Abstract: The present invention related to an endless belt conveying apparatus and toner image heating apparatus having spring members (thermally responsive members) composed of a shape memory alloy are disposed to both the edges of a pressure fixing belt (pressure belt) in the belt width direction thereof. When the pressure fixing belt offsets to one side in the belt width direction while it travels, one of the spring members, which is heated by the edge of the pressure belt approaching it, is deformed in response to the heat. A roller swing support frame on the belt edge side, which approaches the above spring member, is lifted upward in a gravity direction using a swing pin as a fulcrum in a gravity direction by the operation force generated by the deformation of the one spring member. The swing operation is alternately repeated between the one spring member and the other spring member to thereby correct the inclination of the pressure belt.

Abstract: A flash lamp including an integrated plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a transparent first electrode; a cell including a gas coupled to the transparent first electrode; and a second electrode having a non-uniform surface coupled to the cell.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of quickly heating a fixing belt with a simple configuration and stably maintaining the temperature of the fixing belt includes a fixing unit having a fixing belt, a fixing roller which supports a portion of the fixing belt and has a first heat source disposed therein, a heat transfer member which supports another portion of the fixing belt and transfers heat to the fixing belt, a pressing member which forms a fixing nip through which the fixing belt circulates, and a second heat source which is disposed outside the fixing roller and the heat transfer member and inside the fixing belt. The second heat source is disposed to heat at least two of the fixing belt, the fixing roller, and the heat transfer member.

Abstract: A fixing step before smoothing by a smoothing device causes the phenomenon that a photo-medium is not properly separated from a fixing device due to a toner receiving layer of the photo-medium. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of defective separation in the fixing device, a predetermined image pattern is formed using a toner containing a wax component in a margin, i.e., a non-image forming region, at the leading end of the photo-medium.

Abstract: An elastic roll is used in a fixing device of an image forming apparatus. The elastic roll includes an elastic layer and a covering layer disposed on an outside of the elastic layer. The covering layer is made of a heat-resistant resin or a metal, which has higher rigidity than a material of the elastic layer.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful for printing and methods for controlling the temperature of media in apparatuses useful for printing are disclosed. An embodiment of the apparatuses includes a heated first roll including a first outer surface; a heated second roll including a second outer surface; a third roll including a third outer surface; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the third outer surface; a belt supported on the first roll and the second roll and disposed between the first outer surface and the third outer surface, the belt including an inner surface and an outer surface; a nip between the third outer surface and the outer surface of the belt at which the belt heats media which include a surface, marking material on the surface and an interface between the surface and marking material; and a positioning device coupled to the second roll.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include an apparatus that can comprise any heating device, such as one having an outer surface adapted to contact items, such as sheets of print media, and a rotatable air outlet (vent, jet, blower, etc.) positioned next to the heating device. The air outlet can be, in one embodiment, part of a tube-shaped air pleneum. In some embodiments, the air outlet can comprise a slit, perforations, rows of jets, etc. and the air outlet can have a length at least as long as the width as the fuser. The rotatable air outlet can be positioned to blow air to remove the items from the heating device and can rotate from a first position to a different second position.

Abstract: A tube for fixation, which has increased durability and a method of producing the same are provided. Forming by spinning is carried out so as to thin the thickness A of a side wall of a bottomed prime tube 1 of a plastically deformable metal to a thickness of 20 to 50 ?m while rotating the bottomed prime tube 1 about the axis thereof and a metal original form 4 is formed. The metal original form 4 formed by spinning is cut to form a metal tube 6. The surface 6a of the metal tube 6 is sandblasted to impart residual compression stress to the surface 6a and to roughen the same. The treated surface is covered with a fluorocarbon resin film 7. The fluorocarbon resin film 7 is then heated to be heat-shrunk and the fluorocarbon resin film 7 is formed on the metal tube 6. Thus, a tube for fixation 8 is formed.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium, includes: a belt member rotatably provided; a heating section that heats the belt member; a pressurization member, placed so as to be pressed against the belt member, that forms a nip portion to allow the recording medium to pass through between the pressurization member and the belt member; and an uniforming section that uniforms a temperature distribution in a longitudinal direction of the pressurization member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a main body, an image forming assembly accommodated in the main body, a withdrawable unit accommodated in the main body in such a manner as to be withdrawable to the outside, a fixing unit for fixing a toner image to a recording sheet with heat from the heating member by conveying the recording sheet having the toner image transferred thereto while nipping it between a heating member and the pressure member, and a temperature raising device for raising the temperature of the heating member. The fixing unit is detachably mounted on the withdrawable unit. On the other hand, the temperature raising device includes a mounting portion different from that of the heating member, and is fixedly attached to the withdrawable unit and is kept attached to the withdrawable unit even if the fixing unit is separated from the withdrawable unit.

