Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit including a first roller and a second roller which form a nip to fix a toner image on a sheet, the fixing unit being capable of fixing the toner image on a maximum width sheet and a small width sheet; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the fixing unit in a widthwise direction; and an operating device for operating the reciprocating mechanism, wherein the operating device operates the reciprocating mechanism for a fixing operation on the small width sheet, and the operating device does not operate the reciprocating mechanism for the fixing operation on the maximum width sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes paper trays to contain and feed a recording sheet on which a toner image is transferred; status sensors to detect a storage status of the recording sheet contained in the paper trays; a sheet sensor to detect a smoothness of the recording sheet; a memory to store detection values of the smoothness detected by the sheet sensor; a fixing device to heat and press the toner image transferred onto the recording sheet and fix it onto the recording sheet; and a control circuit to determine a target fixing temperature of the fixing device based on the detection values stored in the memory. The control circuit determines the target fixing temperature for successive recording sheets depending on the detected smoothness, and resets the detection values stored in the memory to zero when the status sensors detect a change in the storage status of the paper trays.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator pressed against the first rotator, and a heater to heat the first rotator. The heater includes an elongated substrate extending in an axial direction of the first rotator, a heat generator disposed on a surface of the substrate facing the first rotator, at a position downstream in a rotational direction of the first rotator, a plurality of first conduction paths connected to the heat generator and grounded downstream of the heat generator in the rotational direction of the first rotator, and a second conduction path on which the plurality of first conduction paths are grounded. The heat generator has a heat-generating area divided into a plurality of sub-heat-generating areas in the axial direction of the first rotator. The plurality of sub-heat-generating areas are grounded on the second conduction path via the plurality of first conduction paths.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body, a heat shield movably disposed opposite the fixing rotary body, an opposed body contacting the fixing rotary body to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed, and a temperature detector to detect a temperature of at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body. A controller, operatively connected to the heat shield and the temperature detector, determines a rotation angled position to which the heat shield is moved based on a size of the recording medium and the temperature of the at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body detected by the temperature detector.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a receiving unit to receive color plane data and white control plane data for specifying a type of a white effect to be applied to a recording medium with a white color material; a determining unit to determine image recording operation for realizing the white effect based on the white control plane data; a first generating unit to generate chromatic color material image data indicating a recording amount of a chromatic color material based on the color plane data; a second generating unit to generate white color material image data indicating a recording amount of a white color material based on the white control plane data; and a control unit to control recording of images corresponding to the chromatic color material image data and the white color material image data on one or both sides of the recording medium according to the image recording operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming portion, a fixing portion for fixing the unfixed image at a fixing nip, a first and second guide members configured to guide the recording material to the fixing nip. The first guide member is provided at a position opposed to a surface of the recording material on which the unfixed image is formed and at a center of the fixing portion with respect to a longitudinal direction of the fixing portion, and the second guide member is provided at a position opposed to the surface of the recording material on which the unfixed image is formed and at an end of the fixing portion with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fixing portion, the second guide member being movable relative to the first guide member with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recoding material.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus has a fixing section that transfers a toner image to a recording medium for printing in a printer section and then fixes the toner image, a decoloring section that heats and decolors a decolorable image printed on a recording medium for reuse with a color material of which the color is decolored if heated at a decoloring temperature, and a controller that enables the fixing section and the decoloring section to operate exclusively.

