Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an attracting member and a guide member. The attracting member extends along a transport path. A print medium carries a developer image thereon and is transported on the guide member in the transport path after passing through a transfer section. The guide member is disposed downstream of the transfer section and is disposed at a position where when the print medium is transported in the transport path, the attracting member attracts the electrostatically toward the attracting member such that the print medium is spaced a distance from the attracting member by the guide member.

Abstract: A loop of a transferring material is formed at a position between a secondary transfer nip portion and a fixing nip portion such that a loop amount of the loop of the transferring material, which is formed at the position between the secondary transfer nip portion and the fixing nip portion when a mono-color mode is executed, is larger than a loop amount of the loop of the transferring material, which is formed at the position between the secondary transfer nip portion and the fixing nip portion when a full-color mode is executed. In the mono-color mode, image formation is executed such that primary transfer rollers are separated from an intermediate transfer belt. In the full-color mode, image formation is executed by photosensitive drums.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a medium guide. A toner image is formed on an image bearing body. A transfer section transfers the toner image onto a print medium. A fixing section fixes the toner image into a permanent image. A guide section is disposed along a transport path in which the print medium advances toward the fixing section. The guide section includes a first portion that extends substantially parallel to the transport path, and a second portion closer to the fixing section (22) than the first portion. The second portion extends farther away from the transport path than the first portion nearer the fixing section.

Abstract: A sheet which entered between a first sheet conveying unit and a second sheet conveying unit is detected by a sheet detecting unit. A loop of the sheet formed with a difference of sheet conveying speeds between the first and second sheet conveying units is detected by a loop detecting sensor. After the sheet detecting unit detected the sheet, if the loop detecting sensor does not detect the loop, a control unit which controls the sheet conveying speed of at least one of the first and second sheet conveying units controls the sheet conveying speed of at least one of the first and second sheet conveying units, thereby reducing an amount of the formed loop.

Abstract: A power control method for supplying AC power to a first load and a second load is provided. The method includes supplying, to the first load, AC power corresponding to a range of a phase angle 0 to a phase angle ?1 in each half cycle; and supplying, to the second load, AC power corresponding to a range of a phase angle ?2 to a phase angle ? in each half cycle, wherein ?1 is larger than 0 and not more than ?, ?2 is not less than 0 and smaller than ?, and ?1 is larger than ?2.

Abstract: A fixing device in an image forming apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a recording medium at a fixing nip where an image carried on the recording medium is fixed onto it; a plurality of temperature detectors to detect temperature of the conveyance member, the detectors being disposed at both end portions of the conveyance member outside an area where a maximum-sided recording medium passes through; a guide member to guide the recording medium toward the fixing nip; and a guide plate displacing unit to displace a part of the guide member in a direction orthogonal to a conveyed surface of the recording medium to be conveyed at the fixing nip, based on temperature difference detected by the plurality of temperature detectors.

