Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080213013 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE - The present invention relates to an image heating device comprising, a first belt which heats an image on a recording material at a nip, a second belt which forms the nip with the first belt, a first pressure member and a first rotating member which press the first belt at the nip, the first pressure member and the first rotating member being provided while not being in contact with each other; and a second pressure member and a second rotating member which press the second belt at the nip, the second pressure member and the second rotating member being provided while not being in contact with each other. The nip is formed by a region where at least one of the first pressure member, the first rotating member, the second pressure member, and the second rotating member is in contact with the corresponding belt. | 09-04-2008 |
20080219722 | FIXING DEVICE AND FIXING METHOD OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a fixing device of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, inner surfaces of upper and lower frames for respectively supporting a heat roller and a pressure roller are formed as a mirror surface. Between the heat roller and an infrared temperature sensor, an infrared transmission filter for cutting infrared rays beyond a wave length zone equivalent to a heatable area of the heat roller is installed. Detection results of a surface temperature of the heat roller by the infrared temperature sensor are prevented from exceeding the error tolerance due to infrared rays radiated from other than the heat roller. Temperature control for the heat roller is improved and a fixed image of high image quality is obtained. | 09-11-2008 |
20080240805 | INDUCTION HEATING FIXING DEVICE - In an induction heating fixing device according to the invention, a first induction heating coil that generates an induced current across the total length of a heat roller is provided on the outer circumference of the heat roller having a metal conductive layer. A second induction heating coil that generates an induced current at a central part of the heat roller is provided, which crosses the first induction heating coil and is arranged on the outer side than the first induction heating coil. With the first induction heating coil, the heat roller is heated across the total length without generating any uneven temperature. On-off control of the first induction heating coil and the second induction heating coil is carried out, and the temperature distribution in the longitudinal direction of the heat roller is kept constant irrespective of the size of a sheet paper P. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240806 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fixing unit which enables high-speed operation and miniaturization, and an image forming apparatus having the fixing unit, includes a heating member which is heated by a heat source, the heating member having a predetermined width; a rotating member to rotate in contact with the heating member; a driving member to rotate the rotating member; and a pressing member to press both sides of the heating member towards the driving member and to form a predetermined fixing nip between the rotating member and the driving member, wherein the heating member has a second moment of inertia which is set to maintain a fixing efficiency of 90% or more in a central portion of the heating member. | 10-02-2008 |
20080260436 | INDUCTION HEATING DEVICE AND INDUCTION HEAT FIXING DEVICE - An induction heating device of the invention is made to have a two-layer structure in which at an end of a magnetic core of an induction current generating coil, a litz wire of outside three turns is stacked on a litz wire of inside three turns. The width of a joint portion between plural induction current generating coils is made narrow, and a mutual induction current generated at the joint portion is reduced. Further, the whole length of the litz wire is shortened without changing the length of the magnetic core of the inductor current generating coil. | 10-23-2008 |
20080260437 | HEAT FIXING DEVICE - In an induction heat fixing device of the invention, a metal conductive layer of a heat roller is supported by a foamed rubber (sponge). A sheet paper is curled in a direction of separating from the heat roller by a nip shape between the heat roller and a press roller. The press roller is formed to be longer than the heat roller to such a degree that even if the heat roller laterally shifts, an edge of the press roller does not come in contact with the heat roller. | 10-23-2008 |
20080292372 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fixing device to fix an image to a print medium, including: a pressing roller, which is driven to rotate; a heat transferring unit facing the pressing roller, and contacting the pressing roller at a fixing nip position, to heat to a print medium disposed at the fixing nip position; a heating member that presses an portion of the heat transferring unit against the pressing roller at the fixing nip position; and a heat source that heats a preheating position of the heat transferring unit, and heats the heating member. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292373 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device and an image forming apparatus including the fixing device. The fixing device includes a fixing member having a dielectric body to fix a toner image onto a recording medium by heating and melting the toner image onto the recording medium, a dielectric heating portion to heat the fixing member by dielectric heating, and a pressure member to press against the fixing member to form a nip portion therebetween to nip the recording medium as the recording medium is conveyed therebetween. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292374 | Fixing device and electro photographic apparatus using the same - According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing device including: a heating roller that generates a heat and is formed to have a mold releasing property; a pressure belt that is brought into contact with the heating roller and is driven according to a rotation of the heating roller; an arm that presses the pressure belt toward the heating roller; and a belt regulating member that contacts an end face of the pressure belt to regulate a shift thereof and is configured to be swingable with respect to the arm. | 11-27-2008 |
20080310894 | FUSING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fusing unit for an image forming apparatus, including a heating roller to apply heat to a printable medium; a first pressing roller facing the heating roller so as to press the printable medium against the heating roller; a second pressing roller disposed in front of the first pressing roller in a proceeding direction of the printable medium press the printable medium against the heating roller; and a driving unit to transmit a rotation force to the second pressing roller so that a surface linear speed of the second pressing roller is greater than a surface linear speed of the heating roller. | 12-18-2008 |
20090010688 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FIXING METHOD - When an infra-red heater is to be taken out from a fixing device for maintenance of the infra-red heater, screw-fastening is first released and one holder is extracted from a holding member. The infra-red heater is then pulled out from the side the holder was extracted from. This process is then reversed when a new or repaired infra-red heater is to be mounted on the fixing device. | 01-08-2009 |
20090035033 | Fusing device and image apparatus having the same - A fusing device comprising: a frame; a cover hinged to the frame, a heating roller mounted in the cover; a first pressing roller to form a first fusing nip through contact with the heating roller; a second pressing roller to form a second fusing nip, through which a printing medium passes, after passing through the first fusing nip; and a first resilient member connected to the frame and the cover, to bias the first and second pressing rollers toward the heating roller. | 02-05-2009 |
20090067898 | TONER FUSER FOR FUSING TONERS ON A PRINT MEDIUM AND RELATED LASER PRINTER - A toner fuser includes a pressure roller for pressing toners on a print medium so as to fuse the toners on a print medium, and a rolling heating component for clamping the print medium with the pressure roller and heating the pressure roller. A fusing region is formed between the pressure roller and the rolling heating component. The toner fuser further includes a rolling preheating component installed on a side of the pressure roller for preheating the pressure roller and a part of the print medium not entering into the fusing region. | 03-12-2009 |
