Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image on a recording medium includes a rotatable endless fixing rotary member, a heating source which heats the fixing rotary member, an opposite rotary member in contact with the fixing rotary member, a nip forming member provided inside the fixing rotary member and in contact with the opposite rotary member via the fixing rotary member to form a nip portion to which the recording medium is fed, holding members rotatably holding end portions of the fixing rotary member, and protecting members provided between the holding members and end surfaces of the fixing rotary member to protect the end portions. Each of the protecting members has an opposite surface facing the corresponding end surface of the fixing rotary member, and including an inner diameter-side end edge having an inclined surface inclined in an inner diameter direction and away from the fixing rotary member.

Abstract: A fixing device including a fixing member to melt a toner image to fix the toner image to a recording medium, a pressing member pressed against the fixing member to form a nip to where the recording medium is conveyed, multiple temperature detectors to detect a temperature at multiple positions on a surface of the pressing member in a width direction thereof, a heating member including a heating layer to heat the fixing member; an exciting coil to generate magnetic fluxes to inductively heat the heating layer, and one or more pairs of degaussing coils to generate magnetic fluxes to degauss the magnetic fluxes generated by the exciting coil. An amount of power supplied to the one or more pairs of degaussing coils is controlled based on a result detected by each of the multiple temperature detectors.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular, stationary metal pipe, a heater, a flexible fuser belt, a rotatable pressure member, a fuser pad, and a tubular pipe cover. The heater is disposed adjacent to the metal pipe to heat a circumference thereof. The metal pipe has multiple through-holes provided at least at a circumferential perforated section thereof. The flexible fuser belt is looped for rotation around the metal pipe to transfer heat radially outward from the heated circumference of the metal pipe. The rotatable pressure member extends opposite the metal pipe with the fuser belt interposed between the metal pipe and the pressure member. The fuser pad, accommodated within the metal pipe, held stationary inside the loop of the fuser belt, presses against the pressure member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The tubular pipe cover is fitted around the metal pipe.

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 device forms a toner image on a recording medium. The recording medium goes through a fixing nip N between a fixing member and a pressure member in a fixing unit where the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. A fixing temperature detector detects the temperature of the fixing member. A fixing temperature control unit controls a heater that heats the fixing member so that the detected temperature becomes a target temperature. A size control unit of white space sets a white space at a tip of the recording medium in a direction of the recording medium movement. When a paper counter counts more than a predetermined paper count, the size control unit increases the size of the white space. The fixing temperature control unit decreases the target fixing temperature when the white space goes through the fixing nip.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a contact member provided inside a fixing member and pressed against a pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing member through which a recording medium bearing atoner image passes. A sheet heat generator provided in the fixing member includes a flexible heat generation sheet contactable against the fixing member to heat the fixing member. A contact adjuster provided in the fixing member adjusts an area of contact of the heat generation sheet and the fixing member in the axial direction, supports the heat generation sheet at a first position at which the heat generation sheet contacts the fixing member, and bends a portion of the heat generation sheet at a second position to separate the heat generation sheet from the fixing member.

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 fixing device includes a pressing member pressed against a fixing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A heater support provided inside the fixing member supports a laminated heater. The laminated heater is provided between the fixing member and the heater support and includes a flexible, first heat generation sheet that includes an insulating base layer, at least one resistant heat generation layer provided on the base layer to generate heat, and at least one electrode layer provided on the base layer to supply power to the at least one resistant heat generation layer.

Abstract: A fixing device, in which an unfixed image carried by a recording medium is passed through a fixing nip part being pressed by a fixing rotative body and a pressuring rotative body, and is fixed to the recording medium, is disclosed, including: a pressing part, and control part. The pressing part applies a pressure to the fixing nip part. The control part controls the pressure to be applied to the fixing nip part by the pressing part, to be lower than a case in which the recording medium passes through a curl correcting part for correcting a curl of the recording medium, when the recording medium does not pass through the curl correcting part.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless, flexible fixing member, a heat conductive member, a heater, a pressing member, a nip formation member, and a radiation member. The endless, flexible fixing member is formed into a loop. The heat conductive member is disposed within the loop formed by the fixing member to conduct heat to the fixing member. The heater is disposed near the heat conductive member to heat the heat conductive member. The pressing member is rotatably pressed against the fixing member to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the pressing member. A recording medium is conveyed through the fixing nip. The radiation member is detachably pressable against an outer circumference of the fixing member to contact the fixing member with the heat conductive member to cool the fixing member and the heat conductive member.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a pressing member rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation. A flexible endless fixing member rotates in accordance with rotation of the pressing member. A nip formation member is provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A first heat generator faces an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member at a position other than the nip to heat the fixing member. A second heat generator faces the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member at a position other than the nip to heat the fixing member, and is disposed adjacent to the first heat generator along the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless, flexible fixing member, a metal member, a heater, a pressing member, a temperature detector, and a supporting member. The fixing member is rotatably provided in the fixing device to heat a toner image thereon. The metal member is fixedly mounted in the fixing device so as to be opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, to maintain the fixing member in a substantially circularly loop shape. The heater is disposed near the metal member to heat the metal member. The pressing member is rotatably pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member. The temperature detector is disposed in contact with the metal member, to detect a temperature of the metal member. The supporting member is disposed between the heater and the temperature detector to support the temperature detector.

