Abstract: A fixing device of the present invention includes a pressure roller and a peeling roller both of which press a heat roller. The pressure roller is disposed upstream to the peeling roller in a transport direction of a recording paper. An outer diameter of the heat roller, an outer diameter of the pressure roller, and an outer diameter of the peeling roller decrease in this order. With this arrangement, it is possible to realize a fixing device which achieves a reduced size and reduced power requirements, while ensuring a fixing property and a peeling property with respect to a recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device has a fixing roller including an inside roller, an outside roller and a regulation member. The regulation member is disposed outside of both ends of the outside roller in the axial direction to regulate axial movement of the outside roller. An axial length of the contact face, where the pressure roller contacts with the outside roller, is smaller than an axial length of the outside roller. Thereby, both ends of the outside roller hardly receive bending deformation caused by pressure of the pressure roller. This makes it possible to reduce stress exerted to both ends of the outside roller, and therefore, the ends of the fixing roller are prevented from being damaged to enhance durability of the fixing roller.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image on a recording material by heat generation of a heating member includes a coil configured to generate a magnetic flux by energization a heat generation member having an electroconductive layer that generates heat by magnetic flux for heating an image on a recording material and, a frequency switching device for switching a frequency of a current supplied to the coil. The electroconductive layer includes a first electroconductive member at a central portion thereof and a second electroconductive member at an end portion thereof. The first electroconductive member has a resistence characteristic, with respect to the frequency of the current supplied to the coil, different from that of the second electroconductive member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus has a magnetic flux generator for generating a magnetic flux; a heat generation member for generating heat by the magnetic flux generator; a magnetic flux adjustor for adjusting an effective magnetic flux region toward the heat generation member with respect to a widthwise direction which is perpendicular to a feeding direction of a material to be heated, wherein the material to be heated is heated by heat generation of the heat generation means; wherein the magnetic flux adjustor includes a magnetic flux adjusting member and moving member for moving the magnetic flux adjusting member, and wherein a temperature distribution in theat generation member with respect to the widthwise direction is adjusted by moving the flux adjusting member to a predetermined magnetic flux adjusting position by the moving member; and a discriminator for discriminating whether the effective magnetic flux region corresponds to a size of the material to be heated or not when the magnetic flux adjusting mem

Abstract: A coated member includes a substrate and a coating layer over the substrate where the coating layer includes at least one of ferromagnetic and magnetic particles dispersed in a binder. The member, which is suitable for use in an electrostatographic printing process, can be in the form of a fuser member, a fixing member, a pressure roller, or a release agent donor member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a shield plate 202 which is made of a specific material and has a specific thickness is provided between an exciting coil and at least one of a first and a second magnetic field intensity measuring point P1, P2, which prevents a magnetic field of a specific magnetic field intensity or higher from leaking to the outside of the image forming apparatus or alleviates the effect of the magnetic field on the circuits in the apparatus or optionally installed devices.

Abstract: An electrophotography fixing device has a heating roller and an induction heating device. In order to improve heat resistance, heat radiating performance and insulation performance and in order to appropriately uniformly heat the heating roller, in the induction heating device, induction heating coils wound onto a core are fixed by varnish mixed with mica, and the outside surfaces thereof are fixed by a heat resistant bundling band or a molded body of a heat resistant material, or coated with a heat resistant, insulating and thermal conductive sheet. Alternatively, the same sheets as the above described sheet are provided between the core and the coils and between the layers of the coils. In addition, the core is formed with a hole extending in axial directions or holes extending in directions perpendicular to the axial directions. Moreover, the coils are doubly insulated.

Abstract: If the temperature T1 of the middle part of a heat roller 2 is higher than the temperature T2 of the end parts of the heat roller 2 [T1?(T2?X)], the operating time B of side coils 5 and 6 is set longer than the operating time A of a center coil. If the temperature T1 of the middle part of a heat roller 2 is lower than the temperature T2 of the end parts of the heat roller 2 [T1<(T2?X)], the operating time A of the center coil is set longer than the operating time B of side coils 5 and 6.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus comprising first and second belts for forming a nip for heating an image on a recording material; a first pressing pad for pressing the first belt at the nip; a first roller, provided spaced from the first pressing pad with a gap therebetween, for pressing the first belt at the nip; a second pressing pad, provided opposed to the first pressing pad, for pressing the second belt at the nip; a second roller, provided opposed to the first roller and contacted to the second pressing pad, for pressing the second belt at the nip, the second roller having a friction coefficient which is smaller than that of the first roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of realizing low power consumption of a fixing means is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming means for forming an unfixed image t on a recording material P, and a fixing means 10 for heat-fixing the unfixed image. In the image forming apparatus, the fixing means 10 is of electromagnetic induction heating type wherein the fixing means 10 includes a magnetic flux generation means 36 and an induction heating member 10a for generating heat through electromagnetic induction by the action of generated magnetic flux of the magnetic flux generation means, and the unfixed image is heat-fixed on the recording material by generated heat of the induction heating member 10a.