20090067899 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to an aspect of the invention, a fixing device includes, a fixing member that fixes an image onto a sheet, a satellite member arranged parallel to the fixing member with respect to an axial direction and having a smaller heat capacity than the fixing member, an endless belt laid over the fixing member and the satellite member, and a pressurizing member facing the fixing member and forming a nip via the endless belt. | 03-12-2009 |
20090092422 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING SAME - A fixing apparatus includes a pair of fixing members composed of a fixing roller and a pressure roller that make pressure-contact with each other; an external heating belt for heating a surface of the fixing roller externally; and first and second external heating rollers having a heat source, for allowing the external heating belt to be suspended in a tensioned state. A sum of stiffnesses of the first and second external heating rollers is greater than or equal to a stiffness of the fixing roller. | 04-09-2009 |
20090110448 | Fixing Unit and Image Forming Apparatus Having the Same - A fixing unit where an operating force for releasing a nip can be reduced with a small-sized configuration. The fixing unit has a heating roller including a heating element, a pressure belt, pressure arms, pressure springs, and nip load releasing units. The pressure belt is supported in an intermediate position between the pressure arms | 04-30-2009 |
20090110449 | SEPARATING MEMBER, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing roller and a pressing roller that are in pressure contact with each other. A separating plate is placed opposite to the fixing roller with a certain gap in between them. Positioning portions are installed on the separating plate to be in contact with width-direction ends of the fixing roller for determining the gap. The positioning portions are arranged such that edges of contact portions of the positioning portions on the width-direction center side in contact with the fixing unit are positioned outside an image area and inside a paper-passing area for a recording medium of a maximum passing-capable size. | 04-30-2009 |
20090116884 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a contacting member fixed in an interior of the fixing member, and a heating unit that emits infrared ray. A mechanism concentrates the infrared ray emitted by the heating unit into a nip portion between the fixing member and the pressing member and into an area narrower than a width of the nip portion. | 05-07-2009 |
20090123201 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fuser unit, a relative positioning mechanism, and a fine adjustment mechanism. The transfer unit has a transfer nip to transfer an image from an imaging surface to a recording sheet passing therethrough. The fuser unit has a fixing nip to fix the transferred image on the recording sheet passing therethrough. The relative positioning mechanism is configured to position the transfer unit and the fuser unit relative to each other by contacting a contact portion with a flange. The contact portion is formed on one of the transfer unit and the fuser unit. The flange is formed on the other of the transfer unit and the fuser unit. The fine adjustment mechanism is configured to align the transfer nip and the fusing nip relative to each other. | 05-14-2009 |
20090129833 | Fixing Device - [Object] To provide a fixing device in which thermal energy required for fixing a toner can be reduced to a large extent, a rising time for the fixation after energization is shortened, and the energization is not required during standby time. | 05-21-2009 |
20090129834 | Fixing device - A fixing device comprises a thermally fixing roller, a belt, and pushing means which pushes the belt toward the thermally fixing roller. A nipping region is formed between the belt and the thermally fixing roller. A maximum pressure is produced in an upstream end region of the thermally fixing roller in the direction of rotation in the nipping region, another maximum pressure is produced in a downstream end region thereof in the direction of rotation in the nipping region, and a pressure is produced in an intermediate region, which pressure being not higher than the maximum pressure in the upstream end region and not higher than the another maximum pressure in the downstream end region. | 05-21-2009 |
20090142112 | PHASE CHANGE INK IMAGING COMPONENT HAVING COMPOSITE OUTER LAYER - An offset printing apparatus for transferring and optionally fixing a phase change ink onto a print medium including a) a phase change ink application component for applying a phase change ink in a phase change ink image to an imaging member; b) an imaging member for accepting, transferring and optionally fixing the phase change ink image to the print medium, the imaging member having: i) an imaging substrate, and thereover ii) an outer coating comprising a polymer matrix with an oleophobic resin, a fluoropolymer lubricant, and a first additive; and c) a release agent management system for supplying a release agent to the imaging member, wherein an amount of release agent needed for transfer and optionally fixing the phase change ink image is reduced. | 06-04-2009 |
20090142113 | Fixing Apparatus and Image Forming Apparatus - A fixing apparatus is described. This fixing apparatus may include a heating member, a pressure member opposed to the heating member, a first holding member holding the pressure member and an urging mechanism position-changeably supporting the pressure member through the first holding member and urging the pressure member toward the heating member through the first holding member. The first holding member is electrically connected with the urging mechanism. The first holding member and the urging mechanism are both formed of a conductive member, and the first holding member is grounded through the urging mechanism. | 06-04-2009 |
20090148204 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING THE SAME - A fixing device and image-forming apparatus, which provide required glossiness and paper adaptability, and, in addition, feature good operability and excellent durability while achieving optimal pressure-applying force for a variety of requirements, having: a pressure-applying lever; a pressure-releasing lever; a locking member, the one end of which is rotationally attached to the pressure-releasing lever; and an elastic member, which pulls the locking member in a locking direction. The configuration is such that the rotation of the pressure-releasing lever displaces the location of the locking member, thereby enabling switching between a pressure-applying position, in which a fixing member presses against another fixing member, and a pressure-releasing position, in which the one fixing member moves away from the other fixing member, and in the pressure-applying position, the pressure-applying lever and the locking member, which are fastened together at one end of the pressure-applying lever opposite a rotation central shaft, are pulled in a locking direction by the elastic member, and the gripping pressure on a piece of paper is varied by the pair of fixing members. | 06-11-2009 |
20090154966 | EDGE WEAR REDUCING PRESSURE ROLLER AND AN ELELCTOSTATOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTION MACHINE HAVING SAME - An edge wear reducing pressure roller is provided and comprises (a) a roll member having a cylindrical elastomeric outer layer including a longitudinal axis and a length having a first position for supporting a first edge of a copy sheet and a second position for supporting a second edge of the copy sheet; and (b) a cylindrical core located within the cylindrical outer layer also having the longitudinal axis, and a length for supporting the cylindrical elastomeric outer layer. The cylindrical core includes a first segment having a first diameter, and a second segment having a second diameter less than the first diameter for creating variation in elastomeric layer thickness. The second segment advantageously is located directly underneath the first position for supporting the first edge of the copy sheet, and the second position is advantageously located underneath the second position for supporting the second edge of the copy sheet. | 06-18-2009 |
20090208261 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a fixing device, a heat roller and a fixing gear for rotating the heat roller are arranged concentrically, and coupled to each other by inserting a key formed in the fixing gear into a keyway formed in the heat roller. The keyway is designed such that the key is allowed to move along a direction in which the heat roller is rotated. For example, the keyway is formed by notching a free end of a one-side rotary shaft of the heat roller so as to extend along the direction in which the heat roller is rotated. | 08-20-2009 |
