Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided apparatus and methods of improving the self-stripping capabilities of a printing system employing a belt roll fuser structure. An exemplary embodiment apparatus comprises a pressure roll; a fuser belt; a nip formed by the fuser belt contacting the pressure roll, the nip including an inlet end where a medium enters the nip, an outlet end where the medium exits the nip, and a first nip width defined between the inlet end and the outlet end; and a striping shoe coupled to a controller that uses a lookup table to incrementally move the stripping shoe to some defined optimum position to compensate for at least one of belt degradation, media weight, and media coating to gain stripping latitude.

Abstract: A gloss applicator, disposed downstream from a fusing device for fusing a non-fused image on a recording medium, includes a pair of pressure units, an endless belt, and a belt suction unit. The pair of pressure units define a gloss nip therebetween through which the recording medium is passed to enhance glossiness of the fused image. The endless belt, disposed in one of the pressure units in an extended loop configuration, transports the recording medium thereon. An outer face of the endless belt can contact the fused image on the recording medium. The belt suction unit, disposed inside the endless belt loop, exerts suction on the endless belt to locally deform a given portion of the endless belt and separate the recording medium from the endless belt at the given portion as a separation position.

Abstract: A fuser and receiver release system and method are provided for improving the release of receivers in high speed of printing systems. This system controls the release of a receiver in conjunction with a fuser in a printing system, and specifically the efficiency and accuracy of the release system. One embodiment of this method includes a belt fuser that allows the separating of the heat transfer and release functions of the fuser such that fuser roller could be made of hard metal core that can be heated to high temperatures without the fear of delaminating elastomeric coatings which are common in roller fusing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first rotary body; a second rotary body provided to face the first rotary body, wherein the first rotary body and the second rotary body form a nip portion by coming in contact with each other to rotate, at which a sheet bearing a toner image is conveyed while being heated and pressed, thereby fixing the toner image onto the sheet; a first nozzle which blows air to a first air blowing position established on a circumferential surface of the first rotary body and on a side of an outlet of the nip portion; and a second nozzle which blows air to a second air blowing position established on a circumferential surface of the second rotary body and established downstream of the first air blowing position in a traveling direction of the sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device comprises a fixing roller that fixes a toner image onto a sheet, plural rollers including the fixing roller, and an endless fixing belt driven and wound around the plural rollers. A pressing member is provided to press against the fixing roller via the fixing belt. The pressing member creates a fixing nip on the fixing belt. A slip supporting member is provided to press against the inner surface of the fixing belt at an exit section on a sheet conveyance path downstream of the fixing nip. Plural separation members are provided to separate the sheet ejected from the fixing nip. The plural separation members are arranged with their leading ends being distanced from the exit section.

Abstract: A stripper blade system has been developed for high throughput inkjet printers. The stripper blade system includes a metallic blade having a leading edge that is less than 0.06 mm in thickness, a blade holder to which the metallic blade is mounted, and an actuator that is associated with the blade holder to move the metallic blade into and out of contact with an intermediate imaging member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a belt member provided to be circularly movable having a width; a first fixing member disposed inside the belt member; a second fixing member disposed in press contact with the first fixing member across the belt member, and forms a passing portion with the belt member, through which a recording medium passes; and a pressing member disposed along a width direction of the belt member and downstream of the passing portion in a moving direction of the belt member, in which the pressing member has a surface and brings the surface in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt member to press the belt member against the second fixing member. The surface is curved toward the second fixing member along with a move from an end portion to a center portion in a longitudinal direction of the pressing member.

Abstract: A sheet separation mechanism includes a separation claw holder, a separation claw, a first coil spring and a second coil spring. The separation claw holder can be provided at a predetermined place in the image forming apparatus. The separation claw includes a separation claw base pivotally supported by the separation claw holder and a separation claw front-end pivotally supported by the separation claw base. The first coil spring is configured to apply a force to rotate the separation claw base toward an intermediate transfer belt. The second coil spring is configured to apply a force to rotate the separation claw front-end toward the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A fixing device has a frame, a heating roller, a press roller, a peeler, a guide member, and a wheel. The heating roller includes a roller rotation axis and a cylindrical surface. The press roller is pressed against the cylindrical surface to feed a recording medium together with the heating roller along a feeding path. The peeler has a peeling surface having a leading edge, where the peeling surface faces the feeding path. The guide member faces the peeling surface to guide the recording medium to downstream of the feeding path. The guide member is movable between a near position and a far position relative to the peeling surface. The wheel is positioned in a manner that a part of the circumferential edge protrudes from the peeling surface to the guiding member in a virtual plane perpendicular to the wheel rotation axis.

