Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first air suction port sucking an air containing ozone, a second air suction port sucking an air containing the scattered toner, and a duct unit partitioned into a first duct passing through the air containing ozone and a second duct passing through the air containing toner. The duct includes a first fan generating a first air flow inside the first duct to suck the air from the first air suction port and a second fan generating a second air flow inside the second duct to suck the air from the second air suction port. An ozone filter is detachably provided to both the first and second ducts, disposed straddling the first and second ducts, and filters the ozone contained in the first and second air flows.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a heating portion and a removal unit to remove a particulate dust generated due to vaporization of a parting agent by heat in the fixing unit. The removal unit includes a sheet-like filter provided with a base layer and a collecting layer laminated on the base layer for collecting dust. The removal unit includes a holding unit to hold the filter in a cylindrical shape with the base layer outside and the collecting layer inside. The removal unit includes a fan connected to one of opening end sides of the filter held in the cylindrical shape and generates an air flow inside of the cylindrical shape which causes air passing from outside of the filter to inside to flow toward the one of the opening end sides.

Abstract: Semiconductor device package assemblies and associated methods are disclosed herein. The semiconductor device package assembly includes (1) a base component having a front side and a back side, the base component having a first metallization structure at the front side; (2) a semiconductor device package having a first side, a second side with a recess, and a second metallization structure at the first side and a contacting region exposed in the recess at the second side; (3) an interconnect structure at least partially positioned in the recess at the second side of the semiconductor device package; and (4) a thermoset material or structure between the front side of the base component and the second side of the semiconductor device package. The interconnect structure is in the thermoset material and includes discrete conductive particles electrically coupled to one another.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reader, a conveying path, a conveyer, a conveyer driving unit, a conveyer housing, a lighting unit, a cooler, and a frame. The reader reads an image on a sheet at a predetermined reading position. The conveying path guides the sheet having the image to the reading position and guides the sheet read by the reader in an ejecting direction. The conveyer conveys the sheet along the conveying path. The conveyer driving unit drives the conveyer. The conveyer housing supports the conveying path, the conveyer, and the conveyer driving unit. The lighting unit is fixed to an interior of the reader and illuminates the sheet conveyed by the conveyer to the reading position. The cooler cools the lighting unit. The frame separately fixes the reader and the conveyer housing. The cooler is fixed to the conveyer housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a fusing unit including a first rotor provided with a heat-generating unit and an elastic layer, as well as a second rotor provided in direct contact with the first rotor, the fusing unit fixing a toner image on a sheet, and a duct for allowing an inlet and an exhaust outlet to communicate with each other, the inlet being adapted to allow a current of air derived from the fusing unit to flow in, the exhaust outlet facing toward the outside of the apparatus. The duct includes an introduction channel for guiding and jetting out air taken in from the inlet, a main channel for guiding the air jetted out of the introduction channel to the exhaust outlet, and a cul-de-sac provided in communication with the main channel at one end and closed at the other end.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming device that has a duplex printing function, and suspends execution of a printing operation to allow internal temperature to decrease when the internal temperature increases and reaches predetermined limit temperature at which toner in a developing unit is fusible, the image forming device storing, each time a print job is received, the received print job therein as a waiting print job; selecting, from among a plurality of waiting print jobs, a print job that is estimated to cause the smallest increase in the internal temperature as a print job to be executed preferentially, based on printing conditions set on the respective waiting print jobs; and controlling execution order of the waiting print jobs so that the selected print job is executed preferentially.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a first image processing apparatus at a first location with a control image processing apparatus at a second location. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of individual exposure levels and plotting them against time creating a deviation history and comparing it to the operating specification for the control image processing apparatus. If the deviation history is within the operating specification, initiate a calibration, if not adjust the exposure levels and then initiate calibration. The calibration comprises preparing a calibration curve of exposure level versus density for a plurality of shipped thermal donors; computing an exposure modification curve by comparing a control thermal receiver to the shipped thermal receivers; transmitting the calibration and then the exposure modification curve to the first image processing apparatus; and adjusting the first image processing apparatus exposure levels to conform to the calibration curve and the exposure modification curve.