20090232565 | HEATING APPARATUS - A heating apparatus which can increase the temperature of a heating element to a target temperature in a short time and ensures temperature uniformity of the heating element. In the heating apparatus, when the specific resistance of a material of a heat generating layer ( | 09-17-2009 |
20090232566 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording sheet by transferring electrophotographic developer onto the recording sheet is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a heat roller to thermally fix the transferred developer onto the recording sheet, a rotating member to convey rotation force to the heat roller, a bearing to support the rotating member rotatably, a frame in which the bearing is assembled so that the rotating member is supported by the frame through the bearing. The bearing is made of a material having sliding resistance lower than sliding resistance of a material of the frame. The bearing is arranged on an opposite side of the heat roller with respect to the frame and receives the rotating member on the opposite side. The bearing and the frame are assembled to have clearance therebetween. | 09-17-2009 |
20090245896 | Image forming apparatus and method - An image forming apparatus includes a first fixing device that applies heat to a non fixed toner image and a second fixing device arranged downstream of the first fixing device, which applies pressure and fixes the non-fixed toner image onto a recording member. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245897 | FIXER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixer includes a fixing member provided with a rotary heat generator, a pressure member to form a nip with the fixing member to sandwich the sheet, an excitation coil disposed facing a heat generation layer of the rotary heat generator to generate magnetic flux that inductively heats the heat generation layer, a loop-shaped demagnetization coil unit disposed facing the heat generation layer to generate magnetic flux that partly counteracts the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil, a first magnetic core disposed in a first area that is enclosed by both the excitation coil and the demagnetization coil unit, and a second magnetic core disposed in a second area that is outside a loop of the demagnetization coil unit and enclosed by the excitation coil. The first magnetic core and the second magnetic core are magnetically continuous in a rotary axial direction of the rotary heat generator. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245898 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit fixing a toner image onto a sheet. The fixing unit includes a heating member having a sheet conveyed region that is set in accordance with the size of the sheet. The fixing unit further includes a coil generating magnetic field, a fixed core forming a magnetic path, movable cores forming a magnetic path together with the fixed core and arranged along the sheet conveyed region, a shielding member arranged on at least one movable core and shielding magnetism, and a magnetism adjustment unit rotating at least one movable core to switch the position of the shielding member between a shielding position where the shielding member is positioned inside the sheet conveyed region to shield the magnetism and a retracted position where the shielding member is positioned outside the sheet conveyed region to permit pass of the magnetism. | 10-01-2009 |
20090285609 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An electromagnetic induction heating type image heating apparatus which is capable of being downsized by reduction in a length of its longitudinal direction and has a high heat generating efficiency by suppressing heat generation of an urging member, includes: a rotatable heating member having an electroconductive layer, a rotatable pressing member contacting an outer peripheral surface of the heating member, an urging member located inside the heating member and configured to urge the heating member toward the pressing member, a heating device for heating the electroconductive layer through induction heating, and a magnetic flux confining member for confining the magnetic flux from the heating device so as not to act on the urging member. In the image heating apparatus, a recording material carrying an image is heated at a press-contact portion created by press-contact between the heating member and the pressing member. The heating device faces a part of peripheral surface and side surface of the heating member. The magnetic flux confining member has a length longer than that of the heating device with respect to a rotational axis direction of the heating member. The heating device has the length longer than that of the heating member with respect to the rotational axis direction of the heating member. | 11-19-2009 |
20090317152 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device has a fixing roller, a pressure roller, an electromagnetic-induction heating section, and a heat pipe. The pressure roller has a metal layer, so that heat transferred directly from the fixing roller to the pressure roller is thermally transported by the metal layer of the pressure roller, whereby temperature of the pressure roller in its axial direction can be equalized. | 12-24-2009 |
20090324307 | FIXING APPARATUS - In one embodiment, when a hot roller is driven to rotate, a driving gear rotates so that a swing gear and a swing cam rotate. Then, a sliding contact edge on the right side of a swing lever that abuts against the circumferential face of the swing cam repeatedly moves up and down, and the swing lever repeatedly rotates clockwise and counterclockwise with a shaft of a pressure release cam as the center. At this time, since only the clockwise rotation of the swing lever is transmitted via a one-way clutch to the shaft of the pressure release cam, the clockwise rotation is intermittently transmitted to the shaft of the pressure release cam. As a result of this, the pressure release cam intermittently rotates clockwise, and the pressure release cam pushes away a roller of a displacement frame, so that the pressure roller separates from the hot roller. | 12-31-2009 |
20100008705 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus of electromagnetic induction heating-type capable of providing a proper relative heat-generation distance with a magnetic flux generation member even when the magnetic flux generation member is bent by its own weight or thermally deformed includes at least an exciting coil, a holder for holding the exciting coil, and a rotatable fixation roller for generating heat by magnetic flux from the exciting coil to heat a material to be heated. The holder has an outer diameter φd | 01-14-2010 |
20100014899 | FIXING DEVICE - A technique of reducing temperature unevenness in a heating member which heats a heating target member while reducing heat capacity of the heating member in a fixing device for an image forming apparatus is provided. The fixing device has a heating member having diamond fine particles dispersed and contained at least in its surface layer, a pressurizing member which is pressed in contact with the heating member and nips and carries a sheet in collaboration with the heating member, and a heating unit which heats the heating member. | 01-21-2010 |
20100028061 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a coil arranged along an outer surface of the heating member and generating a magnetic field, a first core arranged opposite the heating member with respect to the coil and forming a magnetic path, a second core so fixed between the first core and the heating member with respect to a direction in which the coil generates the magnetic field, as to form the magnetic path together with the first core, a shielding member positioned outward of the second core and shielding the magnetism in the magnetic path, and a magnetism adjusting unit moving the shielding member outward of the second core to switch the position of the shielding member between a shielding position where the shielding member shields the pass of the magnetism and a retracted position where the shielding member permits the pass of the magnetism. | 02-04-2010 |
20100034566 | LIGHT ABSORBENT MEMBER, HEATING DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME - Disclosed are a novel light absorptive member, a heating device employing such light absorptive member, a fixing device employing such heating device and an image forming apparatus that uses the fixing device. The light absorptive member includes nano-rods dispersed therein, and can increase absorption efficiency of a heating device, such as, for example, a fixing device that uses a light source as a radiant heat source, due to the surface plasmon resonance phenomenon that occurs when the wavelength(s) of the light corresponds the peak wavelength(s) of the absorptive rate for the light based on the aspect ratio(s) of the nano-rods. | 02-11-2010 |