Abstract: Fuser assemblies, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies includes a fuser belt having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, at least a first roll and a second roll supporting the fuser belt, and a radiant heater facing the inner surface of the fuser belt. The radiant heater is adapted to emit radiant heat onto the inner surface of the fuser belt to increase the temperature of the outer surface of the fuser belt opposite the inner surface heated by the radiant heater.

Abstract: Fuser assemblies for fusing toner on media, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies includes a fuser belt; a first roll supporting the fuser belt, the first roll including a first heating element and a second heating element extending axially along the first roll and along a width of the fuser belt, the first heating element being longer than the second heating element; and a second roll supporting the fuser belt, the second roll including a third heating element and a fourth heating element extending axially along the second roll and along the width of the fuser belt, the third heating element being longer than the fourth heating element.

Abstract: Embodiments of determining power to be supplied to the load using an expected voltage decrease that would result from supplying power to the load are disclosed.

Abstract: A heating assembly for a printing device includes a heating device configured to be energized or deenergized. A switching device includes a bimetallic element efficiently thermally coupled to the heating device and configured to deenergize the heating device in a defined period of time in the event of an over temperature condition.

Abstract: A heating pad is disclosed. The heating pad has a heating line received in a bag, wherein a plurality of heat preservation elements are slipped over the heating line; when the heating pad is electrified, a controller controls the temperature of the heating line for heat applying on a human body; when a electric source is turned off, the heating line stops being heated up, the heat preservation elements keeps on scattering heat outwards to extend the time of heat applying. The heat preservation elements can be ceramic pipes able to emit far infrared ray, so that during heat applying, the ceramic pipes can emit far infrared ray to get an effect of health care.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including a stacking portion for stacking a plurality of sheets thereon, a sheet feeding portion for feeding the sheets stacked on the stacking portion, a fan for sending air to the sheets to loosen the sheets stacked on the stacking portion, a heater for warming the air sent by the fan, a temperature detecting portion for detecting the temperature of the heater, and a control portion for starting the driving of the fan in conformity with the temperature detecting portion having detected a predetermined temperature after temperature control for adjusting the heater to a target temperature has been started.

Abstract: A tube-coated belt suited for heat fixation of color images and the like, downsizing and high-speed operation; and an organopolysiloxane adhesive composition of high adhesion durability suited for the manufacture of tube-coated belt, wherein the tube-coated belt has a resin tube on a silicone-rubber elastic layer through an adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive layer is composed of a cured product of an organopolysiloxane adhesive composition containing a specific organopolysiloxane component.

Abstract: An image heating member includes a first region having a Curie temperature higher than a preset temperature, and a second region having a Curie temperature lower than the Curie temperature of the first region. A width of the first region in a conveying direction of a recording material is equal to or larger than a width of the recording material of a maximum size to be fed. The second region is provided outside the first region.

Abstract: Fuser assemblies for fusing toner on copy sheets, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on copy sheets in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies includes a continuous fuser belt including an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; at least a first roll and a second roll which support the fuser belt, at least one of the first roll and second roll being adapted to heat the fuser belt; a heater including an outer heating surface facing the inner surface of the fuser belt; and a mechanism operatively connected to the heater for moving the heater to bring the heating surface into contact with the inner surface of the fuser belt. The heater is operable to supply heat from the heating surface to the inner surface to increase the temperature of the outer surface of the fuser belt adjacent the inner surface heated by the heating surface.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a magnetic flux generating section having a coil which generates a magnetic flux when applying current, a fixing roller having a heat generating layer having a thickness of 100 ?m or less formed along an outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller for generating heat through electromagnetic induction by the magnetic flux, a capacitor connected in series to the coil to constitute a series resonant circuit, and high frequency power supply circuits for applying voltage having a certain drive frequency to the series resonant circuit so as to make the fixing roller generate heat through the magnetic flux generating section. An image is fixed onto a sheet, which is transported in a state of being in pressure-contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller, by heat from the heat generating layer of the fixing roller.

