Abstract: A fixing device includes: a magnetic field generating unit that generates a magnetic field; a cylindrical fixing member that is disposed to face the magnetic field generating unit, generates heat due to electromagnetic induction of the magnetic field, and includes a heat generating layer that has a thickness thinner than a skin depth, and a temperature sensing layer which has a magnetic permeability change starting temperature, in a temperature range from a set fixing temperature to a heat resisting temperature, at which a magnetic permeability starts to decrease continuously, and which contacts with a face of the heat generating layer opposite to the magnetic field generating unit; and a pressure rotating body that is brought into pressure contact with an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member and deformed.

Abstract: A heating apparatus which can increase the temperature of a heating element to a target temperature in a short time and ensures temperature uniformity of the heating element. In the heating apparatus, when the specific resistance of a material of a heat generating layer (212) of a heating roller (210) is ? (??cm), the average thickness of the heat generating layer (212) is 5? (?m) or more but not more than 15? (?m) and the thickness error is 1.2? (?m) or less. For instance, in the case of forming the heat generating layer (212) by using cupper having a specific resistance of 1.7 (??cm), the average thickness of the heat generating layer (212) is 8-25 (?m) and the thickness error is 2 (?m) or less. Thus, the heating roller (210) having a short heat increasing time and excellent temperature uniformity is provided.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes: a pressing roller having a heating device therein; a metal roller having a core bar of metal; and a fixing roller that is set in contact with the pressing roller across a fixing belt wound around the fixing roller and the metal roller, has the width of the center portion formed in a cylindrical shape smaller than the width of the pressing roller, and has, at both ends, small-diameter rollers having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the center portion. Since stress is not applied to both ends of the fixing belt, the durable life of the fixing belt is extended.

Abstract: A fixing device (30) has a fixing member (30) adapted to be heated by induction heating based on a magnetic field from an induction coil (34). A pressing member (40) is disposed in contact with the fixing member (30) to define therebetween a nip zone (N) for passing a sheet (P) therethrough. The fixing member includes a heating layer (32). The heating layer (32) has a temperature-sensitive metal layer (321) formed on the side of the induction coil (34), and a nonmagnetic-metal layer (322) laminated onto the temperature-sensitive metal layer (321). The nonmagnetic metal layer (321) is made of a metal (copper (Cu)) having a specific resistance less than that of aluminum, and formed to have a thickness (30 ?m) allowing the nonmagnetic metal layer to be substantially free from a temperature rise due to the induction heating.

Abstract: An image fixing member includes a substrate; an optional intermediate layer over the substrate; and an outermost layer over the intermediate layer; wherein at least one of the intermediate layer and the outermost layer comprises a healing material encapsulated within nano- or micro-capsules, wherein the healing material is capable of retaining the function of the imaging fixing member.

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.

Abstract: A heat roller having a cylindrical sheet-like heating element having a resistance member embedded in an insulating member. The sheet-like heating element is arranged between an inner tube and an outer tube. The outer tube is formed so as to be longer than the inner tube for reducing non-uniformity in heat of the heat roller. Further, a thermal expansion coefficient of a material of the outer tube is greater than that of a material of the inner tube. Moreover, a triple-tube heat roller is provided.

Abstract: A fixing member including: a substantially cylindrical support and one or more layers provided on or above the support, including a surface layer that constitutes the outermost surface, the fixing member having: a difference in the width direction of the support between the maximum value and minimum value of the total thickness of the support together with all the layers provided on or above the support being approximately 50 ?m or less; the surface layer consisting of a seamless member comprising a fluorine-containing solid material, the composition of the fluorine-containing solid material varying in the width direction of the support; the average thickness of the surface layer being in the range of approximately 20 ?m to approximately 50 ?m; a difference in the width direction of the support between the maximum value and minimum value of the thickness of the surface layer being approximately 5 ?m or less; and the dynamic friction coefficient on the surface of the surface layer at 120° C.

Abstract: A fuser debris inhibiting system and apparatus using an impregnated cleaning web. This web is impregnated with EDTA or its 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 EDTA to the surface of the fuser member substantially inhibits the formation of contaminants thereon.

Abstract: Washers are used for a pressure roll in a fusing system of an electrophotographic system that improve the functionality and durability of the pressure roll. These washers are made up of a rigid ring section having flexible (less rigid) fingers projecting from the inner periphery of the ring. This provides a more uniform pressure to be exerted in the pressure roll and, consequently, a more uniform nip for better handling and fusing.