Abstract: A heat developing apparatus comprising an image exposure portion in which a heat development recording material containing a heat development photosensitive material or a photosensitive heat-sensitive recording material is exposed to light to thereby form a latent image, and a heat developing portion in which heat is applied to said latent image to thereby develop said latent image, wherein: said image exposure portion is provided as a sub scanning type structure including a planar guide plate disposed on one side with respect to a carrying path of said heat development recording material, and two drive rollers disposed on other side with respect to said carrying path and having axes substantially parallel to said carrying path and crossing a carrying direction of said heat development recording material substantially perpendicularly; and a plurality of light-emitting elements are embedded in said guide plate so as to be arranged in a main scanning direction to form a light-emitting element array.

Abstract: A thermal mass is characterized by a reference temperature. A thermal interrupter thermally interrupts the thermal mass upon contact. A look ahead processor examines the thermal interrupter ahead of anticipated contact with the thermal mass and determines an amount of anticipated thermal interruption. A PID gain calculator determines a PID gain for a control algorithm based on the determined amount of thermal interruption. A heater processor applies the control algorithm to a heater to heat the thermal mass to a prespecified start temperature which exceeds the reference temperature.

Abstract: A paper handler, in combination with a printer comprising, a paper inlet into that which paper enters the paper handler; where the paper has leading edge. The paper handler further comprises a paper exit where paper exits the paper handler and travels from the paper handler to the inlet of the printer. A drag system is also included that contributes to handle the paper handled by the paper handler thereby providing for seamless continuous paper flow through the printer. The paper handler further comprises an optic sensor capable of sensing marks on the paper. The optic sensor communicates with the printer indicating sensing of the marks by the optic sensor.

Abstract: A sheet supply portion is disposed in the lowermost portion of a printer so as to be substantially horizontal. A main conveying path for guiding a sheet from a transferring roller to a fixing device is disposed in a substantially vertical direction so as to be along the back of the printer. The guide surface of a sheet delivery guide constituting a conveying path leading from the fixing device to a pair of sheet delivery rollers is a flat surface.

Abstract: Mounting trays for storing therein sheet-shaped recording materials are used to record thereon images. A laser exposing unit forms a latent image of an image on the recording material in an exposure process by irradiating laser. A heat development unit performs a heat development process for the recording material on which the latent image has been formed. The mounting trays the laser exposing unit and the heat development unit are disposed along upper/lower directions of an image recording apparatus in this order of image processing operations for the recording material. A length of a transport path for a recording material is short within this image recording apparatus to shorten processing time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image-forming device for processing photosensitive media. The photosensitive media is of the type that includes microcapsules that encapsulate imaging material such as coloring material. The image-forming device includes a photobleaching system that is adapted to eliminate or minimize undesired coloration in a final print.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image fixing apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium. During a process of continuously forming an image on a plurality of recording media, the recording medium feeding speed is switched when the temperature of a fixing roller has dropped to a particular value which is set depending on the rate at which the temperature of the fixing roller drops.

Abstract: A thermal development apparatus for developing a thermal development film, having a heating section, which has at least a partially cylindrical surface for transporting and heating the film and plural parallel pressing rollers to press the film onto the cylindrical surface. When “P” denotes the pitch with which the pressing rollers are provided, and “l” denotes the shortest distance between the leading or trailing edge of the effective image area and the leading or the trailing edge of the film, the relationship of l>P is satisfied.

Abstract: A paper handler, in combination with a printer comprising, a paper inlet into that which paper enters the paper handler; where the paper has leading edge. The paper handler further comprises a paper exit where paper exits the paper handler and travels from the paper handler to the inlet of the printer. A drag system is also included that contributes to handle the paper handled by the paper handler thereby providing for seamless continuous paper flow through the printer. The paper handler further comprises an optic sensor capable of sensing marks on the paper. The optic sensor communicates with the printer indicating sensing of the marks by the optic sensor.

Abstract: There is described a film conveying apparatus drawably mounted onto an image-forming apparatus. The apparatus includes a film stacking section to stack photosensitive films on it, a conveying device being movable between a film conveying position and a film supplying position to convey the photosensitive films one by one from uppermost one, a first shading member that encloses both the film stacking section and the conveying device and has a conveyance opening from which the photosensitive film is conveyed out by the conveying device so as to maintain a light-shading state for both the film stacking section and the conveying device when the conveying device parks at the film conveying position; a second shading member, being movable relative to the first shading member, to open and close the conveyance opening; and a shading-member moving device to move the second shading member so as to open and close the conveyance opening.