Abstract: An electromagnetic induced heating roller comprises a core member, an elastic layer, induction heating layer, and a mold release layer in this order from inside to outside. Further, a magnetic shield layer for preventing a magnetic flux from penetrating into the core member is interposed between the induction heating layer and the core member. The production of an alternating magnetic field from a magnetic field generating device, a leakage flux having penetrated through the induction heating layer is trapped by the magnetic shield layer. As a result, most of the impressed alternating magnetic flux is consumed for heating the heating layer, resulting in an improvement in the heating efficiency. A trouble is prevented which is generated by heating the bearing of the core member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device for fixing developer on a recording medium; a heating device for heating the fixing device; a cooling device for cooling the fixing device; a temperature detecting device for detecting a temperature of the fixing device; a heating device control unit for controlling drive of the heating device; and a cooling device control unit for controlling drive of the cooling device. After the fixing device fixes the developer on the recording medium, when the temperature detecting device detects the temperature of the fixing device below a first temperature, the cooling device control unit reduces cooling effect of the cooling device.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus having an image forming section for forming an unfixed image on a transfer medium and a fixing device for fixing the unfixed image by sandwiching and heating the transfer medium that holds the unfixed image, wherein, the fixing device includes a fixing roller that contacts with the unfixed image, a press roller that contacts with the fixing roller, a heat belt that contacts with the fixing roller and heats the fixing roller, a plurality of support rollers for supporting the heat belt in such a manner that the heat belt is wound around the support rollers, a heat source for heating the heat belt, and a press member for pressing the heat belt against the fixing roller in a portion of the contact area where the fixing roller and the heat belt contact with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes an image forming mechanism configured to form an image, and a fixing unit configured to fix a toner image formed on a recording medium. The fixing unit includes a fixing device having a first endless moving member configured to rotate, and a second endless moving member configured to rotate to form a nip area together with the first endless moving member to fix, at the nip area, a toner image disposed on the recording medium onto the recording medium with heat and pressure, the second endless moving member including a surface layer having a universal hardness HU and a maximum nip surface pressure P each within a predetermined range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature detection apparatus having a radiant temperature detection section including at least a ray emission portion which radiates at least rays and a ray detection portion which detects the rays, and capable of detecting temperature without contacting a detection object, a first atmospheric temperature detection section which outputs temperature information having a high temperature follow-up property in a case where the atmospheric temperature of the radiant temperature detection section is not more than predetermined temperature, and a second atmospheric temperature detection section which outputs temperature information having a high temperature follow-up property in a case where the atmospheric temperature of the radiant temperature detection section exceeds the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: One of the amount of induction heating by a coil and that of induction heating by coils is increased/decreased relative to the other, and the ratio of the amount of the induction heating by the coil to that of the induction heating by the coils, at which the amount of the induction heating by the coil increases and that of the induction heating by coils decreases, is set at, e.g., “9:1”, and the ratio of the amount of the induction heating by the coils to that of the induction heating by the coil, at which the amount of the induction heating by the coils increases and that of the induction heating by coil decreases, is set at, e.g., “7:3”.

Abstract: A fusing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The fusing device includes a fusing roller with an outer rubber roller, a heating pipe, both ends of which are sealed and in which a predetermined amount of a working fluid is contained, a heater which is placed on the heat pipe, and a pressing roller which closely adheres paper passing between the pressing roller and the fusing roller to the fusing roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image heating apparatus including: a conveying roller for conveying the recording material; a heat supply member which supplies heat to the conveying roller, the heat supply member being in contact with an external periphery of the conveying roller to form a heating nip portion; a back-up member which forms a conveying nip portion in cooperation with the conveying roller for nipping and conveying the recording material; wherein, in a rotating direction of the conveying roller, the heating nip portion has a width larger than a width of the conveying nip portion, and a total pressure applied to the conveying nip portion is larger than a total pressure applied to the heating nip portion.