Abstract: Driving of a driving unit is controlled so as to satisfy relationship of L>|X+Y|(|X|?X0, |Y|?Y0), wherein a distance between an outside end of a separation claw in a width direction when a fixing unit and the separation claw are at respective reference positions and a side end of a sheet, which is winding around a heating roller, in the width direction is L, a displacing amount of the fixing unit detected by a first detecting unit is X, a maximum displacing amount of the fixing unit is X0, a displacing amount of the separation claw detected by a second detecting unit is Y, and a maximum displacing amount of the separation claw is Y0.

Abstract: A belt-roll fuser stripping system has a stripping shoe and a stripping shim. The shim is support by a support member. The support member supports the shim to maintain a desired nip pressure profile, and reduce deformation and wear of the shim and belt-roll fuser components.

Abstract: A fusing unit includes a heat roller and a press roller, which fuse a toner image fused to a recording sheet; a first separating pawl contacting a circumferential surface of the heat roller and separating the recording sheet from the heat roller; second separating pawls that are spaced from the first separating pawl in an axial direction to contact the circumferential surface of the heat roller and separate the recording sheet from the heat roller; a first rotatable guide in the first separating pawl that guides the recording sheet to a sheet discharge guide of an exit feed path while changing its orientation; a second rotatable guide provided in each of the second separating pawls which guides the recording sheet to a sheet discharge guide of an exit feed path while changing an orientation of the recording sheet; and a fusing feed path that reaches the sheet discharge guide.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing member; a pressure member for pressing against the fixing member so as to form a nip region between the pressure member and the fixing member; a pressure cancellation unit for pressing the pressure member against the fixing member and for cancelling the state in which the pressure member is pressed against the fixing member; a paper detachment member for detaching paper held between the fixing member and the pressure member in the nip region from the pressure member; and a separation mechanism for cleaning the paper detachment member by separating the paper detachment member from the pressure member in conjunction with a pressure cancellation operation of the pressure cancellation unit.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a frame, a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a transfer roller, a heating roller, a backup roller, a peeling claw, and a protection member. The photosensitive drum has a surface on which a latent image is formable. The developing roller develops the latent image to provide a toner image. The transfer roller transfers the toner image onto a recording medium. The heating roller has a heating surface and a shaft supported to the frame and extending in a direction. The backup roller has a shaft supported to the frame and extending in the direction. The backup roller is in pressure contact with the heating roller. The peeling claw has a tip end in sliding contact with the heating surface of the heating roller. The protection member is configured to protect the peeling claw and prevent a user from accessing to the peeling claw.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first and a second rollers which form a fixing nip portion, a separating member for sheets, a supporting mechanism and a contact portion. The separating member is displaced between a first posture in which the tip of the separating member is close to the circumferential surface of the first roller and a second posture in which the tip is distant from that. The contact portion forms a gap between the tip of the separating member and the circumferential surface of the first roller. The supporting mechanism includes a pair of supporting members arranged near the opposite ends of the first roller, pivot members extending from the separating members and serving as a pivot of rotation of the separating member, and long holes which are provided at the opposite ends of the separating member and into which the pivot members are inserted.

