Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt comprising a first metal heat generating layer, a pressurizing unit which faces an outer circumference of the fixing belt, an induced current generating coil located within a hollow part of the fixing belt, a nip forming member which pressurizes the fixing belt to the pressurizing unit, and an auxiliary heat generating member located in a periphery of the fixing belt and comprising a second metal heat generating layer.

Abstract: A power supply device includes: a first line, a second line, and a third line, each having a different electric potential from one another; a battery circuit in which a fuel cell stack and an electric storage device are connected in series; and a first DC-DC converter, wherein both ends of the battery circuit are connected to the first line and the third line, a connection point of the electric storage device and the fuel cell stack of the battery circuit is connected to the second line, a primary side of the first DC-DC converter is connected to the second line and the third line, a secondary side of the first DC-DC converter is connected to the first line and the third line, and electric power is outputted from the first line and the third line.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the present invention includes a heating roller 2 that is a cylindrical member having a center axis, a pressurizing roller 3 that exerts pressure on the heating roller 2, and a temperature detecting element 6 that detects the temperature of the heating roller 2. The outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 2 is induction heated on the basis of the temperature information detected by the temperature detecting element 6. The fixing apparatus thus utilizes induction heating. The present invention is characterized in that the temperature detecting element 6 is placed in an area located vertically below the center axis of the heating member 2 and vertically below the outer peripheral surface of the heating member. The temperature detecting element 6 is thus provided at a position where it is unlikely to suffer thermal convection from the heating roller 2.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a heat uniforming member, which has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of a hollow member and in which thermal deformation generated by thermal expansion remains, is set in the inside of the hollow member having a center axis, support members are set to both ends of the hollow member to enable supporting of ends of the heat uniforming member, and an endless body having a uniform thermal distribution is formed by heating the hollow member, the heat uniforming member and the support member at a specified temperature for a specific time and causing the heat uniforming member to adhere closely to an inner wall of the hollow member.

Abstract: A heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention has a slidable metal belt on an outer side of an elastic roller. At the room temperature, the outer diameter of the elastic roller is smaller than the inner diameter of the metal belt. On the other hand, when the elastic roller is thermally expanded, the metal belt and the elastic roller fit onto each other in a state in which the metal belt fastens the elastic roller.

Abstract: To provide a technique for preventing a temperature rise in a non-sheet passing areas in a fixing device. The fixing device includes: a heating rotational member that includes at least one roller and heats a toner transferred on a sheet; a pressing roller that nips and carries the sheet in cooperation with the heating rotational member; a heating device that heats the heating rotational member; and heat pipes arranged, on the inside of at least one of the roller of the heating rotational member and the pressing roller, in ranges on both the sides in an axial direction of the roller from positions closer to the center in the axial direction than both the ends of a minimum sheet passing range in the axial direction of the roller of the nipped and carried sheet to positions further on the outer sides in the axial direction than both the ends of a maximum sheet passing range.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt comprising a first metal heat generating layer; a pressure section facing an outer periphery of the fixing belt; an induction current generating coil situated near a peripheral surface of the fixing belt; a nip forming member situated inside the fixing belt and applying pressure to the fixing belt toward the pressure section; and an auxiliary heat generating member situated inside the fixing belt, comprising a second metal heat generating layer, extending to a position facing the induction current generating coil, and comprising a projecting portion contacting the fixing belt.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes: a fixing belt comprising a first metal heat generating layer; a pressing unit opposing to the outer circumference of the fixing belt; an induction-current generating coil presented near the circumferential surface of the fixing belt; a nip forming member present on the inner side of the fixing belt and configured to press the fixing belt against the pressing unit; and an auxiliary heat generating member present in a heating region by the induction-current generating coil on the inner side of the fixing belt, having a second metal heat generating layer, and extending to the outer side of the heating region by the induction-current generating coil.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a heating device having a plurality of heating members which heat the heating roller, a first thermoelectric converting section having a plurality of thermoelectric converting elements, each of which has a heat-absorbing surface and a cooling surface and generates electromotive force by difference in temperature between the heat-absorbing surface and the cooling surface, and formed along a curved surface of the heating roller, in which the heat-absorbing surface is disposed with a predetermined space from an outer circumferential surface of the heating roller, an auxiliary power supply charged with electric power generated by the first thermoelectric converting section, and a switching section which switches the apparatus between a first state in which electric power is supplied from utility power to the heating members and a second state in which electric power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply to the heating members, based on a predetermined signal.