Abstract: A fusing device of an image forming apparatus and method thereof are provided. The fusing device and method include a conductive member having a linear portion for contacting a printing medium, a fusing film for sliding on a circumference of the conductive member, a pressing roller for contacting the fusing film in the linear portion, forming a fusing nip area, and rotating the fusing film, and an induction heating unit for heating the conductive member by induction and generating heat. The thickness of the conductive member in the fusing nip area is smaller than the thickness of the conductive member in other areas.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to the invention is provided with a heating roller 2 including an elastic member 2b and a metal conductive layer 2c. The elastic member has a greater outer diameter at its end portions than at its central portion. At least one air hole 100 is formed through the metal conductive layer 2c at a predetermined position opposing the small-diameter central portion of the elastic member. The air hole connects the outside to a clearance formed between the elastic member 2b and the metal conductive layer 2c.

Abstract: A fixing member includes a base member and an outermost layer located overlying the base member and having different fluororesins to fix a toner onto a sheet.

Abstract: In a fixing mechanism which heats a fixation member by generating heat in an endless member by using an induction current obtained from a current flowing through an induction coil, the present invention is characterized in that the induction coil is divided into a plurality of coils in a direction vertical to a moving direction of the fixation member and a coil to which power is supplied is switched according to needs.

Abstract: A printing apparatus may include a heating element with at least one of a contact fuser, a radiant fuser, a substrate preheater, an image bearing member heater, and a transfuser, the heating element including a lattice of filaments wherein the filaments are separated from each other by a spacing and the spacing is such that an energy input into the heating element is radiantly output in a specific frequency band. A method of using a printing apparatus may include providing a heating element that is part of the printing device and that includes a lattice of filaments wherein the filaments are separated from each other by a spacing and the spacing is such that an energy input into the lattice is radiantly output in a specific frequency band, and performing at least one printing operation.

Abstract: A fusing unit used with a color laser printer includes a pair of rollers which heat and press a sheet of paper, onto which an image is transferred, and fuse the transferred image on the sheet of paper, and plastic mold bearings which rotatably support the rollers to be centered on frames.

Abstract: An electrophotogrphic image forming apparatus having a fixing unit and a driver rotating the fixing unit, the fixing unit having: a heat roller assembly with a heat roller, a gear cap coupled to an end of the heat roller and transmitting rotation to the heat roller, and an elastic member coupling the gear cap with the heat roller; and a pressing roller pressing a recording medium passing between the pressing roller and the heat roller toward the heat roller, the gear cap having an insertion portion inserted in the heat roller, and a gear portion integrally provided adjacent to the insertion portion and rotated by the driver, and the elastic member being provided between an outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion of the gear cap and an inner circumferential surface of the heat roller, and coupling the gear cap with the heat roller.

Abstract: A heating apparatus of an electromagnetic induction heating type includes a coil and a roller which generates heat by the action of magnetic flux generated from the coil. A recording material is heated by the roller. The heating apparatus further includes a movable magnetic flux decreasing member for decreasing magnetic flux, generated from the coil, acting on the roller. In the heating apparatus, a shutter is moved toward an effective position at which a temperature in a non-conveyance area is lowered when a recording material having a size lower than a maximum conveyable size is conveyed, and is moved away from the effective position depending on the temperature in the non-conveyance area, irrespective of the size of the recording material to be conveyed.

Abstract: A heat apparatus for an electromagnetic induction heating system comprises a heat roller that comprises magnetic and conductive material. The heating apparatus also comprises a magnetic excitation coil that is positioned around a portion of the periphery of the heat roller. The magnetic excitation coil is configured to generate a magnetic field that extends to the heat roller, to generate an eddy current within the heat roller, and to generate Joule heat within the heat roller. The magnetic excitation coil is configured to generate a smaller magnetic field at the center area of the heat roller than at the side areas of the heat 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: A fuser member with a supporting substrate having an outer surface layer of a fluoroelastomer, and the fluoroelastomer outer surface layer is prepared by: a) dissolving a fluoroelastomer; b) adding and reacting a biphenyl compound and a monofunctional amine hydrocarbon compound to form a homogeneous fluoroelastomer solution; and c) subsequently providing a surface layer of the resulting homogeneous fluoroelastomer solution to the supporting substrate.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic induction heating-type heating apparatus for moving a temperature decreasing member toward or apart from an effective position where a temperature in a predetermined area is decreased in order to take countermeasure against temperature rise at a non-sheet passing portion of a heating roller, a Curie temperature of the heating roller is not less than a predetermined image heating temperature and is less than a heat-resistant temperature of the heating apparatus.