20100034567 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - To provide a technique for reducing waste of thermal energy in a fixing device. The fixing device includes: a heating rotational unit configured to heat a sheet on which a toner image is formed; a pressing rotational unit configured to come into press contact with the heating rotational unit to form a nip between the heating rotational unit and the pressing rotational unit and nip and carry the sheet in cooperation with the heating rotational unit; a heating device configured to heat the heating rotational unit; and a heat accumulating unit configured to cover at least a range above at least one of the heating rotational unit and the pressing rotational unit. | 02-11-2010 |
20100046995 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fixing apparatus | 02-25-2010 |
20100086333 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - Disclosed is a fixing unit of an image forming apparatus, the fixing unit including a first roller; a second roller which forms a nip together with the first roller; and a nip adjuster which is provided in at least one end part of the first roller and includes a restrictive ring formed with a plurality of cam profiles for regulating an axis distance between the first roller and the second roller to be varied to adjust a width of the nip. | 04-08-2010 |
20100086334 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same - A fixing device includes a fixing nip and a guide member to guide a recording medium transported through a recording media transport pathway to the fixing nip, disposed upstream from the fixing nip in a direction in which the recording medium is transported and facing an unfixed-image side of the recording media. The guide member includes a guide face, the guide face including a first guide face and a second guide face located where at least a trailing-edge of the recording medium approaches the guide member as the recording medium is transported through the recording media transport pathway and which is inclined with respect to the first guide face away from the recording media transport pathway, and a first spur rotatably provided on the guide member and projecting into the recording media transport pathway from a connection portion between the first guide face and the second guide face. | 04-08-2010 |
20100092220 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same - In a fixing device, a fixed member is fixedly provided inside a loop formed by a belt, and is pressed against a pressing rotary member via the belt to form a nip portion between the pressing rotary member and the belt to nip a recording medium bearing a toner image. A heating member is fixedly, provided inside the loop formed by the belt to heat the belt. The heating member includes an opening opposing the pressing rotary member. A seal member covers the opening in the heating member to prevent a foreign substance from entering the heating member through the opening in the heating member. A reinforcement member is fixedly provided inside the heating member and pressed against the fixed member via the seal member to reinforce the fixed member. | 04-15-2010 |
20100098467 | FUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fusing device includes a heating unit which provides heat for fixing toner on paper, a pressure unit which is aligned with the heating unit, and which provides pressure for fixing the toner onto the paper. The fusing device further includes a heat applying unit that heats the surface of the pressure unit so that the temperature difference between the surface of the pressure unit and the heating unit satisfies the regression equation ΔT≦−a*M+b, where ΔT denotes the temperature difference, a and b denote empirically determined coefficients, and M denotes the molecular weight of the toner. | 04-22-2010 |
20100104332 | NANOMATERIAL HEATING ELEMENT FOR FUSING APPLICATIONS - In accordance with the invention, there are printing apparatuses and methods of forming an image. An exemplary printing apparatus can include a fuser subsystem including one-or more light induced heating elements, each of the one or more light induced heating elements including plurality of nanomaterials, wherein the nanomaterials are selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes and metal nanoshells. The exemplary printing apparatus can also include one or more light sources disposed in close proximity to the one or more light induced heating elements, each of the one or more light sources having an emission in the absorption range of the plurality of nanomaterials and disposed to produce heat in the fuser subsystem by light absorption by the plurality of nanomaterials. | 04-29-2010 |
20100119267 | FUSERS, PRINTING APPARATUSES AND METHODS, AND METHODS OF FUSING TONER ON MEDIA - Fusers, printing apparatuses and methods, methods of fusing toner on media are disclosed. An embodiment of the fusers for fusing toner on a medium includes a rotatable fuser member including an outer fusing surface; a first indenter adapted to form a first indentation in the fusing surface at a first location during movement of the fuser member relative to the first indenter; and a second indenter adapted to form a second indentation in the fusing surface at a second location laterally spaced from the first location during movement of the fuser member relative to the second indenter. | 05-13-2010 |
20100124446 | ISO-THERMALIZING GRAPHITE PRINTER STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - An iso-thermalizing printer structure can be used to provide temperature uniformity across a width of a printer fuser roll or fuser belt. Various embodiments are contemplated, including a solid natural graphite shaft, a solid natural graphite core having a sleeve of metal such as aluminum, and other flexible and rigid structures which can comprise natural or synthetic graphite. | 05-20-2010 |
20100135706 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable member; a heater contactable to a surface of the rotatable member to heat the rotatable member; and a back-up member cooperative with the rotatable member to form a nip for nipping and feeding a recording material carrying an image, wherein a position of a peak in a pressure distribution with respect to a rotational direction of the rotatable member is in an upstream, with respect to the rotational direction, of a central portion of a contact region between the rotatable member and the heater with respect to the rotational direction. | 06-03-2010 |
20100150621 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a magnetic flux generating unit for generating magnetic flux; and a rotatable belt member including an electroconductive layer which generates heat by the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generating unit and having flexibility and a cylindrical shape. The magnetic flux generating unit is provided outside the belt member. The image heating apparatus further includes a back-up member disposed inside the belt member; a rotatable pressing member for pressing the belt member against the back-up member to form a nip, in which a recording material is nip-conveyed, between the pressing member and the belt member; and a regulating member, provided in a sheet passing area of a passable recording material having a maximum size, for regulating movement of the recording material with respect to a longitudinal direction of the belt member. The regulating member regulates a shape of the belt member so that when the pressing member forms the nip, a dimension of the belt member with respect to a conveying direction of the recording material is longer than a dimension of the belt member with respect to a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the belt member. | 06-17-2010 |
20100178088 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus for heating an image on a recording material, includes a rotatable heat generation member capable of induction heat generation by a magnetic flux; a coil, provided outside the heat generation member, for generating the magnetic flux for the induction heat generation; a movable magnetic core provided at a position opposed to the coil; a moving device for moving the magnetic core between a first position opposed to the coil and a second position which is more away from the coil than the first position; and an electroconductive member mounted at a position where a magnetic circuit is capable of being formed with the coil when the magnetic core is in the second position. | 07-15-2010 |