Abstract: A fixing device of the invention detects a temperature of plural positions of a heat roller by a multiple non-contact temperature sensor at the same time and controls the temperature of plural heat source members The non-contact temperature sensor and a contact temperature sensor detect the temperature of the same position. According to the detection result, maintenance is performed or a temperature conversion table is corrected, the non-contact temperature sensor is maintained with high precision, and the heat roller is controlled the temperature with high precision.

Abstract: A heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention has a slidable metal belt on an outer side of an elastic roller. At the room temperature, the outer diameter of the elastic roller is smaller than the inner diameter of the metal belt. On the other hand, when the elastic roller is thermally expanded, the metal belt and the elastic roller fit onto each other in a state in which the metal belt fastens the elastic roller.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser including, a first endless member including a gel-like silicone material and configured to apply heat to an object, a second endless member configured to apply pressure to the first endless member, and a heat source configured to raise temperature of the first endless member to predetermined temperature.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser including, a first endless member into which fluid, which retains heat, can flow, a second endless member configured to apply pressure to the first endless member, a fluid moving mechanism configured to move the fluid to the first endless member and move the fluid from the first endless member, and a heat source configured to raise temperature of the first endless member to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt that has an endless shape, a roller that forms a nip with the belt, a support member that supports the belt interposed between the support member and the roller, a coil that generates a magnetic field for inducing current in the belt, an auxiliary heat generation member that generates heat with the current induced by the magnetic field in the loop of the belt, and a temperature sensor that is opposed to the auxiliary heat generation member with the belt interposed between the element and the auxiliary heat generation member and detects the temperature of an outer peripheral surface of the belt.

Abstract: To provide a technique for preventing a temperature rise in a non-sheet passing areas in a fixing device. The fixing device includes: a heating rotational member that includes at least one roller and heats a toner transferred on a sheet; a pressing roller that nips and carries the sheet in cooperation with the heating rotational member; a heating device that heats the heating rotational member; and heat pipes arranged, on the inside of at least one of the roller of the heating rotational member and the pressing roller, in ranges on both the sides in an axial direction of the roller from positions closer to the center in the axial direction than both the ends of a minimum sheet passing range in the axial direction of the roller of the nipped and carried sheet to positions further on the outer sides in the axial direction than both the ends of a maximum sheet passing range.

Abstract: A temperature equalizing roller includes a metal pipe, a heat pipe that is located inside the metal pipe and has a thermal expansion coefficient higher than that of the metal pipe, and a joining layer. The joining layer lies between an outer peripheral surface of the heat pipe and an inner peripheral surface of the metal pipe, joins the outer peripheral surface of the heat pipe and the inner peripheral surface of the metal pipe, and has a higher thermal conductivity than a thermal conductivity of air.

Abstract: The fixing device of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with a heat transfer probe which contacts the heat roller and a surface temperature of the heat roller is transferred thereto. The erroneous detection of the surface temperature of the heat roller caused from materials adhered to the heat roller is prevented, induction heating coils is regulated at a high level of accuracy using the highly precious detection result obtained from the heat transfer probe, the temperature control of the heat roller is promoted and a fixed image of high quality is obtained.

Abstract: A fixing device of the invention detects a temperature of plural positions of a heat roller by a multiple non-contact temperature sensor at the same time and controls the temperature of plural heat source members. The non-contact temperature sensor and a contact temperature sensor detect the temperature of the same position. According to the detection result, maintenance is performed or a temperature conversion table is corrected, the non-contact temperature sensor is maintained with high precision, and the heat roller is controlled the temperature with high precision.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the present invention includes a heating roller 2 that is a cylindrical member having a center axis, a pressurizing roller 3 that exerts pressure on the heating roller 2, and a temperature detecting element 6 that detects the temperature of the heating roller 2. The outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 2 is induction heated on the basis of the temperature information detected by the temperature detecting element 6. The fixing apparatus thus utilizes induction heating. The present invention is characterized in that the temperature detecting element 6 is placed in an area located vertically below the center axis of the heating member 2 and vertically below the outer peripheral surface of the heating member. The temperature detecting element 6 is thus provided at a position where it is unlikely to suffer thermal convection from the heating roller 2.

Abstract: When the three U-, V-, W-phase arms of a DC/DC converter are turned on, they are alternately turned on by gate drive signals. When the U-, V-, W-phase arms are alternately turned on, an upper arm switching device of the U-phase arm, for example, is turned on, and thereafter a lower arm switching device of the U-phase arm is turned on. Thereafter, an upper arm switching device of the V-phase arm which is next to the U-phase arm is turned on, and thereafter a lower arm switching device of the V-phase arm is turned on. The upper and lower arm switching devices are thus turned on in a rotation switching process.