Abstract: A fixing device of an exemplary embodiment includes a fixing belt, an induced current generation section, an auxiliary heat generation section, a temperature detection section, and a control section. The fixing belt includes a conductive layer. The induced current generation section opposes the fixing belt in a thickness direction. The induced current generation section performs electromagnetic induction heating on the conductive layer. The auxiliary heat generation section opposes the induced current generation section with the fixing belt interposed therebetween. The temperature detection section detects a temperature of the auxiliary heat generation section. The control section reduces an output from the induced current generation section on the basis of a detection result from the temperature detection section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a fixing device, a transport unit and a controller. The fixing device includes a heat roller and a pressure roller that is moveable with respect to the heat roller. A movement mechanism moves the pressure roller among a contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a first pressing force, a separation position in which the pressure roller does not contact the heat roller, and a semi-contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a second pressing force smaller than the first pressing force. The transport unit transports a medium between the heat roller and the pressure roller. The controller controls the movement mechanism so that the pressure roller is at the semi-contact position in a standby state after a preheating operation of the fixing device is completed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater for heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable circumferential direct heating span of the fixing rotary body where the heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotary body directly. A controller is operatively connected to the heater and the heat shield to move the heat shield after the controller turns on the heater as a print job starts so as to change an area of the direct heating span of the fixing rotary body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing device for nipping and feeding a sheet to fix a toner image on a sheet, said fixing device including a first fixing member contactable with a front surface of the sheet, and a second fixing member provided with an electroconductive surface layer contactable with a back surface of the sheet; a feeder provided downstream of said fixing device with respect to a sheet feeding direction to nip and feed the sheet, a feeder including a first feeding roller contactable with the front surface, and a second feeding roller provided with an electroconductive surface layer contactable with the back surface; a first discharging member contacted with said electroconductive surface layer of said second fixing member to discharge said second fixing member; and a second discharging member contacted with said electroconductive surface layer of said second feeding roller to discharge said second feeding roller.

Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates color image data based on gloss-control image data, the gloss-control image data containing a gloss control value for identifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for identifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and generates clear-toner image data based on presence or absence of at least one post processing device connected to the printing device and based on a type of the post processing device; a post-processing control unit that controls the post processing device in accordance with the presence or absence of the post processing device connected to the printing device and the type of the post processing device; and an output unit that outputs the clear-toner image data.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus includes an acquiring unit, a storing unit, a replacing unit, and a generating unit. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire apparatus configuration information of a printing apparatus that forms an image based on image data. The storing unit is configured to store therein gloss control plane data in which a type of a surface effect imparted to a recording medium and a control value for specifying an area in the recording medium, to which the surface effect is imparted, are designated. The replacing unit is configured to replace, based on the apparatus configuration information, the type of the surface effect imparted to the recording medium in the gloss control plane data with a predetermined type of a surface effect. The generating unit is configured to generate the image data based on the gloss control plane data subjected to the replacement by the replacing unit.

Abstract: A liquid application device includes an application roller, a container, a supply roller, a transfer unit, and a controller. The application roller applies a liquid to a target. The container stores the liquid. The supply roller rotates with the supply roller immersed in the container and supplies the liquid to the application roller. The transfer unit contacts the target with the application roller and causes the application roller to apply the liquid to the target. The controller controls an operation of the liquid application device. In a state in which the transfer unit does not contact the target with the application roller, the controller controls the supply roller to rotate and stop at a position different from a pre-rotation position of the supply roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotary member; a second rotary member that is in contact with the first rotary member and presses a recording medium passing therethrough; a heating member that heats a contact area; a first support member supporting the first rotary member from inside so as to be in contact with the second rotary member; a second support member supporting the first support member and switchable between states in which it is in contact with and separated from the first support member; a first urging-force applying member attached to the second support member and urging the second and first support members against the second rotary member; a second urging-force applying member disposed between the first and second support members; and a switching member via which the first and second support members are switched between states in which they are in contact with and separated from each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveyance unit which conveys a long sheet having such a length as to extend at least from a sheet feed opening to a sheet output opening of an apparatus body, an image forming unit which transfers a toner image onto the sheet, a fixing unit including a heater to fix the transferred toner image, a temperature detector which detects a temperature of the fixing unit, and a control unit which controls the sheet conveyance unit in such a way that, when the front edge of the sheet is to be conveyed from the sheet feed opening to the sheet output opening with no toner image transferred onto the sheet, the front edge is prohibited from being conveyed into the fixing unit if the temperature of the fixing unit is higher than a first predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotary member, a second rotary member, a support member having a connection part, an urging member, and an engaging member. The engaging member is capable of changing a state of the fixing device between a pressure applied state and a pressure reduced state using the urging member and the support member. When the nip pressure is in the pressure applied state, the engaging member changes a position of the urging member to direct the urging member longitudinally in a tangential direction to an arc that has a center coinciding with a center of rotation of the support member and that passes through the connecting portion. When the nip pressure is in the pressure reduced state, the engaging member changes the position of the urging member to direct the urging member longitudinally in a direction different from the tangential direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a pressing member, heat generators, temperature detectors, a power source, and a heat controller. The heat generators include a first heat generator and second heat generators corresponding to an imaged area and a blank area, respectively, of a recording medium. The heat controller controls a power source according to data provided by the temperature detectors, such that a heating area of the fixing member heated by one of the second heat generators located adjacent to the first heat generator acquires a temperature of T1??T, where T1 is a temperature corresponding to the imaged area higher than a temperature T2 corresponding to the blank area, and ?T is a temperature lower than a difference between T1 and T2. The heat controller changes ?T between when a first side thereof is printed upon duplex printing and upon single-sided printing.