Abstract: An ink jet imaging system comprises a heated imaging drum that rotates in at least one direction, a print head for ejecting ink onto the heated imaging drum as it rotates past the print head to form an image, a media sheet transport for synchronizing movement of a media sheet with rotation of the heated imaging drum, a transfixing roller that forms a transfixing nip with the heated imaging drum to transfix the image on the rotating heated image drum onto the media sheet synchronized by the media sheet transport, and a media director located between the media sheet transport and the heated imaging drum to direct the media sheet into close proximity with the heated imaging drum at a position sufficiently prior to the transfixing nip that the heated imaging drum heats the media sheet before the media sheet enters the transfixing nip.

Abstract: A fixing device of the invention switches ON a heater lamp of the press roller in a fixing device in a color print mode. In a monochromatic mode, power comparable to the power consumption of the heater lamp can be supplied additionally to an exciting coil on the heat roller side when a heater lamp 3 stays OFF. An amount needed for the heat roller can be therefore added flexibly to the exciting coil. During a warm-up, power comparable to power consumption of the option can be supplied additionally to the exciting coil on the heat roller side.

Abstract: A fixing roller is configured in a manner that a conductive primer layer, a conductive intermediate layer, and a non-conductive outermost layer (a release layer) are coated sequentially onto a surface of an outer circumference of a hollow cylindrical cored bar. The intermediate layer is composed of a non-conductive fluorine resin layer having conductive materials dispersed therein, and a surface thereof is a rough surface having a large number of convex portions and concave portions formed thereon. The outermost layer is composed of a non-conductive fluorine resin only, and a surface thereof is a flat and smooth surface so as to ensure a favorable release property of a recording medium.

Abstract: A heater element is provided adapted to heat a belt in a fuser assembly. The heater element comprises laterally spaced-apart features extending beyond a center section provided between the features. The features and center section are adapted to face an inner surface of the belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing roller; a support roller arranged apart from the fixing roller; an endless fixing belt wound around the fixing roller and the support roller; a pressing roller for applying a pressure force to the fixing roller while the fixing belt being sandwiched between the fixing roller and the pressing roller; a nip extending member arranged on an upstream of the fixing roller and on an inner side of the fixing belt and having a pressing surface for pressing the fixing belt; and a variable mechanism for changing a state of a pressure applied to the fixing belt by the nip extending member.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming unit which forms an image as a toner image on a printing medium, a first fixing unit which fixes, on the printing medium, the toner image formed by the image forming unit, a second fixing unit arranged at a position different from the first fixing unit and used when a larger amount of heat is necessary for fixing the toner image on the printing medium, and a changing unit which changes the sequence of image formation by the image forming unit when the second fixing unit is used during image formation.

Abstract: A fusing unit of an image forming apparatus, includes: a heating lamp having a heating unit, and a tubular unit accommodating the heating unit; a heating roller accommodating the heating lamp; and a pressing roller to be pressed toward the heating roller; the tubular unit includes a reflecting film formed on at least one of an external circumference surface and an internal surface thereof so as to have a different reflectivity along a lengthwise direction of the heating unit.

Abstract: A fixing device, includes: a heating member that rotates in a state heated by a heating unit; a driven member that is rotated by the heating member, and that conveys a sheet in cooperation with the heating member; a biasing unit that biases the heating member and the driven member in a contacting direction; a contact area forming member that forms a contact area of the heating member and the driven member by making the heating member and the driven member come in contact with each other; a support member that supports at least one of the heating member and the driven member so as to be freely moved in a direction approaching and separated with respect to the other member; and a fulcrum that is arranged in a downstream side of the contact area in a sheet conveying direction, and that movably supports the support member.

Abstract: A fuser assembly configured to fix a toner image to a sheet of print media includes a fuser belt having a first side edge, a second side edge spaced apart from the first side edge, an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a hollow interior defined by the interior surface. A pair of end cap assemblies is positioned to locate the fuser belt, and the fuser belt is positioned between and supported by the pair of end cap assemblies. Each end cap assembly of the pair of end cap assemblies includes an end cap body and a belt support mechanism. The belt support mechanism is coupled to the end cap body for supporting the fuser belt and is configured to be compliant in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the fuser belt to apply a biasing force to the interior surface of the fuser belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing roller, a fixing belt to receive a rotation force transferred from the pressing roller and to rotate thereby, a nip forming member which is mounted inside the fixing belt, the nip forming member including a heat transmission unit formed thereon, and a heat source, which is mounted inside the nip forming member, to simultaneously apply heat to the nip forming member and to the fixing belt through the heat transmission unit.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus has a heater that includes a magnetic shunt alloy whose Curie temperature is set higher than a fixing temperature; an induction heater that generates an alternating magnetic field applied to the magnetic shunt alloy and performs electromagnetic-induction heating on the heater; and a body controller that controls the induction heater so as to adjust the fixing temperature in each fixing job. The body controller controls the induction heater so as to perform electromagnetic-induction heating on the heater, during a period between fixing jobs. The body controller thereby reduces a temperature difference generated on the heater between portions corresponding to paper feeding and non-paper feeding areas in a previously executed fixing job.