Abstract: The present invention is an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus which includes a primary imaging member for producing an electrostatic latent image, a development station for applying toner particles to said latent image which forms a developed toner image, and a transfer station for transferring said developed toner image from the primary imaging member to a receiver. A fuser assembly is included for fixing the developed toner image to the receiver, to form a fused toner image on the receiver. An endless transport member is provided for transporting the receiver to or from the fuser assembly, the transport member having a substrate bearing an oil-absorbing porous layer that would tribocharge positively upon contact with negatively charged toner particles, and a porous overcoat outermost layer that does not tribocharge positively upon contact with negatively charged toner particles.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an opening/closing door movably supported by the apparatus main body so as to be capable of opening a conveyance path through which a sheet is conveyed, a sensor lever configured to rotate when pushed by the sheet in the conveyance path, a holder rotatably holding the sensor lever and movably supported by the opening/closing door, a positioning portion provided in the apparatus main body and configured to perform positioning of the holder by coming into contact with the holder, and a sheet detection sensor provided in the apparatus main body and configured to generate a signal corresponding to the position of the sensor lever.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes upstream side rollers; discharge rollers located downstream from the upstream side rollers in the feeding direction of sheets, to discharge sheets to a discharge tray; a reflective optical detector located between the discharging rollers and the upstream side rollers, to emit light and to receive light reflected off of the sheets; and a recognizing unit to detect, based on output of the detector, whether or not a sheet is present at a detection region of the detector. When a sheet is fed over a conveying path inclined with respect to a detection face of the detector, the discharge rollers feed the sheet in a bent state between the upstream side rollers and the discharge rollers, so that the sheet is close to the detector or the sheet is close to being perpendicular to an optical axis of the detector.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a rotating member configured to rotate by being pushed by a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed; a sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a position of the rotating member; a first abutting portion provided on the rotating member and with which the leading edge of the sheet being conveyed comes into contact; and a second abutting portion provided on the rotating member on a side opposite from the first abutting portion with respect to a rotation shaft of the rotating member and configured to come into contact with the sheet being conveyed in the course of the rotation of the rotating member by being pushed by the leading edge of the sheet being conveyed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members that contact each other and that rotate or circulate, and that heat and press a sheet that is transported with a toner image being carried thereby and that is interposed between the fixing members, to fix the toner image to the sheet; and a guide member that guides to a fixing area the sheet that is transported towards the fixing members. The guide member includes a metallic member and resin members. The metallic member has a guide surface that faces the sheet that is transported towards the guide member. The resin members are disposed at the guide surface so as to be spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction. The resin members protrude from the guide surface and are struck by a front edge of the sheet in the transport direction of the sheet.

Abstract: An image processing device has an image forming portion, a heating portion and a supplying portion. The image forming portion forms an image on a sheet. The heating portion heats the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming portion at a predetermined temperature, to thereby fix the image on the sheet. The supplying portion supplies the sheet on which an image is fixed previously. Further, the heating portion heats the sheet on which the image is fixed and which is supplied from the supplying portion at a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature to thereby remove the image.

