Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism to form a toner image on a recording medium according to image data and a fixing mechanism to fix the toner image on the recording medium. The fixing mechanism includes a fixing member and an external heater. The fixing member applies heat to the recording medium having the toner image. The external heater heats the fixing member and is formed in a shape corresponding to a surface of the fixing member. The external heater is disposed as if to engage and yet be spaced apart from the fixing member by a distance which is variable according to movement of the external heater.

Abstract: An image heating device includes a rotatable image heating member including an elastic layer and a surface layer in which a filler is dispersed; and a fixed pressing member which is contacted to a surface of the rotatable image heating member and forms a nip, between itself and the rotatable image heating member, in which a recording material for carrying an image is to be nip-conveyed. The surface of the rotatable image heating member has a shape such that projections are distributed by the filler so that a coefficient of dynamic friction ?(hot) relative to said fixed pressing member when a surface temperature of the rotatable image heating member is a temperature during image heating and a coefficient of dynamic friction ?(cold) relative to the fixed pressing member when the surface temperature is a normal temperature satisfy, ?(hot)<1.2×??(cold).

Abstract: An image fixing device, having a belt-driving method to drive an endless belt which is entrained about at least two supporting members, including: a first supporting member on which a light transmitting area is provided; a heater which is housed within the first supporting member; a sensor which is mounted at a position to detect light rays, emitted from the heater and passed through the light transmitting area; and a control section which is configured to detect a lateral displacement of the endless belt in a width direction, based on a detected result of the light rays, detected by the sensor.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of treating marking material on media are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses includes a first member including a first outer surface; and a roll including a second outer surface forming a nip with the first outer surface. The second outer surface includes an inner portion having first and second axially-spaced edges, a roughened first high-friction surface axially outward from the first edge and a roughened second high-friction surface axially outward from the second edge. The first and second high-friction surfaces extend circumferentially around the roll and have a higher roughness than the inner portion. The inner portion and the first and second high-friction surfaces contact the first outer surface at the nip, and the first and second high-friction surfaces lie outside of a media path through the nip.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing device main body; a heating member that is installed in the fixing device main body and heats a developer image transferred to a recording medium; and a power line that supplies power to the heating member, the fixing device main body including a first retaining part and a second retaining part formed following the first retaining part, and the heating member being retained by the first retaining part and the power line being retained by the second retaining part.

Abstract: A method of forming and a resulting selectively polished fuser member. The method includes selectively polishing that portion of the fuser member surface not subject to rapid natural wear. The method further includes polishing both a surface region subject to rapid sheet edge wear and a surface region not subject to rapid sheet edge wear, and polishing the surface region not subject to rapid sheet edge wear more than the surface region subject to rapid sheet edge wear. The rapid natural wear corresponds to sheet edge wear on the fuser member surface.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members opposing each other and a pressing lever that is rotatable around a shaft. The pressing lever can be moved either to a pressing position in which one of the fixing members is pressed against the other fixing member, or to a pressure releasing position in which the one of the fixing member is separated from the other fixing member. When the pressing lever moves between the pressing position and the pressure releasing position, a first control unit located near an end of the pressing lever controls displacement of the end.

Abstract: A heating device includes: a magnetic field generating unit generating a magnetic field; a heat-generating member generating heat due to electromagnetic induction of the magnetic field, and having a heat-generating layer of a thickness that is thinner than a skin depth; a temperature-sensitive member including a temperature-sensitive magnetic member whose magnetic permeability starts to decrease continuously from a magnetic permeability change start temperature that is in a temperature region that is greater than or equal to a set temperature and less than or equal to a heat-resistant temperature; and an approaching/separating mechanism maintaining the temperature-sensitive member in a state of being separated from the heat-generating member until before a temperature of the temperature-sensitive member reaches the set temperature, and causing the temperature-sensitive member to contact the heat-generating member at and after the time when the temperature-sensitive member reaches the set temperature.

