Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that is rotatably provided and heats an image formed on a recording material to fix the image to the recording material, a contact member that moves the recording material by being rotationally driven while coming into contact with the fixing member, and is provided to be separated from the fixing member, and a rotating member that is mounted on the contact member, is disposed to come into contact with the fixing member while the contact member is separated from the fixing member, rotates while interlocking with the contact member, transmits a rotational driving force from the contact member to the fixing member, and rotates with respect to the contact member when the fixing member is rotated by an external force and a rotational driving force is transmitted to the rotating member from the fixing member.

Abstract: A fixing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a coil arranged along an outer surface of the heating member and generating a magnetic field, a first core arranged opposite the heating member with respect to the coil and forming a magnetic path, a second core so fixed between the first core and the heating member with respect to a direction in which the coil generates the magnetic field, as to form the magnetic path together with the first core, a shielding member positioned outward of the second core and shielding the magnetism in the magnetic path, and a magnetism adjusting unit moving the shielding member outward of the second core to switch the position of the shielding member between a shielding position where the shielding member shields the pass of the magnetism and a retracted position where the shielding member permits the pass of the magnetism.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a heating member provided inside the fixing member to heat the fixing member, a nip formation member provided inside the fixing member and supported by the heating member, and a pressing member pressed against the nip formation member via the fixing member to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. The nip formation member includes a convex portion provided at a center of the nip formation member in an axial direction of the fixing member and protruding toward the heating member. The heating member has a tapered shape corresponding to the convex portion of the nip formation member, in which the heating member is tapered from lateral ends toward a center of the heating member in the axial direction of the fixing member.

Abstract: A magnetic core surrounds a coil and has a plurality of first core sections arrayed along the widthwise direction of a recording medium orthogonally to the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and a second core section disposed at both ends in the widthwise direction within a hollow section of the coil. The second core section is formed so that the cross-sectional area thereof in the conveyance direction of the recording medium grows progressively larger from the center of the widthwise direction towards the end thereof.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off.

Abstract: A fixing roller/fixing belt having an elastic layer and a surface layer formed on a substrate material in the enumerated order, wherein the surface layer is a layer formed by thermally shrinking a PFA tube, and the surface layer and the elastic layer are bonded together through a PFA-containing adhesive material. In particular, a fixing roller/fixing belt in which the ratio of heat shrinkage of the PFA tube forming the surface layer is 3 to 20%. Also, a fixing roller/fixing belt, in which the quantity of PFA contained in the PFA-containing adhesive material is 20 to 30 wt %.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that has a conductive layer capable of being heated by electromagnetic induction and fixes an image to the recording material; a magnetic-field generator that generates an alternating magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer of the fixing member; a heating member that is at least partly separated from the fixing member and is heated; and a deformable member that is deformed when receiving heat and moves the heating member toward the fixing member.

Abstract: Fixing devices for fixing marking material to a web, printing apparatuses and methods of fixing marking material to a web are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing devices includes a first roll including a heated outer surface; a second roll forming a fixing nip with the outer surface of the first roll at which a continuous web on which marking material is disposed is received; a third roll positioned to contact the web prior to entering the fixing nip; and an adjustment mechanism connected to the third roll. The adjustment mechanism is operable to move the third roll to vary a wrap length of the web contacting the outer surface of the first roll upstream from the fixing nip to control pre-heating of the web and marking material by contact with the outer surface prior to entering the fixing nip. The first roll and second roll are operable to apply heat and pressure to the pre-heated web and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the marking material to the web.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller and a pressure roller. The fixing roller and the pressure roller each have an elastic layer formed between a core bar and a release layer, which release layer serves as a surface of the fixing roller and the pressure roller. The pressure roller has a lower Asker-C hardness than that of the fixing roller, and has a greater micro rubber hardness than that of the fixing roller. This prevents the surface of the pressure roller from deteriorating in a short period of time.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording medium includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a sheet guide, and a pressure adjusting mechanism. The fixing member heats the unfixed toner image on the recording medium. The pressure member is disposed opposite the fixing member and presses against the fixing member to define a fixing nip through which the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image passes to fix the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium. The position of the fixing nip is changeable. The sheet guide disposed adjacent to the pressure member guides the recording medium to the fixing nip and moves in conjunction with movement of the pressure member. The pressure adjusting mechanism operatively connected to the pressure member adjusts an amount of engagement of the pressure member relative to the fixing member. An image forming apparatus includes the fixing device.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable image heater including: an electroconductive layer; a pressor, press-contacting the heater, for forming a nip in which an image on a recording material is to be heated; an urging member, provided inside the heater, for urging the heater toward the pressor; and an excitation coil for induction-heating the electroconductive layer. When the length of the heater with respect to a rotational axis direction thereof is Lb, the length of the pressor with respect to the rotational axis direction is Lr, the outside distance of bent portions of the coil at both end portions thereof with respect to the rotational axis direction is LcoilA, and the inside distance of the bent portions with respect to the rotational axis direction is LcoilB, the lengths Lb and Lr and the distance LcoilA and LcoilB satisfy the following relationship: LcoilA>Lb>Lr>LcoilB.

