusing belt in the widthwise direction and protruding toward the backup member relative to the contact surface.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a guide member including a guide portion, which is disposed downstream from a nip in a rotational direction of an endless belt and is in contact with the endless belt, and a gap forming portion, which is disposed between the nip and the guide portion in the rotational direction of the endless belt and which forms a gap from the endless belt. The gap forming portion includes an inclined surface that extends from the guide portion upstream in the rotational direction and has a predetermined area, on which a lubricant is provided. A maximum inclination angle between the predetermined area and a plane that is defined to contact a downstream end, in the rotational direction, of the contact portion of the nip member and the guide portion is less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a guide member including a guide portion, which is disposed downstream from a nip in a rotational direction of an endless belt and is in contact with an endless belt, and a gap forming portion, which is disposed between the nip and the guide portion in the rotational direction of the endless belt and which forms a gap from the endless belt, wherein the gap forming portion includes an inclined surface that extends from the guide portion toward upstream in the rotational direction and has a predetermined area, on which a lubricant is provided, and wherein a maximum inclination angle between the predetermined area and a plane that is defined to contact a downstream end, in the rotational direction, of the contact portion of the nip member and the guide portion is less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: In an air conditioner provided with an oil-return-operation control portion that performs an oil-return operation, when oil-return conditions are satisfied, by controlling the rotational speed of a compressor, the degree of opening of an expansion valve, etc., with a predetermined refrigerant cycle and provided with high-outdoor-air-temperature oil-return operation means for performing a forced oil-return operation via the oil-return-operation control portion when an outdoor temperature increases and a state in which a detection value of an outdoor air temperature sensor is higher than a set value continues for a predetermined period of time, the oil-return operation is prohibited for a certain period of time after performing the forced oil-return operation via the high-outdoor-air-temperature oil-return operation means.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a flexible tubular member defining an internal space and extending in an axial direction; a first fixing member disposed within the internal space; and a second fixing member configured to nip the flexible tubular member in cooperation with the first fixing member. The flexible tubular member includes a metal base tube having an outer peripheral surface configured of a first area and a second area other than the first area in the axial direction. The first area has a 10-point average roughness of larger than 3 ?m, and the second area has a 10-point average roughness of equal to or smaller than 3 ?m.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: an endless fusing belt; a heater; a nip member; and a backup member. The endless fusing belt is configured to circularly move in a moving direction. The endless fusing belt has widthwise ends in a widthwise direction. The backup member is configured to nip the endless fusing belt in cooperation with the nip member. The nip member includes: a base portion having a contact surface; and protruding portions respectively provided at positions outside the widthwise ends of the endless fusing belt in the widthwise direction and protruding toward the backup member relative to the contact surface.

Abstract: A fuser unit, which heat-fixes a developer image on a recording sheet, the fuser unit including: a cylindrical member having flexibility; a heat generation member; a nip member; a stay; a first frame; a second frame, and a wiring, wherein the first frame is provided with a pair of openings through which both axial end sides of the stay are exposed, wherein the second frame is configured to cover a central portion of the wiring, which is positioned at an inward side more than the pair of openings in the axial direction, wherein both axial sides of the second frame are provided with pressing protrusions that directly press the stay through the openings, and wherein both axial sides of the second frame are provided with third frames that cover a part of the wiring arranged at both axial end sides of the first frame.

Abstract: A fuser unit, which heat-fixes a developer image transferred on a recording sheet, the fuser unit includes: a cylindrical member having flexibility; a heat generation member that is arranged at an inside of the cylindrical member and generates radiation heat; a nip member that slidingly contacts an inner periphery of the cylindrical member; a first reflection member that extends along the heat generation member to corresponds with at least a range of a heat generation part of the heat generation member; a second reflection member that is arranged, at an outside of the heat generation member, to at least one of end sides of the first reflection member in the longitudinal direction, and a backup member that forms a nip region by nipping the cylindrical member between the nip member and the backup member, wherein the second reflection member is separated from the first reflection member.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a backup member; and a temperature detection element. The flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and radiates radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and receives the radiant heat from the heater. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The backup member provides a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup and nip members. The backup member confronts the nip member in a confronting direction. The temperature detection element is disposed in a superposed region of the nip member superposed with the nip region in the confronting direction and detects a temperature of the region.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a flexible tubular member defining an internal space and extending in an axial direction; a first fixing member disposed at the internal space; and a second fixing member configured to nip the flexible tubular member in cooperation with the first fixing member. The flexible tubular member includes a metal base tube having an outer peripheral surface configured of a first area and a second area other than the first area in the axial direction. The first area has a 10-point average roughness of equal to or larger than 3 ?m, and the second area has a 10-point average roughness of equal to or smaller than 3 ?m.

Abstract: A fuser unit, which heat-fixes a developer image transferred on a recording sheet, the fuser unit includes: a cylindrical member having flexibility; a heat generation member that is arranged at an inside of the cylindrical member and generates radiation heat; a nip member that slidingly contacts an inner periphery of the cylindrical member; a first reflection member that extends along the heat generation member to corresponds with at least a range of a heat generation part of the heat generation member; a second reflection member that is arranged, at an outside of the heat generation member, to at least one of end sides of the first reflection member in the longitudinal direction, and a backup member that forms a nip region by nipping the cylindrical member between the nip member and the backup member, wherein the second reflection member is separated from the first reflection member.

Abstract: A fuser unit, which heat-fixes a developer image on a recording sheet, the fuser unit comprising: a cylindrical member having flexibility; a heat generation member; a nip member; a stay; a first frame; a second frame, and a wiring, wherein the first frame is provided with a pair of openings through which both axial end sides of the stay are exposed, wherein the second frame is configured to cover a central portion of the wiring, which is positioned at an inward side more than the pair of openings in the axial direction, wherein both axial sides of the second frame are provided with pressing protrusions that directly press the stay through the openings, and wherein both axial sides of the second frame are provided with third frames that cover a part of the wiring arranged at both axial end sides of the first frame.

Abstract: In an air conditioner provided with an oil-return-operation control portion that performs an oil-return operation, when oil-return conditions are satisfied, by controlling the rotational speed of a compressor, the degree of opening of an expansion valve, etc., with a predetermined refrigerant cycle and provided with high-outdoor-air-temperature oil-return operation means for performing a forced oil-return operation via the oil-return-operation control portion when an outdoor temperature increases and a state in which a detection value of an outdoor air temperature sensor is higher than a set value continues for a predetermined period of time, the oil-return operation is prohibited for a certain period of time after performing the forced oil-return operation via the high-outdoor-air-temperature oil-return operation means.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction including: a tubular flexible fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a backup member; and a temperature detection element. The tubular flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and configured to radiate radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The backup member confronts the nip member in a confronting direction.