Abstract: A sheet supply portion is disposed in the lowermost portion of a printer so as to be substantially horizontal. A main conveying path for guiding a sheet from a transferring roller to a fixing device is disposed in a substantially vertical direction so as to be along the back of the printer. The guide surface of a sheet delivery guide constituting a conveying path leading from the fixing device to a pair of sheet delivery rollers is a flat surface.

Abstract: A thermally curable material (including a conductive adhesive or solder) is formed on an electronic device support structure such as a die on a wafer or a printed wiring board (PWB). The support structure is placed on a heatable surface or placed in a process chamber having an infrared radiation (IR) mechanism. The thermally curable material is formed using a dispensing technique such as screen printing or pneumatic dispensing. To heat the curable material to a temperature sufficient to cure, the heatable surface can be heated or the IR mechanism can be activated. The heatable surface can be located in a screen printing machine.

Abstract: In the heat developing apparatus to heat the heat developing sheet A on which the latent image by the exposure is formed, to the developing temperature through the preliminary heating means I, the rotating body pairs are arranged so that the preliminary developing means I has a plurality of rotating body pairs 1a-1d, 2a-2d, which nip the heat developing sheet A and heat to the developing temperature and convey it, and by at least one pair of rotating body pair in the plurality of rotating body pairs, the conveying direction of the heat developing sheet is changed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet accumulation processing device having a shielding mechanism of a sheet discharge opening which is simple in mechanism, low in cost and requires no complicated control. In the device, after an end of a sheet bunch sent via one end of a slit opening formed in a housing front face of the device is received by a sheet holding means disposed in the slit opening in a predetermined receiving position, the sheet holding means with the sheet bunch held therein is moved along the opening and, in a predetermined discharge position in the slit opening, discharges the sheet bunch onto a sheet accumulating tray in front of the housing. In the discharge position, a sheet holding section of the holding means is rotated forward and downward from its sheet-bunch holding condition and protruded forward from the housing front face, then releases the sheet bunch to place the sheet bunch onto the sheet accumulating tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing time and effort of fixing the jammed film and capable of reducing waste of films not jammed when fixing the jammed film. The apparatus has: a film feeding section comprising a containing tray capable of containing photosensitive films and a shielding shutter to shield light into the containing tray; a plurality of processing sections to perform processing to a photosensitive film; a conveying mechanism to convey the photosensitive film along a predetermined conveying path leading continuously through the processing sections; a collecting section capable of collecting the photosensitive film on the conveying path; and a control section to control the conveying mechanism so as to convey photosensitive films in a jammed processing section and a processing section upstream of the jammed processing section to the collecting section when the photosensitive film is jammed on the conveying path.

Abstract: There is provided an image recording device which is compact and free of waste materials, which has a completely dry system and a simplified exposure system, and which can carry out high speed image recording. The image recording device includes, within a housing of the image recording device, an accommodating section for accommodating a light and heat sensitive recording material; a light recording section for exposing the light and heat sensitive recording material, which is supplied from the accommodating section, with light to record a latent image; a heat developing section for developing the latent image by applying heat; a light fixing section for irradiating light to fix the developed image; and a discharging section for discharging the light and heat sensitive recording material having an image recorded thereon. Exposure is carried out by a plurality of LEDs provided at a light source section of an exposure unit of the light recording section.

Abstract: There is described a film conveying apparatus drawably mounted onto an image-forming apparatus. The apparatus includes a film stacking section to stack photosensitive films on it, a conveying device being movable between a film conveying position and a film supplying position to convey the photosensitive films one by one from uppermost one, a first shading member that encloses both the film stacking section and the conveying device and has a conveyance opening from which the photosensitive film is conveyed out by the conveying device so as to maintain a light-shading state for both the film stacking section and the conveying device when the conveying device parks at the film conveying position; a second shading member, being movable relative to the first shading member, to open and close the conveyance opening; and a shading-member moving device to move the second shading member so as to open and close the conveyance opening.