Abstract: A fixing unit where an operating force for releasing a nip can be reduced with a small-sized configuration. The fixing unit has a heating roller including a heating element, a pressure belt, pressure arms, pressure springs, and nip load releasing units. The pressure belt is supported in an intermediate position between the pressure arms 3. One end portions of the pressure arms are brought into contact with the pressure springs respectively. The other end portions of the pressure arms are brought into contact with the nip load releasing units respectively. When a load applied to the pressure belt is released by the nip load releasing units, the other end portions of the pressure arms move away from the heating roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat roller and a heater. The heat roller extends in an axial direction and includes a cylindrical-shaped roller section and a coil, the roller section having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space therewithin and the coil being wound along the inner peripheral surface, the heat roller being configured of a plurality of zones in the axial direction, the plurality of zones including a low zone whose heat capacity is less than a predetermined value and a high zone whose heat capacity is not less than the predetermined value. The heater is disposed within the internal space of the roller section and has a heating wire configured to generate heat, the heating wire having at least a first portion which is in confrontation with the high zone and a second portion which is in confrontation with the low zone, and the heating wire being configured such that the first portion has an amount of heat generation greater than an amount of heat generation at the second portion.

Abstract: A fixing device of the present invention is arranged so that: (i) at least both ends of a planar heat-generating member come close to or touch an outer surface of a fixing roller, said both ends being in a circumferential direction when viewed in an axial direction of the fixing roller; and (ii) the planar heat-generating member has, in the vicinity of both the ends, shapes formed gently with respect to the outer surface of the fixing roller when viewed in the axial direction. An almost whole inner surface area of the fixing belt wound around the planar heat-generating member and the fixing roller touches the planar heat-generating member or the fixing roller. The fixing belt is naturally formed, without being distorted at an area where the fixing belt touches the heating member. This allows a fixing device using a planar heat-generating belt type fixing method, which provides a short warm-up time, to be excellent in heat efficiency, consume less power, and have a fixing belt which does not slip easily.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a belt moves in a predetermined direction to heat and melt a toner image on a recording medium. A pressing rotary member is pressed against the belt to form a nip portion to nip and convey the recording medium bearing the toner image. A heating member is fixedly provided inside a loop formed by the belt and faces an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The heating member is heated by a heater to heat the belt. The heating member includes a primary heating portion directly heated by the heater, and a secondary heating portion heated by heat conducted from the primary heating portion. The primary heating portion and the secondary heating portion are provided in a circumferential direction of the heating member. The secondary heating portion has a heat capacity smaller than a heat capacity of the primary heating portion.

Abstract: A fixing device according to this invention includes a heating roller, a heater driver, a thermistor, and a CPU. The heating roller has a heater and heats a recording sheet. The heater driver drives the heater. The thermistor detects a surface temperature of the heating roller. The CPU stops an operation of the heater driver when the surface temperature of the heating roller becomes higher than a predetermined temperature and, thereafter, causes the thermistor to perform detection of the surface temperature of the heating roller for a predetermined time period and issues an alarm about occurrence of a first abnormality when the surface temperature of the heating roller fails to drop in the predetermined time period.

Abstract: Plural main cores and plural sub-cores are arranged spaced apart from each other along a direction orthogonal to a rotating direction of a heat belt. The plural main cores are opposed to a first area where a sheet having first width in the heat belt passes. The plural sub-cores are opposed to second areas that are areas excluding the first area in an area where the sheet having second width larger than the first width in the heat belt passes. The plural sub-cores have thickness in the direction orthogonal to the rotating direction of the heat belt smaller than the thickness of the plural main cores.

Abstract: An iso-thermalizing printer structure can be used to provide temperature uniformity across a width of a printer fuser roll or fuser belt. Various embodiments are contemplated, including a solid natural graphite shaft, a solid natural graphite core having a sleeve of metal such as aluminum, and other flexible and rigid structures which can comprise natural or synthetic graphite.

Abstract: The invention provides for an inkjet printhead having a plurality of micro-electromechanical vapor bubble generators. Each bubble generator includes a nozzle in fluid communication with an ink chamber, and a heater positioned in thermal contact with ink in the chamber. Each generator also includes drive circuitry configured to provide a modulated pulse to the heater to generate a vapor bubble in the ink in said chamber, the pulse comprising a pre-heat series of a predetermined number of pulses separated by a predetermined period, followed by a trigger pulse of a period twice that of said predetermined period.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a non-contacting thermistor (54) disposed in the vicinity of the surface of a heat roller (21) and an upper cover temperature thermistor (60) for detecting the temperature of a pressure roller (22). The calculated surface temperature (T) of the heat roller 21 is calculated based on the detected temperature (T1) detected by the non-contacting thermistor (54), the detected temperature (T2) detected by the upper cover temperature thermistor (60), the distance (L1) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the surface of the heat roller (21) and the distance (L2) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the upper cover (51).

