Abstract: A fluorescent tube 30 of the present invention includes a glass tube 31 and electrodes 32 opposed to each other on both end portions 31a of the glass tube 31, characterized in that the electrode 32 has a closed-end hollow shape opened on the opposite side from the end portion 31a of the glass tube 31, and the electrode 32 constituting the closed-end hollow shape has an inner surface 35 configured to be tapered toward the end portion 31a of the glass tube 31. With this configuration, it is possible to contain accelerated electrons not only in the bottom face 33 of the electrode 32 but also in the inner surface 35 of the electrode 32, thereby suppressing sputtering. Consequently, it is possible to increase the life of the fluorescent tube 30.

Abstract: A lighting device 12 for a display device of the present invention includes linear light sources 17 arranged in parallel, connectors 21 for feeding power to the linear light sources 17 and a chassis 14 for housing the linear light sources 17. The chassis 14 has fixing holes 30 for fixing the connectors 21. Each of the fixing holes 30 is formed in a longitudinal shape with its longitudinal direction along the parallel direction of the linear light sources 17. Each of the connectors 21 has a stopper 25 to be fitted in the chassis 14. When the stopper 25 is fitted in the fixing hole 30, the connector 21 is positioned and fitted in the fixing hole 30. The connectors 21 are fixable in a plurality of locations along the longitudinal direction of the fixing hole 30.

Abstract: A lighting device 12 in accordance with the present invention is for use with a display apparatus. The lighting device 12 includes a light source 17, a plate shaped chassis 14 that covers the light source 17, and an inverter board 30 attached to the chassis 14. The lighting device 12 is characterized in that, accompanying slide of the inverter board 30 in a direction parallel to the chassis, the inverter board 30 is attached and detached.

Abstract: A fixing device, including a fixing rotary body including a first heat source, a pressing rotary body including a second heat source, and a control device configured to cause, at a time of warm-up of the fixing device, the fixing rotary body to rotate while causing at least one of the first heat source and the second heat source to generate heat, and to allow, after a surface temperature of the fixing rotary body has risen to a preselected warm-up temperature, a sheet pass or a printing to be executed and cause, if a sheet pass is not executed, the fixing rotary body to rotate for a preselected period of time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device configured to form a toner image on a sheet and a fixing device configured to fix the toner image on the sheet. In the fixing device, a heater heats a fixing belt. A pressing roller applies a pressure to a fixing roller via the fixing belt to form a nip between the pressing roller and the fixing belt. A controller switches the fixing device between an increased pressure mode and a decreased pressure mode in a state in which the fixing roller and the pressing roller rotate. In the increased pressure mode, the pressing roller applies an increased pressure capable of fixing the toner image on the sheet to the fixing roller. In the decreased pressure mode, the pressing roller applies a decreased pressure incapable of fixing the toner image on the sheet to the fixing roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a transfer unit, a pre-heating unit, a fixing unit, a first temperature sensor, and a first heat controller. The image carrying member carries a toner image. The transfer unit transfers the toner image carried on the image carrying member to a recording medium transported to a transfer position. The pre-heating unit selectively heats the recording medium before the recording medium is transported to the transfer position. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The first temperature sensor detects temperature of the recording medium as the recording medium passes through the pre-heating unit. The first heat controller changes an amount of heat energy to be applied to the recording medium per unit area of the recording medium by the pre-heating unit. The first heat controller is controlled based on a detection result of the first temperature sensor.

Abstract: In a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium, a fixing roller and a heating roller support a fixing belt. A pressing roller presses against the fixing roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressing roller. A tension roller presses against the fixing belt to apply tension to the fixing belt. A primary heat source heats the fixing belt, and is disposed along an outer face of the fixing belt opposite the heating roller. A secondary heat source is provided inside the tension roller to supply deficient heat not provided by the primary heat source.

Abstract: A fixing device, an image forming apparatus using the fixing device, and a temperature control method therefor. The fixing device includes a fixing roller, a heat roller including first and second heat sources, a fixing belt, a pressure roller including a pressure heat source, a first temperature detector, a second temperature detector, and a pressure temperature detector. The heat sources are regularly on and off according to a duty cycle, and at least one of the heat sources is controlled by the duty cycle during paper feed. A wattage of one of the heat sources is added to a wattage of at least one of the other heat sources when the temperature detected by the first or second temperature detector corresponding to the one of the heat sources reaches the set temperature such that a duty ratio of the at least one of the other heat sources is increased.

Abstract: A belt type fixing device includes a fix roller, a press roller rotatable in pressing contact with the fix roller, a heat roller accommodating a heat source therein and a belt passed over the fix roller and heat roller. A non-contact type temperature sensor is positioned in a sheet passing range corresponding to the width of a minimum sheet size and assigned to the heat roller while a contact type temperature sensor is positioned outside of the sheet passing range. A controller prevents the heat source from being turned on if a temperature sensed by the non-contact type temperature sensor is short of a preselected temperature B when a temperature sensed by the contact type temperature sensor reaches a preselected temperature A assigned to the non-contact type temperature sensor. A reflection type sheet sensor determines whether or not a sheet is present on the belt.

Abstract: The coating film of the invention is obtained by curing an applied film formed by application of a composition containing an organic solvent with a boiling point of 80° C. or higher, wherein the shrinkage ratio of the film thickness from the applied film immediately after application is no greater than 27%.