Abstract: An image heater a hollow heating roller having a hole at an axial end portion thereof; a bearing supporting the heating roller; a heat insulating bush fitted between an outer surface of the heating roller and the bearing; a retaining ring for retaining the heat insulating bush in an axial direction of the heating roller, the retaining ring including a projection engaging with the hole; an annular spacer provided between the retaining ring and the heat insulating bush, wherein the spacer includes a connecting portion having a connecting hole, the retaining ring includes a hooking portion engaging with the connecting hole.

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; at least one heating element for heating the first surface of the first member; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface, the nip including an inlet end at which a substrate enters the nip and an outlet end at which the substrate exits from the nip; and an air knife disposed downstream from the outlet end of the nip and extending along an axial direction of the first member, the air knife including a first end, a second end opposite to the first end and a plurality of axially-spaced nozzles disposed between the first end and second end; and at least one gas inlet through which gas is supplied to the air knife.

Abstract: An induction heating unit enabling to attaching coil on coil attaching surface of bobbin with a high degree of accuracy, and a fixing device capable of maintaining the distance between the coil and the member to be heated at a high degree of accuracy, ensuring uniformity of temperature distribution of the member to be heated, rising temperature at a high speed, and enhancing quality of fixation. In an induction heating unit 30 including a magnetizing coil 39 attached on a coil bobbin 38 which is disposed outside of annular body 19 to be heated, the unit including: a layer of elastic adhesive 44a provided on the outer surface of the coil bobbin 38; a magnetizing coil 39 provided on the layer of elastic adhesive 44a, the magnetizing coil 39 being wound beforehand following an attaching surface; and a layer of elastic adhesive 44b provided on the magnetizing coil 39.

Abstract: An induction heating fusing device and method of an image forming apparatus including: a pressure roller; a heating element that forms a fusing nip together with the pressure roller and is rotatable; an inductor that is installed in a rotation axis direction on the outer circumference surface of the heating element, includes a main coil and a plurality of control coils located on the main coil, and inductively heats the heating element; and a controller that selectively drives at least one of the plurality of control coils depending on the width of a printing paper passing though the fusing nip, and controls the main coil and the plurality of control coils so that a current direction of the main coil and a current direction of the plurality of control coils become the same as or opposite to each other depending on the width of the printing paper.

Abstract: A fixing device is mounted on a main casing of an image forming apparatus. A heating member contacts a recording medium to apply heat thereto while rotating. A heating member includes a roller that rotates about an axis. A frame supports the heating member and includes a frame fixing part that is fixed to the main casing to mount the frame on the main casing. A detecting unit opposes the heating member in an opposing direction to detect a temperature of the heating member and is separated from the heating member. A support member supports the detecting unit. A position of the support member in the opposing direction with respect to the frame is determined at a position closer to the frame fixing unit than the detecting unit. A position of the support member in an axial direction of the roller with respect to the frame is determined at a same position as the detecting unit in the axial direction.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image on a recording material, includes a rotatable heat generation member capable of induction heat generation by a magnetic flux; a coil, provided outside the heat generation member, for generating the magnetic flux for the induction heat generation; a movable magnetic core provided at a position opposed to the coil; a moving device for moving the magnetic core between a first position opposed to the coil and a second position which is more away from the coil than the first position; and an electroconductive member mounted at a position where a magnetic circuit is capable of being formed with the coil when the magnetic core is in the second position.