20100202808 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FUSER NIP BALANCE CONTROL - An apparatus ( | 08-12-2010 |
20100221048 | IMAGE FORMATION SYSTEM, SMOOTHING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming system includes image forming means for forming toner images on toner receiving resin layers of respective sides of a recording material; fixing means for heat fixing the toner images on the recording material in a fixing nip; and smoothing means for smoothing the toner receiving resin layers of the recording material having the toner images formed by the fixing means; wherein the system is operable in an image formation mode in which the toner images formed on the respective sides of the recording material are fixed by the fixing means sequentially, and then the toner receiving resin layers of the recording material are smoothed by the smoothing means sequentially. | 09-02-2010 |
20100247180 | HEAT GENERATION UNIT AND HEATING APPARATUS - In the present invention, a stable heat generation unit which can stably absorb stress and diffuse heat even in thermal stress is constructed by providing a locking through hole | 09-30-2010 |
20100247181 | Device for fusing toner on print medium - A device for fusing a predetermined toner image on a paper and which electrically insulates a heating body of a fusing unit from a power supply unit by heating the heating body using an induced current generated by a transformer. The fusing device includes an insulation unit for generating an induced current in response to an alternating current, a heating body heated by the generated induced current, a toner fusing unit which fuses the toner image on the paper using the heat received from the heating body, and a tube-expansion adhesion portion closely adhering the heating body to the toner fusing unit using a predetermined tube-expansion pressure. | 09-30-2010 |
20100272481 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming method for fixing a toner image on a recording medium by passing the recording medium through a fixing nip defined between a first member and a second member under heat and pressure. The toner has a specific loss elastic modulus. The first and second members extend along respective first and second longitudinal axes, and have respective first and second elastic layers whose thickness vary along the respective first and second longitudinal axes to define at least one convex portion curving outward and at least one concave portion curving inward with respect to each of the respective first and second longitudinal axes. The first convex portion engages the second concave portion and the first concave portion engages the second convex portion, to define the fixing nip therebetween. | 10-28-2010 |
20100272482 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device includes a heating member, a pressing member, a coil, a magnetic core, a path switching member switching a magnetic path between a first path and a second path, and a magnetism adjustment member. The magnetism adjustment member allows a passage of a magnetic flux from the magnetic core towards the heating member within the magnetic field range when the magnetic field path is switched to the first path, and shields the magnetic flux without allowing the passage of the magnetic flux within the magnetic field range when the magnetic path is switched to the second path. Further, the magnetism adjustment member has a plurality of ring-shaped portions formed of a single wire material having an endless shape. Each of the ring-shaped portions extends in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic core according to a size of the sheet. | 10-28-2010 |
20100284713 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND METHODS OF MITIGATING EDGE WEAR EFFECTS IN APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of mitigating media edge wear effects in apparatuses useful for printing are provided. An exemplary apparatus useful for printing includes a first roll including a first outer surface; a second member including a conformable second outer surface forming a nip with the first outer surface; and a registration distribution system including a motor for translating at least the second member, relative to a medium passing through the nip, in at least a first zig-zag motion pattern from a first home position to a second home position. | 11-11-2010 |
20100296848 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming method for fixing a toner image on a recording medium by passing the recording medium through a fixing nip defined between a first member and a second member under heat and pressure. The toner includes a specific amount of a shear buffer. The first and second members extend along respective first and second longitudinal axes, and have respective at least one convex portion curving outward and at least one concave portion curving inward with respect to each of the respective first and second longitudinal axes. At least one of the first and second members is heated, and the first convex portion engages the second concave portion and the first concave portion engages the second convex portion, to define the fixing nip therebetween. | 11-25-2010 |
20100329752 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FUSING A HEAT CURABLE TONER TO A CARRIER SHEET - A method and apparatus for fusing a heat curable toner to a carrier sheet having said toner thereon. In the method, the toner is sandwiched between said carrier sheet and a movable fuser belt and heated to a first temperature by a first means, which first temperature is above a first glass transformation temperature of the toner. The toner is kept at an elevated temperature for a predetermined time by a second means, which elevated temperature is above the first glass transformation temperature, thereby raising the glass transformation temperature of the toner to a second glass transformation temperature. The apparatus has at least a first endless fuser belt, first heating means for heating the toner to a first temperature, second heating means located downstream of said first heating means for keeping the toner at an elevated temperature for a predetermined time and control means for controlling the first and second heating means. | 12-30-2010 |
20110013954 | INDUCTIVELY HEATED CARBON NANOTUBE FUSER - Systems and methods of inductively heating a fuser member in an electrophotographic device are disclosed. The systems and methods can include a heating component with a susceptor layer comprising carbon nanotubes (CNTs). An excitation unit with an electrical coil can be positioned a proximate distance from the heating component Current through the electrical coil can inductively heat the susceptor layer and the heating component. The heat from the susceptor layer and the heating component can be used to fuse toner onto an image-receiving substrate. The CNTs can reduce electronic hardware costs in the electrophotographic device in relation to the costs associated with conventional materials. | 01-20-2011 |
20110033215 | FUSER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FUSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a rotatable heating member having a plurality of holes formed on difference areas, which are not overlapped with each other and which are the difference between an area in the rotating direction where a sheet having a first width is in contact during the conveyance and an area in the rotating direction where a sheet having a second width, different from the first width, is in contact during the conveyance, and a rotatable pressing member that is brought into contact with the rotatable heating member and conveys the sheet as nipping the sheet with the rotatable heating member. | 02-10-2011 |
20110044736 | HEAT GENERATING UNIT AND HEATING APPARATUS - A heat generating unit of the present invention is formed such that: a band-like heat generating element ( | 02-24-2011 |
20110052277 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording medium includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a sheet guide, and a pressure adjusting mechanism. The fixing member heats the unfixed toner image on the recording medium. The pressure member is disposed opposite the fixing member and presses against the fixing member to define a fixing nip through which the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image passes to fix the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium. The position of the fixing nip is changeable. The sheet guide disposed adjacent to the pressure member guides the recording medium to the fixing nip and moves in conjunction with movement of the pressure member. The pressure adjusting mechanism operatively connected to the pressure member adjusts an amount of engagement of the pressure member relative to the fixing member. An image forming apparatus includes the fixing device. | 03-03-2011 |