Abstract: A media stripper mechanism includes a shaft, one or more first stripping members, and one or more second stripping members. The shaft extends in an axial direction thereof parallel to a rotational axis of the rotary member. Each of the one or more first stripping members is a pneumatic nozzle that has a proximal end thereof supported on the shaft, and a distal, free end opposite the proximal end thereof pointing toward the rotary member to direct compressed gas toward the nip along the rotary member for stripping the recording medium from the rotary member. Each of the one or more second stripping members is a non-contact finger that has a proximal end thereof supported on the shaft, and a distal, free end opposite the proximal end thereof pointing toward the rotary member to assist in stripping the recording medium from the rotary member without contacting the rotary member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a rotary fixing member, and a rotary pressing member pressing against the rotary fixing member to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes to fix the toner image thereon. The fixing device includes an air supply tube disposed downstream from the nip in the direction of conveyance of the recording medium and connected to an air source of an image forming apparatus, to supply compressed air to a plurality of nozzles disposed on the air supply tube along a long axis of the nip perpendicular to the direction of conveyance and inject pulsed compressed air against the recording medium passing through the nip. The air supply tube includes an exhaust opening disposed at an extreme upstream end of the flow of the compressed air outside the recording medium passing area near the air source.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus to fuse a toner image transferred to a printing medium by applying heat and pressure. The fusing apparatus includes a separation member that is rotatably mounted on a rotation axis to separate the printing medium from one of a heating roller and a pressing roller. The separation member includes a hollow portion into which the rotation axis is inserted, and a separation portion that contacts an outer circumference of the heating roller. The separation member is installed so as to be pitched around the rotation axis and a pitching axis having an inclination angle within a range of ±10° with respect to a line that connects a contact point between the separation portion and the outer circumference of the roller from which the printing medium is to be separated and a center of the roller from which the printing medium is to be separated.

Abstract: A fixing device, including a fixing member; an opposing member contacting the fixing member to form a fixing nip; plural separation assisting members; a contact direction biasing member contacting an end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member; a contact and release switching member switching contacting the end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member and releasing the end of the auxiliary separation members therefrom; a fixing exit guide member guiding a recording medium to a discharge direction and separated from the fixing member by the separation assisting member; a first rotating member near the auxiliary separation members downstream from an end thereof; and a second rotating member guiding a recording medium guided by the fixing exit guide member in the recording medium conveyance direction while rotating.

Abstract: A medium transporting apparatus is incorporated in an apparatus, and includes a first transport path and a second transport path. The first transport path is defined in the body of the apparatus. The second transport path is disposed on a medium cassette. The medium cassette is movable in a direction in which the medium cassette is pulled out of the apparatus and in a direction in which the medium cassette is inserted into the apparatus, so that the second transport path is detachably coupled to the first transport path. When the medium cassette has been inserted completely into the apparatus, a guide member extends to cover a joint portion between the first transport path and the second transport path, thereby facilitating advancement of the medium from the second transport path to the first transport path.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface; a belt including an inner surface contacting the second surface and an outer surface contacting the first surface to form a nip through which the belt rotates; and a tensioned stripping wire contacting the inner surface of the belt and spaced from the second surface. The stripping wire can produce a sufficiently-high stripping force to facilitate stripping of media passed through the nip from the outer surface of the belt.

Abstract: A separation mechanism of a fixing device includes a first separation member arranged opposite the first region in a state apart from the first region by a first gap, a second separation member arranged opposite the second region in a state apart from the second region by a second gap and at a position different from that of the first separation member in a direction orthogonal to the convey direction of the paper, a first gap adjustment member capable of moving the first separation member relative to the first region of the fixing member to adjust the first gap, and a second gap adjustment member capable of moving the second separation member relative to the second region of the fixing member to adjust the second gap.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a fixing member for fixing developer image on a recording medium, and a separation member separating the recording medium from the fixing member to guide the recording medium in a delivery direction of the recording medium. The separation member includes a resin member, a metal member formed on a front side of the resin member, and an opening. In accordance with a preferred aspect of the fixing apparatus, when the developer image is fixed to the recording medium, the opening arranged at the separation member is formed to flow the gas around the fixing apparatus, thereby improving the printing quality of the printed images.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station for forming an image, a registration member, a registration motor, and a fixing unit. The registration member is configured to feed the recording medium in appropriate timing such that a recording medium is aligned with the toner image formed in the image forming station. The registration motor is configured to drive the registration member. The fixing unit is configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium and includes a rotary heating member to heat the recording medium, a rotary pressure member to contact and press against the heating member forming a fixing nip portion where the heating roller and the pressure roller meet, and a sheet separator to eject air to separate the recording medium from the rotary heating member based on a drive signal of the registration motor.