Abstract: In an image-forming apparatus such as a printer, a controller judges whether or not a determination processing of fixity saturation state is performed to determine a fixing condition in which an image density of a patch is the fixity saturation state. The controller then performs the determination processing of fixity saturation state when a use condition is changed. The controller settles fixing conditions in which the image density of patch is highest as the set value when the image density of the patch is saturated. Next, the controller performs a toner adhesion amount adjustment using an intermediate transfer belt. A target value of the toner adhesion amount on the intermediate transfer belt corresponding to the target image density is set and then, an optimal developing voltage that is the set target value is set. After the toner adhesion amount adjustment, the controller performs fixity adjustment.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer body that transfers an image formed with toner containing a flat pigment to a recording medium; and a fixing unit that, when the image having an area coverage that is greater than or equal to a predetermined area coverage occupies a width that is less than a predetermined width of the recording medium, fixes the image to the recording medium with fixing energy having a first value, and that, when the image having the area coverage that is greater than or equal to the predetermined area coverage occupies a width that is greater than or equal to the predetermined width of the recording medium, fixes the image to the recording medium with fixing energy having a second value, the second value being greater than the first value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a fixing rotary body and a heater for heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable circumferential direct heating span of the fixing rotary body where the heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotary body directly. A controller halts the heat shield instantly when a fault occurs during a print job.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a drum for carrying a toner image; a transfer member for contacting the drum to form a transfer nip, the transfer member being capable of electrostatically transferring the toner image from the drum onto a sheet; a fixing unit provided, downstream of the transfer member with respect to a sheet feeding direction, for fixing the toner image on the sheet by a fixing nip; a first current path provided between the fixing nip and a ground potential; a feeding unit, provided downstream of the fixing unit, for feeding the sheet while nipping by a feeding nip; a guiding member, disposed downstream of the feeding unit, for feeding the sheet passing through the transfer nip; and a second current path provided between the feeding nip and the ground potential, the second path having an electric resistance which is lower than that of the first path.

Abstract: A fixing device according to the invention comprises a first belt in an endless form, a first heat source for heating the first belt, a first reflection member reflecting heat from the first heat source toward the first belt, and a first temperature detecting member for detecting temperature of the first reflection member by contacting the first reflection member, wherein the first reflection member is disposed between the first heat source and the first temperature detecting member. The fixing device is able to accurately detect the temperature of the member heated by the heat source.

Abstract: The fixing device includes a rotary member for contacting the unfixed toner image, a pressure member for forming the nip portion by contacting the rotary member, and a cover for covering the rotary member with a space between the rotary member and the cover. In a cross section of the fixing device, the cross section being orthogonal to a generatrix direction of the rotary member, the shortest distance (H) between the nip portion and a farthest surface portion of the rotary member farthest away from a surface portion forming the nip portion of the rotary member, the maximum width (W) of the rotary member in the conveyance direction of the recording member, and an area (S) of the space in a range of the maximum width W in the cross section satisfy with a relationship of S/W?0.7×H.

