Abstract: A transportation device includes a cover member that is displaceable between a closing position for closing an opening of a body case and an opening position for opening the opening, a processing unit that is arranged inside the body case, and performs a specified processing with respect to a medium transported to a working area communicating with the outside of the body case through the opening when the cover member is positioned at the opening position, and a transmitted unit that is positioned at a first position different from a position between the working area and the processing unit when the cover member is positioned at the closing position, and is positioned at a second position which is the position between the working area and the processing unit when the cover member is positioned at the opening position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable, endless first belt and a rotatable, endless second belt contacting an outer circumferential surface of the first belt. A first nip formation pad contacts an inner circumferential surface of the first belt to form a fixing nip between the first belt and the second belt, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A rotatable driver contacts an inner circumferential surface of the second belt to press against the first nip formation pad via the first belt and the second belt to frictionally drive and rotate the first belt and the second belt.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a heat roller configured to have a roller surface for contacting a medium on which the unfixed toner image is transferred; a press roller configured opposite to the heat roller; a guide configured along a conveyance space from an inlet arranged at the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the medium, which is conveyed and nipped by the heat roller and the press roller, to an outlet of the medium; a lever configured to be provided with a swing shaft with respect to the guide, a peeling claw arranged at the inlet side for scraping the toner off the roller surface, and a lever end positioned at the outlet side; and a swing section configured to swing and energize the lever to make the lever end protrude into the conveyance space, wherein the lever that is swung and energized by the swing section repeats the following operations: separating the peeling claw in a contacted state with the roller surface from the roller surface, and restoring the peeling claw to the c

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of handling substrate media in a marking device using toner. The apparatus including first and second rolls for handling the substrate media. The first roll applying pressure to the toner. After the application of pressure by the first roll, the toner remains partially unfused to the substrate media. The second roll subsequently engaging the pressed toner as the substrate media passes the second roll. The first roll and the second roll being disposed remotely from one another in a process handling direction of the substrate media. The method including the application of pressure to the unfused toner on the substrate media by a first roll. The method subsequently engages the pressed toner with a second roll for handling the substrate media.

Abstract: A system to combine the transfer and fixing xerographic steps of a xerographic printer into one, as well as to eliminate the need for an electrical field for transfer. The image is transfixed directly from a photoconductor to the paper or other suitable substrate. Appropriate pressure is applied during this step to cold-pressure fix the toner on the paper, taking into account the type of substrate and type of toner. The cold pressure transfix can be done either directly from a photoreceptor, without an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), eliminating all electrostatic transfer subsystems and a fusing operation. Alternatively, for engines with an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), the cold pressure transfix could replace a needed second transfer and fuser system.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a solid or hollow cylindrical heating member that heats a recording medium and has recesses or projections provided at axial ends thereof, over the entire outer circumferences; ring-shaped heat insulating members to be fitted to the axial ends of the heating member, the ring-shaped heat insulating members having, in the inner circumferences thereof, projections or recesses that fit into or receive the recesses or projections provided on the heating member; and bearings that rotatably support the axial ends of the heating member via the heat insulating members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquiring section configured to acquire image information about the image, an image forming section that uses liquid developer to form the image on the sheet in response to the image information, a fixing device configured to fix the image onto the sheet, and a controller that carries out control to change operation of the fixing device in response to the image information. The fixing device includes a rubbing mechanism configured to rub the image on the sheet. The rubbing mechanism changes rubbing operation in response to the image information under the control of the controller.

Abstract: The present application discloses an image forming apparatus which uses at least two types of liquid developer to form a plurality of images that are superimposed on a sheet to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the image to the sheet, an image forming mechanism configured to make the transfer mechanism carry the image, and a rubbing mechanism configured to rub the image on the sheet. The at least two types of liquid developer have different fixing properties from each other. The transfer mechanism includes a carrying surface configured to carry the image from the image forming mechanism. One of the plurality of images between the carrying surface and another of the plurality of images has higher fixing properties than the liquid developer used for forming the other image among the plurality of images.