Abstract: A fixing device comprises: a pair of fixing rotors, at least one of which has a heating source and both of which are rotated in pressure contact with each other; and a click-shaped peeling member provided on a downstream side of the fixing rotor with respect to a transporting direction of a recording medium and disposed in contact with a surface of the fixing rotor, wherein a tip portion of the click-shaped peeling member which is to come in contact with the fixing rotor is elastically deformed in conformity to a shape of a surface of the fixing rotor when coming in contact with the fixing rotor.

Abstract: A fixing device to fix a toner image on a recording medium in a nip portion formed by a treated fixing member and a pressure member, the fixing device including; an air ejection section to eject and blow air against the recording medium to separate the recording medium from the fixing member, a first guide member provided on a fixing face side of the recording medium discharged from the nip portion to guide the recording medium, a second guide member provided on a non-fixing face side of the recording medium discharged from the nip portion to guide the recording medium, also having a predetermined clearance with respect to the pressure member, and an air suction section provided on a opposite side position with respect to the first guide member in the second guide member to suction air of the clearance and attract the recording medium to the second guide member.

Abstract: A peeling device is provided and includes: a rotating body that conveys a recording material; a peeling member capable of changing from a first state in which the peeling member is away from the rotating body to a second state in which the peeling member is closer to the rotating body than the peeling member in the first state is, the peeling member in the second state peeling off the recording material from the rotating body; and a gas spraying unit that sprays a gas to the peeling member to bring the peeling member from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: A fixing device includes two rollers to form a fixing nip and a separation plate assembly disposed near one of the rollers. The separation plate assembly includes at least one separation plate to separate a recording medium from the roller, a pair of contact members, a holding member having a rotation shaft at each end in a longitudinal direction thereof, to hold at least one separation plate and the contact members in a rotation axis direction, and a contact pressure adjuster to adjust a contact pressure of the contact members relative to the roller by bending a portion of the holding member holding one of the pair of contact members to the roller and to the opposite of the roller. When the holding member is rotated about the rotation shafts, the contact members contact the roller to separate at least one separation plate from the roller.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of cleaning debris from a surface in an apparatus useful for printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful for printing includes a first roll, a belt including an inner surface and an outer surface, the first roll and the outer surface of the belt forming a nip, a stripping member located between the inner surface of the belt and the first roll for facilitating stripping of media from the outer surface of the belt after the media is fed through the nip with the belt moving in a first direction, wherein debris builds up on the inner surface of the belt adjacent to the stripping member during stripping of the media, and a cleaning device for cleaning the debris from the inner surface of the belt upon movement of the belt in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A sheet separator using air includes a plurality of nozzles and a guide member. The plurality of nozzles, through which compressed air is ejected against a nip portion where a plurality of rotating members meets, presses each other, and carries a sheet of a recording medium therebetween, is disposed downstream in a direction of sheet transport and also in a direction of a width of the recording medium. The guide member holds and secures the nozzles, and includes a conduit to supply the compressed air to the nozzles, and a guide surface to direct the recording medium separated from the nip portion. A tip of each of the nozzles from which air is ejected projects beyond the leading edge of the guide member on the nip portion side. A fixing unit includes the sheet separator. An image forming apparatus includes the sheet separator.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes: a support member; an endless-belt-like fixing member which is wound on the support member; a pressure member which rotates in a fixed rotation direction while being pressed onto the fixing member; a fixing portion in which the fixing member and the pressure member abut against each other to perform fixation on a recording medium; a separation unit which is provided in a space between the support member and the fixing member on a downstream side of the fixing member in a rotation direction of the fixing member and for separating the recording medium from the fixing member; a separation portion which is provided in the separation unit to press the fixing member onto the pressure member and guide the fixing member to leave the pressure member; and an adjustment unit as defined herein.

