Abstract: An element operation division device includes: acquisition unit that acquires time-series information relating to action of operator; detection unit that detects, from the time-series information, target action determined in advance in order that the target action is judged to correspond to action of contacting or separating parts; generation unit that associates action information indicating the detected target action with occurrence time of the target action and identification information of the parts to generate target action information; storage unit that stores element operation information generated by associating start action information of starting each element operation and end action information of ending each element operation with each element operation; and output unit that outputs, based on the target action information and the element operation information, data in which start time and end time of each element operation are associated with this element operation for each piece of identification

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing apparatus includes a fixing roller 12, a heating source 14 for allowing the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller 12 to have a given temperature capable of performing a fixing operation, a pressing roller 16 in rotational contact with the fixing roller 12, and a biasing member 18 for allowing the pressing roller 16 to be brought into press contact with the fixing roller 16 at a given pressure. The fixing apparatus is operable to allow a sheet with a surface supporting an unfixed toner thereon to pass through the rotational contact region along one direction so as to fix the unfixed toner onto the sheet. In this fixing apparatus, the fixing roller 12 is disposed on the side of the sheet surface supporting the unfixed toner, and the pressing roller 16 is disposed on the opposite side of the fixing roller 12 with respect to the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved fixing apparatus capable of reliably releasing a sheet having toner fixed thereon from a fixing belt without any releasing pawl even in large-sized sheets. The fixing apparatus includes a fixing roller, a pressing roller in rotational contact with the fixing roller, a biasing member for applying a biasing force to the pressing roller so as to bring the pressing roller into press contact with the fixing roller at a given pressure, a heating roller disposed apart from the fixing roller, a fixing belt wound around both the heating and fixing rollers in an endless manner, and a heat-generating device embedded in the heating roller to heat the fixing belt so as to heat unfixed toner on a sheet passing through a rotational contact region between the fixing and pressing rollers, whereby when the sheet having unfixed toner on a surface thereof is passed through the rotational contact region along one direction, the unfixed toner is fixed onto the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing apparatus comprising a fixing roller 12, a heating source 14 for allowing the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller 12 to have a given temperature capable of performing a fixing operation, a pressing roller 16 in rotational contact with the fixing roller 12, and a biasing member 18 for allowing the pressing roller 16 to be brought into press contact with the fixing roller 16 at a given pressure. The fixing apparatus is operable to allow a sheet with a surface supporting an unfixed toner thereon to pass through the rotational contact region along one direction so as to fix the unfixed toner onto the sheet. In this fixing apparatus, the fixing roller 12 is disposed on the side of the sheet surface supporting the unfixed toner, and the pressing roller 16 is disposed on the opposite side of the fixing roller 12 with respect to the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved fixing apparatus capable of reliably releasing a sheet having toner fixed thereon from a fixing belt without any releasing pawl even in large-sized sheets. The fixing apparatus comprises a fixing roller, a pressing roller in rotational contact with the fixing roller, a biasing member for applying a biasing force to the pressing roller so as to bring the pressing roller into press contact with the fixing roller at a given pressure, a heating roller disposed apart from the fixing roller, a fixing belt wound around both the heating and fixing rollers in an endless manner, and a heat-generating device embedded in the heating roller to heat the fixing belt so as to heat unfixed toner on a sheet passing through a rotational contact region between the fixing and pressing rollers, whereby when the sheet having unfixed toner on a surface thereof is passed through the rotational contact region along one direction, the unfixed toner is fixed onto the sheet.