Abstract: A heating roller assembly for an image forming apparatus. The heating roller assembly includes a heating roller pipe having a heating layer around which a coil is wound. The heating layer has a coil winding structure such that first portions ‘A’ formed adjacent to bearings for rotatably supporting the heat roller pipe have a lower thermal temperature than that of second portions ‘B’ formed adjacent to the first portions A. The first portions A serve as a heat absorber to minimize the fusing heat loss at the beginning of a fusing process, and even if the fusing process continues for a long time, the heat absorber can prevent the opposite ends of the heating roller, where the bearings are disposed, from overheating. Accordingly, a more accurate pickup operation is achieved and a stable quality of image can be guaranteed.

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: A fixing device includes a heating rotation body, a heat source and a pressurization member. The heating rotation body has an endless peripheral surface that moves circularly. The heat source heats the heating rotation body. The pressurization member is in pressure-contact with the peripheral surface of the heating rotation body to press a recording medium, which passes through a nip between the pressurization member and the heating rotation body, against the peripheral surface of the heating rotation body. The pressurization member includes a base material and plural layers deposited on the base material. A volume resistance of a surface layer forming a surface of the pressurization member is larger than that of a layer disposed just below the surface layer. The layer disposed just below the surface layer is grounded.

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: An endless metallic belt formed of a nickel alloy which contains at least one element selected from the first group of elements consisting of phosphorus, boron, silicon, germanium, selenium, antimony, tellurium, bismuth and astatine, and, in an X-ray diffraction pattern of which, half widths of X-ray diffraction peaks of the (111) crystal plane and (200) crystal plane are both from 0.5° to 2.5°.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that, for the purpose of achieving a heating member (fixing member) in which thermal conductivity or electrical conductivity is given to a resin surface layer without loss of releasability, and heating efficiently is improved, the heating member contacting a to-be-heated member and heating the same has a surface layer 15 in which, in a resin material 43 having releasability, a material (for example, metal) 44 having either one or both thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity is mixed, and the material contact successively. Specifically, the heating member (fixing member) according to the present invention has the surface layer 15 in which the metal 44 is mixed into the fluorocarbon resin 43, and the metal 44 forms metal successively contacting part 42 in which the metal 44 successively contacts in such a manner as to surround the fluorocarbon resin part 41.

Abstract: A roller includes: a columnar metal core; and a layer that covers, to a predetermined thickness, an outer circumferential surface of the metal core, the layer including bubbles inside, and being provided with one or more cuts penetrating the bubbles through each of end surfaces of the layer.

Abstract: A fuser device includes a fusing member including an elastic layer on a surface side thereof and a cylindrical curved surface portion having a predetermined diameter, a heating member including a cylindrical curved surface portion having a predetermined diameter, the heating member having contact with the fusing member and heating the fusing member, and a pressure member including an elastic layer on a surface side thereof and a cylindrical curved surface portion having a predetermined diameter, the pressure member pressing the fusing member.

Abstract: An edge wear reducing pressure roller is provided and comprises (a) a roll member having a cylindrical elastomeric outer layer including a longitudinal axis and a length having a first position for supporting a first edge of a copy sheet and a second position for supporting a second edge of the copy sheet; and (b) a cylindrical core located within the cylindrical outer layer also having the longitudinal axis, and a length for supporting the cylindrical elastomeric outer layer. The cylindrical core includes a first segment having a first diameter, and a second segment having a second diameter less than the first diameter for creating variation in elastomeric layer thickness. The second segment advantageously is located directly underneath the first position for supporting the first edge of the copy sheet, and the second position is advantageously located underneath the second position for supporting the second edge of the copy sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device enabling the temperature of a heating element to be uniformly and stably maintained even if the heating element is eccentrically moved or vibrated. An opposed core (233) is so formed that a small diameter opposed core (2332) is fixedly inserted onto the center part of a core shaft (2331) and large diameter opposed cores (2333) are fixedly inserted onto both end parts of the core shaft (2331) so that the cross sectional area thereof at both ends in the lateral direction (both ends in the longitudinal direction) is larger than the cross sectional area thereof at the center part in the lateral direction. A fixing belt (210) is formed of a non-magnetic material and disposed between a core (232) and the opposed core (233).

