Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transport path that transports an image forming medium in a top-bottom direction; a first image forming unit including a first intermediate transfer belt, which is disposed so as to face the transport path, to which toner images formed in multiple first toner-image forming units are transferred, and from which the toner images are transferred to the medium transported along the transport path; a second image forming unit including a second intermediate transfer belt, which is disposed upstream of the first image forming unit in a medium transport direction so as to face the transport path, to which toner images formed in multiple second toner-image forming units are transferred, and from which the toner images are transferred to the medium transported along the transport path; and a ventilation path formed between the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit, which are spaced apart.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport belt, a first intermediate transfer belt, and a second intermediate transfer belt. The transport belt is disposed along a transport path extending in a vertical direction. The transport belt is configured to transport a recording medium while coming into contact with one surface of the recording medium. The first intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich the recording medium together with the transport belt. An image is transferred from the first intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium. The second intermediate transfer belt is disposed above the first intermediate transfer belt. The second intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich, together with the transport belt, the recording medium which is in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched between the first intermediate transfer belt and the transport belt. An image being transferred from the second intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that transports a sheet of paper carrying an unfixed image through a nip part to fix the unfixed image to the sheet, a first guide unit coming into contact with a side of the sheet that guides transport of the sheet, and a second guide unit coming into contact with an opposite side of the sheet that guides transport of the sheet. The first guide unit has a recess serving as a guide part, the recess being recessed in a direction away from a transport path of the sheet. The second guide unit has a bending part serving as a guide part, the bending part having a shape of a circular arc in cross-section, the bending part being disposed such that at least a portion of the bending part lies inside the recess.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that transports a sheet of paper carrying an unfixed image through a nip part to fix the unfixed image to the sheet, a first guide unit coming into contact with a side of the sheet that guides transport of the sheet, and a second guide unit coming into contact with an opposite side of the sheet that guides transport of the sheet. The first guide unit has a recess serving as a guide part, the recess being recessed in a direction away from a transport path of the sheet. The second guide unit has a bending part serving as a guide part, the bending part having a shape of a circular arc in cross-section, the bending part being disposed such that at least a portion of the bending part lies inside the recess.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes one or plural forming devices that form respective images on a recording medium that is being transported, a fixing device provided on a downstream side with respect to at least one of the forming devices in a direction of transport of the recording medium and that fixes the images formed on the recording medium, a delivering device that receives the recording medium transported in a first direction and discharges the recording medium in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and a supplying device that supplies the recording medium to any of the forming devices or to the delivering device. The forming devices, the fixing device, the delivering device, and the supplying device have respective housings and are each joinable to any of the other devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes one or plural forming devices that form respective images on a recording medium that is being transported, a fixing device provided on a downstream side with respect to at least one of the forming devices in a direction of transport of the recording medium and that fixes the images formed on the recording medium, a delivering device that receives the recording medium transported in a first direction and discharges the recording medium in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and a supplying device that supplies the recording medium to any of the forming devices or to the delivering device. The forming devices, the fixing device, the delivering device, and the supplying device have respective housings and are each joinable to any of the other devices.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a first transport device, a second transport device, a first guide member, and a second guide member. The first transport device transports a sheet. The second transport device is disposed downstream of the first transport device in a transport direction and transports the sheet. The first guide member is disposed between the first and second transport device such that the second transport device is closer to the first guide member than the first transport device and guides the sheet to the second transport device. The second guide member is disposed between the first and second transport device such that the first transport device is closer to the second guide member than the second transport device and guides the sheet to the first guide member while curving the sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first belt that contacts a developer image on a recording medium; a second belt that sandwiches the recording medium with the first belt and hence forms a nip region extending in a transport direction of the recording medium; a rotational body that is provided inside the first belt in a region at a downstream side in the transport direction of the nip region, rotates, and turns the first belt; a pressing member that is provided inside the second belt and presses the second belt toward the rotational body; and a heating unit that is provided inside the first belt in a region at an upstream side in the transport direction of the nip region in a non-contact manner with respect to the first belt, and heats the developer image on the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first belt that contacts a developer image on a recording medium; a second belt that sandwiches the recording medium with the first belt and hence forms a nip region extending in a transport direction of the recording medium; a rotational body that is provided inside the first belt in a region at a downstream side in the transport direction of the nip region, rotates, and turns the first belt; a pressing member that is provided inside the second belt and presses the second belt toward the rotational body; and a heating unit that is provided inside the first belt in a region at an upstream side in the transport direction of the nip region in a non-contact manner with respect to the first belt, and heats the developer image on the recording medium.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a first transport device, a second transport device, a first guide member, and a second guide member. The first transport device transports a sheet. The second transport device is disposed downstream of the first transport device in a transport direction and transports the sheet. The first guide member is disposed between the first and second transport device such that the second transport device is closer to the first guide member than the first transport device and guides the sheet to the second transport device. The second guide member is disposed between the first and second transport device such that the first transport device is closer to the second guide member than the second transport device and guides the sheet to the first guide member while curving the sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing part in which an image on a recording material is fixed, and a guiding member provided on an upstream side with respect to the fixing part in a direction of transport of the recording material. The guiding member guides the recording material toward the fixing part while, if the recording material that is being transported is skewed, reducing a speed of movement of a preceding part of a leading end of the recording material. The preceding part is ahead of any other part of the leading end of the recording material.