Abstract: An air discharging apparatus to discharge pressurized air at a predetermined timing is disclosed. The disclosed air discharging apparatus includes an air pump including a cylinder and a piston configured to reciprocate in the cylinder; an opening and closing member provided at an air discharge opening of the air pump and configured to open and close the air discharge opening; and a switching mechanism providing mechanical coupling between the piston and the opening and closing member. The mechanical coupling keeps the opening and closing member in a closed state until the piston reaches a predetermined position in a compression stroke and switches the opening and closing member to an opened state when the piston reaches the predetermined position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a heating section which heats a recording material; a pressing section which presses the recording material toward the heating section; a separation claw which separates the recording material from the heating section or the pressing section; a fixing unit moving section which reciprocates the heating section, the pressing section and the separation claw in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording material; and a separation claw moving section which reciprocates the separation claw in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, wherein the separation claw moving section moves the separation claw toward a direction opposite to a moving direction toward which the heating section, the pressing section and the separation claw move in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing belt which is supported by one or more rollers; and a fixing roller which is in pressed contact with at least one of the rollers across the fixing belt, wherein the fixing roller includes a core portion which is rotatably provided, an elastic portion which covers the core portion so as to form a cylindrical shape with a rotation axis of the core portion being defined as a center, and a release portion which covers a cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the elastic portion, and an end of the elastic portion in a direction along the rotation axis and an end of the release portion in the direction along the rotation axis project from an end of the core portion, in the direction along the rotation axis, at a part where the core portion and the elastic portion are in contact with each other.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful for printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful for printing includes a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface; a gas source; a rotary valve including a gas inlet in fluid communication with the gas source, a gas outlet and a rotor including a gas passage; a gas knife in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the rotary valve, the gas knife being adapted to emit gas onto the second surface downstream from the nip; and a motor coupled to the rotor.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable image heating member; a pressing member for forming a nip for heating a the image formed on a recording material; a external heating member for heating externally the image heating member; a duct surrounding the external heating member; and an air separating device for separating the recording material having passed through the nip from the heating member by blowing air supplied from the duct toward the image heating member from a downstream side of the nip with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material.

Abstract: A media stripper for use with a pair of first and second, opposed rotary members includes a stripper finger and a rotation restriction mechanism. The stripper finger has an operational edge thereof disposed adjacent to the first rotary member to strip a recording medium from the first rotary member. The stripper finger is rotatable around a pivot axis parallel to a rotation axis of the first rotary member either in a first rotational direction in which the operational edge approaches the first rotary member, or in a second rotational direction in which the operational edge approaches the second rotary member, so as to establish an operational position thereof relative to the first rotary member. The rotation restriction mechanism is disposed for contact with the stripper finger to restrict rotation of the stripper finger in the second rotational direction upon establishment of the operational position of the stripper finger.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes: a heating roller; a pressing roller that is capable of being in pressure contact with the heating roller; a compressor that generates compressed air; an air tank that reserves therein the compressed air; a first pipe through which the compressed air generated by the compressor is fed into the air tank; an injection nozzle that is formed by the heating roller and the pressing roller and that causes the compressed air to blow a printing medium fed from the fixing nip; a second pipe through which the compressed air reserved in the air tank is fed into the injection nozzle; and a compressed air injection solenoid valve that is provided in middle of the second pipe. A droplet separator for separating a droplet from the compressed air is provided to the first pipe or to the second pipe.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, a first media stripper, and a second media stripper. The rotary fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is pressed against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is passed in a media conveyance direction under heat and pressure as the fuser and pressure members rotate together. The first media stripper includes at least one pneumatic nozzle disposed adjacent to the fuser member to direct compressed gas toward the fixing nip along the fuser member for stripping the recording medium from the fuser member. The second media stripper includes at least one contact finger disposed in contact with the pressure member to slide against the pressure member during rotation for stripping the recording medium from the pressure member.