Abstract: A fixing member including a substrate and an elastic layer provided on a surface of the substrate. The elastic layer includes a fluorosilicone rubber including carbon fibers and voids.

Abstract: An image forming method for fixing a toner image on a recording medium by passing the recording medium through a fixing nip defined between a first member and a second member under heat and pressure. The toner includes a specific amount of a shear buffer. The first and second members extend along respective first and second longitudinal axes, and have respective at least one convex portion curving outward and at least one concave portion curving inward with respect to each of the respective first and second longitudinal axes. At least one of the first and second members is heated, and the first convex portion engages the second concave portion and the first concave portion engages the second convex portion, to define the fixing nip therebetween.

Abstract: A heating device includes: a heating member heating a recording medium; a pressure member forming a heating pressure portion with the heating member, through which the recording medium passes; a tensioning member facing the pressure member across the heating member, and providing a tension to the heating member; a peeling member placed downstream of the heating pressure portion and adjacent to the tensioning member, and peeling off the recording medium from the heating member; and an inside heating unit heating the heating member and controlling meandering of the heating member, the inside heating unit including: a secured center shaft; an outer circumferential portion rotating about the center shaft; a heater placed inside the outer circumferential portion to heat thereof from inside; and a heat reflecting member secured to the center shaft and placed at each end portion of the outer circumferential portion, and that reflects heat from the heater.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus 12 in one embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing roller 31, a pressure roller 32, a pressing apparatus 100 for pressing the pressure roller 32 toward the fixing roller 31, a pressure cancellation apparatus 200 that cancels pressure applied by the pressing apparatus 100 to the pressure roller 32 against the fixing roller 31, an external heating apparatus 300 that presses the fixing roller 31 from the outside on an opposite side to the pressure roller 32, and a regulation member 400 that regulates the amount of pressure the external heating apparatus 300 applies to the fixing roller 31.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable member; a heater contactable to a surface of the rotatable member to heat the rotatable member; and a back-up member cooperative with the rotatable member to form a nip for nipping and feeding a recording material carrying an image, wherein a position of a peak in a pressure distribution with respect to a rotational direction of the rotatable member is upstream, with respect to the rotational direction, of a central portion of a contact region between the rotatable member and the heater with respect to the rotational direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material which is not thermally decolorized; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material which is thermally decolorized; a fixing unit which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a control unit which controls the fixing unit so that the temperature of the second recording medium passing through the fixing unit becomes lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material.

Abstract: A fusing device includes; a heating member having a resistive heating layer constituting an outermost portion of the heating member, a nip forming member facing the heating member to form a fusing nip therewith, and a plurality of current supplying electrodes which contact an outer circumference of the resistive heating layer to supply electrical current to the resistive heating layer.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided with a heating member, a pressing member, a coil, a fixed core, a movable core and a shielding member provided on the movable core and a position switching unit moving the shielding member between a shielding position where a ring part shields magnetism and a retracted position where the ring part does not shield magnetism. A first area requiring magnetic shielding and a second area not requiring magnetic shielding are selectively set in the heating member. The shielding member includes a first annular portion provided at a position corresponding to a boundary part between the first and second areas, and the first annular portion has a shape closed in a circumferential direction and is electrically insulated at a circumferential part when viewed in an axial direction of the movable core.

Abstract: A fixing unit for fixing a toner image onto paper has a member to be heated and a pressurizing member configured to press against the member to be heated and fix the toner image to the paper. At least one coil surface is disposed along one surface of the member to be heated and includes a coil to generate a magnetic field for inductively heating the member. A magnetism shielding member is disposed near the coil surface. A switch includes a first member to allow passage of the magnetic field and a second member to prevent passage of the magnetic field. The amount of heat for the member when the switch is in a first position where the second member is close to the magnetism shielding member is smaller than when the switch is in a second position where the second member is distanced from the magnetism shielding member.