Abstract: A toner image fixing apparatus has a fixing roller, a pressing roller, and a heating roller. The pressing roller is normally urged toward the fixing roller for pressing a sheet with an unfixed toner image carried on a surface thereof against the fixing roller to fix the unfixed toner image to the sheet when the sheet passes in one direction through a rolling contact region between the fixing roller and the pressing roller. The heating roller is disposed on one side of the fixing roller opposite to the pressing roller. A first heat source is disposed in the heating roller for heating the heating roller, and a second heat source is disposed in the pressing roller for heating the pressing roller. An endless heat transfer belt is trained around the heating roller and the fixing roller for transferring heat from the first heat source to heat the unfixed toner image on the sheet when the sheet passes through the rolling contact region.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus is capable of ensure the freedom of the design for a driving mechanism which is provided for endlessly traveling the fixing belt. In order to accomplish the object, the fixing apparatus has a fixing roller (22), a pressing roller (24) being rollingly contacted the fixing roller (22), a heating roller (28) positioned upstream side of the fixing roller (22) with respect to a feeding direction in which a sheet (S) carrying an unfixed toner image thereon is fed and having a heating source therein, a fixing belt (32) trained around the heating roller (28) and the fixing roller (22) for transferring heat from the heat source to preheat the unfixed toner image on the sheet (S) before the sheet (S) passes through a rolling contact region defined between the fixing roller (22) and pressing roller (24), and a driving mechanism (44) for rotatably driving the pressing roller (24).

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing apparatus which can secure a sufficient fixing performance even if a nip pressure is arranged in relatively low value. A fixing apparatus comprises a fixing member (12, 36) having an elastic layer (12B, 36B) formed on the fixing member at a side to which a sheet surface supporting an unfixed toner is contacted; a pressing member (18, 38) for making the sheet surface supporting the unfixed toner contact to the fixing member (12, 36) with a particular pressure and forming a nip portion between the fixing member and the pressing member; and a heating means (20) heating the fixing member(12, 36), wherein 0.05≦P·t/E≦0.50 is satisfied, where t (mm) is thickness of the elastic layer (12B, 36B), E (Pa) is Young's modulus of the elastic layer (12B, 36B) and P (Pa) is pressure in the nip portion.

Abstract: A toner image fixing apparatus has a fixing roller, a pressing roller, and a heating roller. The pressing roller is normally urged toward the fixing roller for pressing a sheet with an unfixed toner image carried on a surface thereof against the fixing roller to fix the unfixed toner image to the sheet when the sheet passes in one direction through a rolling contact region between the fixing roller and the pressing roller. The heating roller is disposed on one side of the fixing roller opposite to the pressing roller. A first heat source is disposed in the heating roller for heating the heating roller, and a second heat source is disposed in the pressing roller for heating the pressing roller. An endless heat transfer belt is trained around the heating roller and the fixing roller for transferring heat from the first heat source to heat the unfixed toner image on the sheet when the sheet passes through the rolling contact region.

Abstract: A toner image fixing apparatus has a fixing roller, a pressing roller, and a heating roller which are rotatable about their own axes. The pressing roller presses a sheet carrying an unfixed toner image against the fixing roller to fix the unfixed toner image to the sheet. The heating roller is disposed on one side of the fixing roller remotely from the pressing roller. An endless heat transfer belt is trained around the heating and fixing rollers for transferring heat from a heater to heat the unfixed toner image on the sheet. A guide plate is positioned upstream of the pressing roller for guiding the sheet to enter between the fixing and pressing rollers. The heat transfer belt and the guide plate are so spaced from each other that the sheet prior to being entering between the fixing and pressing rollers is kept out of contact with the heat transfer belt. The heat transfer belt may be positioned outside of a region where the sheet guided by the guide plate possibly passes.

Abstract: A toner image fixing apparatus has a fixing roller, a pressing roller normally urged toward the fixing roller for pressing a sheet with an unfixed toner image carried on a surface thereof against the fixing roller to fix the unfixed toner image to the sheet when the sheet passes in one direction through a rolling contact region between the fixing roller and the pressing roller, a heating roller disposed on one side of the fixing roller opposite to the pressing roller, the heating roller having a heating source disposed therein for heating the heating roller, an endless heat transfer belt trained around the heating roller and the fixing roller for transferring heat from the heating source to heat the unfixed toner image on the sheet when the sheet passes through the rolling contact region, and a standby mode temperature control circuit for maintaining temperatures of the fixing roller and the pressing roller in a predetermined temperature range in a standby mode.

