Abstract: A member for use in a fixing device includes a base member that has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a covering member with which an outer peripheral surface of the base member is covered, the covering member including a first release layer that contains a first fluorocarbon resin and a second release layer that contains a second fluorocarbon resin and that is stacked on an area in the outer peripheral surface of the first release layer other than end portions of the outer peripheral surface of the first release layer in a width direction. In the covering member, a coefficient of kinetic friction of the outer peripheral surface of the first release layer that is exposed at ends of the member for use in a fixing device in the width direction is greater than a coefficient of kinetic friction of an outer peripheral surface of the second release layer.

Abstract: A member for use in a fixing device includes a base member that has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a covering member with which an outer peripheral surface of the base member is covered, the covering member including a first release layer that contains a first fluorocarbon resin and a second release layer that contains a second fluorocarbon resin and that is stacked on an area in the outer peripheral surface of the first release layer other than end portions of the outer peripheral surface of the first release layer in a width direction. In the covering member, a coefficient of kinetic friction of the outer peripheral surface of the first release layer that is exposed at ends of the member for use in a fixing device in the width direction is greater than a coefficient of kinetic friction of an outer peripheral surface of the second release layer.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a heating roll, an endless belt and a pressing body having a hard pressing member and a soft pressing member. The hard pressing member is placed on a downstream of a passage direction of a record medium in a press contact part and forms higher hardness than an elastic layer of the heating roll. The soft pressing member is placed on an upstream of the passage direction from the hard pressing member, and forms lower hardness than the elastic layer. The press contact part is formed in a state in which a first press contact portion of the hard pressing member is longer than a second press contact portion of the soft pressing member. The hard pressing member has an end part opposed to the heating roll on the upstream. The end part has a face approaching the heating roll from the upstream to the downstream.

Abstract: A transporting path configuration includes: a separating mechanism that separates from one of transporting members the other transporting member; an opening/closing transporting path member that is rotatably attached above the transporting members and has one surface that configures a first transporting path of the recording medium discharged from the transporting members; a transporting path member that forms a second transporting path between the transporting path member and the other surface of the opening/closing transporting path member in a state of covering the opening/closing transporting path member; a handle that is attached to the opening/closing transporting path member so as to be extended above the second transporting path and is further extended above a cover that covers a discharge member; and a moving mechanism that moves the handle in the direction away from the cover when the other transporting member is separated from the one transporting member by the separating mechanism.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a heating roll, an endless belt and a pressing body having a hard pressing member and a soft pressing member. The hard pressing member is placed on a downstream of a passage direction of a record medium in a press contact part and forms higher hardness than an elastic layer of the heating roll. The soft pressing member is placed on an upstream of the passage direction from the hard pressing member, and forms lower hardness than the elastic layer. The press contact part is formed in a state in which a first press contact portion of the hard pressing member is longer than a second press contact portion of the soft pressing member. The hard pressing member has an end part opposed to the heating roll on the upstream. The end part has a face approaching the heating roll from the upstream to the downstream.

Abstract: A recording medium transport mechanism including: a transporting device provided in a transport-path of medium, that transports the recording medium by a drive-roller and a facing-roller disposed to face the drive-roller; an urging member that urges the facing-roller toward the drive-roller; and a restricting portion that allows movement of the facing-roller away from the drive-roller against urging force of the urging member when the recording medium having thickness smaller than a predetermined thickness is transported in a region the drive-roller and the facing-roller facing each other, and restricts an allowable amount of movement of the facing-roller away from the drive-roller when the recording medium having thickness not smaller than the predetermined thickness is transported in the region compared to an allowable amount of movement of the facing-roller away from the drive-roller when the recording medium having thickness smaller than the predetermined thickness is transported is provided.

Abstract: A transporting path configuration includes: a separating mechanism that separates from one of transporting members the other transporting member; an opening/closing transporting path member that is rotatably attached above the transporting members and has one surface that configures a first transporting path of the recording medium discharged from the transporting members; a transporting path member that forms a second transporting path between the transporting path member and the other surface of the opening/closing transporting path member in a state of covering the opening/closing transporting path member; a handle that is attached to the opening/closing transporting path member so as to be extended above the second transporting path and is further extended above a cover that covers a discharge member; and a moving mechanism that moves the handle in the direction away from the cover when the other transporting member is separated from the one transporting member by the separating mechanism.

Abstract: An image formation device is provided, at which a fixing apparatus is disposed inside a housing of a printer main body, and which is configured in a fanless ventilation structure. This image formation device is provided with: a fixing unit mounting portion positioned at an upper portion of the housing, and surrounded by a partition wall and a heat-shielding member extending from a side face of the partition wall, the fixing apparatus being placed on the heat-shielding member, and the fixing unit mounting portion being isolated such that hot air will not flow to equipment inside the housing; a cover member for covering the fixing unit mounting portion; a ventilation portion which includes ventilation apertures formed through the cover member; and a conveyance portion for the recording medium.

Abstract: An image formation device is provided, at which a fixing device is disposed inside a housing of a printer main body, and which is configured in a fanless ventilation structure. This image formation device is provided with a fixing unit mounting portion positioned at an upper portion of the housing, and surrounded by a partition wall and a heat-shielding member extending from a side face of the partition wall, the fixing apparatus being placed on the heat-shielding member, and the fixing unit mounting portion being isolated such that hot air will not flow to equipment inside the housing; a cover member for covering the fixing unit mounting portion; a ventilation portion which includes ventilation apertures formed through the cover member, and a conveyance portion for the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transfer and fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein a belt of a photosensitive member is conveyed between a backup roller and a primary roller toward the direction indicated by an arrow, while printed sheets of paper are conveyed between a fixing roller for secondary transcription and fixing and a primary transfer roller, wherein a cleaning belt revolved by two grinding rollers is disposed at one side of the primary transfer roller, while a grinding layer is formed on the surface of the cleaning belt, wherein the cleaning belt and the two grinding rollers are housed in a case, and the case is allowed to travel along a direction of an arrow by a cam, and wherein the grinding layer shaves off the deteriorated portions by making contact with the rubber layer of the primary transfer roller when the rubber layer of the primary transfer roller formed on the surface of the primary transfer layer has been depleted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a mechanism for removing a deteriorated layer of the transfer roller is disclosed, by which the critical surface tension of the transfer roller can be suitably maintained. The apparatus includes primary transfer roller, a fixing roller, a backup roller, a belt-like photosensitive body, an isolating plate, a first cleaning roller, a polishing roller, a second cleaning roller, a brush roller, and a cleaner case. The toner image on the belt-like photosensitive body is transferred to the primary transfer roller according to the rotation of the backup roller. The toner image is then pressed and fixed by the fixing roller, and the image is further transferred to a paper which is moved and output. A deteriorated layer of the transfer roller is scraped away by the polishing roller, and remaining polishing dust is removed by the second cleaning roller. Additionally, polishing dust remaining on the polishing roller is removed by the brush roller.