Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a heating roller and a fixing roller over which the fixing belt is looped, a pressure roller forming a fixing nip with the fixing belt, a pair of side plates, one of the side plates being disposed on each end of a shaft of the fixing roller and each end of a shaft of the heating roller, and heating roller holding members to hold corresponding insulating bushing, and corresponding heating roller bearings, the heating roller holding members being attached to opening parts of the side plates. The heating roller holding members are formed of two separate components such that the heating roller is capable of moving along the opening parts formed in the side plates toward the fixing roller.

Abstract: A drive transmission unit transmits driving force to a driven unit including a driven rotator coupled to the drive transmission unit via a unit coupler. The drive transmission unit includes a driving source, a drive transmission member to transmit driving force from the driving source to the driven rotator by engaging the driven rotator, and a basal plate with a turning shaft portion at one end thereof. The basal plate supports the driving source and the drive transmission member thereon. The drive transmission unit is turned around the turning shaft portion together with the driven unit in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction of a driving reaction force applied to the drive transmission member when the driven rotator receives the driving force from the drive transmission member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first roller contacting a fixing belt to generate a rotation friction force therebetween to rotate the fixing belt and a second roller contacting the fixing belt to exert a first inhibition force to the fixing belt in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the fixing belt. A separation aid is disposed downstream from a fixing nip formed between the fixing belt and a pressure rotator in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to decrease a curvature of the fixing belt and exert a second inhibition force to the fixing belt in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of the fixing belt. The second inhibition force is added to the first inhibition force to obtain a combined inhibition force that is smaller than the rotation friction force between the fixing belt and the first roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt stretched taut across a fixing rotator and a support rotator. A pressure rotator is pressed against the fixing rotator via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. The pressure rotator includes a recess defining an outer diameter of each lateral end of the pressure rotator in an axial direction thereof that is greater than an outer diameter of a center of the pressure rotator in the axial direction thereof. A first separator is disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction and contacts an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt. The first separator is isolated from the pressure rotator and includes a projection disposed opposite the recess of the pressure rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an elastic rotator and a cooler disposed opposite the rotator to cool the rotator with cooling air. A mover contacts and moves the rotator to a first position where the rotator is disposed opposite the cooler with an increased first interval therebetween and a second position where the rotator is disposed opposite the cooler with a decreased second interval therebetween. A rectification plate is movably mounted on the cooler to contact the rotator constantly to guide the cooling air to the cooler.

Abstract: The present invention is concerning to a fixing unit position-adjusting apparatus including: a first member configured to include a positioning portion that is formed on a lateral surface of the first member, the positioning portion being engaged with a positioning portion of a main body so that the first member is mounted on the main body in a manner positionable in a left and right direction; and a second member configured to include a reference pin insertion portion that is formed to receive insertion of a reference pin of the main body, the second member being assembled with the first member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an elastic rotator and a cooler disposed opposite the rotator to cool the rotator with cooling air. A mover contacts and moves the rotator to a first position where the rotator is disposed opposite the cooler with an increased first interval therebetween and a second position where the rotator is disposed opposite the cooler with a decreased second interval therebetween. A rectification plate is movably mounted on the cooler to contact the rotator constantly to guide the cooling air to the cooler.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first roller contacting a fixing belt to generate a rotation friction force therebetween to rotate the fixing belt and a second roller contacting the fixing belt to exert a first inhibition force to the fixing belt in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the fixing belt. A separation aid is disposed downstream from a fixing nip formed between the fixing belt and a pressure rotator in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to decrease a curvature of the fixing belt and exert a second inhibition force to the fixing belt in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of the fixing belt. The second inhibition force is added to the first inhibition force to obtain a combined inhibition force that is smaller than the rotation friction force between the fixing belt and the first roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt stretched taut across a fixing rotator and a support rotator. A pressure rotator is pressed against the fixing rotator via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. The pressure rotator includes a recess defining an outer diameter of each lateral end of the pressure rotator in an axial direction thereof that is greater than an outer diameter of a center of the pressure rotator in the axial direction thereof A first separator is disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction and contacts an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt. The first separator is isolated from the pressure rotator and includes a projection disposed opposite the recess of the pressure rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a heating roller and a fixing roller over which the fixing belt is looped, a pressure roller forming a fixing nip with the fixing belt, a pair of side plates, one of the side plates being disposed on each end of a shaft of the fixing roller and each end of a shaft of the heating roller, and heating roller holding members to hold corresponding insulating bushing, and corresponding heating roller bearings, the heating roller holding members being attached to opening parts of the side plates. The heating roller holding members are formed of two separate components such that the heating roller is capable of moving along the opening parts formed in the side plates toward the fixing roller.