Abstract: A fixing device to be used in electrophotographic apparatus for providing a clear fixed image with no offset with use of no oil or the least amount of oil, wherein an endless fixing belt provided with a metal body having a release thin film thereon is stretched between a fixing roller having a elastic surface and a heating roller, a pressing roller is arranged to press the surface of the elastic fixing roller upwardly from the lower side thereof through the fixing belt to form a nip portion between the fixing belt and the pressing roller, a guide plate for unfixed image carrying support member is provided underneath the fixing belt, between the heating roller and the nip portion, to form substantially a linear heating path between the guide plate and the fixing belt, and the metal body of the fixing belt has a heat capacity per cm.sup.2 within a range of 0.001 to 0.02 cal/.degree.C.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus installed in a copying machine or the like and having a fixing roller, a pressure roller and sheet separator pawls engagable with the fixing roller. A first mechanism of the fixing apparatus is operable to locate free or separating ends of the sheet separator pawls at a small spacing from the periphery of the fixing roller. A pivotable second mechanism is operable to move the sheet separator pawls over a substantial distance away from the fixing and pressure rollers to define a large space in front thereof, so that the peripheries of the rollers become accessible for services.

Abstract: An image fixing device for an electrophotographic copying apparatus and the like including a fixing roller and a pressing roller in pressing contact with each other. The fixing roller includes a metallic core, a resilient material layer and an offset preventing layer superposed one over another in the indicated order and having a heating member disposed therein for heating the metallic core. A copy sheet formed thereon with a toner image is passed between the two rolls so that the toner image will be fixed to the copy sheet by melt adhesion by being pressed between them while being heated. The offset preventing layer has a higher heat intake than the toner image so as to be highly responsive to heat. The offset preventing layer is formed of a material containing a synthetic resinous material, such as silicone rubber, silicone resin, etc., which is highly resistant to heat and which has a high parting property, added with over 1% by weight of metal powder of high thermal conductivity.

Abstract: Improved heat roller fixing apparatus comprising an inner cylinder having a heater therein, an outer cylinder, and a vacuum chamber which is formed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and which contains a liquid heat transfer medium at low pressure is described. In particular, improvements obviating excessive heating of the inner cylinder are made by placing the heat transfer medium in the chamber so as to be in contact with the lower portion of the inner cylinder at least when said outer cylinder is stationary, or by mounting on the inner cylinder a member which serves to stir or pour the heating medium on the inner cylinder and also to transfer heat indirectly from the inner cylinder to the outer cylinder through the heating medium so that speedy evaporation of the heating medium and safe and stable fixing of images are accomplished.

Abstract: Improved heat roller fixing apparatus comprising an inner cylinder having a heater therein, an outer cylinder, and a vacuum chamber which is formed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and which contains a liquid heat transfer medium at low pressure is described. In particular, improvements obviating excessive heating of the inner cylinder are made by placing the heat transfer medium in the chamber so as to be in contact with the lower portion of the inner cylinder at least when said outer cylinder is stationary, or by mounting on the inner cylinder a member which serves to stir or pour the heating medium on the inner cylinder and also to transfer heat indirectly from the inner cylinder to the outer cylinder through the heating medium so that speedy evaporation of the heating medium and safe and stable fixing of images are accomplished.

Abstract: A fixing device to be used in electrophotographic apparatus for providing a clear fixed image with no offset with use of no oil or the least amount of oil, wherein an endless fixing belt provided with a metal body having a release thin film thereon is stretched between a fixing roller having a elastic surface and a heating roller, a pressing roller is arranged to press the surface of the elastic fixing roller upwardly from the lower side thereof through the fixing belt to form a nip portion between the fixing belt and the pressing roller, a guide plate for unfixed image carrying support member is provided underneath the fixing belt, between the heating roller and the nip portion, to form substantially a linear heating path between the guide plate and the fixing belt, and the metal body of the fixing belt has a heat capacity per cm.sup.2 within a range of 0.001 to 0.02 cal/.degree.C.