Abstract: A pressure roller for use in a fixing device includes a core metal, an elastic layer, and a releasing layer. The releasing layer is made of at least one fluorine resin selected from among tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, and tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer. The fluorine resin contains at least one polymer selected from among polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, and polymethyl methacrylate, and monomer electrolyte.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a conveying element for conveying a sheet, an image forming section for forming an image on the sheet with liquid developer, and a fixing device including a rubbing mechanism for rubbing the image on the sheet. A fixing device has a rubbing mechanism for rubbing an image which is formed with liquid developer.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a fusing roll and a backing roll that define a nip at which toner applied to marking material is fixed to paper under high pressure. A surface of the fusing roll includes a semi-conductive metal-oxide surface. Grounded conductive guides are arranged at the entrance and at the exit of the nip defined by the fusing roll and the backing roll.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes a rubber layer and a resin tube layer on a metal core. The rubber layer includes a solid rubber layer having a thermal conductivity in a thickness direction of 0.16 W/(m·K) or more and 0.40 W/(m·K) or less, and a self-bonded silicone rubber layer that contains a filler of 5 vol % or more and 40 vol % or less, and has a thermal conductivity in an axial direction of 2.5 W/(m·K) or more and a thickness of 0.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less, the filler having a length of 0.05 mm or more and 1 mm or less and a thermal conductivity in a length direction of 500 W/(m·K) or more, so that a pressure roller to moderate temperature rise in a non-sheet feeding area when a small sized recording material has undergone sheet feeding can be easily manufactured.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a fusing roll and a backing roll that define a nip at which toner applied to marking material is fixed to paper under high pressure. A surface of the fusing roll includes a semi-conductive metal-oxide surface. Grounded conductive guides are arranged at the entrance and at the exit of the nip defined by the fusing roll and the backing roll.

Abstract: The instant application discloses an image forming apparatus including an acquiring section configured to acquire image information about the image, an image forming section which uses liquid developer to form the image on the sheet in response to the image information, a fixing device configured to fix the image onto the sheet, and a controller which carries out control to change operation of the fixing device in response to the image information. The fixing device includes a rubbing mechanism configured to rub the image on the sheet. The rubbing mechanism changes rubbing operation in response to the image information under the control of the controller.

Abstract: An image forming method includes charging an image holding member; forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image holding member; developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding member with a toner or an electrostatic image developer to form a toner image; transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image holding member onto a surface of a transfer-receiving material; fixing the toner image by pressurization without heating; feeding at least one photoreactive component to the toner or toner image; and irradiating the toner image with ultraviolet rays, wherein the toner satisfies the relationship of the following relational expression (1): TB(30)?100<TA(30)??(1) wherein TB (30) and TA (30) are defined in the specification.

Abstract: A system is provided for fixing first and second images on opposite sides of a piece of media. The system has an image forming section for forming at least the first image on the piece of media; and a pressure fixing section for fixing the images to the piece of media. The pressure fixing section has first and second rotating members that do not include a thermal energy source, the second member being located proximate the first member such that a gap exists between the first member and the second member, the gap being for receiving the piece of media, and a force applying device that applies force to at least one of the first member and the second member to apply pressure to the piece of media when the piece of media is located in the gap such that the first and second images are simultaneously fixed to the piece of media by the pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of handling substrate media in a marking device using toner. The apparatus including first and second rolls for handling the substrate media. The first roll applying pressure to the toner. After the application of pressure by the first roll, the toner remains partially unfused to the substrate media. The second roll subsequently engaging the pressed toner as the substrate media passes the second roll. The first roll and the second roll being disposed remotely from one another in a process handling direction of the substrate media. The method including the application of pressure to the unfused toner on the substrate media by a first roll. The method subsequently engages the pressed toner with a second roll for handling the substrate media.

Abstract: A system for fixing an image on a piece of media is provided. The system has a first enclosure having an image forming section for forming the image on the piece of media and a pressure fixing section that does not include a thermal energy source for fixing the image to the piece of media. The pressure fixing section has a first rotating member, a second rotating member located proximate the first member such that a gap exists between the first member and the second member, the gap being for receiving the piece of media, and a force applying device that applies force to at least one of the first member and the second member to apply pressure to the piece of media such that the image is fixed to the piece of media by the pressure. The apparatus also has a second enclosure having a fixing section that includes a thermal energy source for further fixing the image to the piece of media after the image has been fixed to the media by the pressure fixing section.

Abstract: A pressure roller for use in a fixing device includes a core metal, an elastic layer, a releasing layer, and an adhesive layer configured to cause the elastic layer and the releasing layer to adhere to each other, wherein the adhesive layer contains monomer electrolyte.

Abstract: A pressure roller for use in a fixing device includes a core metal, an elastic layer, and a releasing layer. The releasing layer is made of at least one fluorine resin selected from among tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, and tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer. The fluorine resin contains at least one polymer selected from among polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, and polymethyl methacrylate, and monomer electrolyte.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular member, a nip member, a backup member, and a bias member. The tubular member has an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space, and an axis defining an axis direction. The nip member is in contact with the inner peripheral surface. The backup member is opposed to the nip member and in contact with the outer peripheral surface to form a nip region for nipping a sheet conveyed in a conveying direction orthogonal to the axis direction. The backup member is configured to move in the conveying direction and the tubular member is configured to circularly move around the axis in accordance with the movement of the backup member due to a friction force generated between the tubular member and the backup member. The bias member protrudes toward the backup member through a bias region.