Abstract: In an image recording device, pressing rollers are disposed closer to an exposure position than conveyance roller pairs disposed upstream and downstream from the exposure position. Thus, rising of a trailing edge of a photographic printing sheet which has passed through a conveyance roller pair disposed immediately upstream from the exposure position and of a leading edge thereof prior to reaching the conveyance roller pair disposed immediately upstream from the exposure position can be suppressed, and excellent image recording can be performed. For example, pressing by the pressing roller and nipping by the conveyance roller pair are released before the leading edge of the photographic printing paper respectively reaches the pressing roller and the conveyance roller pair disposed immediately downstream from the exposure position.

Abstract: To achieve for a photographic film conveying device that no external force causing conveying speed to vary is applied to a photographic film during image reading, after a preceding photographic film is discharged from a reading conveying path, the time until a subsequent photographic film is conveyed to the reading conveying path is not long, or even if a photographic film set in a film supplying section is elongate, image reading of photographic films by an image reading section can be carried out efficiently, there is provided a photographic film conveying device comprising a section setting a discharge conveying section in a withdrawn state or a conveying state, a section controlling conveying of preceding and subsequent photographic films, or a section switching a conveying path of a photographic film.

Abstract: A heat development and transfer process in which a photosensitive material and an image receiving material are laminated and wound around an outer peripheral surface of a drum, the photosensitive material and the image receiving material being pressed and laminated between at least one roller and the drum. The photosensitive material and the image receiving material are heated while being conveyed along the outer peripheral surface of the drum synchronously with a rotation of the drum. The photosensitive material and the image receiving material laminated are kept in a state in which they are pressed onto the outer peripheral surface of the drum by a belt supporting mechanism or a roller support mechanism. Subsequently, the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are passed through the entrance of the heating conveying path again, and then the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are stripped.

Abstract: An image exposure apparatus in which positioning of a photosensitive material, such as a printing plate to be wound around a rotating drum, is implemented in a small space. A turning unit and a transport conveyor are provided at a plate supply/transport section. The turning unit trains the printing plate about the rotating drum and feeds the plate to the transport conveyor. At the transport conveyor, the printing plate is transported and a leading end of the printing plate abuts pin rollers. Then, a positioning motor is operated to move the turning unit and the transport conveyor integrally. Thus, the printing plate abuts another pin roller in a width direction to implement positioning of the printing plate. The leading end of the positioned printing plate is then fed to a puncher by the transport conveyor.

Abstract: A belt is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow (F) by a motor to cause first and second feed roller pairs to feed a stimulable phosphor sheet in the direction indicated by the arrow (X2). Before the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned by a light beam, the belt is rotated a predetermined length in the direction indicated by the arrow (E) by the motor. Thereafter, the belt is rotated to cause the first and second feed roller pairs to feed the stimulable phosphor sheet in the auxiliary scanning direction indicated by the arrow (X1). When the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned by a light beam, the belt is stably held in a desired position on the driven pulley, but is not slid sideways, allowing the stimulable phosphor sheet to be fed highly accurately in the auxiliary scanning direction.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an image exposure apparatus whose installation area and height are reduced and which enables smooth conveying of a printing plate. In this image exposure apparatus, a cassette accommodating printing plates therein is loaded in such a manner as to be inclined at a predetermined angle, and preferably at an angle near 90°. A printing plate which has been taken out by a sheet unit is diverted in a curved manner and is sent to a recording section by a diverting unit. With this compact structure, the installation area and the height of the apparatus can be reduced.

Abstract: A chuck for detachably fixing an object to a rotatable base, the chuck comprising (a) a support detachably mountable to the base, (b) a clamp having opposite ends, the clamp being pivotally mounted to the support between the ends of the clamp, and (c) a resilient member connected to one end of the clamp, the resilient member being resiliently deformed when the support is mounted to the base, which applies a force to the one end of the clamp, thereby causing the other end of the clamp to pivot downward, and apply a pressing force against an object disposed between the base and the other end of the clamp, wherein when the base rotates, centrifugal force acts on the clamp and increases the pressing force against the object.

