Abstract: A fixing apparatus configured to include a rotational member having a conductive layer, a coil having a helical shape, a resonance circuit including a resonance capacitor and configured to be formed together with the rotational member and the coil, a first converter driving the resonance circuit, a second converter used to control power to be supplied to the first converter, a frequency setting unit configured to set a driving frequency of the first converter according to at least one of a size of the recording material and a temperature at a sheet non-passing portion of the rotational member, and a power control unit controlling the second converter according to a temperature at a sheet passing portion of the rotational member to control the power to be supplied to the first converter from the second converter, wherein the conductive layer is caused to generate heat by electromagnetic induction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable heating member and a rotatable pressing member which are configured to fix a toner image on a recording material in a nip therebetween; and a heating mechanism configured to selectively heat regions of the rotatable heating member depending on sizes of the recording material when the sizes are predetermined ones of all sizes usable in the fixing device. The rotatable pressing member includes a base layer and a porous elastic layer provided on the base layer and containing a needle-like filler. The elastic layer having a thermal conductivity, with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof, which is 6 times to 900 times a thermal conductivity with respect to a thickness direction thereof.

Abstract: In a laminating apparatus and a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display, the laminating apparatus includes a heater which generates heat and the heating member which transfers heat received from the heater to a donor film. The heating member includes a first conducting layer which receives heat from the heater, a second conducting layer which is formed on the first conducting layer and which has a thermal conductivity different from that of the first conducting layer, and a third conducting layer which is formed on the second conducting layer and which has a thermal conductivity different from that of the second conducting layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a chip resistor includes forming a resistor assembly in which a conductive member including portions separated from each other in a first direction is provided in a resistance body member; and dividing the resistor assembly into chip resistors, each including a chip-shaped resistance body formed by a part of the resistance body member, a pair of main electrodes formed by a part of the conductive member and separated from each other in the first direction, and a pair of sub-electrodes formed by a part of the conductive member, separated from each other in the first direction, and adjacent to the main electrodes in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with concave portions recessed in the first direction interposed therebetween, by punching.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressure rotator pressed against a fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A first heater is disposed opposite and heats a first heated span on the fixing rotator spanning in an axial direction thereof. A second heater is disposed opposite and heats a second heated span on the fixing rotator spanning in the axial direction thereof. A temperature sensor unit is disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator and includes a first temperature detection element to detect a first temperature of the first heated span on the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator and a second temperature detection element to detect a second temperature of the second heated span on the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device including: arms that support the heating roller and the pressure roller so as to be displaced between a pressure-contact attitude in which a nip portion is formed and a distanced attitude in which the nip portion is released; a solenoid that displaces the rollers to the distanced attitude; a separation plate that has an electric conductivity, is disposed to face the heating roller, and separates the sheet that has passed through the nip portion from the heating roller; and interlocking arms that, in interlock with displacement from the pressure-contact attitude to the distanced attitude by the solenoid, displace a first end portion of the separation plate to an attitude to be distanced away from the heating roller by a first distance, change the potential of the separation plate from a floating potential to a reference potential, and accelerate discharge between the heating roller and the separation plate.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator and a second rotator pressed against the first rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A thermal insulation cover is disposed opposite the second rotator. A mover is connected to the second rotator to move the second rotator with respect to the first rotator. The mover is coupled with the thermal insulation cover to move the thermal insulation cover while retaining a predetermined interval between the thermal insulation cover and the second rotator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a sheet conveyance section; an image forming section; a fixing section; a driving section configured to rotate a back side supporting member; a pressure contact separation section; and a cooling section configured to cool down the back side supporting member. The sheet feeding path has a configuration in which a long sheet makes contact with the back side supporting member when the fixing side member and the back side supporting member are separated from each other. During cooling-down or warming-up of the fixing section, the pressure contact separation section separates the fixing side member and the back side supporting member from each other, the cooling section cools down the back side supporting member, and the driving section rotates the back side supporting member.

Abstract: A recording medium discharging device includes a discharging unit configured to discharge a recording medium from a discharge port; a tray unit on which the recording medium discharged from the discharging unit is stacked; and an air blower configured to blow air in a direction substantially parallel to a direction in which the recording medium is discharged.