Abstract: A fuser member suited to use in a fusing apparatus of an electrostatographic image rendering device includes a substrate and an outer layer over the substrate. The outer layer includes a matrix material and filler particles dispersed in the matrix material. At least some of the filler particles are formed from diamond, which may provide improved wear of the fuser member and may also provide the layer with improved thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A heat fixing roll or belt having a silicone rubber layer which is formed by curing a silicone rubber composition comprising (A) 100 pbw of an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded alkenyl radicals in a molecule, (B) 20-500 pbw of a metallic silicon powder having an average particle size of up to 100 ?m, and (C) an effective amount of a curing agent. The silicone rubber layer has a high heat conductivity and long-term temperature durability.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an imaging device that forms a toner image based on image data and transfers the toner image to a recording medium; a fixing device including a pair of rotatable members that defines a contact pressing portion that allows the recording medium with the toner image to pass through, and heats and presses the recording medium with the toner image; a surface potential measuring device that measures a surface potential of at least one of the pair of rotatable members; and a controller that performs control to give an alert notification that at least one of the pair of rotatable members which contacts with the toner image to be fixed should be replaced, when a result of the surface potential measured by the surface potential measuring device has exceeded a predetermined value.

Abstract: A roll useful in fusing marking material to a print sheet includes a coating disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface thereof. A lamp disposed inside the roll supplies radiant energy to the inner surface. The coating changes its absorptivity (such as color) as desired, to obtain specific desired temperatures at different portions of the roll. The coating can be thermochromic, changing its absorptivity in response to local temperature; or electrochromic, changing its absorptivity in response to an external electrical stimulus.

Abstract: A fuser member suited to use in a fusing apparatus of an electrostatographic image rendering device includes a substrate and an outer layer over the substrate. The outer layer includes a matrix material and filler particles dispersed in the matrix material. an outer layer comprising a halopolymer and filler particles. The filler particles have a particle size of less than about 1 micrometer and a particle hardness of greater than about 3 on a Mohs hardness scale and form no more than about 3 percent by volume of the outer layer. The outer layer comprising filler particles nonetheless may provide improved wear of the fuser member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus, a roller for a fixing apparatus, and a flexible sleeve for a fixing apparatus are a roller for the fixing apparatus (1) having a rubber layer (1b) and a fluororesin tube as a surface layer (1c) covered thereon. A thickness of the fluororesin tube is 20 microns or smaller, and a crystallization degree of the fluororesin tube is 50% or smaller. Thus, in the roller for the fixing apparatus having the rubber layer on which the resin tube is covered as the surface layer, a crack does not occur in the fluororesin tube even if the fluororesin tube is made thin.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluorocarbon resin-coated member which has at least a base material and a releasing layer formed thereon, wherein the releasing layer is a film obtained by sintering fluorocarbon resin particles, and the relative film density of the releasing layer is 98% or more. The invention further provides a method for manufacturing the fluorocarbon resin-mated member which at least includes coating a material containing fluorocarbon resin particles on the base material and sintering the fluorocarbon resin particles by using a hot isostatic pressing apparatus. The invention further provides a fixing device and an image forming apparatus having the fixing device, in which the fixing device has at least a pair of fixing units including a heating member and a pressurizing member. At least one of the heating member and the pressurizing member has the base material and the releasing layer.

Abstract: Provided is a printing device comprising a hot roller having an inside surface and an outside surface. A heating element is present within the hot roller. The inside surface has a first region, wherein the first region is coated with a first type of material. The inside surface has a second region, wherein the second region is coated with the first type of material, and wherein second region is of a different dimension than the first region. The inside surface has a third region, wherein the third region is coated with a second type of material.

Abstract: A fixing roller of an image forming apparatus includes a roller body having a pipe form. A coil assembly is mounted within the roller body and has an induction coil, and an inside and outside thereof are coated with insulators. A pressing pipe is mounted to the roller body to tightly bias the coil assembly toward an inner surface of the roller body. The pressing pipe has a cut away portion along a lengthwise direction to contract and expand in a circumferential direction.

Abstract: The heating apparatus of a surface-heating type, includes a rotary member, an opposing member that forms a nip with respect to the rotary member, and a heating member for heating a portion of a rotary member surface other than the nip, in which temperature used for heating the rotary member by the heating member is controlled, and a heating material inserted in the nip to be nipped and conveyed therein is heated using heat of the rotary member. Accordingly, after insertion of the heating material in the nip starts, control temperature of the heating member is increased before the rotary member rotates by one revolution, thereby preventing an uneven heating phenomenon of the heating material in the first revolution and the second revolution or later, and preventing uneven gloss due to the uneven heating phenomenon in the fixing apparatus.

Abstract: When a fixing roller 1 generates heat by a magnetic flux generating section 3 during a standby time, a control section 5 rotates the fixing roller 1. This prevents the fixing roller 1 from locally generating heat and being damaged. Moreover, the control section 5 rotates and heats a pressure roller 2 during the standby time, which makes it possible to keep the pressure roller 2 at a specified temperature and to reduce a time taken for a fixing device to recover from the standby state.