20110052278 | FUSING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fusing unit which includes a pressure member to be elastically supported on an outer peripheral surface of a heating roller while coming into surface contact with the outer peripheral surface. The pressure member serves to grind the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller, to maintain a surface roughness of the heating roller at a predetermined level or less. | 03-03-2011 |
20110058861 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus comprising a heating rotatable member for heating an image on a recording material; a pressing rotatable member for contacting the heating rotatable member to form a nip therebetween; a driving source; a first helical gear rotatable by a driving force supplied from the driving source; a second helical gear rotatable by a driving force supplied from the driving source, the second helical gear has a twisting direction which is different from that of the first helical gear; a first switching member for switching between rotation transmission and non-transmission from the driving gear to the first helical gear; a second switching member for switching between rotation transmission and non-transmission from the driving gear to the second helical gear; a third helical gear provided on the heating rotatable member in meshing engagement with the first helical gear; a fourth helical gear provided on the heating rotatable member in meshing engagement with the second helical gear; and switching means for switching at least between drive transmission by first switching member and drive transmission by the second switching member to change a position of the heating rotatable member with respect to a rotational axis direction of the heating rotatable member. | 03-10-2011 |
20110064490 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating the fixing device - An elastic layer is provided on a surface of one of a metal core and a substrate. A fixing member and a pressure member press into each other and collectively create a nip therebetween. A toner image is conveyed and fixed when passing through the nip. A thickness of the elastic layer is different in at least two widthwise regions by the same amount from the other region. A pair of edges of a prescribed size of the transfer sheet pass through these two widthwise regions, respectively. | 03-17-2011 |
20110076070 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes an excitation coil; an image heating member for heating an image on a recording material by heat generated by a magnetic flux of the excitation coil; a core disposed opposed to the coil; a moving device for moving the core between a first position in which the core is opposed to the excitation coil and a second position in which the core is remoter from the excitation coil than the first position; and an air blower for blowing air into a space between the core and the excitation coil, the space being provided by moving the core to the second position. | 03-31-2011 |
20110103851 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AN ASYMMETRICAL PRINTER FUSER NIP - An apparatus ( | 05-05-2011 |
20110103852 | FUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fusing device to prevent overheating of a heating member includes a heating member having a heat emitting part disposed to transfer heat to recording media, an induction coil to create a magnetic field acting upon the heat emitting part, at least one magnetic body disposed around the induction coil, and an inductor cover disposed between the heating member and the magnetic body. The heating member includes a first region corresponding to a size of the recording media passing through the heating member and a second region outside the first region. The inductor cover includes at least one opening formed to correspond to the second region of the heating member such that heat generated from the heating member is directly radiated to the magnetic body. | 05-05-2011 |
20110129266 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing unit is provided with a fixing member to heat a recoding medium and to fix a toner image on the recording medium; a pressure member to press the fixing member to form a nip portion in which a recording medium carrying a toner image is nipped; an auxiliary heating member to heat the surface of the fixing member; and a surface recovery member, arranged at a downstream side of the first auxiliary heating member in a rotational direction of the fixing member, for recovering damage to a surface of the fixing member by making contact with and sliding on the fixing member. | 06-02-2011 |
20110142506 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes a fixing roller and a pressure roller. The fixing roller and the pressure roller each have an elastic layer formed between a core bar and a release layer, which release layer serves as a surface of the fixing roller and the pressure roller. The pressure roller has a lower Asker-C hardness than that of the fixing roller, and has a greater micro rubber roller than that of the fixing roller. This prevents the surface of the pressure roller from deteriorating in a short period of time. | 06-16-2011 |
20110150543 | Fixing Device - In a fixing device, a nip plate is disposed on an inner surface of a tubular flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable, and configured to be heated by a heating element disposed inside the fusing member. The fusing member is nipped between the nip plate and a backup member to form a nip portion. First and second portions of the nip plate which are located in positions upstream and downstream, respectively, with respect to a recording sheet conveyance direction and to be supported by a stay are each configured to be a flat plate extending along the recording sheet conveyance direction. A central portion between the first and second portions of the nip plate is in a position shifted from those of the first and second portions in a direction perpendicular to flat surfaces of the first and second portions. | 06-23-2011 |
20110150544 | Fixing Device Provided with Temperature Sensor - There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes: a tubular flexible member having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space; a nip member disposed in the internal space and having one surface, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the one surface; a heater disposed in the internal space: a reflection plate configured to reflect a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member; a backup member providing a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member; and a temperature sensor disposed in the internal space to detect a temperature of the reflection plate. | 06-23-2011 |
20110158713 | FIXING DEVICE FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device according to an embodiment of the invention is provided with a center coil and a side coil to induction heat a metal roller which supports a belt. An auxiliary pressurizing member which is adjacent to an opposing roller which supports the belt and presses the belt against a heat roller is provided. The distance from the center position of induction heating of a heat roller to an entrance of a nip is equalized to the distance from the center position of induction heating of the metal roller to the entrance of the nip. The distance from the temperature reading position of the heat roller to the center position of induction heating of the heat roller is equalized to the distance from the temperature reading position of the belt to the center position of induction heating of the metal roller. | 06-30-2011 |
20110164905 | Fixing Device - A fixing device includes a heating element disposed inside a flexible fusing member, a nip member disposed to contact with a surface of the flexible fusing member and to allow the flexible fusing member to slide along the nip member, a reflecting plate for reflecting radiant heat from the heating element toward the nip member, and a backup member for nipping the flexible fusing member with the nip member. The reflecting plate includes a central reflecting portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the heating element at least in a region corresponding to along a heat generating portion of the heating element, and end reflecting portions stationarily provided on both ends of the central reflecting portion. The end reflecting portions are disposed in positions longitudinally outward of the heat generating portion and each has a reflecting surface tilted with respect to the longitudinal direction of the heating element. | 07-07-2011 |
