Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus and a double-sided printing method for the image forming apparatus that can prevent occurrence of an image failure by providing a sheet retracting mechanism in a conveying path of an automatic double-sided printing device and preventing occurrence of temporary stop near a high-temperature fixing device during a double-sided printing operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording sheet by transferring electrophotographic developer onto the recording sheet is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a heat roller to thermally fix the transferred developer onto the recording sheet, a rotating member to convey rotation force to the heat roller, a bearing to support the rotating member rotatably, a frame in which the bearing is assembled so that the rotating member is supported by the frame through the bearing. The bearing is made of a material having sliding resistance lower than sliding resistance of a material of the frame. The bearing is arranged on an opposite side of the heat roller with respect to the frame and receives the rotating member on the opposite side. The bearing and the frame are assembled to have clearance therebetween.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided that is capable of properly checking removal of a paper that has caused a paper jam in a fixing part. The fixing part includes transporting mechanisms for transporting a paper on which a toner image is formed. A first paper detecting part is disposed on an upstream side of the fixing part. A second paper detecting part is disposed on a downstream side of the fixing part. A paper jam detecting part detects paper jams in the fixing part. A transportation control part drive-controls the transporting mechanisms to change a transporting direction of the paper to a reverse direction when a paper jam in the fixing part is detected and the paper is not detected by the first detecting part.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a rotatable fixing member and a rotatable pressure applying member. The rotatable fixing member has a heat generating layer to generate heat when subject to a magnetic flux. The rotatable pressure applying member contacts the rotatable fixing member and applies pressure to the fixing member. The rotatable fixing member and the rotatable pressure applying member form a nip therebetween, to which a recording medium is passed through to fix an image on the recording medium. The rotatable fixing member includes a magnetism regulating layer deformable when subject to pressure from the rotatable pressure applying member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus to fix unfixed toner carried on a surface of a recording medium by attaching a fixing solution capable of softening toner onto the unfixed toner is provided. The fixing apparatus includes a sprayer to spray the fixing solution; a fixing solution charging part to charge the fixing solution; a first electrode to rotate and provided on a same side of the recording medium as the surface carrying the unfixed toner; a second electrode provided on an opposite side of the recording medium to the surface carrying the unfixed toner; and a voltage applying part to generate an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the fixing solution sprayed by the sprayer and charged by the fixing solution charging part moves toward the second electrode.

Abstract: A fusing device to fuse an image to a printing medium, the fusing device including: a heating roller; a first pressing roller, which presses the printing medium against the heating roller; and a second pressing roller which attached to the first pressing roller, to detach the printing medium from the first pressing roller. The first and second pressing rollers are biased against the heating roller such that the first and second pressing rollers move according to a change in a position of the heating roller.

Abstract: A tandem color electrostatographic printer apparatus has five or more color printing stations or modules for applying respective color separation toner images to a receiver member to form a pentachrome color image in a single pass. A fuser station fuses the pentachrome color image. A clear toner overcoat is then applied to the fused pentachrome toner image and enhanced glossing of the image is provided by a belt glosser to improve color gamut.

Abstract: A fuser device used with an imaging system for setting toner on a recording media is disclosed. The fuser device includes a heating element; a rolling piece for exerting pressure on the toner adhered on the recording media; a film for clamping the recording media with the rolling piece, the film being in the heat of the heating element to set the toner on the recording media; and a control structure. The control structure has a base piece on which a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion are disposed. The heating element, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion form a loop and the film surrounds the loop.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units for forming a developer image on an image supporting member; a transfer unit for transferring and overlapping the developer image on a medium to form a developer laminated portion; and a fixing unit for fixing the developer laminated portion. One of the image forming units uses transparent developer having a softening point higher than that of color developer used in the other of the image forming units, and having an average particle size larger than that of the color developer.