Abstract: An image heating device includes a rotatable image heating member for heating an image on a recording material and for forming a nip; a blowing member for blowing air; and an ejecting member for ejecting air to separate the recording material passing through the nip from said image heating member, the ejecting member ejecting the air from the blowing member toward the image heating member so that a speed of the air toward an end portion of the image heating member is higher than that of the air toward a central portion of the image heating member with respect to a rotational axis direction of the image heating member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller and a pressing roller that are in pressure contact with each other. A separating plate is placed opposite to the fixing roller with a certain gap in between them. Positioning portions are installed on the separating plate to be in contact with width-direction ends of the fixing roller for determining the gap. The positioning portions are arranged such that edges of contact portions of the positioning portions on the width-direction center side in contact with the fixing unit are positioned outside an image area and inside a paper-passing area for a recording medium of a maximum passing-capable size.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing device having first and second rollers to press against each other with a sheet of paper to be transferred therebetween. The apparatus includes a roller frame to support the first roller; a separation claw, which, when disposed in an operational position on an outer circumferential surface of the first roller, separates the sheet of paper from the first roller; a claw frame to support the separation claw, which is movably attached to the roller frame to allow the separation claw to move between the operational position and a withdrawal position, at which the separation claw is withdrawn from the operational position; and an elastic member coupled between the claw frame and the roller frame, to bias the claw frame such that biasing force applied to the claw frame causes the separation claw to move from the withdrawal position to the operational position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a separator presser that presses against a plurality of separators to separate the plurality of separators from a fixing rotary body that contacts an opposed rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A single driver is connected to the separator presser to separate the separator presser from the plurality of separators. An entering recording medium detector is disposed upstream from the fixing nip in a conveyance direction of the recording medium to detect the recording medium. A controller is connected to the driver to control the driver based on a detection signal sent from the entering recording medium detector to change a contact time period for which the plurality of separators contacts the fixing rotary body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing device to fix a toner image on a recoding medium; a compressed air generator to generate a compressed air; an air nozzle to inject the compressed air to separate the recording medium having the fixed toner image from the fixing device; a first switching unit to switch the air nozzle between injection and termination, which is provided upstream from the air nozzle; and a buffer unit to retain the compressed air, which is provided upstream from the air nozzle and downstream from the first switching unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes: an image-side rotating section to come into contact with an unfixed image on a recording medium; a pressing section to form a nip between the pressing section and the image-side rotating section; a pressing adjusting section to adjust pressing force between the image-side rotating section and the pressing section; and a peeling plate to move to a position during jam treatment if the pressing force is pressing force during the jam treatment and peel the recording medium off the image-side rotating section.

Abstract: An enhanced sheet stripping method and apparatus for stripping toner image carrying copy sheets from a surface of a moving heated fusing member forming a fusing nip. The apparatus includes (a) a moving assembly for moving a cut sheet towards the fusing nip; (b) a sheet curling device positioned upstream of the fusing nip relative to movement of the cut sheet for inducing a desired pre-curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip; and (c) a sheet stripping device positioned downstream of the fusing nip for stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the moving heated fusing member as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip. The method includes inducing a desired curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip and enhanced stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the fuser roll as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) that detaches media from a fuser in a printer is disclosed. The method can include feeding (220) a media sheet through a fuser member and applying (230) gas from an air knife to the media sheet on the fuser member to detach the media sheet at a detach point from the fuser member. The method can also include asserting (240) tension on the media sheet using a set of rotational members and continuing to apply gas from the air knife to the media sheet until the set of rotational members asserts tension on the media sheet.

Abstract: A sheet separation mechanism including a compressed air generator, a first nozzle to eject compressed air onto a leading edge of a sheet, a control valve provided between the compressed air generator and the first nozzle to control a flow of the compressed air, and a second nozzle provided between the control valve and the first nozzle. The control valve controls the compressed air to be simultaneously ejected from both the first nozzle and the second nozzle.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing section which passes a sheet through a fixing nip portion formed by a pair of fixing members and thereby fixes a toner image on the sheet by heating; a blowing section which separates the sheet from the fixing members by blowing separation wind from a sheet discharge side of the fixing nip portion to the fixing members; an opening setting section which is provided with an opening region in which an opening width in a sheet width direction is adjustable, and adjusts a blowing range in the sheet width direction of the separation wind blown through the opening range from the blowing section to the fixing members; a temperature detection sensor for detecting temperature of the fixing members; and a control section which controls the opening width of the opening setting section based on the temperature detected of the fixing members.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit and a gloss equalizing unit. The fixing unit is disposed in a media conveyance path to fix a toner image on a recording medium conveyed therethrough. The fixing unit includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, and a media stripper. The fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is pressed against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween. The media stripper is held in contact with the pressure member to allow the recording medium to separate from the pressure member. The gloss equalizing unit is disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path. The gloss equalizing unit includes a pair of first and second rotary glossing rollers, at least one of which is heated and at least one of which is pressed against the other to form a gloss equalizing nip therebetween.