Abstract: In a fixing device for an image forming apparatus of the invention, circumferences of both side parts of an elastic layer are made larger than a circumference of a central part, and the expansion of a foamed rubber layer is absorbed by space between the elastic layer and a metal conductive layer. Thereby, the hardness of a heat roller at the time of fixing is made nearly uniform across the entire length in the shaft direction. The contact area of a core member and the elastic layer in the both side parts of the heat roller is made larger, and the stress per unit area generated in the elastic layer due to contact with the pressure roller is reduced.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heat generation member for generating heat using magnetic flux; a coil for generating the magnetic flux by electric power supply thereto, the coil being disposed in the heat generation member, wherein a material to be heated is fed and introduced in a heating portion of the heat generation member to heat an image on the material to be heated by heat generated by the heat generation member; a movable member which is movable in the heat generation member; a rotatable drive transmission member for transmitting a driving force to the movable member, wherein the drive transmission member has a hollow rotation shaft, and a supply line for supplying the electric power is connected to the coil through the hollow rotation shaft.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heating member configured to heat an image on a recording medium at a nip, driving means configured to drive the heating member, an endless belt configured to form the nip with the heating member, and a driving roller configured to drive the endless belt. In the image heating apparatus, the following expressions are satisfied: ?2<?1 0.005<?2<0.3 V1<V2 where ?2 is a friction coefficient between the endless belt and the driving roller, ?1 is a friction coefficient between the heating member and the endless belt, V1 is a peripheral speed of the heating member, and V2 is a peripheral speed of the driving roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device which fixes a toner image on a recording medium. The fixing device includes a heating device. The heating device includes a heat-generating member, an exciting member, and a changing device. The heat-generating member is subjected to electromagnetic induction heating. The exciting member is placed to sandwich a front surface and a rear surface of the heat-generating member, without contacting the heat-generating member. The changing device changes an opposing distance of the exciting member to at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of the heat-generating member.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes a flexible sleeve including a stainless base layer; a heater being in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the flexible sleeve; and an elastic roller being in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the flexible sleeve and forming a nip portion with the heater, in which: a recording material bearing an image is heated while being pinched and conveyed at the nip portion; and the stainless base layer has an outer diameter of 18 mm to 24 mm and a thickness of 25 ?m to 30 ?m, and includes an outer circumferential surface being subjected to a blasting process. Bu the present invention, an image heating apparatus is capable of ensuring durability and a flexible sleeve used for the image heating apparatus.

Abstract: In an aspect of this invention, a fixing device includes a heating member including a first area and a second area formed of conductive members (e.g., aluminum and iron) having different magnetic permeability ratios, and an induction heating unit which generates a magnetic field from a coil to induction-heat this heating member, and the fixing device changes a frequency of a high-frequency current to be supplied to the coil to thereby control a heating area of the heating member.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes: a heat roller that is rotatably supported and that supplies heat for fixing; and a first and a second tubular heaters that are disposed in parallel in the heat roller along an axis thereof and that each have on an outer circumferential surface thereof one protruding residual fused tip, namely, tip portion. As viewed from a side end surface of the heat roller, the tip portions of the first and second tubular heaters are oriented directly opposite to each other with respect to the connection line connecting centers of the first and second tubular heaters.

Abstract: A heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention has a slidable metal belt on an outer side of an elastic roller. At the room temperature, the outer diameter of the elastic roller is smaller than the inner diameter of the metal belt. On the other hand, when the elastic roller is thermally expanded, the metal belt and the elastic roller fit onto each other in a state in which the metal belt fastens the elastic roller.

Abstract: A fixing unit thermally fixes a toner on a recording medium by a fixing member having a plurality of internal heaters and an outer peripheral surface, and a temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of the fixing member at a temperature detecting position. At least one first heater, of the heaters, receives power from a first power supply, and remaining second heaters receive power from a second power supply. One of the second heaters closest to the temperature detecting position is the same distance from the temperature detecting position as or is closer to the temperature detecting position than a first heater which is closest to the temperature detecting position.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus has a magnetic flux generator; a heat generating element for generating heat by a magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator, the heat generating element being effective to heat an image on a recording material; an electric power supply for supplying electric power to the magnetic flux generator; electric power changing unit for changing electric power to be supplied to the magnetic flux generator on the basis of a temperature rise property of the heat generating element, in a period from start of electric power supply to the magnetic flux generator to reaching of a temperature of the heat generating element to a predetermined level.