Abstract: An acquisition portion acquires a rate of a size of a toner image being formed in a predetermined area on a recording material to a size of the predetermined area, in a consecutive print job, a control portion sets a longer conveyance interval between a preceding recording material and a subsequent recording material when the rate of the subsequent recording material exceeds a threshold than when the rate of the subsequent recording material does not exceed the threshold, and the predetermined area on a trailing end side of the recording material with respect to a center of the recording material in a recording material conveying direction is larger than the predetermined area on a leading end side of the recording material with respect to the center of the recording material, or the predetermined area is only on the trailing end side of the recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage to store recording media, a smoothness detector to detect smoothness of the recording media, a memory unit to store smoothness values detected by the smoothness detector, a transfer device to transfer a toner image onto the recording media, a fixing device to fix the toner image onto the recording media, a temperature controller to determine a target fixing temperature for a second and subsequent recording media based on a predicted value calculated from the smoothness values, and a processor to reset the smoothness values in response to detection of an external factor that causes the smoothness detector to provide a smoothness value out of a predetermined range of the predicted value during an image forming operation from when the processor receives a sheet-feeding permission signal of one of the recording media stored in the storage until the recording medium is ejected.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: first and second rotatable members configured to heat an image on a sheet at a nip; a roughening member configured to perform roughening of a surface of the first rotatable member when at least the first rotatable member of the first and second rotatable members rotates; a moving mechanism configured to move the roughening member relative to the first rotatable member so that the roughening member is movable between a contact position where the roughening member is contacted to the first rotatable member and a spaced position where the roughening member is spaced from the first rotatable member; an obtaining portion configured to obtain information indicating that the first rotatable member is new; and a controller configured to control the moving mechanism to perform the roughening upon obtaining of the information by the obtaining portion.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image forming section that includes a fixing device, a power supply controller that controls the fixing device to a power supply state in which power is supplied or a power shut-off state, a switching section that switches a fixing mode to one of a first mode that focuses on temperature, and a second mode that focuses on productivity, and a processing controller that controls an image forming process, by selecting the first mode as initial processing when the fixing device recovers from the power shut-off state to the power supply state upon an instruction to execute a job, and selecting, as continued processing after the initial processing, the first mode or the second mode on a basis of a total processing volume of the job acquired after the instruction to execute the job is made.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat source; a fixing member looped into a generally cylindrical shape to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof and partially heated by the heat source and to heat a surface of a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image thereon in a fixing process; a rotary pressing member disposed facing the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is transported in a transport direction; and a rotation driver to rotate one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In a case in which the fixing member is halted for a reason other than the fixing process while power of the fixing device is on, electric power is not supplied to the heat source and the fixing member is rotated by a predetermined amount or more after the fixing member is halted.

Abstract: A print job is received into a print engine having an image processor. A page of the print job is analyzed for a color gamut and for clear toner. For multi-pass print jobs, toner usage per pixel for each color of the color gamut and the clear toner is determined. Adjusted pixel values for the clear toner are calculated using a predetermined percentage. Adjusted pixel values for the color toner are calculated for each color of the color gamut based on the maximum toner limit. A first layer of the page is rendered using the adjusted pixel values. Then, the adjusted pixel values are scaled for clear toner usage based on the predetermined percentage for the clear toner on the first pass using a tone reproduction curve. Subsequent layers of the page are rendered in selected passes using only the scaled pixel values for clear toner usage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a fixing device and an image forming apparatus including: a rotatable fixing side member; a rear side member that rotates in pressure contact with an outer peripheral surface of the fixing side member, the rear side member forming a fixing nip portion for conveying a sheet on which a toner image is formed in a sandwiching manner in conjunction with the fixing side member; and velocity difference setting structure for setting a velocity difference between a surface velocity of the rear side member and a surface velocity of the fixing side member, wherein the rear side member and the fixing side member rotate with a velocity difference set by the velocity difference setting structure.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable member and an endless belt configured to form a nip portion cooperatively with the rotatable member. A pressing pad is provided in the inside of the endless belt and configured to press the endless belt toward the rotatable member to form the nip portion. The pressing pad includes a first portion extending from an entrance of the nip portion toward an exit of the nip portion in a sheet conveying direction and a second portion disposed at a region in which the sheet is separated from the rotatable member. The first and second portions are pressed toward the rotatable member independently by a pressing mechanism.

Abstract: An acquisition unit acquires output data including first image data including first clear toner plane data and second image data including color plane data and second clear toner plane data. When the output data includes the first image data, a first output unit outputs first print data including first identification information representing an instruction to form an image on a first recording medium to which clear toner has not been applied to an image forming unit. When the output image includes the first image data and the second image data, a second output unit outputs second print data including second identification information representing an image formation instruction for a second recording medium to which the clear toner has been applied. When the output data does not include the first image data but includes the second image data, the second output unit outputs third print data including the first identification information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a paper feed unit, an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a conveyance unit, a control unit, a movement unit and an actuator. The fixing unit includes sandwiching members between which paper is sandwiched. The paper has a toner image thereon formed by the image forming unit. The sandwiching members form a nip part, and the fixing unit fixes the toner image to the paper at the nip part. When an execution condition is satisfied, the control unit performs first control under which the actuator releases a sandwiching pressure made by the sandwiching members and thereafter the movement unit moves the sandwiching members along a paper width direction which is at right angles to a conveyance direction of the paper.