Abstract: According to various illustrative embodiments, an apparatus, method, and system for variable rate fuser release fluid application are described. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a supply of release agent material. The apparatus also comprises a release agent metering roller supported for contact with the supply of the release agent material. The apparatus also comprises a variable speed drive arranged to effect movement of the release agent metering roller in an endless path at different surface velocities. The apparatus also comprises a donor roller supported in contact with the release agent metering roller and a fuser roller of a contact fuser, the donor roller arranged to convey release agent material from the release agent metering roller to the fuser roller at various rates depending on a surface velocity of the release agent metering roller, wherein the variable speed drive is operative independently of the fuser roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a transfer nip, a first conveyance belt, a second conveyance belt, a fixing nip, a fixing drive unit, and a control unit. The first conveyance belt conveys the sheet to which a toner image is transferred and fixed. The fixing drive unit drives the fixing nip so that the fixing nip conveys the sheet at a speed that is higher than the transfer speed in a high speed fixing mode in which the fixing nip fixes the toner image to the sheet while conveying the sheet. The control unit sets a circumferential speed of the first conveyance belt and a circumferential speed of the second conveyance belt so that the sheet bridging the first and second conveyance belts is pulled by the second conveyance belt to slide on the first conveyance belt in the high speed fixing mode.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprising an image bearing member configured to carry a toner image and a rotatable belt member stretched by a plurality of stretching members and configured to carry and convey a recording material and a transfer member configured to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member to the recording material carried by the belt member by pressing the belt member against the image bearing member and a first lifting member arranged more downstream than the transfer member in a recording material conveyance direction, to which the recording material is conveyed, and configured to locally lift the belt member from the inside thereof in a width direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction and a second lifting member arranged more downstream than the first lifting member in the recording material conveyance direction, is disclosed as one of the aspects of disclosures.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member that transfers a toner image to a surface of a recording medium, a transport member that transports the recording medium, with the surface of the recording medium on which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer member facing down, a fixing member that fixes the toner image onto the recording medium while nipping and transporting the recording medium, and a guide member that contacts a back side of the recording medium to guide the recording medium toward the fixing member, the guide member having a clearance part, the clearance part being formed in a portion that guides an outer side portion of a width direction of the recording medium, the clearance part being so shaped as to be clear of the back side of the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including an upstream conveying portion, a downstream conveying portion, and a loop detector, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a driving portion which moves the contact portion to a projecting position where the sheet conveying path is in contact with a conveyed sheet and to a retracted position where the sheet conveying path is not in contact with the conveyed sheet, and a controlling portion which controls the driving portion such that the contact portion is moved from the projecting position to the retracted position before a tip end of a sheet which enters the sheet conveying path from the upstream conveying portion reaches the contact portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport member that transports a recording medium, an image carrier that carries a toner image, a transfer member that transfers the toner image onto the recording medium, a fixing device that fixes the toner image, a reversing path that reverses the recording medium, and a controller. When the toner image is a borderless image and there is a burr on an edge portion of the recording medium, the controller controls the transport member, the image carrier, and the transfer member so that the recording medium passes between the image carrier and the transfer member and through the fixing device without the toner image being transferred onto the recording medium, and then the recording medium is transported along the reversing path to between the image carrier and the transfer member and the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a conveying portion 8 includes a plurality of pre-fixing conveying belts 83 arranged in parallel to a width direction intersecting with the sheet conveying direction. The pre-fixing conveying belts convey a sheet to which a toner image is transferred by a fixing portion 9 to a fixing nip portion. The controlling portion controls a driving mechanism which moves at least one of the plurality of sheet conveying members and changes a projecting amount thereof with respect to the other sheet conveying member, and drives such that a conveying state of the pre-fixing conveying belt is obtained based on a state-setting table which is set according to type of sheet. It is