Abstract: In a state in which a swing lever has been driven to a first swing position by a driving mechanism, a compression coil spring has a natural length and a tension coil spring has a first predetermined length longer than a natural length, so that press-contact force between both the rollers becomes first press-contact force. On the other hand, in a state in which the swing lever has been driven to a second swing position by the driving mechanism, the compression coil spring has a second predetermined length shorter than the natural length and the tension coil spring has the natural length, so that the press-contact force between both the rollers becomes second press-contact force.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a fixing device includes a heating member, a rotatable pressure roller, and a metal pattern. The heating member includes a heating rotary body configured to be heated by a heating device. The pressure roller is pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the heating rotary body. The metal pattern is disposed facing the heating member so as to extend in a sheet width direction which is equal to an axial direction of the pressure roller, and the metal pattern is formed of a metal wire of which a resistance varies according to variations in temperature of the heating member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a first abnormality detection portion detects an abnormality in a fixing portion based on a change rate of a temperature detected by a temperature detecting portion and a first reference change rate that is set in advance. A first temperature control portion performs a temperature control of a heat source by a first feedback control method based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting portion. A second temperature control portion performs a temperature control of the heat source by a second feedback control method based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting portion, the second feedback control method being smaller in temperature change rate than the first feedback control method. A detection prohibiting portion prohibits the abnormality detection by the first abnormality detection portion during the temperature control performed by the second temperature control portion.

Abstract: A device for producing a three-dimensional structure from a receiver includes a deposition unit that deposits toner on the receiver. That unit is controlled by a controller to produce a toner pattern on the receiver. A fusing device includes first and second rotatable members having respective, different compliances and a mount that selectively retains the members with respect to each other to form a fusing nip and permits adjustment of respective forces between the members at each end. A directing unit entrains the receiver around the second member so that the receiver passes through the fusing nip. A softening device softens the toner of the toner pattern so that as the second member rotates through successive revolutions, corresponding layer areas of the receiver are defined and the softened toner in each layer area adheres to the second surface of the receiver in an adjacent layer area.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a thermally conductive endless belt configured to carry media past at least one printhead with a plurality of inkjets that are configured to eject ink onto a first surface of the media, a plurality of micro-heaters configured to direct heat to a second surface of the media, and a controller. The controller is operatively connected to the at least one printhead and the plurality of micro-heaters, and is configured to operate the inkjets in the at least one printhead to eject ink onto the first surface of the media and to operate the micro-heaters to direct heat into the thermally conductive endless belt to transmit heat to different positions on the second surface of the media selectively.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a heat source, a moving member and a biasing member. The moving member is movable between a first position where the moving member blocks the radiant heat from the heat source to the fixing belt and a second position where the moving member does not block the radiant heat from the heat source to the fixing belt. The biasing member biases the moving member to the first position. The moving member moves from the first position to the second position by a friction force between the fixing belt and the moving member against a biasing force of the biasing member when the fixing belt is rotated. The moving member moves from the second position to the first position by the biasing force of the biasing member when a rotation of the fixing belt is stopped.

Abstract: A two-wire load control device may be configured to compute an accurate estimate of real-time power consumption by a load that is electrically connected to, and controlled by, the two-wire load control device. The load control device may be adapted to measure a voltage drop across the device during a first portion of a half-cycle of an AC waveform provided to the device. The device may be further configured to estimate a voltage drop across the load during the second portion of the half-cycle. The estimated voltage drop may be based on the measured voltage drop. The device may be further configured to measure a current supplied to the load during a second portion of the half-cycle. The device may be configured to estimate power consumed by the load based on the measured current and the estimated voltage drop.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, the overall length of a heat generating resistor is set longer than the width of a recording paper, which is the greatest of widths of standard size recording papers that can be used on the image forming apparatus. An electrical resistance of an edge area of the heat generating resistor per unit length is set smaller than that of a center area of the heat generating resistor. The position of a boundary between the center area and the edge area is set so that the position of the side edge of the recording paper whose width is the greatest exists within the edge area and so that if the recording paper having the second greatest width is fed by a one edge-aligned paper feeding method, the position of the side edge of a recording paper whose width is the greatest of the widths of the standard size recording papers that can be used on the image forming apparatus except the width of the recording paper that is the greatest thereof is set at a position within the center area.