Abstract: The transfer of a duplicate electronic document between image forming devices is done with an electronic document that is formed of only resolution-independent vector data and the like, and a normal printing of the duplicate electronic document or printing of different resolution is performed by developing the vector data. In high-quality printing of the duplicate electronic document, a Fill Map included in the original document the information indicating the location of an electronic document of copy source that is embedded in a metadata specifies is obtained, and this printing is made using the Fill Map.

Abstract: A heating roller performs electromagnetic induction heating, and includes a first exciting coil that heats the heating roller, a first degaussing coil that decreases magnetic fields of the first exciting coil, and a first axial direction core that guides magnetic fluxes, to make up a magnetic circuit between the first axial direction core and the heating roller. The width of a heat zone is controlled in agreement with a sheet feeding area. Thus, the capability to control a temperature increase in a non-sheet-feeding area of the heating roller is enhanced. Power can be saved during continual feeding of small recording sheets.

Abstract: An image forming method for fixing a toner image on a recording medium by passing the recording medium through a fixing nip defined between a first member and a second member under heat and pressure. The toner has a specific loss elastic modulus. The first and second members extend along respective first and second longitudinal axes, and have respective first and second elastic layers whose thickness vary along the respective first and second longitudinal axes to define at least one convex portion curving outward and at least one concave portion curving inward with respect to each of the respective first and second longitudinal axes. The first convex portion engages the second concave portion and the first concave portion engages the second convex portion, to define the fixing nip therebetween.

Abstract: A fixing unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a heating roller, the heating roller being divided into a fixing area and a non-fixing area, in which the fixing area is heated to above a target temperature required for fixing of an image, and the non-fixing area has a temperature lower than the target temperature, a main coil which generates a main magnetic field for generating an induced current, and at least one secondary coil which generates a secondary magnetic field to extend an area of the main magnetic field, where the fixing area of the heating roller, when formed by the main magnetic field, has a width smaller than an entire width of a maximum size paper, and the fixing area, when formed by a combination of the main magnetic field and the secondary magnetic field, is extendable to the entire width of the maximum size paper.

Abstract: A fixing device configured to fix a toner image on a moving printing medium includes: a fixing heat generator that generates heat by electromagnetic induction; a fixing medium that rotates and is heated while being carried by the heating medium; and a pressing member that presses a back surface of the printing medium coming into contact with the fixing medium, the fixing heat generator including a center coil and a pair of side coils provided at a center portion and both side portions thereof along a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the printing medium for heating the fixing medium by induction heating, the pressing member including a center heater and a side heater that heat a center portion and both side portions thereof in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the printing medium integrated therein.

Abstract: A fixing unit is provided with a heat roller having a plurality of heaters provided therein for applying heat to a toner image formed on a sheet of paper, an upper-side casing for holding the heat roller, a holding member detachably fitted to the upper-side casing, and a plurality of fitting portions that are provided in the holding member and to which first to third terminal portions of the plurality of heaters can be detachably fitted from a same direction.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable image heater including: an electroconductive layer; a pressor, press-contacting the heater, for forming a nip in which an image on a recording material is to be heated; an urging member, provided inside the heater, for urging the heater toward the pressor; and an excitation coil for induction-heating the electroconductive layer. When the length of the heater with respect to a rotational axis direction thereof is Lb, the length of the pressor with respect to the rotational axis direction is Lr, the outside distance of bent portions of the coil at both end portions thereof with respect to the rotational axis direction is LcoilA, and the inside distance of the bent portions with respect to the rotational axis direction is LcoilB, the lengths Lb and Lr and the distance LcoilA and LcoilB satisfy the following relationship: LcoilA>Lb>Lr>LcoilB.