Abstract: A belt device includes a flange assembly including a tube inserted into a loop formed by an endless belt at each lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof and a slip ring slidably contacting a groove mounted on the tube. An inner diameter ID 51 of the slip ring through a rotation axis of the slip ring is smaller than a minimum outer diameter OD50a of the tube through the rotation axis of the slip ring. The minimum outer diameter OD50a is smaller than a maximum outer diameter OD21 of a track of the endless belt rotating in a predetermined direction of rotation through the rotation axis of the slip ring. The maximum outer diameter OD21 is smaller than an outer diameter OD51 of the slip ring through the rotation axis of the slip ring.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a hollow, stationary metal roller, a flexible fuser belt, a rotatable pressure member, a fuser pad, a reinforcing member, and a heating assembly. The metal roller has an outer circumference thereof subjected to heating. The flexible fuser belt is looped for rotation around the metal roller to transfer heat radially outward from the heated metal roller. The fuser pad is held stationary inside the loop of the fuser belt to press against the pressure member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The reinforcing member is disposed stationary within the roller interior. The heating assembly is disposed stationary within the roller interior to heat the metal roller from inside, and includes a first heater and a second heater. The first and second heaters are arranged in juxtaposition with each other along the inner circumference of the metal roller.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a stationary member is provided inside a belt member and pressed against a rotary pressing member via the belt member to form a nip between the rotary pressing member and the belt member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. An expandable heating member is provided inside the belt member to face an inner circumferential surface of the belt member to heat the belt member. A regulator contacts a downstream portion of the heating member provided downstream from a center of the nip in a direction of rotation of the belt member to expand the downstream portion of the heating member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation to radiate infrared rays; a pressing rotary body, rotatable in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the fixing rotary body, pressed against the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed; a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body; a temperature detector spaced apart from the fixing rotary body to detect a temperature of the fixing rotary body based on the infrared rays from the fixing rotary body and disposed below the fixing nip in a vertical direction; and a tube disposed between the fixing rotary body and the temperature detector, the tube through which the infrared rays from the fixing rotary body enter the temperature detector.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member configured to heat and fix a toner image onto a recording medium; a pressurizing member configured to press a heating member, which is used for heating the fixing member, against the fixing member and form a fixing nip part; and a guide member configured to guide the recording medium away from the fixing member and the pressurizing member at a downstream side of the fixing member or the pressurizing member in a conveying direction of the recording medium. The guide member includes a pushing unit for maintaining a relative positional relationship between the guide member and an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member or the pressurizing member, and the pushing unit is provided in a manner as to follow surface characteristics of outer peripheral parts of the fixing member or the pressurizing member where the pushing unit pushes.

Abstract: A fixing device comprises a rotatable endless flexible belt, a drive roller opposed to the rotatable endless flexible belt to contact and drive an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable endless flexible belt, and a nip formation device receiving pressure from the drive roller via the rotatable endless flexible belt to form a nip thereon to sandwich and convey a recording sheet. A heat source is provided to generate heat and heat the nip. Each of the end roller portions of the drive roller has a higher friction coefficient surface than a central roller portion of the drive roller sandwiching the recording sheet. These end roller portions are composed of separate bodies from the central roller portion and detachably attachable from and to the central roller portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an induction heater constructed of an exciting coil, a first pair of degaussing coils, and a second pair of degaussing coils. A controller turns off the exciting coil while the controller turns on one of the first pair of degaussing coils and the second pair of degaussing coils and at the same time turns off the other one of the first pair of degaussing coils and the second pair of degaussing coils, and then turns on the exciting coil for an extra time period corresponding to reserved power not supplied to the exciting coil while the exciting coil is turned off.

Abstract: A fixer includes a fixing member with a rotary heat generator, a pressure member, an excitation coil disposed facing a heat generation layer of the rotary heat generator to generate magnetic flux that inductively heats the heat generation layer, a loop-shaped demagnetization coil unit disposed facing the heat generation layer to generate magnetic flux that partly counteracts the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil, a first magnetic core disposed in a first area that is enclosed by both the excitation coil and the demagnetization coil unit, and a second magnetic core disposed in a second area that is outside a loop of the demagnetization coil unit and enclosed by the excitation coil. The first magnetic core and the second magnetic core are magnetically continuous in a rotary axial direction of the rotary heat generator. A fixing method fixes an image on the sheet used in a fixer.