20110182633 | APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING AND METHODS OF FIXING MARKING MATERIALS ONTO MEDIA - Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of fixing marking materials onto media are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus useful in printing includes a first roll including a first shaft and a first surface; a second roll including an axially-extending inner portion including a second shaft; an axially-extending outer portion over the inner portion; at least a first annular gap and a second annular gap extending axially between the inner portion and the outer portion, the first annular gap being axially spaced from the second annular gap; and a second surface forming a nip with the first surface. The inner portion and the outer portion of the second roll bend in opposite directions when the first roll and the second roll are loaded by applying a first force to the first shaft in a first direction and applying a second force to the second shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction. | 07-28-2011 |
20110182634 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a stationary member, a metal member, flanges, a first heater, and a second heater. The pressing member is rotatably pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip therebetween. The metal member is fixedly disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member over an area other than the nip. The flanges are disposed at axial edges of the metal member in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the metal member. The first heater is disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the metal member to heat an axial middle portion of the metal member. The second heater is disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the metal member to heat axial end portions of the metal member. The first heater is disposed farther from the nip than the second heater. | 07-28-2011 |
20110200368 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device includes a contact member provided inside a fixing member and pressed against a pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing member through which a recording medium bearing atoner image passes. A sheet heat generator provided in the fixing member includes a flexible heat generation sheet contactable against the fixing member to heat the fixing member. A contact adjuster provided in the fixing member adjusts an area of contact of the heat generation sheet and the fixing member in the axial direction, supports the heat generation sheet at a first position at which the heat generation sheet contacts the fixing member, and bends a portion of the heat generation sheet at a second position to separate the heat generation sheet from the fixing member. | 08-18-2011 |
20110211878 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device comprises: a heating rotary member and a pressurizing rotary member, which form a nip, and guiding members for guiding a recording sheet that has passed through the nip. In a cross-section perpendicular to a rotation axis of the heating rotary member, La connects axial centers of two rotary members, Lb is perpendicular to La, P is on a guiding surface of one of the guiding members and horizontally closer to the pressurizing rotary member than any other points thereon, said one of the guiding members being closer to the heating rotary member than the other, Lc passes through P and is tangent to an outer circumference of the heating rotary member near the nip, and D is a P-La distance. Here, heating rotary member diameter×1.6≦D09-01-2011 | |
20110217092 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS, PRESSURE ROLLER TO BE USED IN THE IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR THE PRESSURE ROLLER - 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. | 09-08-2011 |
20110222925 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND FIXING METHOD - According to one embodiment, fixing device includes a first heat roller to generate heat, a second heat roller to generate heat and fix a toner image formed on a recording medium passing through a nip between the first heat roller and the second heat roller, and a unitary heating unit provided to heat the first heat roller and the second heat roller, the heating unit being provided with a passage to pass the recording medium in a position opposing the nip. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222926 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A fixing device includes an image surface side separating member that separates a recording medium from a fixing member; an image surface side conveyance guiding member arranged downstream of the image surface side separating member; a non-image surface side separating member that separates the recording medium from a pressing member; and a non-image surface side conveyance guiding member arranged downstream of the non-image surface side separating member. When the image surface side conveyance guiding member is rotated about its rotation axis so as to be opened or closed, the image surface side separating member is also rotated or slid so as to be opened or closed simultaneously. When the non-image surface side conveyance guiding member is rotated about its rotation axis so as to be opened or closed, the non-image surface side separating member is also rotated or slid so as to be opened or closed simultaneously. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222927 | Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing condition control method - A fixing device includes a temperature rise characteristic acquisition unit that acquires a temperature rise characteristic of a recording medium based on temperature change information of the recording medium acquired on a temperature basis of the recording medium detected by a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the recording medium, and a heat generation unit that generates a heat quantity provided to the recording medium in a fixing nip for fixing an image carried on the recording medium, that is adjusted on the basis of the temperature rise characteristic acquired by the temperature rise characteristic acquisition unit. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222928 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH OPENING AND CLOSING ASSEMBLY AND GEARS MOVABLE THEREWITH - An image forming apparatus has an apparatus main assembly; an image forming unit; a fixing unit which has a pressure applying mechanism and a cam member; an opening and closing member which is attached to the apparatus main assembly to be capable of being opened and closed; a first gear which is provided at the apparatus main assembly; a second gear which is provided at the fixing unit; and a connection gear which connects the first gear and the second gear. The connection gear is configured to be detachable from between the first gear and the second gear and to be attachable being engaged with both the first gear and the second gear only in a case that the first gear and the second gear are respectively at a predetermined phase. | 09-15-2011 |
20110229222 | FIXING DEVICE FOR FIXING TONER IMAGE ON RECORDING MEDIUM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium. In the fixing device, a heating unit heats a recording medium. A pressing unit presses a recording medium in pressure contact with the heating unit. The heating unit and the pressing unit are accommodated in a casing. A heat reflecting unit is provided between the heating unit and the casing. An intermediate member is provided between the heating unit and the heat reflecting unit. | 09-22-2011 |
20110229223 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device having: a heating roller and a presser that form a fixing nip portion therebetween; a pair of brackets having holes for supporting both end portions of the heating roller; a biasing member for pressing the presser against the heating roller to form the fixing nip portion; and a pair of semicircular arc slide bearings that are fitted in the holes of the respective brackets so as to be located between the respective brackets and the heating roller, on an opposite side of the heating roller to a side thereof pressed by the presser. | 09-22-2011 |
20110229224 | Fixing unit and image forming apparatus using fixing unit - Disclosed is a fixing unit including a fixing member; a pressure member brought into press-contact with a front surface of the fixing member; a pressure mechanism that changes a position at which the pressure member is brought into press-contact with the fixing member, the pressure mechanism being capable of controlling a presence or absence and a width of the nip part; and a cleaning web unit having a contact roller brought into contact with at least the pressure member via a web, a supply roller that supplies a new web, and a winding roller that winds and collects the web having wiped off an attachment on the pressure roller. The contact roller is caused to move following a movement of the pressure mechanism to maintain a constant contact position, a constant contact direction, and a constant contact force thereof with respect to the pressure member. | 09-22-2011 |