Abstract: A paper transporting device includes a driving roller member, a driven roller member, a first guiding member and a second guiding member. The driving roller member is rotated. The driven roller member is rotated in contact with the driving roller member. The first guiding member is disposed on a driving roller member side, and guides a paper to a contact portion in which the driving roller member and the driven roller member are in contact with each other. The second guiding member is disposed on a driven roller member side, and guides the paper to the contact portion. The second guiding member partially protrudes inward in a radial direction of the driving roller member from an outer peripheral surface of the driving roller member at a downstream side in a paper transporting direction of the contact portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming member; a heating member; an opposing member that opposes the heating member; an urging member having one end attached to a first support member that supports the opposing member, the urging member urging the opposing member so that the opposing member presses a recording medium against the heating member; a moving member that moves from a closed position to an open position, a space accommodating the heating and opposing members being closed when the moving member is at the closed position and opened when the moving member is at the open position; and a cancelling member to which the other end of the urging member is attached and that is rotatably attached to a second support member that supports the heating member, the cancelling member rotating from the closed position to cancel a pressing force with which the recording medium is pressed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable body; a rotatable endless belt having inner and outer peripheral surfaces; a first presser portion within the inner peripheral surface and pressing the outer peripheral surface onto the rotatable body to form a first nip, through which a recording medium passes, between the endless belt and the rotatable body; and a second presser portion within the inner peripheral surface and pressing the outer peripheral surface onto the rotatable body to form a second nip through which the recording medium passes. The first nip decreases in length in a recording-medium transport direction from a central area toward opposite ends in an axial direction. The second nip increases in length in the transport direction from a central area toward opposite ends in the axial direction, and has an upstream edge, in the transport direction, whose central area protrudes upstream relative to the opposite ends.

Abstract: A discharge device includes a transport unit that transports a medium in the form of a sheet having a first surface and a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface; a contact member that comes into contact with the second surface of the medium transported by the transport unit, and that moves in a first direction in which the contact member presses the medium to a side of the first surface, and in a second direction opposite to the first direction within a predetermined range; a guide member provided so that the guide member does not come into contact with the contact member, that guides the medium transported by the transport unit while contacting the first surface of the medium, after the contact member comes into contact with the medium; and a discharge unit that discharges the medium guided by the guide member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotatable body; a rotatable endless belt having inner and outer peripheral surfaces; and a presser component having first and second presser portions and a recess. The first presser portion is provided within the inner peripheral surface and presses the outer peripheral surface onto the rotatable body to form a fixation nip, through which a recording medium passes, between the endless belt and the rotatable body. The second presser portion guides the recording medium by pressing the endless belt toward the rotatable body at an upstream side of the fixation nip in a recording-medium transport direction to bring the recording medium into contact with the rotatable body at the upstream side of the fixation nip. The recess is spaced apart from the endless belt and is located upstream of the first presser portion and downstream of the second presser portion in the transport direction.

Abstract: A sheet pressing device includes plurality of pressing members and a support member. The plurality of pressing members is provided on a downstream side in a discharging direction of fixing unit which carries out a fixing treatment over a sheet having an unfixed image transferred thereonto along the discharging direction. The plurality of pressing members presses both ends of the sheet in a direction along a surface of the sheet carried out the fixing treatment by the fixing unit and in a direction crossing the discharging direction. The support member supports the plurality of pressing members movably in such a direction as to approach or separate from the sheet when the sheet passes through the sheet pressing device.

Abstract: A sheet pressing device includes plurality of pressing members and a support member. The plurality of pressing members is provided on a downstream side in a discharging direction of fixing unit which carries out a fixing treatment over a sheet having an unfixed image transferred thereonto along the discharging direction. The plurality of pressing members presses both ends of the sheet in a direction along a surface of the sheet carried out the fixing treatment by the fixing unit and in a direction crossing the discharging direction. The support member supports the plurality of pressing members movably in such a direction as to approach or separate from the sheet when the sheet passes through the sheet pressing device.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotatable body; a rotatable endless belt having inner and outer peripheral surfaces; and a presser component having first and second presser portions and a recess. The first presser portion is provided within the inner peripheral surface and presses the outer peripheral surface onto the rotatable body to form a fixation nip, through which a recording medium passes, between the endless belt and the rotatable body. The second presser portion guides the recording medium by pressing the endless belt toward the rotatable body at an upstream side of the fixation nip in a recording-medium transport direction to bring the recording medium into contact with the rotatable body at the upstream side of the fixation nip. The recess is spaced apart from the endless belt and is located upstream of the first presser portion and downstream of the second presser portion in the transport direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable body; a rotatable endless belt having inner and outer peripheral surfaces; a first presser portion within the inner peripheral surface and pressing the outer peripheral surface onto the rotatable body to form a first nip, through which a recording medium passes, between the endless belt and the rotatable body; and a second presser portion within the inner peripheral surface and pressing the outer peripheral surface onto the rotatable body to form a second nip through which the recording medium passes. The first nip decreases in length in a recording-medium transport direction from a central area toward opposite ends in an axial direction. The second nip increases in length in the transport direction from a central area toward opposite ends in the axial direction, and has an upstream edge, in the transport direction, whose central area protrudes upstream relative to the opposite ends.