Abstract: An optical measurement system includes an integrating sphere having a reflecting surface on its inner wall and having a first window. The optical measurement system further includes a support member for supporting a light source at a substantially central position of the integrating sphere, and a first baffle arranged on a line connecting the first window and the light source supported by the support member. The support member is connected, in a region opposite to the first window with respect to the light source, to the inner wall of the integrating sphere.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. An overheating suppressor is interposed between the heater and the heat shield to shield the heat shield from the heater. The heat shield includes an intermediate portion spanning in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and movable between a shield position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater directly and a retracted position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater via the overheating suppressor.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring rotation body, a drive transmission member, a detected member, and a rotation detecting part. The fixing belt rotates around a rotation axis. The pressuring rotation body comes into pressure contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip. The drive transmission member is held by one end part of the fixing belt. The detected member is held by another end part of the fixing belt. The rotation detecting part detects the rotation of the detected member. The fixing belt is configured to co-rotate with the rotation of the drive transmission member by friction force between the one end part of the fixing belt and drive transmission member. The detected member is configured to co-rotate with the rotation of the fixing belt by friction force between the other end part of the fixing belt and detected member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion; and a fixing portion. The fixing portion includes a cylindrical film, a nip-forming member and a roller including a shaft portion and an elastic layer. The elastic layer contacts an outer surface of the film except an end region of the film with respect to a generatrix direction. In the end region, the shaft portion and the outer surface of the film oppose each other with a spatial region with respect to a radial direction of the shaft portion. The image forming apparatus includes a spacer occupying at least a part of the spatial region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a power supply portion, a driving portion, a detection portion, and a control portion. The power supply portion is connected to an external power supply and configured to generate a DC voltage. The driving portion is configured to drive with, as power, the DC voltage generated by the power supply portion. The detection portion is configured to detect a cut-off state of the external power supply with respect to the power supply portion. The control portion is configured to perform control so as to drive the driving portion when the cut-off state of the external power supply is detected by the detection portion.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit including a heater, a necessary integral power calculation unit configured to calculate a necessary integral power required for the fixing unit to reach a predetermined fixable temperature, a suppliable integral power calculation unit configured to calculate a suppliable integral power capable of being supplied to the heater in a time elapsing until the recording material reaches the fixing unit, a power source condition detection unit configured to detect a power source condition of a power source for supplying power to the heater, and a controller configured to control a timing to start conveyance of the recording material according to the necessary integral power and the suppliable integral power, wherein the suppliable integral power calculation unit calculates the suppliable integral power according to a resistance value of the heater and the power source condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device. The fixing device includes a rotatable endless fixing member, a nip forming member arranged inside the fixing member, a pressing member in contact with the nip forming member via the fixing member, and a heating source configured to heat the fixing member. When an abnormality occurs in at least one of the fixing device and other devices included in the image forming apparatus, a rotation of the fixing member is stopped prior to stopping a rotation driving of a discharging unit and, after stopping, the fixing member is controlled to rotate.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a fixing apparatus that heats a recording material having a toner image while conveying the recording material at a nip portion to make the toner image fix onto the recording material includes a cylindrical belt having a heat generating layer that generates heat by being energized and a contact for supplying electricity to the heat generating layer. The contact is in contact with one of an outer surface and an inner surface of an end of the belt in the generatrix direction of the belt. An electrically conductive layer is provided, along the direction of rotation of the belt, on a surface of the heat generating layer opposite to a surface of the heat generating layer at which the contact is present.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing rotary body to press against a fixing rotary body. A pivotable pressure lever rotatably mounts the pressing rotary body. A pressurization cam assembly pivots the pressure lever to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body and release pressure between the pressing rotary body and the fixing rotary body. A pivotable cleaning unit includes a cleaning web separably contacting the pressing rotary body to clean the pressing rotary body, a pressure adjuster contacting the cleaning web to separably press the cleaning web against the pressing rotary body, a take-up reel to reel up the cleaning web, and a supply reel to reel out the cleaning web. A cleaning unit cam assembly contacts the cleaning unit to pivot the cleaning unit to press against and separate from the pressing rotary body.