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium includes a toner fusing unit that is operable to fix the toner image on the recording medium and that includes a pressure member and a heating member in contact with the pressure member to form a fixing nip therebetween; an electromagnetic-induction heating unit having a coil disposed along an outer surface of the heating member and configured to generate a magnetic flux for applying induction heating to the heating member, and a core unit disposed opposite the heating member with the coil interposed therebetween to provide for a magnetic path around the coil, the core unit being configured to rotate about an axis extending across the width of the recording medium; and a drive unit formed integrally with the electromagnetic-induction heating unit and configured to rotate the core unit.

Abstract: A heater is inserted into a roller through-hole of a heating roller body. An attached portion of a terminal plate is attached to a power supply terminal provided on one end of the heater. An engaging portion is a plate member extending from the attached portion in a first radial direction of the heating roller body and arranged in parallel with a longitudinal direction of the heater. The engaging portion is engaged with the fixing frame. An engaging terminal portion is a plate member extending from the attached portion in a second radial direction of the heating roller body and intersects with the longitudinal direction of the heater. The second radial direction is a direction the same as the first radial direction.

Abstract: A rapid warm-up and cool-down pressure roll assembly is provided and includes (a) a rotatable pressure roll including a cylindrical sleeve having an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a hollow interior to the rotatable pressure roll; (b) a thermoelectric assembly sheet positioned within the hollow interior and having a first substrate facing the inner surface of the cylindrical sleeve, a second substrate, an electric current flow path therethrough, and electric current input and output terminals associated with the electric current flow path; and (c) an electric current input switching device connected to the electric current input and output terminals for enabling selective reversing of a direction of electric current flow through the electric current flow path, thereby reversing which of the first substrate and the second substrate of the thermoelectric assembly sheet is hot and which is cold, and therefore selectively enabling a rapid warm-up or rapid cool-down of the cylindrical sleeve of the pr

Abstract: The invention provides a fixing device having at least: a first rotary body, having a heat generating layer from which heat is generated by action of a magnetic field: a second rotary body contacting the first rotary body; a magnetic field generating unit arranged to have a predetermined separation from the inner circumferential face of the first rotary body or to have a predetermined separation from the outer circumferential face of the first rotary body; and a heat generation controlling member arranged facing the magnetic field generating unit, with the first rotary body being between the heat generation controlling member and the magnetic field generating unit, the heat generation controlling member having at least a temperature-sensitive magnetic material having a Curie temperature and controlling generation of heat of the heat generating layer. The invention further provides an image forming device having at least the mixing device.

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 contacting and separating mechanism which causes a first member to contact a second member and separates the first member contacting the second member from the second member is disclosed. The contacting and separating mechanism includes a pressure applying member which is rotated together with the first member by using a force of a first force applying member with a first supporting point as the center and causes the first member to contact the second member and separates the first member contacting the second member from the second member, and separates the first member contacting the second member from the second member by rotating with the first member with a second supporting point as the center by changing the position of the first supporting point.

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: An image forming apparatus including a fixing device to fix a toner image on a recording medium including a heat roller and an oil applicator to apply a silicone oil to the heat roller, having a system speed of from 500 to 1700 mm/sec, and using a toner including a binder resin including a crystalline polyester resin and an amorphous polyester resin; a fatty acid amide compound; and a colorant, wherein a ratio (W/R) of a height (W) of a peak at a wavenumber of 1638 cm?1, specific to the fatty acid amide compound, to a height (R) of a peak at a wavenumber of 829 cm?1, specific to the amorphous polyester resin, is from 0.010 to 0.040 in an absorption spectrum obtained by an ATR method (total reflectance method) using a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer.

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 for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction including: a tubular flexible fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a resiliently deformable backup member; and an adjustment mechanism. The tubular flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and configured to radiate radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The resiliently deformable backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The adjustment mechanism is configured to move the backup member between a first position and a second position different from the first position in the sheet feeding direction to adjust the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction includes: a tubular flexible fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a resiliently deformable backup member; and an adjustment mechanism. The tubular flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and configured to radiate radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The resiliently deformable backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The adjustment mechanism is configured to move the nip member between a first position and a second position different from the first position in the sheet feeding direction to adjust the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device 6 including a heating body 22 which has a heating heat generation section 24 subjected to induction heating upon application of alternating magnetic fields generated by a exciting coil 27, a pressure roller 23 which has a pressing heat generation section 25 being higher in magnetic permeability than the heating heat generation section 24 and being subjected to induction heating by a part of magnetic flux in the alternating magnetic fields leaking from the heating heat generation section 24, and a drive circuit for applying drive voltage to the exciting coil, wherein a rate of the alternating magnetic fields leaking from the heating heat generation section 24 is changed by frequencies of the drive voltage.