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus that records an image through selective heat and pressure application has an ink ribbon and a film disposed between a driving head and a flat platen. Color dyes of the ink ribbon are transferred to the film as the image. The image on the film is thus conveyed to a position for transferring the image to a recording sheet. The film and the recording sheet are pressed between a transfer roller and a conveyor roller with a pressure that sufficiently smooths unevenness in the surface of the recording sheet. A high quality image is thus recorded on the recording sheet regardless of the surface condition of the recording sheet.

Abstract: In the heat developing apparatus to heat the heat developing sheet A on which the latent image by the exposure is formed, to the developing temperature through the preliminary heating means I, the rotating body pairs are arranged so that the preliminary developing means I has a plurality of rotating body pairs 1a-1d, 2a-2d, which nip the heat developing sheet A and heat to the developing temperature and convey it, and by at least one pair of rotating body pair in the plurality of rotating body pairs, the conveying direction of the heat developing sheet is changed.

Abstract: In an image-forming system, an image-forming substrate is used, which has a sheet of paper, and a layer of microcapsules coated over the sheet of paper. The layer of microcapsules includes at least one type of microcapsules filled with an ink. A shell wall of each microcapsule is formed of resin, which exhibits a temperature/pressure characteristic such that each of the microcapsules is squashed under a predetermined pressure when being heated to a predetermined temperature, thereby discharging the dye out of the shell wall. A printer, having a roller platen and a thermal head, forms an image on the substrate. The platen locally exerts the pressure on the microcapsule layer. The thermal head selectively heats a localized area of the microcapsule layer, on which the pressure is exerted by the platen, to a temperature in accordance with an image-information data, such that the microcapsules in the microcapsule layer are selectively squashed and an image on the microcapsule layer.

Abstract: It is one objective of the invention to provide a thermal development apparatus and a cooling method that can suppress the deterioration of image quality due to development time variances.

Abstract: A thermally developing apparatus for thermally developing a thermally developable material by heating the thermally developable material to 80° C. or more, is provided with a thermally developing device having a heater and for thermally developing the thermally developable material with heat generated by the heater; and a controller to control heat generation by the heater; wherein the thermally developing device thermally develops the thermally developable material such that an amount M of heat given to the thermally developable material during thermally developing a single sheet of the thermally developable material satisfies the following formula for a maximum amount Hmax of heat generation of the heater: 0.07≦M/Hmax≦0.

Abstract: An imaging assembly includes a media cartridge for holding a stack of media therein. The media cartridge includes a linkage assembly at least a portion of which is made of a material that is responsive to ambient conditions within the cartridge. An image forming device of the imaging assembly is adapted to control a development of images on the photosensitive media based on the sensed ambient conditions.

Abstract: An image exposure apparatus in which positioning of a photosensitive material, such as a printing plate to be wound around a rotating drum, is implemented in a small space. A turning unit and a transport conveyor are provided at a plate supply/transport section. The turning unit trains the printing plate about the rotating drum and feeds the plate to the transport conveyor. At the transport conveyor, the printing plate is transported and a leading end of the printing plate abuts pin rollers. Then, a positioning motor is operated to move the turning unit and the transport conveyor integrally. Thus, the printing plate abuts another pin roller in a width direction to implement positioning of the printing plate. The leading end of the positioned printing plate is then fed to a puncher by the transport conveyor.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus forms an image by applying a control electric field having a polarity corresponding to recording information, to a recording medium having microcapsules including chargeable particles dispersed in a dispersion medium. The image-forming apparatus includes an alternating electric field-applying unit for applying an alternating electric field to the microcapsules. The alternating electric field is applied to the microcapsules of the recording medium before the image formed on the recording medium is rewritten. Accordingly, the chargeable particles are separated from the wall surfaces of the microcapsules and from the other chargeable particles, making it possible for the chargeable particles to perform free electrophoresis. The recording medium is initialized to improve the response performance with respect to the control electric field for forming a new image. The recording density is increased, and the blur is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image recording apparatus for forming an image on a heat development photosensitive material or a light- and heat-sensitive recording material through a dry processing, said image recording apparatus being capable of continuously recording high-quality images over a long period of time by providing a heat development part with a cleaning mechanism therefor and including a storage part in which the recording material is stored; a latent-image forming mechanism which forms a desired latent image on the recording material conveyed from the storage part; a heat development mechanism which develops the recording material and includes a heating member for heating at a given temperature the recording material conveyed from the latent-image forming mechanism and a press contact member for pressing the recording material against the heating member; and a cleaning mechanism which cleans that contact surface of at least one of the heating member and the press contact member which comes into contact with