Abstract: A head transducer includes a thermal sensor comprising a conducting ceramic material having a temperature coefficient of resistance. The thermal sensor can comprise a transparent conducting oxide having a temperature coefficient of resistance. The thermal sensor can be situated proximate a near-field transducer of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head transducer.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation assembly contacting an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. An opposed rotator presses against the nip formation assembly via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the opposed rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A support, disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, supports the nip formation assembly. A heater, disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, heats the fixing rotator. A reflector, disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, reflects heat radiated from the fixing rotator onto the fixing rotator. The reflector spans a circumferential span of the fixing rotator where the fixing rotator is spaced apart from the support with a decreased interval therebetween.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming section (1) configured to form a toner image on an image receiving medium; a fixing apparatus (20) configured to heat, using a heating component (21), the image receiving medium formed with the toner image to fix the toner image; a fan (66) configured to cool the heating component at least; and a control section (60) configured to enable, after the image forming section finishes an image forming operation, the fan to operate for a given time when the elapsed time for image forming operation is shorter than a first formation time, and enable the heating component to idle without generating heat while operating the fan, when the elapsed time for image forming operation is equal to or longer than the first time.

Abstract: In order to suppress excessive temperature rise at a non-sheet-passing region while suppressing the deterioration of fixability in case of heating small size sheets, a heater includes a first heat-generation line and a second heat-generation line, which are independently controllable, wherein the first heat-generation line is configured so that a plurality of heat-generation resistors having positive resistance-temperature characteristics is electrically connected in parallel to each other between a first electro-conductive element and a second electro-conductive element, and the heat-generation resistors are adjusted so that a heat-generation amount per unit length of the first heat-generation line in a lengthwise direction of the heater decreases from a recording material conveyance reference towards a end portion in the lengthwise direction, and an image heating device having the heater.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a heater in which uniformity of a temperature distribution in a widthwise direction of the heater can be improved while inhibiting a temperature rise of a non-sheet-passing part, and an image heating device equipped with the heater. In a first heat-generation line and a second heat-generation line, a plurality of heat-generation resistors including positive resistance-temperature characteristics between two electro-conductive elements provided on a substrate along the lengthwise direction of the substrate are connected in parallel. The first heat-generation line and the second heat-generation line are connected in parallel.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a rotatable cylindrical belt; a heater, provided inside the belt, for heating the belt; and an overheating preventing element, including a circuit which is opened when abnormal temperature rise occurs, for interrupting electric power supply to the heater. The overheating preventing element is provided at a position, inside the belt, where the overheating preventing element is free from direct heat radiation emitted from said heater.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a heat source, a heating member, a pressure member, a heat absorption unit, a holding member, and an end part supporting member. The heat source generates infrared rays. The heat absorption unit is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the heating member, absorbs radiation heat of the heat source, and opposes an outer circumferential part of the holding member with a gap. The holding member has a hollow and cylindrical shape, and arranged between the heat source and the inner circumferential surface of the heat member, permits transmission of infrared rays and has heat resistance. The end part supporting member supports the holding member at both axial end parts of the heating member. The outer circumferential part of the holding member, the inner circumferential surface of the heating member, and the end part supporting member form a sealing space sealing the heat absorption unit.

Abstract: A substrate subjected to a pattern exposure process is transported to a flash bake unit. The flash bake unit performs a post-exposure bake process in which flashes of light are directed from flash lamps onto a surface of the substrate held on an upper surface of a cooling plate to momentarily heat the surface of the substrate, thereby causing crosslinking, deprotection or decomposition and the like of resist resin to proceed by using active species produced in a resist film by a photochemical reaction during the pattern exposure process as an acid catalyst, so that the solubility of only the exposed portion of the resist film in a developing solution is locally changed. The flash heating treatment performed by the irradiation with flashes of light requires extremely short treatment time of not greater than one second. This reduces the diffusion length of acid during the post-exposure bake process.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an unfixed image onto a recording medium includes a fixing belt, a nip forming member, an opposing rotary member, a heater, and a temperature detector. The fixing belt is formed into a loop to move endlessly and fix the unfixed image on the recording medium. The nip forming member is disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt. The opposing rotary member contacts the nip forming member via the fixing belt to form a nip portion therebetween while rotating. The heater heats the fixing belt at a place other than the nip portion. The temperature detector detects a temperature of the surface of the fixing belt. The temperature detector detects the temperature near a place of the fixing belt that easily deforms as the fixing belt is heated by the heater.