Abstract: A resin for an electrostatic-image-developing toner includes a graft polymer, wherein the graft polymer has a polyester structure in the main chain thereof; the graft polymer includes monomer units derived from vinyl monomers in the side chains thereof; and at least a part of the monomer units have a residue of surfactant.

Abstract: The aim of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that accurately detects surface temperature of a rotating body using a noncontact temperature detection section and corrects the detected temperature according to the temperature of the surrounding area. The present invention detects the temperature of a thermal unit and the temperature of a holding unit and corrects the temperature of the thermal unit based on the temperature of the holding unit so that effects from the temperature of a surrounding area can be corrected and the temperature can accurately be detected without scarring a surface of the rotating body. Accurate regulation of the surface temperature of the rotating body can therefore be performed.

Abstract: System and methods providing a plurality of fusers, and one or more radius profiled media handling transports for transporting media in a radius, in an image forming device. The system includes one or more of a plurality of fusers, and radius profiled media handling transport devices arranged in a fashion allowing for improved throughput of media while reducing operating costs. The plurality of fusers allows for the use of individual low capacity fusers that are equal to or less than the overall capacity of the image forming device. Media transport devices transport media on stretch belts across a radius of rollers with a means for providing an adhering force for stabilizing the media to the belt. The rollers are arranged along one side of the frame, along which the media is transported, and a frame may contain an air plenum so as to allow for the drawing of a vacuum through the rollers. The media transport device allows for optimizing a configuration of the image forming device.

Abstract: A fixing device forms, with use of an endless belt and a fixing roller that are positioned facing each other, a fixing nip by placing the endless belt in contact with the fixing roller while causing a pressing member to press the endless belt from an inner side thereof against the fixing roller, and fixes an unfixed image onto a recording medium when the recording medium passes through the fixing nip. The fixing device includes (i) a sheet member that is provided between the endless belt and the pressing member and thus reduces friction therebetween, (ii) a supporting mechanism that movably supports the sheet member, and (iii) a sheet member moving part that, when a predetermined condition is not satisfied, keeps the sheet member at rest, and when the predetermined condition is satisfied, moves the sheet member in a certain direction by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of fixing marking materials on media in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses useful in printing includes a first fixing device disposed along a first media path. The first fixing device includes a first fixing member including a first surface and a second fixing member including a second surface which forms a first nip with the first surface. The first fixing device does not include a thermal energy source that actively heats the first surface or the second surface and the first fixing device is adapted to apply pressure to a medium received at the first nip. A second fixing device is disposed along a second media path. The second fixing device includes at least one thermal energy source adapted to supply thermal energy to actively heat the medium at the second fixing device. A controller is configured to selectively route the medium to the first fixing device or to the second fixing device.

Abstract: A fuser member is described wherein the fuser member includes a core, a cushion comprising a first layer adjacent to the core and a second layer on top of the first layer, and a plastic sleeve. Also described is a process for producing a fuser member, which includes applying a first layer of cushioning composition on a core, applying a second layer of cushioning composition on the first layer of the cushioning composition, and applying a plastic sleeve on the second layer of the cushioning composition.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing an toner image transferred onto a paper sheet, including: a fixing roller having a heater and an elastic layer on an external circumference surface thereof; a fixing belt driven by the fixing roller; a pressuring member which forms a nip portion between the fixing roller and the fixing belt; a separating member being arranged in a down stream of the pressuring member in a conveyance direction of a paper sheet, and being arranged to press the fixing belt; a pressing member which presses an edge of the separating member in a direction to which the fixing belt is pressed, and changes a position of the separating member relative to the fixing roller; and a plurality of adjusting members being provided in a longitudinal direction of the separating member and being arranged to adjust a position of the pressing member.