Abstract: Disclosed are a fusing device and an image forming apparatus employing the fusing device. The fusing device includes a belt having a closed loop configuration, a first roller rotatably disposed inside the loop defined by belt. The first roller includes heat absorbent layer. The fusing device further includes a second roller rotatably disposed outside the loop of the belt, the first and second rollers each make pressing contact with the portion of the belt that passes between them to form the fusing nip. The heat absorbent layer of the first roller provides heat for the fusing nip.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller, a pressure roller and a soaking roller. Temperature of the soaking roller, which contacts with the pressure roller, is measured by a temperature measurement section. This makes it possible to precisely estimate the temperature distribution of the fixing roller and the pressure roller including a non-paper feed area of paper sheets. Based on the temperature of the soaking roller, fixing operation is controlled by a fixing operation control section. Thereby, optimal control can be implemented to suppress the temperature rise in the non-paper feed area according to the estimated temperature distribution of the fixing roller and the pressure roller.

Abstract: A fuser includes a first roller that includes a first elastic layer, a belt member provided on, and rotates around, the first roller, a second roller that includes a second elastic layer and that forms a nip part by pressing, through the belt member, the first roller, and a heating member that heats the belt member. A thickness of the second elastic layer of the second roller is less than a thickness of the first elastic layer of the first roller.

Abstract: A cylindrical rotating member rotatably supported in a device in state where it is configured to contact a medium and that is heated in state where it is supported in the device, including: an elastically deformable base body that is a metal cylinder extending in a width direction of the medium, the width direction intersecting a transport direction of the medium, the base body being configured such that: when the base body is rotated and a portion of the base body reaches a contact-portion at which the base body contacts the medium, the portion of the base body elastically deforms, applies pressure to the medium, increases the size of a contact-area with the medium and applies heat to the medium; and after the base body is further rotated and the portion of the base body has passed the contact-portion, the base body elastically recovers its original shape is provided.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide materials, methods, and systems for a fuser member used in electrophotographic devices and processes, wherein the fuser member can include a coating material containing a plurality of nanoceram fibers dispersed in a polymer matrix for providing a desired gloss level of fused toner images.

Abstract: In a fixing apparatus provided with a plurality of fixing heaters having heat distribution characteristics that are different from each other inside a fixing roller, and an image forming apparatus provided with the fixing apparatus, an auxiliary heater is provided, the auxiliary heater being provided inside the fixing roller and to which power is distributed only during the warm-up period until the fixing roller in a lower temperature state reaches a predetermined fixing temperature. The plurality of fixing heaters includes a first fixing heater having first heat distribution characteristics that mainly heats a center portion of the fixing roller, and a second fixing heater having second heat distribution characteristics that mainly heats both end portion regions of the fixing roller.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the invention includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (300) that adjusts a printer fuser nip is disclosed. The apparatus can include a media transport (110) configured to transport a media sheet (112) in a media sheet travel direction. The apparatus can include a fuser assembly (120) configured to fuse an image on the media sheet. The fuser assembly can include a fuser nip (126) that can have a fuser nip width (128) parallel to the media sheet travel direction. The apparatus can include a controller (130) coupled to the fuser assembly, where the controller can be configured to control operations of the apparatus. The apparatus can include a nip width profile generation module (140) coupled to the controller, where the nip width profile generation module can be configured to determine fuser nip width parameters based on media sheet properties and based on fuser assembly properties. The fuser assembly can be adjusted according to the fuser nip width parameters.

Abstract: A fixer includes a fixing member with a rotary heat generator, a pressure member, an excitation coil disposed facing a heat generation layer of the rotary heat generator to generate magnetic flux that inductively heats the heat generation layer, a loop-shaped demagnetization coil unit disposed facing the heat generation layer to generate magnetic flux that partly counteracts the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil, a first magnetic core disposed in a first area that is enclosed by both the excitation coil and the demagnetization coil unit, and a second magnetic core disposed in a second area that is outside a loop of the demagnetization coil unit and enclosed by the excitation coil. The first magnetic core and the second magnetic core are magnetically continuous in a rotary axial direction of the rotary heat generator. A fixing method fixes an image on the sheet used in a fixer.