Abstract: A pressure roller includes a rubber layer containing organic microballoons and a heat-resistant resin layer arranged in that order on a roller base, wherein an intermediate rubber layer having a heat conductivity of 1.0 to 4.0 W/m·K is arranged between the rubber layer containing the organic microballoons and the heat-resistant resin layer. There is provided a method for producing the pressure roller.

Abstract: A fuser member having a substrate; an outer layer containing a silicone or fluoropolymer; and a release agent material coating on the outer layer, wherein the release agent material coating includes a perfluorinated polyether having a skeleton of Formulas I or II or mixtures thereof: CF3—(CF2CF2)m—O—(R1R2O)—(R3R3O)n—(R3O)p—(CF2)q—CF3??Formula I wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of CF2, CF—CF3 and —NR4R5; R2 is selected from the group consisting of CF2, CF—CF3, and —NR4R5; R3 is selected from the group consisting of CF2 and CF3; R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl group having from about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms, arylalkyl group having from about 7 to about 18 carbon atoms, mercapto, hydride and carbinol functional group; R5 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from about 1 to about 20 carbons, and a fluoroalkyl having from about 2 to about 10 carbons; m is a number of 0 or 1; n is a number of from about 0 to about 500; p is a number of from about 0 t

Abstract: A MEMS vapour bubble generator that uses a heater in thermal contact with a liquid to generate a bubble. The heater is energized by an electrical pulse that is shaped to have a relatively low power, sub-nucleating portion and a high power portion that nucleates the bubble. The thermal energy transferred to the liquid by the sub-nucleating portion speeds up the nucleation of the bubble across the surface of the heater during the nucleating portion. This produces larger, more stable bubble having a regular shape.

Abstract: There are provided two members which respectively have a form of a cylindrical roller or an endless belt and which are put in pressure contact with each other so as to form a nip section for fixation. There is provided a heating source which heats at least one of the two members to fixing temperature. In an end section corresponding to a downstream side of a nip section with respect to a sheet conveyance direction, one member out of the two members is curved in a state of protruding toward the other member. The one member has a surface made of fluorine-based resin, and an arithmetic average roughness of the surface is in a range of 0.1 ?m to 1.3 ?m.

Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to release fluids or agents that are useful in release coating in toner-based technologies. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to the addition of metal chelating agents to release fluids to prevent byproduct reactions from the fusing process that would otherwise decrease fuser member life and image quality.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing belt that has sufficient fixing performance even at high sheet-feeding speeds of 100 ppm or more, does not cause offset even with respect to color toners, produces glossy high-quality images at the level of photograph image quality, and has high durability such that mechanical strength or image quality can hardly be reduced during continuous operation. The color image fixing belt of the invention is characterized by being made of a polyimide resin and has an inner diameter of no less than 300 mm, and the outer circumference surface of the belt has a surface roughness (Rz) of 1 ?m or less.

Abstract: A fixing device (30) has a fixing member (30) adapted to be heated by induction heating based on a magnetic field from an induction coil (34). A pressing member (40) is disposed in contact with the fixing member (30) to define therebetween a nip zone (N) for passing a sheet (P) therethrough. The fixing member includes a heating layer (32). The heating layer (32) has a temperature-sensitive metal layer (321) and formed on the side of the induction coil (34), and a nonmagnetic metal layer (322) laminated onto the temperature-sensitive metal layer (321). The nonmagnetic metal layer is made of aluminum as a metal having a low specific resistance, and formed to have a thickness (50 ?m) allowing the nonmagnetic metal layer to be substantially free from a temperature rise due to the induction heating.

Abstract: A heat generating roller, fixing equipment and an image forming apparatus in which warm-up time is shortened while preventing excessive temperature rise and good fixing performance is realized by preventing offset. The heat generating roller is formed principally by laying a high permeability conductive layer and a nonmagnetic conductive layer in layer. When a voltage is applied from a power supply to an exciting coil and an alternating current flow, magnetic flux is generated around the exciting coil and a magnetic field is formed. Magnetic coupling of a system including the heat generating roller and the exciting coil is advantageous at a low temperature and heat generation of the heat generating roller is accelerated. When the Curie point is exceeded, skin depth increases and skin resistance decreases, which suppresses generation of Joules heat and reduces heat generation of the heat generating roller.