Abstract: A fuser control device that controls a fuser that heats and fuses developer on a medium for an image formation on the medium includes the fuser including a heating member that rotates while contacting and heating the medium, and a rotation member that rotates and sandwiches the medium with the heating member; a heat supply part that supplies heat to the heating member; a temperature detection part that detects a temperature of the heating member; a heating controller that controls the heat supply part based on a detection result by the temperature detection part; and a rotation controller that controls a rotational speed of the heating member.

Abstract: If the temperature of a fixing unit is not stable when automatic gradation correction is performed, an error occurs in gradation correction when a chart for gradation measurement is output. An image forming apparatus of the present invention is characterized by including a unit configured to transfer a toner image based on image data onto a sheet, to pass the sheet through a fixing unit, and to output a first chart, a unit configured to create a conversion table for gradation correction using a value obtained by reading the output first chart, and a stabilization processing unit configured to stabilize the fixing unit by outputting a second chart before outputting the first chart when creation of the conversion table for gradation correction is instructed, wherein the stabilization processing unit outputs the second chart in a number of sheets specified in advance by a user.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus, comprises an image forming section configured to include at least one decolorable toner and at least one non-decolorable toner, and form a toner image selectively using the decolorable toner and the non-decolorable toner; a mode determination section configured to determine, from a plurality of image forming modes including a first image forming mode in which a toner image is formed on a sheet with one decolorable toner and a second image forming mode in which a toner image is formed on a sheet with two or more toners of the decolorable toner and the non-decolorable toner, a designated image forming mode; and a preheating control section configured to execute the preheating of the sheet before image formation in the second image forming mode, and execute no preheating of the sheet before image formation in the first image forming mode.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressurization member pressed against a fixing rotator and a magnetic flux generator disposed opposite the fixing rotator. A heat generator is disposed opposite the magnetic flux generator to generate heat by a magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. A magnetic shield is movably disposed inside the heat generator to screen the magnetic flux penetrating through the heat generator. A pressure adjuster presses the pressurization member against the fixing rotator with variable pressure. An interlock interlocks the pressurization member with the magnetic shield. The pressure adjuster presses the pressurization member against the fixing rotator with increased pressure to move the magnetic shield via the interlock to a proximate position in proximity to the heat generator and with decreased pressure to move the magnetic shield via the interlock to a remote position being remote from the heat generator.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including an image forming section that forms a toner image on a printing medium by using plural toners including a particular toner, a fixing section that fixes the toner image which is formed on the printing medium by the image forming section, a retransporting section that transports the printing medium to the image forming section again in a state where a surface of the printing medium is the same, and a changing section that changes a fixing pressure at the time of fixing the toner image, in which the particular toner is used, and at the time of fixing the toner image, in which the toners other than the particular toner are used, when the toner image is formed on the printing medium by the image forming section and the toner image is fixed by the fixing section plural times.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to selectively form a toner image on an image bearing member using a developing device including a decolorizable toner or a developing device including an undecolorizable toner, a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image, which is formed on the image bearing member, onto a transfer material, and a fixing portion configured to fix the toner image, which is transferred by the transfer portion, on the transfer material. The undecolorizable toner has at least a fixing temperature range in a range equal to or higher than a fixing temperature lower limit of the decolorizable toner and lower than decoloring temperature of the decolorizable toner.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device including a rotatable rotating member, a tubular member that is movable while coming into contact with the rotating member, a pressure member that is arranged inside the tubular member and nips a recording medium holding an unfixed toner image at a nip portion formed between the rotating member and the tubular member by bringing the tubular member into pressure contact with the rotating member, to apply pressure for fixing the unfixed toner image on the recording medium, and a holding member that holds the pressure member, wherein the pressure member is made of an elastomer, and the end position of one surface of the elastomer that comes into contact with the tubular member is located further toward the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium than the end position of the other surface of the elastomer held by the holding member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, a gloss level measuring section, and a fixation condition setting section. The gloss level measuring section measures a gloss level of an image portion and a gloss level of a non-image portion in a recording medium after fixation, and separately measures, as the gloss level of the image portion, a first gloss level indicative of a gloss level of a chromatic toner image and a second gloss level indicative of a gloss level of a black toner image. The fixation condition setting section sets the fixation condition for the fixing unit so that the first gloss level and the second gloss level approach respective different target gloss levels, on the basis of a measured value of the first gloss level and a measured value of the second gloss level and a measured value of the gloss level of the non-image portion.