Abstract: The heating apparatus of a surface-heating type, includes a rotary member, an opposing member that forms a nip with respect to the rotary member, and a heating member for heating a portion of a rotary member surface other than the nip, in which temperature used for heating the rotary member by the heating member is controlled, and a heating material inserted in the nip to be nipped and conveyed therein is heated using heat of the rotary member. Accordingly, after insertion of the heating material in the nip starts, control temperature of the heating member is increased before the rotary member rotates by one revolution, thereby preventing an uneven heating phenomenon of the heating material in the first revolution and the second revolution or later, and preventing uneven gloss due to the uneven heating phenomenon in the fixing apparatus.

Abstract: A fixing device capable of shifting to a sleep state includes a heat source; a rotatable fixing member that is partly heated by the heat source to heat an unfixed image carrying surface of a recording medium; a rotatable pressing member that is in pressure contact with the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member; a rotation drive unit that directly or indirectly rotates the fixing member; a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the fixing member; and a controller configured to prohibit the fixing device from shifting to the sleep state when the temperature of the fixing member in a region facing the heat source is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature T1 at a point when a predetermined time period t1 has elapsed from the stop of rotation drive of the rotation drive unit.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film resistive heating layer, the method including: forming a polymer layer by extruding a polymer paste, in which an electrically conductive filler is dispersed, by using an extrusion molding operation, on an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical member; and forming a thin film resistive heating layer by making an outer diameter of the polymer layer uniform by using a ring blading operation.

Abstract: A fuser heater member for an electrophotographic imaging device, including a heater member. According to an example embodiment, the heater member includes positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material disposed along a width of a fuser nip of the fuser assembly; first and second electrodes disposed along disposed surfaces of the PTC material; an intermediate layer disposed over the second electrode; and at least one resistive trace disposed along the intermediate layer along the width of the fuser nip. The heater member includes a plurality of wire segments coupled to the first and second electrodes and the resistive elements for use in generating heat from at least one of the PTC material and the at least one resistive trace during a fusing operation.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes an unit for spacing each of a buck-up member and a pressure roller apart from a flexible belt member which is electrified to generate heat, or heated by a source of heat at start-up, i.e. in a previous stage to heating an image, or an unit for controlling a pressure to decrease a contact area in the direction of the axis of rotation compared with the contact area for a period to heat an image. This can control, as much as possible, heat conduction from the flexible belt which is electrified to generate heat, or heated by the source of heat to the back-up member and the pressure roller at the start-up, i.e. the previous stage to heating an image.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable endless belt, an opposing member forming a nip together with an outer surface of the belt, and a non-rotatable pressure applying member that contacts an inner surface of the belt and is pressed toward the opposing member. A recording paper carrying an image is nipped and conveyed through the nip to be heated and pressed. The pressure applying member has a metal slide contact portion against which the inner surface of the belt slides. Rz, the ten-point average roughness, of the slide contact portion in a belt movement direction is 0.29 ?m or smaller and smaller than that in a direction perpendicular to the belt movement direction. Rz of the inner surface of the belt in the belt movement direction is 1.3 ?m or larger and larger than that in a direction perpendicular to the belt movement direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The pressure member presses against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which multiple recording media, each spaced apart from each other by an interval distance in a conveyance direction, are sequentially conveyed at a conveyance speed. The heater is disposed adjacent to the fuser member to heat the fuser member. The controller is operatively connected to the heater to control power supply to the heater through a series of on-off switching control cycles, each including an on-time during which the heater power supply is on, and an off-time during which the heater power supply is off, in synchronization with conveyance of the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members and a guide member. The guide member includes a guide plate having a guide surface, a back surface when the guide surface is defined as a front surface, and holes that are spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction of the sheet and that extend through the guide surface and the back surface; and sheet receiving members that are disposed in correspondence with the holes, each sheet receiving member including a body and an insertion portion that protrudes from the body and that is inserted into the corresponding hole, the insertion portions being inserted into the corresponding holes and being moved along the guide surface, so that the sheet receiving members are mounted to the guide plate while the bodies protrude from the guide surface.