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 fixing apparatus can prevent an excessive rise in temperature of a paper non-passage area due to diverted flow of magnetic flux from a paper passage area of a heat-producing element to a paper non-passage area thereof has a small configuration. A center core is rotated by a rotation section, bringing cutaway parts to a magnetic path masking position, and the degree of magnetic coupling between the center core and a heat-producing roller is weakened, suppressing an excessive rise in temperature of paper non-passage areas of the heat-producing roller. With this fixing apparatus, switching of the intensity of magnetic coupling between the center core and heat-producing roller can be performed simply by rotating the center core. Also, with this fixing apparatus, it is not necessary for magnetism suppressing elements to be provided as separate members, enabling the configuration to be made simpler and less expensive.

Abstract: A fusing device of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The fusing device includes a fusing roller that is heated to be a predetermined temperature, and a pressing roller that presses a sheet of paper passing between the fusing roller and the pressing roller toward the fusing roller. In addition, the fusing roller includes a cylindrical roller having a predetermined diameter, a heater positioned inside the cylindrical roller to heat the cylindrical roller, a rubber member that is formed on a center portion of an outer circumference on the cylindrical roller, and heat resistance portion that is formed on both end portions of the cylindrical roller.

Abstract: A fusing device for an image forming apparatus including a cylindrical fusing roller, a pressure roller installed opposite to the fusing roller and pressing a sheet of paper passing therebetween, and an inductive heating element simultaneously heating the fusing roller and the pressure roller. The fusing device reduces the time to reach a fusing temperature by heating both the fusing roller and the pressure roller with a closed magnetic core extending between hollow portions of each.

Abstract: A fusing roller and a fusing apparatus having the fusing roller are provided, wherein the fusing roller includes a coil unit, which generates resistive heat and an alternating magnetic flux in response to an alternating current input thereto, a heating roller unit, which generates an eddy current in response to the alternating magnetic flux and generates induced heat in response to the eddy current, and a contact unit, which is formed of a non-magnetic material in the fusing roller and which firmly contacts the coil unit with the heating roller unit.

Abstract: An energy transfer device may include a fuser roll, a pressure roll, the pressure roller and the fuser roll being part of a marking system, and a heat pipe, the heat pipe being in contact with at least one of the fuser roll and the pressure roll. A method of using an energy transfer device that includes a fuser roll, a pressure roll, the pressure roll and the fuser roll being part of a marking system, and a heat pipe may include contacting the heat pipe with at least one of the fuser roll and the pressure roll, absorbing heat from a relatively hot region of the at least one of the fuser roll and the pressure roll using a working fluid, and dissipating the absorbed heat by evaporating the working fluid.

Abstract: A fixing device built in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a temperature control method for the fixing device are provided. The fixing device comprises a power supplying unit for supplying power to the fixing device; a control variable determination unit for determining control variables corresponding to operating states of the fixing device, wherein the control variables are used to control a temperature of the fixing device; a temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the fixing device; and a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the fixing device by using the control variables, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a duty ratio adjustment unit for adjusting a duty ratio of the supplied power based on the determined control variables. In addition, the control variable determination unit determines the control variables corresponding to at least one of a plurality of operating states.

Abstract: A pressure thermistor has a retention part, a film retained on the lower surface of the retention part in such a way that both surfaces of the film are exposed, and a thermosensitive device attached to the film. One surface of the film is rough and faces a pressure roller. The one surface of the film is increased in surface area due to rough surface. Thus, reflection of heat from the pressure roller is suppressed on the one surface of the film. Also, it becomes possible to improve the absorptivity of heat on the one surface of the film.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, in arrival timing of a temperature falling area of a heat roller passing a nip at opposite position ? of an induction heating coil from temperature detection position ? by an infrared temperature sensor around the heat roller, according to detection results by the infrared temperature sensor, controls an output value of the induction heating coil under control of an inverter circuit, heats and returns the heat roller in real time to a fixable temperature, and realizes energy conversation. At the time of arrival at the nip, the heat controller is always set to a fixed fixable temperature, thus in a fixed image, a high image quality free of ripple marks can be obtained.

Abstract: A fuser member adapted to fuse toner onto the surface of a recording medium as the recording medium passes a nip area of the fuser member comprises a electrically conductive polymer layer, a resistive layer, an electrically conductive layer, a primer layer, and a release layer. The fuser member further comprises a current supply element and a current return element, wherein the current supply element and the current return element are configured to provide current flow through the electrically conductive polymer layer and the resistive layer to generate fusing heat at the nip area.