possible to prevent sheet corrugated deformation as well as to solve a problem of generation of slip or distortion of a sheet caused by velocity difference between the driving portions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image onto a recording material, a fixing unit that fixes the toner image to the recording material, a transport unit that includes a rotary member that transports the recording material from the transfer unit to the fixing unit and a recording material guiding portion that has first protruding portions extending along a recording material transport direction, and a charge eliminating unit that is disposed between the transfer unit and transport unit and eliminates charge on the recording material. The charge eliminating unit includes a first charge eliminating portion having pointed projections, and a second charge eliminating portion that is disposed on a downstream side of the first charge eliminating portion in the recording material transport direction and is disposed to be out of contact with the recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first pair of rotary members pressing against each other, forming a first nip therebetween, a cover sheet supply unit to transport to the first nip a cover sheet to be superimposed on an imaging surface of a recording medium, a separation unit that separates the cover sheet from the recording medium after the recording medium passes through the first nip and includes a second pair of rotary members pressing against each other, forming a second nip therebetween, and a drive unit to rotate the first and second pairs of rotary members in both a normal direction for transporting the cover sheet in a supply direction and a reverse direction. The first and second pairs of rotary members and the drive unit together form a cover sheet return mechanism for returning the cover sheet separated from the recording medium to the supply position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an electrophotographic image forming unit which forms an image on a recording medium; a fixing unit which thermally fixes the image; an insulating chute disposed between the image forming unit and the fixing unit, including: a guide face and a back face, and configured to guide the image-formed recording medium to the fixing unit; and a planar metal member disposed on the back face and expanding to a first end edge portion as an edge portion of one of end portions of the chute nearer to the fixing unit. The metal member includes a second end edge portion that is an edge portion of one of end portions of the metal member nearer to the fixing unit. The second end edge portion has an acute angle in cross section as viewed in a widthwise direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: A load torque variation upon entry or exit of a sheet into a nipping portion is reduced while a nipping force necessary for image formation is provided. An image transfer apparatus, an image fixing apparatus, or a registration apparatus comprises an opposite roller, a transfer roller, and a compression spring for pressing the opposite roller onto the transfer roller. A sheet of transfer material is transported into a nipping portion between the opposite roller and the transfer roller, where an image on the opposite roller is transferred to the transfer material. The apparatus includes a retaining unit configured to retain a certain distance between the first rotating body and the second rotating body as long as the thickness of the transfer material that passes through the nipping portion remains the same.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus includes a paper housing unit configured to house paper at a first position, a bottom plate provided in the paper housing unit and configured to retain the paper, a moving unit configured to move the bottom plate between the first position and a second position, a paper feed roller configured to feed the paper retained by the bottom plate at the second position, and a paper feed control unit configured to cause the moving unit to move the bottom plate to the second position when a paper feed preparation request for requesting paper feed preparation has been input.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a first rotating member; a second rotating member that extends along the first rotating member, sandwiches a recording medium with a toner image formed thereon between the first and second rotating members, rotates together with the first rotating member, and heats the recording medium to fix the toner image on the recording medium; a heating device whose circumferential surface circularly moves while contacting an external circumferential surface of the second rotating member, and the heating device heats the second rotating member; a temperature detecting device disposed to face the external circumferential surface of the second rotating member without contacting the external circumferential surface to detect a temperature thereof; and a cleaning device cleaning the circumferential surface of the heating device and disposed between the heating device and the temperature detecting device along the surface of the second rotating member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that separates a thin recording material by pushing up a transfer belt, if a position where a thick recording material separates from the transfer belt is far from a leading end of a recording-material guide, conveyability of the separated thick recording material after separation becomes stable. A stretching member is provided downstream of a push-up means and upstream of the recording-material guide in a recording-material conveying direction, and the stretching member separates a thick recording material from the transfer belt.