Abstract: The fixing device includes a fixing unit, a pressure unit that comes into pressure-contact with the fixing unit to form a nip, and control guides. The fixing unit includes a heat roller. The pressure unit includes a pressure belt, and a pressure pad. The pressure pad is attached to a holder and pressed by a spring through a stay, thereby bringing the pressure belt into pressure-contact with the heat roller. The control guides on both sides of the pressure pad control deformation of the pressure pad in an axial direction of the heat roller to make a nip shape uniform.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt in an endless shape for fixing developer to a printing medium; a supporting member for contacting with and supporting the fixing belt; a heating member for contacting with and heating the fixing belt supported with the supporting member; and a heat regulating member disposed between the supporting member and the heating member.

Abstract: The transfer-fixing device includes an image carrier, a pressing member, a heater, and an electrical field generator. The image carrier carries a toner image. The pressing member presses against the image carrier to form a transfer-fixing nip between the pressing member and the image carrier. The heater heats the toner image carried by the image carrier so that a temperature of the toner image is not higher than Tm +10 degrees centigrade when a toner softening point is Tm degrees centigrade. The electrical field generator forms a transfer electrical field at the transfer-fixing nip.

Abstract: The present invention provides dry toner particles comprising at least a radiation curable resin, and a colouring agent, wherein the circularity of the toner particles is between 0.95 and 0.99 and a charge control agent in a concentration between 0.025% and 1.0% by weight is present preferably as an external additive. The toners of this invention are useful for printing any substrate and for use in any form of printing or marking device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises toner with a coloring agent including magnetic powder as a nucleus arranged on a surface of one side of each toner particle, a toner image forming medium on which a toner image is formed using the toner, and a magnetic substance arranged at an opposite position to the toner image formed on the toner image forming medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of first frames that support an axis of each of a fixing roller and a pressing roller and a pair of second frames arranged in parallel to an axial direction of the fixing roller to connect the first frames to each other. The second frames include cover portions that cover an upper peripheral surface and a lower peripheral surface of the rollers. A coupling member couples the cover portions to each other and has a bridge structure between the cover portions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image heating apparatus capable of holding an open/close unit at a normal position and capable of inexpensively avoiding conveyance failure and deterioration in image quality. An image heating apparatus includes a fixing an roller 71 and a pressing belt 731, a pressing mechanism 75 which rotates a pressing belt unit 73 having a pressing belt 731 to retract the pressing belt 731 from a pressing contact position, a separation projection 800 which separates the sheet S from the pressing belt 731, and an open/close unit 81 which rotates a separating unit (separation projection 800, division plate 817) to retract the separation projection 800 from a separating position. The pressing belt unit 73 includes a push-up member 840 which locks the separating unit located in the separating position when the pressing belt unit 73 is in the pressing contact position.

Abstract: An image forming method, which includes transferring an image of toner on an image carrying member to a recording medium, and fixing the image transferred to the recording medium, includes: smoothening a surface of the image transferred to the recording medium; and penetrating the image into the recording medium without contact on the surface of the image on the recording medium. The penetrating is a final process of the fixing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to remove a jammed printing medium and to prevent a transmission of fixing heat is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit to fix a toner image into a printing medium when the toner image is transferred onto the printing medium, the fixing unit including a fixing frame on which a pair of fixing rollers are rotatably disposed, at least one discharge roller disposed on the fixing frame, and a discharge guide movable with respect to the fixing frame, and having a plurality of guide protrusions to guide the printing medium toward the discharge roller when the printing medium passes through the fixing unit. The fixing unit additionally includes a cover to cover the discharge roller and the discharge guide, and a plurality of heat dissipating ribs extending from an outer surface of the cover. The heat dissipating ribs have a height and are arranged at a gap from each other so as to prevent a user's hand from directly contacting the cover.