Abstract: A fixing control device includes an image detection unit that determines presence of an image in each of areas obtained by division of an image formation region in which the image is formed, a heater selection unit that selects from heaters of a fixing device heaters at positions corresponding to areas in which the presence of the image is determined, a heating amount computation unit that computes a heating amount of a heating area heated by each of the selected heaters in a fixing region corresponding to the image formation region, a change amount computation unit that computes an amount of change of the heating amount between adjoining ones of the heating areas, and a heating amount correction unit that corrects one of the heating amounts of the adjoining heating areas so that the amount of change after the correction is less than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A mechanism for electrifying a rotator that is used in an image forming apparatus includes a cloth-like or sheet-like conductive member, wherein part of the conductive member comes into contact with an object to be electrified and the other part of the conductive member comes into surface contact with any one contact member of the rotator, a rotating shaft that rotates together with the rotator, and a shaft where the rotator is rotatably supported, so that the object to be electrified and the contact member are electrically connected to each other through the conductive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a number-of-revolutions determining unit, and a stopping unit. The fixing device includes a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image, a fixing member that fixes toner to a recording medium, a pressure member that conveys the recording medium, a driving unit that rotates the pressure member to allow the fixing member to perform slave rotation, and a number-of-revolutions sensing unit that senses the number of revolutions of the fixing member. The number-of-revolutions determining unit determines, based on the number of revolutions of the fixing member sensed by the number-of-revolutions sensing unit, the number of revolutions of the driving unit. The stopping unit stops the driving unit when the number of revolutions determined by the number-of-revolutions determining unit is not equal to a specific number of revolutions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming a toner image on a sheet of paper; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image formed on the sheet of paper by heat; a power control unit for, when power to be supplied to the fixing unit is increased, determining an amount of increase of the power; and a current limiting unit for determining whether current consumption of the image forming apparatus exceeds an upper limit value in response to an increase of the amount of increase determined by the power control unit and, if it is determined that the current consumption exceeds the upper limit value, decreasing the amount of increase of the power determined by the power control unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a heat roller, an endless belt, a first press roller and a second press roller. The heat roller rotates and contacts a toner surface side of a sheet, and heats the sheet. The endless belt contacts a part of an outer peripheral surface of the heat roller. The first press roller contacts a part of an inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, and is provided at an insertion part of the sheet in a nip portion where the heat roller contacts the endless belt. The second press roller contacts a part of the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, is provided at an exit part of the sheet in the nip portion, and has a lower rotational resistance than the first press roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include controls for changing a state of a developing roller from a stopped state to a rotating state. The change in state may be used to avoid deterioration of toner and/or a surface of the developing roller. Changes in state may occur at various times including at a timing corresponding to an outside of an image formation area, a timing corresponding to an inside of an image formation area and the like. In one arrangement, a first developing roller may continue to rotate (e.g., during monochrome printing), while one or more other developing rollers are switched between a stopped state and a rotating state. Alternatively or additionally, a roller which is caused to change states may remain stopped between the timing corresponding to a rear end of an image formation area and a timing corresponding to a front end of an immediately subsequent image formation area.

Abstract: A curl correction apparatus includes a supporting member. The supporting member supports a shaft of an elastic roller and a shaft of a metal roller at a first position, and supports only one of the shaft of the elastic roller and the shaft of the metal roller at a second position. When the supporting member is located at the second position, the nip between the elastic roller and the metal roller can be opened by moving the other of the elastic roller and the metal roller.

Abstract: A fixing device capable of shifting to a sleep state includes a heat source; a rotatable fixing member that is partly heated by the heat source to heat an unfixed image carrying surface of a recording medium; a rotatable pressing member that is in pressure contact with the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member; a rotation drive unit that directly or indirectly rotates the fixing member; a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the fixing member; and a controller configured to prohibit the fixing device from shifting to the sleep state when the temperature of the fixing member in a region facing the heat source is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature T1 at a point when a predetermined time period t1 has elapsed from the stop of rotation drive of the rotation drive unit.