Abstract: An electric power supply is controlled below a maximum suppliable current value by detecting the applied current of a heater. The image forming apparatus includes a heater which includes heating elements that generate heat when electric power is supplied, a current detector for detecting a current value supplied to the heater, a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the fixing device, and an electric power controller for supplying electric power to the heater with a current application duty based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector within a range below a maximum current application duty. The maximum current application duty can be reset based on a current application duty to the heater and based on a current value detected by the current detector.

Abstract: A heater is operable with a main power supply unit and a chargeable auxiliary power supplying unit. The heater includes a heater part having one or a plurality of heater elements to receive power from the main and auxiliary power supplying units, a detecting part to detect information related to the heater part, and a controller to vary an energy supplied from the auxiliary power supply unit to the heater part per unit time based on the information detected by the detecting part.

Abstract: Compression-resistant heating frame, comprising an upper plate and a lower plate which are secured to each other, and a heating layer interposed between the two plates. Force-absorption studs are disposed between the two plates in order to protect the heating layer against deformation by compression of the plates against each other. The studs are distributed to permit regular heating of each plate. The force-absorption studs are distributed at the nodes of a rectangular, hexagonal or centered square network. The force-absorption studs preferably include a flange to distribute the compression force on a metal base sheet which is interposed between the upper plate and the heating means. Thermal insulation material is interposed between the heating layer and the upper plate. The heating layer may comprise a film through which an electric circuit passes in order to produce heating by joule effect.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a control circuit which controls the electrifying to a first heater so that a temperature detected by a first temperature detection portion reaches a first target temperature and controls the electrifying to a second heater so that a temperature detected by a second temperature detection portion reaches a second target temperature, when warm-up is initiated, and, when the warm-up initiated, if an initial temperature of a rotary member is below a predetermined temperature, the control circuit sets the first target temperature to a temperature value greater than the first target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature and sets the second target temperature to a temperature value greater than the second target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus in an image forming apparatus that heats a fusing unit by applying an induced current is provided. The flicker characteristics of the fusing apparatus are improved by gradually increasing the amount of induced current applied to the fusing unit for a predetermined amount of time so that the amount of induced current applied to the fusing unit is prevented from severely varying. The fusing apparatus comprises a fusing unit which is resistance-heated or induction-heated by applying an induced current and fuses toner onto paper using the heat. The fusing apparatus further comprises a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generation unit which generates a PWM signal in response to the ON signal so that the amount of induced current input to the fusing unit gradually increases to a reference current.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are printing apparatuses and methods of marking and forming an image. The printing apparatus can include one or more digital heating elements disposed in a fuser subsystem, the digital heating element can include an array of hotplates, wherein each hotplate of the array of hotplates can be thermally isolated and can be individually addressable, wherein each hotplate can be configured to attain a temperature up to approximately 200° C. from approximately 20° C. in a time frame of milliseconds.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus comprising first and second belts for forming a nip for heating an image on a recording material; a first pressing pad for pressing the first belt at the nip; a first roller, provided spaced from the first pressing pad with a gap therebetween, for pressing the first belt at the nip; a second pressing pad, provided opposed to the first pressing pad, for pressing the second belt at the nip; a second roller, provided opposed to the first roller and contacted to the second pressing pad, for pressing the second belt at the nip, the second roller having a friction coefficient which is smaller than that of the first roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides an infrared ray lamp being small in size and high in efficiency and having high versatility so at to be easily adaptable to various applications, and also provides a heating apparatus that uses the infrared ray lamp; in the infrared ray lamp according to the present invention, plural heating elements made of a carbonaceous substance having high emissivity and large radiation energy are disposed accurately at desired positions and desired angles, and sealed inside a glass tube; a heating apparatus is configured by using this infrared ray lamp as a heat source.

Abstract: A fixing device of an image forming apparatus of the present invention enables induction heating coils for a 100 V power source to set a ratio of inductance L to load resistance R of a heat roller to L/R<35×10?6 (H/?) and coil impedance Z? to Z<10? and supplies a drive current at a high frequency of 40 to 70 kHz. By doing this, an eddy current generated in the heat roller is concentrated upon a metallic conductive layer by the skin effect and the heat generation efficiency of the heat roller is improved.