Abstract: A system for fixing an image on a piece of media is provided. The system has a first enclosure having an image forming section for forming the image on the piece of media and a pressure fixing section that does not include a thermal energy source for fixing the image to the piece of media. The pressure fixing section has a first rotating member, a second rotating member located proximate the first member such that a gap exists between the first member and the second member, the gap being for receiving the piece of media, and a force applying device that applies force to at least one of the first member and the second member to apply pressure to the piece of media such that the image is fixed to the piece of media by the pressure. The apparatus also has a second enclosure having a fixing section that includes a thermal energy source for further fixing the image to the piece of media after the image has been fixed to the media by the pressure fixing section.

Abstract: A disclosed fixing device fixes resin particles onto a medium by applying a fixer including a softening agent onto the resin particles resting on the medium. The softening agent softens the resin particles by dissolving or causing swelling of at least part of resin included in the resin particles. A foamed fixer is generated from the fixer. The foamed fixer whose layer thickness is controlled is applied onto the resin particles resting on the medium.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium, includes: a belt member rotatably provided; a heating section that heats the belt member; a pressurization member, placed so as to be pressed against the belt member, that forms a nip portion to allow the recording medium to pass through between the pressurization member and the belt member; and an uniforming section that uniforms a temperature distribution in a longitudinal direction of the pressurization member.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first motor for driving said image bearing member, a fixing unit which fixes an image transferred from said image bearing member to a recording material onto the recording material and a second motor for driving said fixing unit, wherein said fixing unit is started up by said first motor and then driven by said second motor. Thereby, costs on the second motor for driving the fixing apparatus, which is disposed separately from the first motor for driving the image forming apparatus, can be restrained.

Abstract: A disclosed fixing device fixes resin particles onto a medium by applying a fixer including a softening agent onto the resin particles resting on the medium. The softening agent softens the resin particles by dissolving or causing swelling of at least part of resin included in the resin particles. A foamed fixer is generated from the fixer. The foamed fixer whose layer thickness is controlled is applied onto the resin particles resting on the medium.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first motor for driving said image bearing member, a fixing unit which fixes an image transferred from said image bearing member to a recording material onto the recording material and a second motor for driving said fixing unit, wherein said fixing unit is started up by said first motor and then driven by said second motor. Thereby, costs on the second motor for driving the fixing apparatus, which is disposed separately from the first motor for driving the image forming apparatus, can be restrained.

Abstract: A toner including toner particles including a colorant; a binder resin; and a release agent, wherein the binder resin includes a polyester resin (A) having a crystallinity and a specific formula (1), wherein a molar ratio of the ester bond of the crystalline polyester resin to total ester bonds included in the binder resin is not less than 0.60, and wherein the toner has a weight average particle diameter of from 3.0 to 9.0 ?m, and includes toner particles having a particle diameter not greater than 5 ?m in an amount of from 60 to 90% by quantity. A fixing method in which a toner image of the toner is fixed with a fixing device including a fixing roller having a thickness not greater than 1.0 mm and a pressure roller, wherein the fixing pressure is not greater than 1.5×105 Pa. An image forming method and a process cartridge using the toner are also provided.

Abstract: In order to provide a color image forming apparatus and its control method capable of obtaining high-quality output images without image variations or the like even when the kind of image is changed, there is provided a color image forming apparatus including a plurality of image carriers, a plurality of developing means corresponding to the image carriers, a plurality of transfer means that are fixed to the image carriers through an intermediate transfer body by the application of pressure, and a plurality of driving mechanisms for driving the image carriers to rotate, the color image forming apparatus comprising control means for selectively actuating the transfer means according to the kind of image and changing the control method for controlling the rotational speed of each driving mechanism according to the kind of image.

Abstract: A color image forming method and apparatus using larger microcapsules each of which contains a plurality of kinds of smaller microcapsules scattered within the larger microcapsule, reacting substances that are mixed with each other to perform a coloring reaction being scattered inside and outside the smaller microcapsule. A protective wall of each smaller microcapsule is broken with a corresponding predetermined ultrasonic stimulus depending upon color component information to thereby cause the reacting substances to diffuse with each other to perform a coloring reaction and hence image printing. The conditions for breaking the protective walls of the respective smaller microcapsules that contain a color former component vary from smaller microcapsule to smaller microcapsule, or are determined depending upon the outer shapes, materials and thickness of the protective walls of the smaller microcapsules.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressure belt that holds a recording medium by electrostatic force and carries the recording medium. The recording medium has a toner image on a surface that is not in contact with the endless pressure belt. A fixing belt fixes the toner image on the recording medium that is held by the pressure belt.