Abstract: A heating roller (21) includes a heat generating layer (22) that generates heat by electromagnetic induction, a heat insulating layer (23), and a supporting layer (24), which are provided inwardly in this order. The supporting layer (24) is formed of a material having a specific resistance of 1×10?5 ?m or higher. Therefore, even when the heat generating layer (22) has a thickness smaller than a skin depth, i.e. a thickness defined by a flow of an induction current, so that magnetic flux penetrates the heat generating layer (22) and even reaches the supporting layer (24), heat generation of the supporting layer (24) under an eddy current can be suppressed. Thus, the heat generating layer (22) can be decreased in thermal capacity, and heat generation of the supporting layer (24) is suppressed, so that only the heat generating layer (22) can be heated efficiently. As a result, a warm-up time can be reduced. Further, breakage by heat of, for example, bearings supporting the heating roller (21) can be prevented.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can suppress overshoot by shifting the OFF timing of the central heater lamp from that of the end heater lamp or the recovering timing of the central heater lamp from that of the end heater lamp, when the heating member at a second temperature dropped from a first temperature (optimum fixing temperature) is returned to the first temperature again.

Abstract: In a fixing device according to this invention, coils are formed on a coil bobbin having a predetermined shape at an induction heating portion including a plurality of coils. In order to minimize the temperature difference of a heating roller in the axial direction, the coil bobbin has a shape for holding the interval between the coils at a predetermined interval.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, comprises a flexible sleeve; a driving roller which contacts an outer peripheral surface of said sleeve and rotates said sleeve; a sliding member which contacts an inner peripheral surface of said sleeve and forms said driving roller together with a nip portion by nipping said sleeve between thereof; and an inner surface regulating member comprising an opposing area opposed to the inner peripheral surface of a generatrix direction end portion of said sleeve; wherein the recording material is nipped and conveyed by the nip portion; and wherein a outlineoutline of the opposing area of said inner surface regulating member is approximately similar to the outlineoutline of the end face of said sleeve when said sleeve is rotated by said driving roller in a state in which said inner surface regulating member is not attached to said apparatus. In this way, the durability of the flexible sleeve can be enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention provides an external heating member abutment controller which can instantaneously adjust the quantity of heat provided by external heating members to the surface of a fixing member, to provide a fixing apparatus which can drastically increase productivity for cardboards and which can provide high-quality color images free from variations in gloss (gloss nonuniformity). Thus, a fixing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a first and second fixing rotating members that use nip portions to thermally fix a toner image on a recording material and a first and second heating members that abut against the first fixing rotating member to heat an outer surface of the first fixing rotating member. The fixing apparatus is characterized in that when a fixing operation is started, the first heating member and the second heating member are sequentially abutted against the first fixing rotating member.

Abstract: A method of treating a fuser member surface to extend the life thereof includes applying to the fuser member surface an ethylene diamine tetraacetate. In addition, the fuser member may be subjected to a sonic treatment during the application of the ethylene diamine traacetrate in order to remove additional materials therefrom that are resistant to removal by the ethylene diamine traacetate.

Abstract: A fixing device in an image forming device that includes a rotating heating roller, a coil provided on the outside of the heating roller, a heating mechanism using the coil to heat the heating roller through electromagnetic induction, and a pressure roller that contacts the heating roller with pressure and, together with the heating roller, pinches and conveys a recording paper in order to fix developer that has been transferred onto the recording paper, wherein a magnetic layer is formed over the pressure roller to increase the amount of magnetic flux passing through the surface of the heating roller.

Abstract: An excitation coil and/or a core member, which has a characteristic frequency other than frequencies used, is employed. Thereby, resonance is prevented between adjacent coils or between a coil and an adjacent component such as a core member.

Abstract: Information on a temperature of a heat generation member at a position which is in the neighborhood of an end portion of a conveyance area of a material, to be heated, having a maximum size and in the neighborhood of a non-conveyance area of a material, to be heated, having a size smaller than the maximum size is detected by temperature information detector, and a changer lowers a target temperature of the heat generation member depending on a detection result of the temperature information detector. Thereafter, when the detection result of the temperature information detector reaches a predetermined temperature, a magnetic flux adjusting member is started to be moved by a moving device.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring visible images from a first surface to a second surface and/or for fusing or fixing a visible image to a substrate, comprising: a cylindrical member secured between two round end plates to form a cylindrical structure; a volatile liquid incorporated within the cylindrical structure in a cavity, at least one wall of which is thermally connected to the cylindrical member; and a heater that heats the liquid to an operating temperature, wherein the amount of the volatile liquid is such that all of the volatile liquid would be evaporated at a temperature that is less than about 20° C. above the operating temperature.

Abstract: A thermal processor including an oven for thermally developing an image in a media. The oven includes an entrance and a guide positioned at the entrance. The guide includes a receiver having a major surface configured to contact and receive the media and a separator configured to lift and separate the media from at least a portion of the major surface and to direct the media into the oven.