Abstract: In a fixing device according to this invention, a coil bobbin around which coils are formed into a predetermined shape is formed at an induction heating portion including a plurality of coils. To minimize the axial temperature difference of a heating roller, the coil bobbin has a shape with which the interval between coils is held at a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A fusing member is formed from an evacuable inner tube with a cylindrical wall. The evacuable inner tube is inserted into an outer tube and the inner tube is pressurized to expand the inner tube such that the wall is in contact with the outer tube. An amount of a working fluid is then sealed within the inner tube at a below atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image on a recording material has a magnetic flux generator for generating a magnetic flux; a heat generation member for generating heat by the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator; a magnetic flux adjusting member for adjusting the magnetic flux acting on the heat generation member, wherein the heat generation member includes at least a metal layer having a thickness smaller than a thickness of a surface layer, and the magnetic flux adjusting member is disposed at a position across the magnetic flux generator from the heat generation member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating a toner image formed on a recording material is constituted by a roller contactable with a toner image carrying surface of the recording material; a heating member for heating the roller, the hating member contacting a surface of the roller, wherein the toner image formed on the recording material is heated in contact with the roller; and a driving mechanism for moving the heating member to a first position contacting the roller and a second position, contacting the roller different from the first position with respect to a tangential direction of the roller.

Abstract: An induction heating fixing device includes: a heating member for heating a recording medium while rotating along a paper passing direction, and an induction heating unit for heating the heating member, wherein: the heating unit has a plurality of induction coils arranged by being divided in an axial direction of the heating member, the plurality of induction coils comprises an internal induction coil arranged inside the heating member and an external induction coil arranged outside the heating member, and the internal induction coil and the external induction coil are arranged so as to overlap each other in the axial direction of the heating member.

Abstract: A fixing device is disclosed that includes a fixing roller, a pressure roller that is in pressure contact with the fixing roller, first and second belt support rollers that are mutually spaced apart from each other, and an endless belt that is wrapped around both the first and the second belt support rollers. A portion of the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt is in pressure contact with a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller, and the endless belt is heated by means of a heating means. The fixing roller is rotatively driven by the electric motor M.

Abstract: A fixer (heater) includes a heat roller and a pressure roller pressing each other. The fixer heats a heated material by passing the heated material through a press region where the heat roller and the pressure roller meet. The fixer further includes an external heat roller heating the pressure roller from outside the pressure roller. A transit time taken for any given point on the heated material to pass through the press region is less than or equal to 2.3×10?2 sec. The surface temperature, T1 (° C.), of the heat roller and the surface temperature, T2 (° C.), of the pressure roller satisfy T1-T2?100 (° C.), and preferably satisfy T1-T2?70 (° C.). The load on the heat roller is reduced, and so is the power consumption.

Abstract: A fixing device including a rotation body and a facing unit configured to face the rotation body. The fixing device also includes a first heat unit configured to heat a nipping area that is formed between the rotation body and the facing unit. A second heat unit is also provided to heat the nipping area. The fixing device further includes a high heat capacity unit configured to transfer the heat from the first heat unit to the nipping area and a low heat capacity unit configured to transfer the heat from the second heat unit to the nipping area. A heat quantity controller is configured to control heat quantity of the first heat unit and the second heat unit. The first heat unit is also configured to heat the nipping area such that the heat quantity per unit area in edge portions of the nipping area is higher than the heat quantity per unit area of the center portion of the nipping area.

Abstract: A fuser member adapted to fuse toner onto the surface of a recording medium as the recording medium passes a nip area of the fuser member comprises a electrically conductive polymer layer, a resistive layer, and an electrically conductive layer. The fuser member further comprises a current supply roll and a current return roll, wherein the current supply roll and the current return roll are configured to provide current flow through the electrically conductive polymer layer and the resistive layer to generate fusing heat at the nip area.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating roller which is made of a magnetic metal, a coil which is made of a plurality of twisted wires, an exciting circuit which applies a high-frequency current to the coil, and a core which is made of a heat resistant resin and is arranged inside the heating roller. The core has two grooves, each of the grooves being formed on a surface of the core and running along a longitudinal direction of the core. Parts of the coil are buried in the grooves such that a distance between the outer surface of the coil wound on the core and the inner surface of the heating roller is constant.