Abstract: An electrically isolated temperature sensor for use with a printer, copier, or all-in-one fuser. The fuser includes an AC driven heater to which a thermistor is mounted for sensing the temperature of the fuser heater. A resistance of the thermistor controls the period of a periodic signal generated by an astable multivibrator. An optical isolator isolates the printer fuser from down line processing circuits, and transfers the periodic signal to such processing circuits. The printer fuser employs a separate floating ground that is not connected to other DC circuits of the printer. With this arrangement, any AC power that is inadvertently coupled from the heater to the DC circuits of the fuser is isolated thereto. The AC power is isolated to the fuser and cannot be propagated through the fuser to other down line circuits of the printer.

Abstract: An image forming method includes charging an image holding member; forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image holding member; developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding member with a toner or an electrostatic image developer to form a toner image; transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image holding member onto a surface of a transfer-receiving material; fixing the toner image by pressurization without heating; feeding at least one photoreactive component to the toner or toner image; and irradiating the toner image with ultraviolet rays, wherein the toner satisfies the relationship of the following relational expression (1): TB(30)?100<TA(30)??(1) wherein TB (30) and TA (30) are defined in the specification.

Abstract: A non-magnetic toner including a binder resin including a first resin, a second resin, a third resin; a colorant; and a wax, wherein the first resin is a hybrid resin including an amorphous condensation polymerization unit and a radical polymerization unit in its molecular frame, and the second and third resins are non-hybrid resins including condensation polymerization units, wherein each of the first, second and third resins has a glass transition temperature (Tg) and a softening point (Tm) satisfying the following relationships: Tg of first resin<Tg of second resin<Tg of third resin, which is from 70 to 80° C., and Tm of second resin<Tm of third resin<Tm of first resin, and wherein the binder resin includes the first resin in an amount of from 10 to 20% and the third resin of from 25 to 45% by weight.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a fixing apparatus capable of restraining offset of a toner in multifarious types of sheets and in a variety of environments at low costs. The fixing apparatus has a rotary fixing member and a nip forming member which forms a fixing nip portion by coming into contact with the rotary member. A recording material bearing an unfixed toner image is conveyed while being pinched by the nip portion. The fixing apparatus fixes a toner image onto the recording material. The fixing apparatus further has a bias applying means which applies a bias to the nip forming member. The bias applying means, before the recording material reaches the nip portion, applies a first bias to the nip forming member so that a surface of a rotary member is charged with electricity, and applies a second bias to the nip forming member while the recording material is conveyed by the nip portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a drive roller; an image forming unit; a fixing unit; a sub drive roller provided at the downstream side of the fixing unit, nipping and conveying a continuous-form-paper, on which the toner image is fixed, to the downstream side, a rotational speed of the sub drive roller being changable; a buffer unit provided between the fixing unit and the sub drive roller, being able to increase or decrease a buffer amount of the continuous-form-paper according to expansion or contraction of the continuous-form-paper in the fixing unit; a detection section that detects the buffer amount of the buffer unit; and a control section that controls the rotational speed of the sub drive roller based on the detection result of the detection section such that the buffer amount of the buffer unit is kept substantially constant.

Abstract: A curling device includes a first curling unit configured to curl a sheet in a first direction and a second curling unit. The second curling unit is for curling a sheet which has passed the first curling unit in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction. The curling device also includes an input unit facilitating manual inputting correction values relating to the curling direction and curling amount to be corrected, and a control unit configured to changeably control the curling amount of each of the first curling unit and the second curling unit, to correspond to the correction values input in the first and second input units.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging apparatus is provided which is capable of performing a method of preparing a non-metal substrate. The method can include imaging at least one surface of the non-metal substrate with a toner composition, the toner composition including IR absorbers. The method can further include exposing the toner composition to IR radiation through the substrate, thereby pre-heating the toner composition and preheating the substrate to a temperature less than a glass transition temperature of the substrate. The method can further include fusing the pre-heated imaged non-metal substrate at a predetermined temperature so that the average temperature of the substrate during and after fusing is less than a glass transition temperature of the substrate.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a porous material (resin composition) having high heat insulation properties, mechanical properties, and electrical properties by controlling function of a porous film by setting a porosity size, distribution of the porosity size, and a porosity ratio of the porous film in predetermined ranges. The resin composition according to the present invention is comprised of an engineering plastic having porous structure in which not less than 80% of a total porosity is comprised of independent porosities, a mean porosity size is not less than 0.01 ?m and not more than 0.9 ?m, and not less than 80% of the total porosity has a porosity size within ±30% of the mean porosity size.