Abstract: A fixing roller and method of manufacturing the same. The fixing roller includes a fixing sleeve configured to fuse and fix a toner image on a recording medium and a fixing assist roller configured to be inserted into the fixing sleeve. The fixing sleeve includes a first heating layer having a Curie point. The first heating layer is configured to be heated with a magnetic flux. The fixing assist roller includes an elastic insulating layer and a first low-resistivity layer. The elastic insulating layer is formed on an outer circumference of the fixing assist roller. The first low-resistivity layer is formed under the elastic insulating layer and has a volume resistivity not greater than 5.0×10?8 ?m. Convexities and concavities are alternately formed on an outer surface of the elastic insulating layer along a circumferential direction thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing apparatus capable of reducing the warm-up time, improving the heating efficiency, and suppressing the temperature increase out of the sheet width by using a magnetic adjuster. In this apparatus, the Currie temperature Tc of the magnetic adjuster material heated by electromagnetic induction is set to 220 degrees C. or below and the fixation setting temperature of a heating member corresponding to the portion where a recording material passes during continuous sheet feed is set lower than a value than the temperature at which the relative magnetic permeability of the magnetic adjuster material begins to decrease. Thus, it is possible to obtain a large difference between the heating portion and the non-heating portion, to surely prevent excessive temperature increase of the portion out of the recording material width, to reduce the warm-up time, and improve the heating efficiency.

Abstract: Washers are used for a pressure roll in a fusing system of an electrophotographic system that improve the functionality and durability of the pressure roll. These washers are made up of a rigid ring section having flexible (less rigid) fingers projecting from the inner periphery of the ring. This provides a more uniform pressure to be exerted in the pressure roll and, consequently, a more uniform nip for better handling and fusing.

Abstract: A shield plate that has a plate portion stretching in a width direction of exciting coils is positioned so that end portions of the shield plate oppose the exciting coils. The present invention prevents elongated warm-up time and reduces a dramatic temperature drop when printing on thick paper in a low temperature environment.

Abstract: A fuser component useful in electrostatographic machines is provided. The fuser component has a substrate, and thereover a coating composition comprising a haloelastomer, such as, for example, a fluoroelastomer, and a filler having a particle size of less than about 3 micrometers and a particle hardness of greater than 3 on the Mohs' hardness scale.

Abstract: A fuser member includes a substrate and an outer layer including a polymeric material and a methacrylate-based fluorosurfactant.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member for heating an image on a recording material in a nip, a nip forming member for cooperating with the heating rotatable member to form the nip, and a rubbing rotatable member. The rubbing rotatable member rubs, by its rotation, the heating rotatable member. The rubbing rotatable member has an elastic layer to provide a microhardness [GPa] of not less than 0.03 and not more than 1.0.

Abstract: An internal heating system for an image transfer drum is disclosed that can include a box having a plurality of sides, an open side facing the drum and a heater element. The box can have small gaps between it and the internal drum surface to maximize thermal efficiency of the internal heating system. The heater element can include first and second support structures that are disposed on a central support structure, the first support structure having an end connector at one side away from the second support structure. The heater system can also include at least two circuits, two channels and a relay switch, with the relay switch operating to switch the circuits into a series or parallel electrical configuration.

Abstract: A roll useful in fusing marking material to a print sheet includes a coating disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface thereof. A lamp disposed inside the roll supplies radiant energy to the inner surface. The coating changes its absorptivity (such as color) as desired, to obtain specific desired temperatures at different portions of the roll. The coating can be thermochromic, changing its absorptivity in response to local temperature; or electrochromic, changing its absorptivity in response to an external electrical stimulus.

Abstract: A fuser roller for toner fusing systems and processes, and including a base and a fusing surface layer. The fusing surface layer has a first elastomer continuous phase and a second elastomer discontinuous phase; the discontinuous phase is dispersed through the continuous phase in the form of domains. The second elastomer is wettable by the first elastomer, and at the temperature of the fusing process, the modulus of the second elastomer is greater than the modulus of the first elastomer. The swell levels of the first and second elastomers both are greater than zero, with the swell level of the second elastomer being lower than the swell level of the first elastomer.

Abstract: In a heat fixing member which is a seamless type cylindrical heat fixing member having an elastic layer, the elastic layer is mixed with carbon fibers, and the elastic layer has a thermal conductivity of 1.0 W/(m·K) or more in the thickness direction thereof. A heat fixing member is provided which is more improved in the thermal conductivity in the thickness direction, can efficiently supply heat to the heating object (recording medium) at the time of high-speed printing, can give fixed images having a high glossiness in virtue of the elastic layer, which has secured a sufficient flexibility. A high-performance heat fixing assembly is also provided which can conduct sufficient heat to toner images even if the dwell time is shortened.