Abstract: A fixation apparatus having a good fixability in its longitudinal direction and an image forming apparatus are provided. The fixation apparatus includes an electromagnetic induction heating member which is a hollow rotation member, and a magnetic flux generation member for causing the electromagnetic induction heating member to generate heat by generating magnetic flux in the electromagnetic induction heating member. The fixation apparatus fixes a toner image on a recording material by imparting heat energy by heat generation of the electromagnetic induction heating member to the recording material to be conveyed. The electromagnetic induction heating member has a different thickness in the longitudinal direction thereof and a uniform diameter at a surface facing the magnetic flux generation means in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An electromagnetic induction heating apparatus capable of uniformize a temperature distribution in a longitudinal direction of an induction heating member includes: an exciting coil (magnetic flux generation means); a fixation roller (induction heating member) for generating heat by electromagnetic induction heating by action of magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil the induction heating member heating a material to be heated through heat generation thereof by introducing the material to be heated into a heating portion and conveying the material to be heated in contact with the fixation roller; and magnetic flux shielding plate (magnetic flux adjusting means) for changing a distribution of a density of an effective magnetic flux which is the magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil and actable on the fixation roller, in a longitudinal direction of the heating portion perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the material to be heated.

Abstract: A heating apparatus has an induction heat generation member for electromagnetic induction heat generation by the magnetic flux at a heating portion, wherein a material to be heated is introduced to the heating portion and is fed in direct contact with the induction heat generation member or in contact to a heat transfer material for receiving heat from the induction heat generation member; a magnetic flux adjusting unit for changing a distribution of a density of an effective magnetic flux actable on the induction heat generation member with respect to a widthwise direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the material to be heated; wherein magnetic flux adjusting unit has a plurality of steps which extend in the feeding direction and are selectable to change the distribution of the magnetic flux density in response to a width of the material measured in the widthwise direction, wherein a step of the steps for a largest magnetic flux adjustment region measured in the widthwise direction is largest.

Abstract: A coil spring 60 is provided in an empty room (inside of a fixing roller 50) of a main body 52 of a roller. The coil spring 60 is in contact with an inside wall 52a surrounding the empty room of the roller main body 52 and pushes the inside wall 52a outward. The coil spring 60 and the inside wall face 52a are coated with a black film 66 except the contact portion 62 of the coil spring 60 and the inside wall 52a.

Abstract: A fixer (heater) includes a heat roller and a pressure roller pressing each other. The fixer heats a heated material by passing the heated material through a press region where the heat roller and the pressure roller meet. The fixer further includes an external heat roller heating the pressure roller from outside the pressure roller. A transit time taken for any given point on the heated material to pass through the press region is less than or equal to 2.3×10?2 sec. The surface temperature, T1 (° C.), of the heat roller and the surface temperature, T2 (° C.), of the pressure roller satisfy T1?T2?100 (° C.), and preferably satisfy T1?T2?70 (° C.). The load on the heat roller is reduced, and so is the power consumption.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heated body of a hollow cylindrical shape that is made of a conductive material and driven to rotate about an axis center, and a coil that heats the heated body by means of induction heating. The coil is formed of plural coil elements divided in an axial direction of the coil parallel to a rotational axis direction of the heated body, and the coil elements are aligned in such a manner that directions of magnetic fields of adjacent coil elements are opposite to each other. The heated body is set stationary in the rotational axis direction and the coil is reciprocally driven in the axial direction.

Abstract: A heating apparatus, for heating a material P to be heated by heat from a heat generation member which has a predetermined curie temperature characteristic and generates heat by magnetic flux produced by a magnetic flux generation device. The apparatus includes a discrimination device for discriminating whether or not the curie temperature characteristic of the heat generation member is a predetermined characteristic and a control device for terminating the supply of electric power to the magnetic flux generation device when the discrimination device determines that the curie temperature characteristic is not the predetermined characteristic.

Abstract: A fusing station (100) for fusing toner to an image receiving medium (102) includes: a fuser roller (120) configured as a heat pipe including a sealed hollow cavity (124) containing a working fluid; a pressure roller (140) that forms a nip with the fuser roller (120) through which the image receiving medium (102) passes; and, an electrical coil (128) inductively coupled to the fuser roller (120) to inductively heat the fuser roller (120) upon energizing the electrical coil (128) with electrical power.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to the present invention ensures a nip width larger than a certain value by a heating roller which has a thin film metal conductive layer, and a foamed rubber layer which is bonded to the end part of the metal conductive layer, formed with a gap in a center part, and not bonded to the metal conductive layer.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a visible image, including a first rotating device for rotatably fixing a visible image transferred on a medium from a transfer device which develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image bearing body with a developer, and a second rotating device for rotatably supporting the first rotating device while the first rotating device fixes the visible image on the medium, the second rotating device being positioned to form a transfer pass for the medium with the first rotating device, wherein the developer contains a toner having a volume mean grain size of from 5 to 10 micrometers and a grain size not larger than 5 micrometers accounting for 60 through 80 number percent, and the first rotating device has a surface resistivity between 1×107 through 1×1010 ?/square.