Abstract: The present invention is concerning to a fixing unit position-adjusting apparatus including: a first member configured to include a positioning portion that is formed on a lateral surface of the first member, the positioning portion being engaged with a positioning portion of a main body so that the first member is mounted on the main body in a manner positionable in a left and right direction; and a second member configured to include a reference pin insertion portion that is formed to receive insertion of a reference pin of the main body, the second member being assembled with the first member.

Abstract: A fixing device including: an endless fixing belt that conveys a sheet-like medium having a toner image formed thereon; a heating member on which the fixing belt is wound and which includes a heater therein; a fixing member on which the fixing belt is wound; a pressing member that is disposed so as to face the fixing member with the fixing belt interposed therebetween; a separator that comes into contact with the surface of the pressing member and prevents the sheet-like medium from being wound on the pressing member; and a polisher that polishes the surface of the pressing member.

Abstract: A fixing device including: an endless fixing belt that conveys a sheet-like medium having a toner image formed thereon; a heating member on which the fixing belt is wound and which includes a heater therein; a fixing member on which the fixing belt is wound; a pressing member that is disposed so as to face the fixing member with the fixing belt interposed therebetween; a separator that comes into contact with the surface of the pressing member and prevents the sheet-like medium from being wound on the pressing member; and a polisher that polishes the surface of the pressing member.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing apparatus including: a heat roller that includes: a heat source that generates heat to be supplied on a toner image formed on a recording medium; a cylindrical core; a rubber layer that is formed on the cylindrical core and includes a thermal-conductivity-enhanced rubber, the rubber layer having a thickness of Tg that satisfies 200 ?m?Tg?600 ?m and having a rubber hardness defined by JIS-A hardness of Hg that satisfies 40 degrees?Hg?80 degrees; and a fluororesin layer that is formed on the rubber layer, the fluororesin layer having a thickness of Tj that satisfies 80 ?m?Tj?300 ?m and 2 Tj?Tg?10 Tj; and a pressure roller that presses the recording medium against the heat roller.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing apparatus including: a heat roller that includes: a heat source that generates heat to be supplied on a toner image formed on a recording medium; a cylindrical core; a rubber layer that is formed on the cylindrical core and includes a thermal-conductivity-enhanced rubber, the rubber layer having a thickness of Tg that satisfies 200 ?m ?Tg ?600 ?m and having a rubber hardness defined by JIS-A hardness of Hg that satisfies 40 degrees ?Hg ?80 degrees; and a fluororesin layer that is formed on the rubber layer, the fluororesin layer having a thickness of Tj that satisfies 80 ?m ?Tj?300 ?m and 2 Tj ?Tg ?10 Tj; and a pressure roller that presses the recording medium against the heat roller.

Abstract: There is disclosed an additive for optical resins, wherein, even taking optical uses into consideration, the additive falls off little from such as binder resin layers or resin base materials and enables the exercise of uniform light diffusibility, without luminance unevenness, and high face luminescence. There is further disclosed an optical resin composition which comprises the above additive and a transparent resin and can display very excellent performances in optical properties such as no luminance unevenness and the face luminescence in the case of being employed for optical uses. The additive for optical resins is characterized by comprising organic-inorganic-composite particles having a structure including an organic polymer framework and a polysiloxane framework as essential frameworks. The optical resin composition is characterized by comprising the above additive for optical resins, according to the present invention, and a transparent resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a spacer for a liquid crystal display, which is difficult to aggregate when dispersed onto a substrate in a dry manner; a production process for the spacer; and a liquid crystal display including the spacer. The spacer has a mean particle diameter of 0.5 to 25 .mu.m, a coefficient of variation of 10% or less in particle diameter, and a fluidity of 30% or more, and preferably further has an electrification retention ratio of 40% or more at 5 minutes after corona electrification.