Abstract: A fuser roll adapted to fuse toner on the surface of a recording medium is disclosed. The fuser roll includes a non-metallic core having an outer surface, and a resistive heating element covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the core. A current transmitter is provided for transmitting a current to said resistive heating element, and an insulation layer is provided for covering at least a portion of said resistive heating element. A toner release layer is provided for covering at least a portion of said insulation layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit and a re-heating unit. The fixing unit fixes a toner image on a recording medium by applying heat to the toner image with a first glossiness level. The re-heating unit re-heats the toner image, fixed on the recording medium by the fixing unit, to set a second glossiness level lower than the first glossiness level.

Abstract: A fixing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a magnetism adjusting unit switching the position of a shielding member between a shielding position where the shielding member is positioned inside the sheet-conveyed region to shield the pass of the magnetism and a retracted position where the shielding member is positioned outside the sheet-conveyed region to permit the pass of the magnetism. The shielding member is provided in a plural number in the axial direction of the movable core. The shielding members have a different length in the axial direction and a different width in a circumferential direction of the movable core, the length and the width corresponding to a plurality of sizes of the sheet in the width direction of the sheet. The magnetism adjusting unit switches each of the shielding members between the shielding position and the retracted position in accordance with the width-direction size of the sheet.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a fixing rotor (22) that is driven to rotate and fixes an image by heating a recording paper while conveying the paper pressurized against the rotor, an excitation coil (24) that is provided extending in an axial direction along the fixing rotor (22) and causes induction heating by applying an alternating magnetic field to the fixing rotor (22), and a demagnetizing coil (25) that is provided superposed on an end of the excitation coil (24) and is able to partially diminish a magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil (24), by making the shape of the portion that belongs to the demagnetizing coil (25) and overlaps the excitation coil (24) has an asymmetrical shape have no axis of symmetry in the direction in which the recording paper is conveyed, a trouble due to overheating and defective fixing due to a shortage in the generation of heat can be reduced even when a plurality of kinds of recording papers of slightly different sizes are used.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a pressure belt movable in a revolving motion; a fixing roller; and a pressure member for pressing an inner surface of the belt toward the roller. A fixing nip is formed between the roller and the belt while an elastically deformable surface of the roller is contacted with the belt by pressure applied by the pressure member to the belt. The pressure member includes: an elastic member for applying pressures so that greater pressure is applied to center of the roller than to the ends, the center and the ends being along axis direction of the roller; and a hard member that is disposed parallel to the elastic member on downstream side thereof in a revolving direction of the belt and applies pressures to the roller so that greater pressure is applied to the ends than to the center.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a heat uniforming member, which has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of a hollow member and in which thermal deformation generated by thermal expansion remains, is set in the inside of the hollow member having a center axis, support members are set to both ends of the hollow member to enable supporting of ends of the heat uniforming member, and an endless body having a uniform thermal distribution is formed by heating the hollow member, the heat uniforming member and the support member at a specified temperature for a specific time and causing the heat uniforming member to adhere closely to an inner wall of the hollow member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt for fixing an unfixed toner image onto a recording medium, a planar heating member for heating the fixing belt, and a pressure roller. The heating member includes a ceramic heat generating element having a PTC characteristic, and a high-thermal-conductive heat diffusion member. The fixing belt is formed in an endless shape and is supported around, at least, the high-thermal-conductive heat diffusion member, thereby to be heated. The ceramic heat generating element comes into contact with the fixing belt over the full width thereof with the high-thermal-conductive heat diffusion member interposed therebetween. The high-thermal-conductive heat diffusion member comes into contact with the fixing belt over the full width thereof and diffuses heat generated by the heat generating element, in the traveling direction of the fixing belt.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a heat roller, and plural pressure rollers, which rotationally contact the surface of the heat roller by a compression unit. The plural pressure rollers are provided in such a manner that the compressive forces thereof may be adjusted. With this construction, the fixability of a toner image is improved and crumples, wrinkles, and wrap jam that may be produced when a toner image is fixed are substantially prevented.