Abstract: To control a surface temperature of a heating element to be an appropriate fusing temperature, a fuser comprises a supporter having a core metal at least, a heating element supported by the supporter, a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field to render the heating element generate heat with induction heating, and a gap retainer disposed at the magnetic field generator, brought in contact with the supporter, for retaining a gap between the supporter and the magnetic field generator.

Abstract: The fuser roller and heater rollers of the fusing system can become contaminated with ink and other foreign material when pre-printed materials are run through them. The contamination can create regions of cold spots, which in turn results in poor fusing. Other image defects may result. According the various aspects of the invention, a heater roller cleaner, method and apparatus are provided for applying an array of differential pressure generating areas to a heater roller surface in a fuser assembly while rotating the heater roller surface.

Abstract: A fusing roller device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the device including an internal tube having both ends open; a heating portion surrounding the internal tube and generating heat by externally supplied current; and a fusing roller surrounding the heating portion and fusing a toner image on paper by heat transferred from the heating portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium onto the recording medium, the fixing device comprising a first fixing member equipped with a heating device and a second fixing member for making pressure contact of the recording medium to the first fixing member; a moving section for relatively moving the first fixing member and the second fixing member; a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the first fixing member; and a controller for controlling the moving section so as to reduce a relative distance between the first fixing member and the second fixing member, when the temperature of the first fixing member detected by the temperature detector is higher than a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stabilizing a fuser in an imaging apparatus. The apparatus includes a hub having a body. The body comprises an outside diameter configured to be at least partially disposed inside an end of a fuser core. The apparatus also includes an elastomeric collar having an inside diameter, wherein the inside diameter is at least partially disposed over the outside diameter of the hub.

Abstract: A heat fixing member according to the invention has a surface layer formed on the surface of the substrate with a three-layer structure of a primer layer, an middle layer, and a topcoat layer. The binder-resin content decreases in order from the primer layer to the topcoat layer. The fluorocarbon-resin content increases in order from the primer layer to the topcoat layer. The topcoat layer is made of a fluorocarbon resin having high ability of release and a fluorocarbon resin having high abrasion resistance. Thus, the surface layer can be prevented from peeling without losing ability of release and can be decreased in abrasion.

Abstract: A process for renewing an outer surface of a used fuser roller by removing debris particles from the surface including contacting the outer surface with a first finishing paper while simultaneously rotating the used fuser roller so that the first finishing paper completes a first superfinishing of the outer layer; b) optionally contacting the outer surface with a second finishing paper while simultaneously rotating the used fuser roller so that the second finishing paper completes a second superfinishing of the outer layer; c) optionally contacting the outer surface with a third finishing paper while simultaneously rotating the used fuser roller so that the third finishing paper completes a third superfinishing of the outer layer; and d) repeating a) until obtaining a first measured gloss value of from about 10 to about 50 GGU, optionally repeating b) until obtaining a second measured gloss value of from about 30 to about 70 GGU, and optionally repeating c) until obtaining a third measured gloss value of from

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member for heating an image on a recording material in a heating nip; a magnetic flux generator for generating a magnetic flux for induction heat generation in the heating rotatable member; a magnetic flux confining device for confining the magnetic flux directed toward a predetermined region of the heating rotatable member from the magnetic flux generator; and a moving device for repeatedly moving the magnetic flux confining device during a heating operation between the operating position and a retracted position retracted from the operation position, when the recording material which has a predetermined width overlapping with a part of the predetermined region is continuously heated by the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat generator including a central shaft, an elastic body formed to be a predetermined thickness at a circumference of the central shaft, a conductor layer formed to be a predetermined thickness at a circumference of the elastic body, and a second elastic body formed to be a predetermined thickness at a circumference of the conductor layer, and an apparatus including a magnetic field generator which provides a magnetic field such that the conductor layer of the heat generator can generate heat, and a pressure member which is provided along the central shaft of the heat generator, and applies pressure that deforms the elastic body layer by a predetermined amount to a predetermined position of the central shaft or the heating generator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an induction heating type fusing device for fixing toner image on a transfer material. The fusing device includes an exciting coil that induces induction magnetic field by applying AC current; a hollow heating member installed near the exciting coil; multiple magnetic members mounted inside the heating member in the longitudinal direction; and a drive section that moves the multiple magnetic members in accordance with the width of transfer material to be fixed.