Abstract: A laminated body has a heat generating layer having crystal grains of a first non-magnetic metal, and a base layer containing a second non-magnetic metal that is different from the first non-magnetic metal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming mechanism that forms a toner image on a recording medium and a fixing mechanism that fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The fixing mechanism includes a fixing apparatus. The fixing apparatus includes: an elastic roller having a stiffness greater than or equal to 28 Hs and less than or equal to 34 Hs on an Asker C scale and including a sponge-like elastic layer having a density greater than or equal to 0.38 g/cm3; a high-stiffness roller having a stiffness greater than the stiffness of the elastic roller and forms a fixing nip between the elastic roller and the high-stiffness roller; and a heating mechanism that heats the fixing nip.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes a heater has a first and heat-generation segment having a plurality of heat generating parts therein in the longitudinal direction respectively, and the heat generating parts each having a first electro-conductive pattern provided along the longitudinal direction on a substrate, and a second electro-conductive pattern provided along the longitudinal direction on said substrate and has a region that overlaps with said first electro-conductive pattern in the longitudinal direction, and a heat generating resistor which electrically connects the respective overlapping regions of said first electro-conductive pattern and said second electro-conductive pattern with each other and generates heat by a supplied electric power. It simultaneously prevents the temperature in a non-sheet feeding portion from rising and secures fixing properties in a gap between the divided heat generating resistors, and a heater used in this image heating apparatus.

Abstract: An improved fuser includes a heater that enhances uniform heating by altering the localized resistance which alters the localized power output of a resistive trace at the point of contact with a conductor trace in order to provide extra heating and thereby compensate for heat loss at the resistive trace/conductor trace junction.

Abstract: A heat roller having a cylindrical sheet-like heating element having a resistance member embedded in an insulating member. The sheet-like heating element is arranged between an inner tube and an outer tube. The outer tube is formed so as to be longer than the inner tube for reducing non-uniformity in heat of the heat roller. Further, a thermal expansion coefficient of a material of the outer tube is greater than that of a material of the inner tube. Moreover, a triple-tube heat roller is provided.

Abstract: A power storage device includes an alternating current (AC) power source, a field effect transistor (FET), a capacitor bank, a direct current (DC) fixing heater, a step-down chopper circuit, and an output control unit. The FET switches between a first path and a second path to supply power from the AC power source in combination with a diode and an IGBT. The capacitor bank is arranged on the first path, and includes capacitor cells. The DC fixing heater is arranged on the second path. The step-down chopper circuit is arranged on the first path, and changes a voltage value of power supplied from the AC power source. The output control unit controls, when power is supplied to the first path, controls the step-down chopper circuit to change a voltage value based on a charging voltage of the capacitor cells.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotation body, a heat source and a pressurization member. The heating rotation body has an endless peripheral surface that moves circularly. The heat source heats the heating rotation body. The pressurization member is in pressure-contact with the peripheral surface of the heating rotation body to press a recording medium, which passes through a nip between the pressurization member and the heating rotation body, against the peripheral surface of the heating rotation body. The pressurization member includes a base material and plural layers deposited on the base material. A volume resistance of a surface layer forming a surface of the pressurization member is larger than that of a layer disposed just below the surface layer. The layer disposed just below the surface layer is grounded.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus relating to the thermal management of an image fixing device such as establishing the temperature of a component that engages with the image fixing device in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A fixing roller 30, which has an internal heating device and is supported to rotate around a cylindrical shaft 40, and a pressure roller 81 whose circumferential face presses against the fixing roller 30, and which is supported to rotate around the pressure roller axle 82, are mounted in a housing 11, so that, by passing paper P to which a toner image has been transferred, a fixing process is performed on this toner image. The fixing roller 30 is mounted in the housing 11 by heat resistant bushings 50, which are fitted on both ends of the cylindrical shaft 40. Annular grooves 41 are arranged on the cylindrical shaft 40 for receiving C-shaped retaining rings 70, for preventing the heat resistant bushings 50 from coming off. The heat resistant bushings 50 and the retaining rings 70 engage with each other to rotate in unison around the cylindrical shaft 40.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a fixing device and a sheet storing member. The fixing device performs both tentative fixing and regular fixing. In at least one embodiment, the fixing device performs tentative fixing for tentatively fixing a toner image on a recording sheet. Further, the fixing device performs regular fixing for further fixing the tentatively fixed toner image by contacting a gloss sheet onto the tentatively fixed toner image on the recording sheet. The sheet storing member temporarily stores the recording sheet bearing the tentatively fixed toner image before the recording sheet is sent to the fixing device for the further fixing.