Abstract: A fixer configured to fix an image on an recording medium passing through a fixing nip includes a holder including an elastic layer, a fixing rotator including a heating layer, provided overlying the holder, and a pressurizer configured to pressurize the holder via the fixing rotator to form the fixing nip. A part of the pressurizer, which forms the fixing nip, has a length not less than a length of the heating layer in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: A dual-zone steam fuser for a xerographic system includes a ultra-heated first zone maintained at 200-500° C. that quickly heats a paper substrate to an optimal toner fusing temperature (e.g., 120-150° C.), and a second, relatively cool second zone for maintaining the substrate at the optimal temperature during completion of the fusing process. A conveying system conveys the substrate so that it exits the first zone and enters the second zone immediately after the substrate temperature reaches the optimal toner fusing temperature, and is maintained in the second zone for a predetermined fusing operation time period. The gas (e.g., steam) temperatures and timing are selected such that surface condensation is minimized during initial heating, and such that moisture content is normalized at the end of the fusing process.

Abstract: An image forming device is disclosed that is able to superpose a smooth sheet on a toner image on a recording sheet after common thermal fusing, perform re-melting and solidification, and then separate the smooth sheet, thereby, forming a high-gloss image easily. The image forming device includes a first fusing unit for the common thermal fusing, and a second fusing unit for fusing the toner image on a recording sheet after the common thermal fusing with a gloss application sheet superposed on the toner image, and a separation unit for separating the gloss application sheet from the recording sheet. The gloss application sheet is superposed on the recording sheet with a side of the gloss application sheet projecting out beyond a side of the recording sheet on a downstream side in the conveyance direction, and the gloss application sheet and the recording sheet are directed into the separation unit while being superposed.

Abstract: A fuser unit for an image forming apparatus including: a tape-like cleaning member that abuts on a fuser roller and cleans its peripheral surface; a press roller that presses the fuser roller via the cleaning member; a feed roller that feeds said cleaning member; a wind roller that winds the cleaning member therearound; and a controller that actuates a fixing function before an image formation, stops it after said image formation, and rotates and stops the wind roller and/or the feed roller to control a winding quantity of the cleaning member, wherein said controller calculates a toner image amount based on the prescribed number of pages by tracking from a page on which an image is formed just before the image formation is completed, and determines whether or not said cleaning member is wound around the wind roller during a non-fixing period based on the calculated toner image amount.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes: a shaft; a heatable rotating member, mounted for rotation on the shaft, for fixing an image on a recording medium, the heatable rotating member having a heat generating layer heatable via a magnetic flux; a magnetic flux generator configured to generate the magnetic flux, the magnetic flux generator being provided proximal to the heatable rotating member; and a supporting frame having a shaft supporter configured to support an end of the shaft on which the heatable rotating member is mounted, the shaft supporter being positioned outside of an end portion of the magnetic flux generator.

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 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: The present invention realizes: a toner that ensures fixing property only by a laser fixing system where a toner is fixed by irradiation of laser light whose wavelength is adjusted to be in an absorption wavelength range of each color of the toner, and realizes an image without poor color reproducibility caused by an infrared absorbent; a two-component developer containing the toner; a developing device; a fixing device; and an image forming apparatus. A capsule toner, which is the toner of the present invention, is arranged such that the capsule toner has a two-layer structure where a coating layer is formed around a surface of a core particle serving as a toner matrix particle, and nb/na is in a range of 0.92 to 0.96 where nb/na is a ratio of a refractive index of a resin making up the coating layer (nb) to a refractive index of a resin making up the core particle (na).