Abstract: A fixing device comprises a heating roll; an endless belt; and a pressurizing member that forms a pressure contact portion for pushing the endless belt against an outer peripheral surface part of the heating roll from an inner peripheral surface side of the pressurizing member so that a recording medium holding an unfixed image passes between the pressure contact portion and the heating roll, wherein the pressurizing member includes: a hard pressurizing member and a soft pressurizing member the hard pressurizing member, and the soft pressurizing member are disposed in a state in which a clearance is present between the hard pressurizing member and the soft pressurizing member in a specific region part so that at least a specific recording medium passes in a fixing region of the pressure contact portion in the rotating axis direction of the heating roll.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second intermediate gears configured to transmit a driving force to a heat roller gear. The first and second intermediate gears are removably assembled to a body frame of the image forming apparatus in an installation space defined in the body frame. When a fixing unit is removed from the body frame, the installation space is open and the first and second intermediate gears can be attached to and removed from the body frame.

Abstract: A fuser debris inhibiting system and apparatus using an impregnated cleaning web. This web is impregnated with materials of: succinic acid, DPTA, HEDTA, NTA, DMSA or their salts. The web can contact the fuser member directly or can contact external heat rolls which in turn contact the fuser roll. The delivery of these materials to the surface of the fuser member substantially inhibits the formation of contaminants thereon.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a pair of fixing members composed of a fixing roller and a pressure roller that make pressure-contact with each other; an external heating belt for heating a surface of the fixing roller externally; and first and second external heating rollers having a heat source, for allowing the external heating belt to be suspended in a tensioned state. A sum of stiffnesses of the first and second external heating rollers is greater than or equal to a stiffness of the fixing roller.

Abstract: An image forming device equipped with a heater for fusing toner on a recording medium. A first memory stores an initialization program and a control program. A second memory is provided for reading the control program. The initialization program stored in the first memory is configured to drive the heater before the control program is copied from the first memory to the second memory.

Abstract: A system for stabilizing a fuser core in an imaging device. The system includes a fuser core having a body and two opposing ends, and a pair of hubs. The opposing ends of the fuser core are configured with ratchet type geometric profiles that mate with ratchet type geometric profiles configured on the corresponding hubs. The system also includes two elastomeric collars each of which is at least partially disposed between the end of the fuser core and the corresponding mating hub.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fusing device having an improved heating structure. The fusing device is configured to apply heat and pressure to fix a developer to a print medium and includes a pressure device and a heating device. The heating device includes a heat radiating member extending along a longitudinal direction of the fusing device and terminal parts disposed at both ends of the heat radiating member. Contact points at which current is supplied to the heat radiating member through the terminal parts can be adjusted to change the effective width of heating area.

Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment of the invention is provided with a center coil and a side coil to induction heat a metal roller which supports a belt. An auxiliary pressurizing member which is adjacent to an opposing roller which supports the belt and presses the belt against a heat roller is provided. The distance from the center position of induction heating of a heat roller to an entrance of a nip is equalized to the distance from the center position of induction heating of the metal roller to the entrance of the nip. The distance from the temperature reading position of the heat roller to the center position of induction heating of the heat roller is equalized to the distance from the temperature reading position of the belt to the center position of induction heating of the metal roller.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser including, a first endless member into which fluid, which retains heat, can flow, a second endless member configured to apply pressure to the first endless member, a fluid moving mechanism configured to move the fluid to the first endless member and move the fluid from the first endless member, and a heat source configured to raise temperature of the first endless member to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser including, a first endless member including a gel-like silicone material and configured to apply heat to an object, a second endless member configured to apply pressure to the first endless member, and a heat source configured to raise temperature of the first endless member to predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided with a pair of a fixing unit and a pressing unit for performing fixation of a toner image on a recording sheet; a support frame for supporting the fixing unit and the pressing unit; and a heater for generating heat for the fixation, the heater having a cylindrical shape, and being provided with an insulator on at least one of the opposite ends thereof, the insulator having a retaining space operable to fixedly engage with a portion of the support frame. This facilitates the attachment of heaters on the support frame.