Abstract: A pressure belt useful in electrostatographic machines, having a polyimide substrate, an optional intermediate and/or adhesive layer, and an outer polyimide layer.

Abstract: A color image forming method and apparatus using larger microcapsules each of which contains a plurality of kinds of smaller microcapsules scattered within the larger microcapsule, reacting substances that are mixed with each other to perform a coloring reaction being scattered inside and outside the smaller microcapsule. A protective wall of each smaller microcapsule is broken with a corresponding predetermined ultrasonic stimulus depending upon color component information to thereby cause the reacting substances to diffuse with each other to perform a coloring reaction and hence image printing. The conditions for breaking the protective walls of the respective smaller microcapsules that contain a color former component vary from smaller microcapsule to smaller microcapsule, or are determined depending upon the outer shapes, materials and thickness of the protective walls of the smaller microcapsules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that measures a thickness of a sheet of recording medium prior to image formation. Once measured, the transfer roller and the fusing roller may be set apart at an optimum distance to achieve optimum image quality for any thickness of a sheet of recording medium. Employed is a simple, non-contact thickness sensing apparatus and method. Inductive electromotive force or intensity of light reflected off a movable metallic roller are employed to determine the thickness of the sheet of recording medium. The result is excellent image quality transferred from a photoreceptor web and onto a sheet of recording medium, regardless of the thickness of the sheet of recording medium.

Abstract: A member for use is a copying device includes at least a substrate and thereon a surface layer comprised of a nitrile-silicone rubber or elastomer. The nitrile-silicone rubber or elastomer provides superior resistance to swelling from solvents such as hydrocarbons found in many developer compositions. The member may have any form, including a belt, plate or drum configuration. The member may be used in the copying device as a fuser member, a pressure member, a transfer member or a transfix member.

Abstract: A processor for photothermographic media comprising: a rotatably mounted heated drum; and a plurality of rollers spaced around the periphery of the drum to hold down photothermographic media to the drum over a segment of the circumference thereof, the rollers including an outer layer of low density, low thermal mass, and low thermal conductivity elastomer foam coating which have very little heat contribution to the media to achieve uniform media processing.

Abstract: An improved fusing apparatus for fixing or fusing images on print media is disclosed wherein a relatively small pressure applying surface, such as the surface of a rotatable pressure wheel, is lubricated with a lubricating medium such as silicone oil, and engages the printed image to apply pressure and fuse the image to the image receiving substrate. The fusing apparatus is mounted for reciprocal back and forth movement across the printed image on the image receiving substrate or medium to fuse the image into the substrate and flatten or smooth the upper exposed surface of the ink image. The pressure wheel is passed in multiple overlapping passes over the printed image to uniformly fuse the image into the media.

Abstract: A heat and pressure fuser apparatus including a heated fuser roller cooperating with a pressure or back-up roller to form a nip through which substrates carrying toner images pass with the images contacting the heated fuser roll. A non-rotating pressure roll shaft is fabricated from preplated sheet stock material to provide a low cost, light-weight shaft.

Abstract: An addition reaction-type dimethylsilicone composition, including a diorganopolysiloxane containing a reactive vinyl group; an organopolysiloxane containing an active hydrogen atom; and silicic acid fine powder of which surface has been treated with a fluoroalkylsilane, an alkylsilane compound, a fluorosilicone oil, a dimethylsilicone oil, or a mixture thereof, and a silane compound containing an unsaturated group having a reactivity to the organopolysiloxane containing an active hydrogen atom.

Abstract: A fixing device has a fixing member for conveying a recording medium while holding the recording medium thereon, and fixing an image on the recording medium, a separating member having a pivot shaft and urged against the surface of the fixing member, and a guide member provided downstream of the separating member with respect to the direction of movement of the recording medium for guiding the recording medium. The separating member is of such a shape that the portion thereof from the leading end of the recording medium to an imaginary line substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the recording medium and passing through the pivot shaft is along the direction of conveyance of the recording medium, and the portion thereof which is downstream of the imaginary line with respect to the direction of movement of the recording medium gradually becomes far from the movement path of the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing rotatable member for use in an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus or a laser beam printer is disclosed. The fixing rotatable member includes a base member and an elastic layer provided on the surface thereof. The elastic layer is addition type silicone rubber in which resin-like polyorganosiloxane and 0.1 to 2 percent by weight of inorganic fine powder are mixed.