Abstract: The disclosed fixing pressure member has a simple structure, is produced through simplified production processes, causes no problem due to continued use thereof, and exhibits excellent durability. Also disclosed is a method for producing such. The fixing pressure member employed in a fixing unit of a fixing device includes a sliding sheet having a sliding surface which slides with respect to the inner peripheral surface of a belt of the fixing unit, and an elastic member provided inside the sliding sheet. The sliding sheet is formed of a resin fiber woven fabric, a resin fiber knitted fabric, a resin nonwoven fabric, or a resin film. The elastic member and sliding sheet are formed through integral molding such that the elastic member is bonded to at least the inner surface of the sliding sheet opposite the sliding surface. The sliding surface has thereon an embossment formed through an embossing process.

Abstract: In a heater unit for heating a sheet stored in a cassette, respective heating wires of a plurality of heater wires are arranged along an outer periphery of a heat transfer plate so as not to overlap each other, respective power supply wires of the plurality of heater wires are arranged inside a path formed by the heating wires, and both ends of each of the plurality of heater wires are connected to a connector.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a film, a heater that contacts the inner face of the film and is capable of changing heat distribution, and a pressure member that forms the nip portion with the heater via the film, the pressure member including a region on which a diameter is increased from a center portion toward an end portion, wherein the fixing apparatus performs heater control so that a ratio of an amount of heat generation at the end portion of the heater to an amount of heat generation at the center portion of the heater is changed based on a temperature of the end portion of the pressure member, during a period at least from when the warm-up of the fixing apparatus is started until the recording material reaches the nip portion.

Abstract: A reliable conveyor oven minimizes escape of heat by minimizing the time that inlet and outlet openings appear in the baking oven. This may reduce energy consumption by 25%. The baking oven may have a conventional oven and an extension chamber, an outlet opening of the conventional oven acting as an inlet to the extension chamber, the extension chamber having an exit door, the baking oven also having an entrance door defining an entrance inlet. A conveyor holding food items runs through a length of the baking oven. An exit optical sensor may be attached to the extension chamber on opposite sides of the extension chamber such shat an item on the conveyor moving through the extension chamber interrupts a signal between the transmitted and the receiver. The exit sensor may be operatively engaged to a controller for actuating the exit door open and closed rotationally using a pneumatic piston.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses a switching element to switch current flowing to an excitation coil, so that a heating layer in a fixing member produces heat that fixes an image to a transported sheet. Based on a change in temperature of the switching element over time, a prediction unit determines, at a predetermined first time point, a predicted temperature of the switching element at a second time point at which a tip of the sheet is scheduled to arrive at the fixing member. When the predicted temperature is at least a predetermined value, a control unit controls power supplied to the excitation coil by restricting switching of the switching element and lifting the restriction, so that by the second time point the detected temperature of the fixing member reaches a temperature necessary for fixing.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a coil provided along an outer surface of a heating member to generate a magnetic flux for induction heating, a coil holding portion on which the coil is mounted, a core portion that forms a magnetic path around the coil and that includes arch cores that cover an outer side of the coil and are disposed opposite the heating member with the coil interposed therebetween and at a plurality of positions spaced in a recording-medium width direction and a side core that covers the outer side of the coil between the arch cores and the coil holding portion, and a core fixing member that presses the core portion toward the coil holding portion via an elastic member. The core portion is fixed in the pressing state to the coil holding portion by fastening the core fixing member to the coil holding portion.

Abstract: A heater lamp control apparatus and method of detecting an input AC voltage and providing a pulse signal corresponding thereto, includes an AC voltage phase detection unit to detect a phase of the inputted AC voltage when a magnitude of the inputted AC voltage is over a predetermined level. The heater lamp control apparatus also includes a pulse signal generation unit to generate a pulse reference signal based on a result of the detection, a pulse delay signal that is phase-delayed, and a heater lamp control pulse signal based on a result of the comparison of the magnitudes of the pulse reference signal and the pulse delay signal. The heater lamp control pulse signal includes a control unit to control a drive-timing of the heater lamp based on the heater lamp control pulse signal. Thus, the heater lamp control apparatus minimizes a flickering phenomenon as well as an amount of electric power consumed in a heater lamp.