Abstract: A recording-medium positioning device includes a gate, a roller pair, a roller-pair shift unit, a recording-medium detector, and a drive control device. The gate is disposed at an upstream side of a fixing device in a conveyance direction of a recording medium. The roller pair includes two roller members disposed at an upstream side of the gate. The roller-pair shift unit moves the roller pair in accordance with a first position of the recording medium in the conveyance direction to shift the recording medium in a width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. The recording-medium detector is disposed between the fixing device and the gate to detect a second position of the recording medium in the width direction. The drive control device moves the recording medium to a reference position by driving the roller-pair shift unit in accordance with the second position and cyclically shifts the reference position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus fixes an image formed on a recording material and includes a guiding member for guiding movement of the recording material, provided in a recording material passing opening of the apparatus, a rib projecting from a recording-material passing surface of the guiding member, for being contacted by the recording material, a shutter provided at a position opposing the guiding member and movable between a position for opening the passing opening and a position closing the passing opening, and a projection provided at a position of the shutter opposing a portion of the guiding member not having the rib with respect to a direction perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction. When the shutter takes the closing position, the clearance between the rib and the shutter is larger than the clearance between the guiding member and the projection.

Abstract: A transferring unit transfers a toner image from an image carrier to a recording medium. A fixing unit fixes the toner image transferred onto the recording medium. A conveying unit conveys the recording medium from the transferring unit to the fixing unit along a conveyance surface. A guiding member receives the recording medium from the conveying unit and guides the recording medium to a fixing nip of the fixing unit along a guiding surface. An angle changing unit changes an angle between the conveyance surface and the guiding surface according to the type of the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a conveyance belt, a suction unit, and a control unit. The transfer unit transfers a toner image to a sheet. The fixing unit conveys the sheet and to fix the toner image transferred by the transfer unit on the sheet. The conveyance belt provided between the transfer unit and the fixing unit conveys the sheet. The suction unit suctions the sheet to the conveyance belt. The control unit controls to suction the sheet to the conveyance belt, and controls to stop suction or weaken a suction force in response to performing conveyance control for changing a conveyance speed of the fixing unit so that a loop amount of the sheet between the transfer unit and the fixing unit is maintained in a constant range after the leading edge of the sheet reaches the fixing unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a foam fixer generator unit generating a foam fixer containing a softener softening toner by dissolving or swelling part of resin of the toner, an application roller carrying and transferring the foam fixer onto a recording sheet, a pressure roller applying pressure to a toner image on the recording sheet via the foam fixer on the application roller to fix the toner image on the recording sheet, a cleaning device removing residual components remaining on the application roller, a recording sheet detector unit detecting presence or absence of the recording sheet, a remover unit being in contact with and separated from the application roller to remove the foam fixer on the application roller, and a control unit controlling the contact-separation operation of the remover unit based on a detected result of a front end and/or a rear end of the recording sheet.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods and systems that incorporate a model predictive controller (MPC) in an image reproduction machine with known disturbance information. The MPC uses the control action at a current time in order to minimize the impact of an impending disturbance as well as to maximize current control performance. The impending disturbance is used by the MPC to determine an incremental change that combines steady state and transient state impact on the image reproduction machine. Disturbance such as print media type, image content type, physical dimension of the print media, weight of the print media, and print job data can be employed. Further, control of the image reproduction machine is generated in real time over a receding horizon, for the purpose of minimizing a cost function indicative of image variation, energy consumption, or the like.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that directly transfers an image onto a transfer sheet; an intermediate transfer member onto which an image is transferred; a secondary image forming unit that transfers an image onto the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer unit that transfers the image on the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet; a fixing unit that fixes an image on the transfer sheet at a fixation position; and a guide member that guides the transfer sheet to the fixation position.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (500) that detects the travel direction of media in a media path in an image marking and fusing system is disclosed. The apparatus can include a media transport (110) configured to transport media. The apparatus can include a media marking engine (120) coupled to the media transport, the media marking engine configured to mark an image on media transported by the media transport to create unfused marked media (115). The apparatus can include a fusing member (130) coupled to the media transport, the fusing member having an axis of rotation (132), the fusing member configured to fuse the image on the media. The apparatus can include a media motion sensor (140) configured to sense travel information based on an unfused marked media travel direction (116) and configured to output a media motion sensor signal corresponding to the travel information.

Abstract: A media transport that will fit between a xerographic transfer station and a fuser station is provided by this invention. The purpose of this media transport is to increase the distance that media with an unfused image will travel from transfer to fusing stations thus permitting longer media to be used in the xerographic system without the risk of disturbing the unfused image. A vacuum is positioned internally of the transport that will provide a vacuum force to hold a media sheet to belts that are guided by the top surface of the media transport. The media transport has a configuration with an arced top surface where the arc length of the top surface exceeds the overall width of the transport.

Abstract: A development device includes a development part configured to develop a developer image on a surface of an electrostatic latent image carrier based on an image signal, a transfer part configured to transfer the developer image to a medium; and a guide part configured to regulate a contact of the medium, on which the developer image has been transferred and been exited, to a housing of the development part, and to guide the medium to a carrying path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing device having a first nip to fix toner to a recording medium; a conveyance device provided at a position downstream from the fixing device in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium to convey the recording medium further downstream; a guide member provided along a conveyance path of the recording medium between the fixing device and the conveyance device to contact and convey the recording medium from the fixing device to the conveyance device, the guide member having multiple through-holes formed therein and penetrating from a front surface of the guide member facing the conveyance path of the recording medium to a back surface of the guide member; and an airflow generator to generate an airflow through the multiple through-holes.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a pair of upstream rollers and a pair of downstream rollers each including a drive roller and a driven roller, a calculating unit, and a control unit. The upstream rollers include a measuring unit that obtains speed information of the upstream rollers. The calculating unit calculates a target value based on the speed information. The control unit controls the speed of the drive roller of the downstream rollers based on the target value.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus capable of performing, even by a short brake, brake assist by which a sheet is stopped at a position where the sheet is visible. Upon occurrence of a wrap jam, brake control for a drive motor and brake assist control are performed. In the brake assist control, a pressing process is performed based on the number of assist operation pulses, which is set in advance. When an edge of a home position sensor signal is detected, a process for stopping the pressing process is carried out, whereby a pressing unit assumes a maximum pressing position.