Abstract: A fixer includes a fixing member configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium by application of heat, a coil part configured to extend in a width direction to face the fixing member, a core part configured to face the coil part and generate heat by electromagnetic induction to heat the fixing member when an electrical current passes through the coil part, and a shield configured to shield the core part partially to change a heating area thereof in the width direction. An amount of heat generated in an end portion of the core part in the width direction is changed when a predetermined number of sheets pass though the fixer during continuous feeding of sheets that are equal in size to a maximum heating area of the fixing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first heater that heats a heating member, a second heater that heats a support member, and a third heater that heats a facing member. The image forming apparatus further includes a fixing belt wound around between the heating member and the support member, and a facing member arranged so as to face the fixing belt. A paper is passed through a nip portion between the facing member and the fixing belt and a toner image is fixed on the paper by applying heat and pressure to the toner of the toner image. Only the first heater is energized during the fixing operation. All the three heaters are energized at the time of startup operation and during a standby state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device configured to form a toner image on a sheet and a fixing device configured to fix the toner image on the sheet. In the fixing device, a heater heats a fixing belt. A pressing roller applies a pressure to a fixing roller via the fixing belt to form a nip between the pressing roller and the fixing belt. A controller switches the fixing device between an increased pressure mode and a decreased pressure mode in a state in which the fixing roller and the pressing roller rotate. In the increased pressure mode, the pressing roller applies an increased pressure capable of fixing the toner image on the sheet to the fixing roller. In the decreased pressure mode, the pressing roller applies a decreased pressure incapable of fixing the toner image on the sheet to the fixing roller.

Abstract: A belt fixing unit, an image forming apparatus, and a toner material are disclosed capable of obviating undesirable fixing belt deformation and low image quality. The belt fixing unit includes a fixing roller, a heating roller, a fixing belt, and a pressing roller in contact with the fixing roller to form a fixing nip having the fixing belt intervening there between, the fixing belt including at least a base member formed of a heat-resisting resin having a thickness of 90 ?m or smaller and acted upon by a tensile force of 0.49 N/mm or less. The toner is a low-melting point toner formed by subjecting a toner preparatory solution containing at least a prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant and a releasing agent dispersed in an organic solvent to extension and/or crosslinking reactions in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a fixing member, a magnetic flux generator, a heat member, a core, and a magnetic flux adjuster. The fixing member fixes the toner image onto the recording medium. The magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux. The heat member has a heat layer which is heated inductively by the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator and heats the fixing member. The core faces the magnetic flux via the heat member. The magnetic flux adjuster is configured to vary a heating range of the heat member in the width direction. The heat layer has a predetermined Curie point.

Abstract: A fixing device including a rotation body and a facing unit configured to face the rotation body. The fixing device also includes a first heat unit configured to heat a nipping area that is formed between the rotation body and the facing unit. A second heat unit is also provided to heat the nipping area. The fixing device further includes a high heat capacity unit configured to transfer the heat from the first heat unit to the nipping area and a low heat capacity unit configured to transfer the heat from the second heat unit to the nipping area. A heat quantity controller is configured to control heat quantity of the first heat unit and the second heat unit. The first heat unit is also configured to heat the nipping area such that the heat quantity per unit area in edge portions of the nipping area is higher than the heat quantity per unit area of the center portion of the nipping area.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium including an image fixing apparatus and a member for reducing a harmful volatile organic compound (VOC) generated by heat of the image fixing apparatus. The image fixing apparatus is configured to fix the toner image onto the recording medium by heat and pressure. Additionally, a member including an activated carbon is provided at a predetermined position adjacent the image fixing apparatus and configured to contact heated air generated by the image fixing apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention disclosed is of the type sequentially transferring toner images from a plurality of photoconductive drums to a sheet being conveyed by an image transfer belt or an intermediate image transfer belt one above the other with bias applying members to thereby form a composite color image. Backup rollers, contacting the inside surface of the belt, each have volumetric resistivity of 109 ?·cm or above and ten-point mean surface roughness Rz of 6 ?m or above.

Abstract: A belt fixing unit, an image forming apparatus, and a toner material are disclosed capable of obviating undesirable fixing belt deformation and low image quality. The belt fixing unit includes a fixing roller, a heating roller, a fixing belt, and a pressing roller in contact with the fixing roller to form a fixing nip having the fixing belt intervening there between, the fixing belt including at least a base member formed of a heat-resisting resin having a thickness of 90 ?m or smaller and acted upon by a tensile force of 0.49 N/mm or less. The toner is a low-melting point toner formed by subjecting a toner preparatory solution containing at least a prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant and a releasing agent dispersed in an organic solvent to extension and/or crosslinking reactions in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: A belt fixing unit, an image forming apparatus, and a toner material are disclosed capable of obviating undesirable fixing belt deformation and low image quality. The belt fixing unit includes a fixing roller, a heating roller, a fixing belt, and a pressing roller in contact with the fixing roller to form a fixing nip having the fixing belt intervening there between, the fixing belt including at least a base member formed of a heat-resisting resin having a thickness of 90 ?m or smaller and acted upon by a tensile force of 0.49 N/mm or less. The toner is a low-melting point toner formed by subjecting a toner preparatory solution containing at least a prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant and a releasing agent dispersed in an organic solvent to extension and/or crosslinking reactions in an aqueous medium.