Abstract: A fixing device, comprising a heating roller being rotatable and having a rotating circumferential surface to come in contact with a recording medium holding non-fixed developing agent images so as to heat and melt the non-fixed developing agent images and a temperature detecting unit having a temperature detecting element to detect temperature of the rotating circumferential surface and a support member to support the detecting element, wherein the support member is arranged to come in contact with the rotating circumferential surface at a first contact position on the rotating circumferential surface, the temperature detecting element is arranged to come in contact with the rotating circumferential surface at a second contact position which is located upstream of the first contact position in the rotating direction. This structure provides a high quality toner images by controlling fixing temperature based on a precise temperature detection of the heating roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a pressing roller for pressing a sheet of paper on which an unfixed developer is prepared; a fixing roller including a conductive roller and a releasing layer coating the conductive roller, the releasing layer facilitating removal of adhered developer, the fixing roller rotating with the sheet of paper being sandwiched between the fixing roller and the pressing roller to fix the developer to the sheet of paper with heat; an auxiliary member being for eliminating electricity a substantial circle member, engaged with the outer surface of said fixing roller, and having at least one protruding portion penetrating the releasing layer to contact and electrically connect to the surface of the conductive roller; and an member set at ground potential for electrically contact the auxiliary member to the ground potential.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a coil for generating a magnetic field; a heating medium having an electroconductive layer which is provided at its inside with said coil, wherein eddy currents are generated by a magnetic field generated by current through said coil so that heat is generated in said electroconductive layer, and an unfixed toner image is fixed on a recording material by the heat, and said heating medium has an inner side spaced from said coil and having a dark color.

Abstract: A fixing device of an image forming apparatus includes a heat roller and a pressure roller. The heat roller includes a roller support frame, a film tube, and a heat transfer unit. The roller support frame is fixedly installed with the heat roller. The roller support frame supports the film tube. The heat transfer unit transfers radiation energy toward a part of the film tube that is in contact with the pressure roller.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention has a heating member which is heated by induction heating, a pressing member which supplies a predetermined pressure to the heating member, and induction heating mechanisms which supply a predetermined magnetic field to the heating member. The induction heating mechanisms have a plurality of coils. By arranging the adjacent coils and adjacent coils to overlap, the temperature distribution in the length direction of the heating member can be made uniform.

Abstract: An electrophotographic fixing device allowing a flow of an AC current through an electromagnetic induction coil arranged close to a heating roller having a metal layer formed of a conductor and allowing the heat generation of the heating roller to heat a to-be-fixed member, in which the fixing device comprises a circuit board for outputting the AC current from an output terminal and passing the current through the electromagnetic induction coil, a conductive plate metal having one end side fixed by a fastening screw to the output terminal of the circuit board, a male-side connection terminal provided on the other end of the plate metal, and a female-side connection terminal provided at an end of a leader line of the electromagnetic induction coil and detachably connected to a male-side connection terminal.

Abstract: A heating apparatus has a magnetic flux generator and a rotatable induction heating element for generating heat through electromagnetic induction by the action of magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator, and heats a material to be heated by causing the material to be heated to contact the induction heating element. The heating apparatus further includes a thermistor for detecting a surface temperature of the induction heating element, power supply circuits for controlling power to be supplied to the magnetic flux generator on the basis of signals from the temperature detection, a Curie temperature reaching detector for detecting that the temperature of the induction heating element reaches the Curie temperature, and control circuits for detecting that the material to be heated is wound around the induction heating element on the basis of signals from the thermistor and the Curie temperature reaching detector.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a pair of rotary members forming a nip for pinching and conveying a recording material, and a rotatable heat supplying member in contact with at least either of the rotary members and supplying the rotary member with heat. An image forming on the pinched and conveyed recording material is fixed thereto by heat, and the rotary member receiving heat from the heat supplying member has different external diameters along the longitudinal direction and the heat supplying member has different plural external diameters so as to follow the shape of the rotary member.

Abstract: A fusing roller used with an image forming apparatus, including a heating pipe, an expandable pipe mounted within the heating pipe, a heating coil interposed between the heating pipe and the expandable pipe and generating a resistance heat when power is supplied, a terminal block connected to the heating coil to supply an external power to the heating coil, a gear cap provided at one end of the heating pipe, an outer insulator interposed between the heating pipe and the heating coil, and an inner insulator interposed between the expandable pipe and the heating coil. Since the heating coil is wound and then welded at one side of the terminal block, it is not readily detached from the terminal block.