Abstract: An image-heating device has a detector for detecting the state of a recording medium at a position between a first fixing unit and a second fixing unit along a conveying path of the recording medium and a controller for controlling a fixing condition of the second fixing unit on the basis of the information obtained by the detector.

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: A heat generating element (2) in a heat generating unit has an expandable shape having: a plurality of first slits (2a) each formed at an oblique angle with respect to corresponding one of both edge portions opposing to each other along the longitudinal direction of the heat generating element; and a plurality of second slits (2b) arranged at prescribed intervals alternating with the plurality of first slits (2a) in parallel thereto. The plurality of second slits (2b) are formed at the central portion in the width direction of the heat generating element, so as to form a current path at each of edge portions respectively located between the second slits and a pair of both edge portions opposing to each other along the longitudinal direction of the heat generating element.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a pressing member rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation. A flexible fixing member is disposed opposite the pressing member to rotate in accordance with rotation of the pressing member. A nip formation member is provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A contact member pressingly contacts an outer circumferential surface of the rotating fixing member at both ends of the fixing member in an axial direction thereof.

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 apparatus includes an image forming unit and a fixing unit. The fixing unit includes a heating member; a coil arranged along an outer surface of the heating member for generating a magnetic field for induction heating the heating member; a core arranged to face the heating member with the coil located therebetween in order to form a magnetic path around the coil and made of a magnetic material; a shielding member arranged near the magnetic path generated by the coil, including a closed frame portion and made of a nonmagnetic metal; and a magnetic shielding portion for displacing the shielding member between a retracted position for permitting a magnetic flux to pass along a frame surface virtually formed inside the closed frame portion and a shielding position for shielding magnetism by the penetration of a magnetic flux inside the frame surface.

Abstract: A low-heat loss, belt nip-type fixing device achieves good recording medium separation performance without increasing the size of the device, prevents image misalignment, and achieves a high-quality image without placing a major burden on the recording medium. This fixing device comprises a heat-fixing roller having an elastic layer and a heat source; and a pressurizing unit having an elastic member with a flat surface for pressing an endless member. The endless member conveys a recording medium, against the elastic layer. A pressurizing spring biases the elastic member toward the side of the recording medium. Biasing is carried out using the pressurizing spring such that the amount of deformation of the elastic member approaches the saturation region (maximum amount of deformation) inside a region of a nip portion, which is formed between the elastic layer of the heat-fixing roller and the endless member of pressurizing unit, and through which is passed a recording medium carrying an unfixed toner image.

Abstract: A sponge-forming liquid silicone-rubber composition comprising: a diorganopolysiloxane (A) comprising a diorganopolysiloxane (A1) that has alkenyl groups on both molecular terminals and does not have any alkenyl groups in molecular side chains; and a diorganopolysiloxane (A2) that has two or more alkenyl groups in molecular side chains; an organohydrogenpolysiloxane (B) that has in one molecule at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms; a mixture (C) composed of water and inorganic thickener; an emulsifier (D); a hydrosilylation-reaction catalyst (E); and a curing retarder (F). The aforementioned sponge-forming liquid silicone-rubber composition provide a silicone-rubber sponge that has a reduced coefficient of shrinkage upon molding, does not bleed out non-cross-linked components, and has a fine, uniform, and continuous porosity.

Abstract: A fusing unit for an image forming apparatus, including a heating roller to apply heat to a printable medium; a first pressing roller facing the heating roller so as to press the printable medium against the heating roller; a second pressing roller disposed in front of the first pressing roller in a proceeding direction of the printable medium press the printable medium against the heating roller; and a driving unit to transmit a rotation force to the second pressing roller so that a surface linear speed of the second pressing roller is greater than a surface linear speed of the heating roller.

Abstract: The heater includes an elongated substrate, two electrodes disposed along a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and a heat generation resistive member connected between the two electrodes. The heat generation resistive member is formed on the substrate by one of a sputtering method and a vapor deposition method. The uniform heat generation distribution of a heat generation resistive member in a heater can be achieved so as to reduce a temperature difference between a pass-through area through which a recording material passes and a no sheet pass-through area through which the recording material does not pass.