Abstract: A guide device for guiding a recording medium discharged from a fixing device includes a first conveyance wall plate and at least one rib assembly mounted on the first conveyance wall plate. The at least one rib assembly includes a plurality of primary ribs contacting the first conveyance wall plate, each having a first thickness in a recording medium conveyance direction; and a plurality of secondary ribs mounted on selected ones of the plurality of primary ribs. Each secondary rib includes a bottom contacting the primary rib and having a second thickness in the recording medium conveyance direction that is smaller than the first thickness of the primary rib; and a top contacting the recording medium and having a third thickness in the recording medium conveyance direction that is smaller than the second thickness of the bottom of the secondary rib.

Abstract: A mechanism for guiding a recording medium into a nip formed between a first rotary member subjected to heating, and a second rotary member pressed against the first rotary member includes a guide member and a biasing member. The guide member is disposed upstream from the nip to guide the recording medium therealong. The biasing member is connected to the guide member to mechanically bias the guide member. The guide member is subjected to a constant biasing force from the biasing member and to a pressure force from the recording medium. The pressure force is opposite the biasing force and variable with a stiffness of the recording medium being guided. The guide member is movable to different operational positions depending on the biasing and pressure forces acting thereon.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit fixing an unfixed toner image formed by an image forming unit and transferred by a transfer unit on a recording medium; a discharge unit provided above the fixing unit and discharging the recording medium; a fixing jam processing cover rotating with respect to an apparatus main body so as to open or close a part of a paper conveyance path from the fixing unit to the discharge unit; a conveyance guide member swingably provided on the fixing jam processing cover and guiding the recording medium to the discharge unit; and a supporting member having an inclined surface with which the conveyance guide member makes contact and along which, as the fixing jam processing cover is being opened, the conveyance guide member slides to become less inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining whether borderless printing can be done based on media type and desired gloss level is provided. Also provided is a method, printer, and system whereby a defect-free borderless print can be achieved regardless of media type and gloss level of the finished print, wherein the method includes pre-heating of the leading edge of the media before it enters a fuser area of the printer.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a main body having a main frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium onto which images are transferred from the photosensitive members, a fixing unit that fixes the images onto the recording medium, and an attaching member that attaches both the fixing unit and an end section of the conveying unit nearest the fixing unit to the main frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a recording paper to which a toner has been transferred is guided by a guide member and transported to a nip region between two rotatable members that are pressed against each other, and the toner on the recording paper is fixed at the nip region. In this image forming apparatus, a conductive or semiconductive region and an insulating region that are to be brought into contact with the recording paper are sequentially arranged in a recording paper transport direction on a guide face of the guide member, the conductive or semiconductive region is grounded, and the insulating region includes an end portion of the guide member oriented in the recording paper transport direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer device that transfers a toner image formed on an image bearer onto a transfer sheet and a fixing device that fixes the toner image onto the transfer sheet. The transfer device is freely movable between an operational position and a non-operational position and includes a contacting section that directly contacts the fixing device and determines a position of the transfer device.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus having a suction conveying portion, including a belt member arranged between a transfer portion and a fixing unit, for conveying sheet while suctioning at a conveying face of the belt member, a moving portion which moves the upstream side of a conveying face or downward, and a position controller which controls operation of the moving portion to move the upstream side of the conveying face to a position being close to the transfer portion from a receiving position after sheet fed from the transfer portion is received by the suction conveying portion which is located at the receiving position being apart from the transfer portion.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a printing system that includes first and second marking devices for applying images to print media. A first fusing module associated with the first marking device for applying a primary fusing treatment to the images applied to print media by the first marking device. A second fusing module which receives printed media from the first and second marking devices, the secondary fusing module including a fusing device that applies a fusing treatment to the images applied to the printed media. A printing controller having a scheduler for processing print jobs in the first and second marking devices based on fusing requirements of the print media.