Abstract: A coating composition may include a fluoropolymer; a plurality of carbon nanotubes, wherein the carbon nanotubes are substantially non-agglomerated and substantially uniformly dispersed in the fluoropolymer; and a coupling agent. The coupling agent may include a first functional group, a second functional group, and a linking group. The first functional group may be bonded to the carbon nanotubes. The second functional group may be bonded to the fluoropolymer. The linking group may bond the first functional group to the second functional group.

Abstract: A belt fixing unit has a fixing roller and a pressing roller that are provided in a pair midway along a transport passage through which paper having a toner image formed thereon is transported from bottom to top approximately in a vertical direction and that fix the toner image on the paper, a heating roller that is provided parallel to and in a position approximately horizontal to the fixing roller and that incorporates a heater for heating the fixing roller, and a fixing belt that is formed as an endless belt and that is wound around and between the fixing roller and the heating roller. A non-contact temperature sensor for controlling the fixing temperature is provided on a non-contact basis in the paper passage region on the surface of the upper one of the parts of the fixing belt facing each other up and down between the fixing roller and the heating roller.

Abstract: A fixing roller includes: a core; an elastic layer made of an elastic material, formed around the core; and a resin layer made of fluorine resin, formed around the elastic layer. The fixing roller is designed such that the resin layer has a thickness of 40 ?m or more, and the fixing roller meets a relation Tr?Tc+60 or Tr?Tc+75 where Tr (° C.) is a limit temperature obtained in a predetermined peeling test and Tc (° C.) is a temperature of the fixing roller at which a fixing process is performed. This allows the fixing roller used in an image forming apparatus with a high process speed to secure that the resin layer is less likely to be detached from the elastic layer.

Abstract: A glossy image forming system for forming a glossy image on a recording material having a surface resin material layer, the glossy image forming system includes a fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on a surface of the recording material; a heaterless pressing device for pressing the recording material having the toner image fixed by the fixing device; a smoothing device for smoothing the surface of the recording material pressed by the heaterless pressing device with a pressure smaller than a pressure applied by the heaterless pressing device.

Abstract: A tandem color electrostatographic printer apparatus has five or more color printing stations or modules for applying respective color separation toner images to a receiver member to form a pentachrome color image in a single pass. A fuser station fuses the pentachrome color image. A clear toner overcoat is then applied to the fused pentachrome toner image and enhanced glossing of the image is provided by a belt glosser to improve color gamut.

Abstract: A fixing device thermally fixes an image developed on a recording sheet. The fixing device includes: a heating roller heated by a heat source and having a first end side and a second end side with respect to an axial direction; a power supply member for supplying the heat source with power for use in heating the heating roller; a first bearing formed of a conductive material, attached to the first end side of the heating roller and connected to a ground; and an second bearing formed of an insulating material and attached to the second end side of the heating roller. The power supply member is disposed at the second end side of the heating roller.

Abstract: A fixing liquid is provided which fixes a toner comprising a resin on a recording medium, in which a fluid particle comprising a component which dissolves or swells at least a portion of the resin comprised in the toner is dispersed in a dispersive medium, as a micro-emulsion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a print roller, in which a circumferential elastic contact part of the print roller contacts and presses a print medium to convey the print medium, the apparatus comprises a push roller pressing the print roller to elastically deform the circumferential elastic contact part; and a print media-releasing member including a claw member to be protruded into a space formed by the elastic deformation of the circumferential contact portion, the print medium being released from the print roller by means of the claw member.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first motor for driving said image bearing member, a fixing unit which fixes an image transferred from said image bearing member to a recording material onto the recording material and a second motor for driving said fixing unit, wherein said fixing unit is started up by said first motor and then driven by said second motor. Thereby, costs on the second motor for driving the fixing apparatus, which is disposed separately from the first motor for driving the image forming apparatus, can be restrained.