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus that records an image through selective heat and pressure application has an ink ribbon and a film disposed between a driving head and a flat platen. Color dyes of the ink ribbon are transferred to the film as the image. The image on the film is thus conveyed to a position for transferring the image to a recording sheet. The film and the recording sheet are pressed between a transfer roller and a conveyor roller with a pressure that sufficiently smooths unevenness in the surface of the recording sheet. A high quality image is thus recorded on the recording sheet regardless of the surface condition of the recording sheet.

Abstract: A printer for intermittely feeding printing sheets to which a photoconductive microcapsule is applied in a sheet feeding direction and printing images on the printing sheets, includes a frame, an exposure head which is supported by the frame and irradiates light to the sheets to form a latent image thereon; and a pressing and developing head which is supported by the frame so as to reciprocate in a scanning direction intersecting the sheet feeding direction on the downstream side of the exposure head with respect to the sheet feeding direction and applies pressure to the latent image forming part of the sheet in cooperation with a sheet supporting means disposed on the rear surface side of the sheet to develop a latent image.

Abstract: A rotary apparatus for applying heat to develop an image on photosensitive copy paper or to desensitize the photosensitive paper against further exposure to light includes an elongated supporting framework including a base having a roll support stand at each end with spaced apart bearings for supporting a drive roll that is provided with a high friction, e.g. a rubber coated, surface. A drive motor is connected to the drive roll for rotating the drive roll, a hot shoe is supported on the framework adjacent to the roll, and a slip sheet is mounted between the hot shoe and the drive roll to provide a low friction surface for allowing the photosensitive sheet to slide easily through the apparatus as it is carried forward by frictionally contact with the drive roll. The hot shoe and slip sheet are both held in a fixed position. The bearings for the drive roll are able to be moved radially with respect to the axis of the drive roll and then secured, i.e. locked in a selected position with respect to the hot shoe.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a document scanning unit which can be shifted while illuminating an original and which is shifted backwardly at a speed faster than a speed when said document scanning unit is shifted forwardly to scan the original, and a control unit which lowers the electric power supplied to an image fixing means when the document scanning unit is shifted backwardly.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material having light interference in which a latent image is formed when irradiated with light and the latent image is rendered visible when heated, which includes a latent image forming light source for irradiating the recording material with incoherent light to form a latent image. The image forming apparatus gives no interference band.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for forming images on dry-processable recording materials, including heat-developable photosensitive recording materials and light- and heat-sensitive recording materials, wherein an exposed recording material is transported into a heat development section and brought into conduct with a heating drum to undergo heating to form an image. In continuous development, when an image recording material having a size different from that of the lastly developed material is ready to be carried in the development section, the transport of the recording material to be developed is suspended and the recording material has a wait of a predetermined standby time. During this waiting period also, the heating drum is left as it revolves and the heat source is left as it evolves heat. As a result, the surface temperature of the heating drum restores the predetermined temperature and the temperature distribution thereof becomes stationary, and thereby the generation of development streaks is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for cooling a thermally processed, imaging material which has been heated to a first temperature by a thermal processor. The cooling apparatus includes a cooling article, on which the imaging material rides after the imaging material exits the thermal processor, and an imaging material transport mechanism. The cooling article is at a lower temperature than the first temperature to cool the imaging material. The transport mechanism conveys the imaging material over the cooling article. The transport mechanism operates at a rate of speed that is faster than an operational rate of speed of an imaging material conveyance device of the thermal processor. This speed differential allows the transport mechanism to apply tension to the imaging material as the imaging material passes over the cooling article to minimize imaging material defects during cooling.

Abstract: A temperature controlling device for controlling the temperature of a heating member of a fixing unit of an image forming apparatus, the heating member being heated by a heater to perform a fixing operation at a predetermined fixing temperature, the temperature controlling device is provided with a controller which is operable to control the heater to selectively keep the temperature of the heating member at a first energy saving temperature smaller than the fixing temperature and a second energy saving temperature smaller than the first energy saving temperature when the fixing operation is suspended.