20110236084 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device for fixing on a recording material a toner image formed on the recording material includes a fixing roller; a heating member for heating the fixing roller in contact with a surface of the fixing roller; and a pressing member for forming a fixing nip between itself and the fixing roller, wherein the recording material on which the toner image is formed is subjected to fixing by being nipped and conveyed in the fixing nip. When the recording material which has been jammed is removed by pulling a trailing end of the recording material in a winding jam state in which a leading end of the recording material has passed through the fixing nip to reach a contact portion between the heating member and the fixing roller, a drawing force F | 09-29-2011 |
20110243621 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fixing device includes a coil provided along an outer surface of a heating member to generate a magnetic flux for induction heating, a coil holding portion on which the coil is mounted, a core portion that forms a magnetic path around the coil and that includes arch cores that cover an outer side of the coil and are disposed opposite the heating member with the coil interposed therebetween and at a plurality of positions spaced in a recording-medium width direction and a side core that covers the outer side of the coil between the arch cores and the coil holding portion, and a core fixing member that presses the core portion toward the coil holding portion via an elastic member. The core portion is fixed in the pressing state to the coil holding portion by fastening the core fixing member to the coil holding portion. | 10-06-2011 |
20110299898 | FUSING APPARATUS USED TO FUSE TONER IMAGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fusing apparatus allows a recording member to pass through between a heat member and a pressure member, to transport and heat the recording member, and thereby fuses a toner image on the recording member. The fusing apparatus includes a temperature detector for detecting a surface temperature of the heat member in a non-contact manner. A surface of the heat member is configured such that a region of the surface all around a cylindrical configuration that faces a temperature detection area of the temperature detector has a higher emissivity than other regions. | 12-08-2011 |
20120027477 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image heating member for heating an image formed on each of a plurality of first recording materials and a second recording material; a pressing member for forming a nip, between itself and the image heating member, in which each recording material is to be nipped and conveyed; and an executing portion for executing an operation in a first mode in which the image formed on each of the plurality of the first recording materials is heated under a first image heating condition and an operation in a second mode in which the image formed on the second recording material having a thickness larger than that of the first recording materials is heated under a second image heating condition. When the images are formed in the first mode and subsequently the image is formed in the second mode, a switching operation is carried out in which the first recording material is heated under a third image heating condition different from the first image heating condition. The switching operation is started before finishing the operation in the first mode. | 02-02-2012 |
20120039646 | FIXING DEVICES FOR FIXING MARKING MATERIAL TO A WEB WITH CONTACT PRE-HEATING OF WEB AND MARKING MATERIAL AND METHODS OF FIXING MARKING MATERIAL TO A WEB - Fixing devices for fixing marking material to a web, printing apparatuses and methods of fixing marking material to a web are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing devices includes a first roll including a heated outer surface; a second roll forming a fixing nip with the outer surface of the first roll at which a continuous web on which marking material is disposed is received; a third roll positioned to contact the web prior to entering the fixing nip; and an adjustment mechanism connected to the third roll. The adjustment mechanism is operable to move the third roll to vary a wrap length of the web contacting the outer surface of the first roll upstream from the fixing nip to control pre-heating of the web and marking material by contact with the outer surface prior to entering the fixing nip. The first roll and second roll are operable to apply heat and pressure to the pre-heated web and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the marking material to the web. | 02-16-2012 |
20120039647 | FIXING DEVICES INCLUDING EXTENDED-LIFE COMPONENTS AND METHODS OF FIXING MARKING MATERIAL TO SUBSTRATES - Fixing devices including extended-life components and methods of fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing devices for fixing toner to a substrate in printing includes a first fixing member including a first surface; a thermal energy source for heating the first surface of the first fixing member to a fixing temperature; and a second fixing member including a second surface. The first surface and the second surface form a fixing nip configured to receive a substrate including a surface and marking material comprising toner disposed on the surface. The first fixing member and the second fixing member are operable to apply a pressure of at least about 300 psi to the substrate and toner and to heat the toner to a sufficiently-high temperature, at the fixing nip, to fix the toner to the substrate. | 02-16-2012 |
20120063823 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE - An image heating device includes a heating rotatable member; and a pressing pad contacted to said heating rotatable member and forming a nip with said heating rotatable member to nip and feed a recording material, said pressing member being provided with an electroconductive material dispersed resin material layer contacting said heating rotatable member. | 03-15-2012 |
20120070205 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing unit includes: a fixing member; a pressure member that rotates while being pressed onto the fixing member; a fixing portion that is a contact portion between the fixing member and the pressure member and performs fixation on a recording medium; and a temperature uniformizing member that abuts against the pressure member on a rotational downstream side of the pressure member with respect to the fixing portion and over an area longer than an axial length of the recording medium perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording medium. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070206 | DRIVING APPARATUS, FIXING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A driving apparatus is disclosed. The driving apparatus includes a driving mechanism which includes a moving drive gear, the moving drive gear being a drive gear which is mounted on an axis-moving rotor, the axis-moving rotor being a rotor, the center of which rotor is able to move. The axis-moving rotor is movable over a certain distance in a linear direction. The driving apparatus further comprises idler gears connected to the moving drive gear, the idler gears including a fixed idler gear having a fixed axis; and a moving idler gear having a movable axis. The axis of the moving idler gear can oscillate around the axis of the fixed idler gear, and the moving idler gear can move along a periphery direction of the moving drive gear with movement of the moving drive gear. | 03-22-2012 |
20120076555 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member; a pad-like pressing member contacted to the heating rotatable member and cooperating with the heating rotatable member to provide a nip for nipping and feeding a recording material, wherein the pressing member includes a base material having a roughened surface and a parting layer on the roughened surface, the parting layer being contacted to the heating rotatable member. | 03-29-2012 |
20120107028 | INDUCTION HEATING UNIT, FIXING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A magnetizing coil and a demagnetizing coil are disposed in a fixing apparatus that uses electromagnetic induction to heat a conductive heat-producing rotating body and thermally fixes a toner image onto a recording sheet in one of a plurality of sizes. The magnetizing coil is arranged along the outer surface of the rotating body and heats the rotating body through electromagnetic induction heating. The demagnetizing coil is arranged in partially-overlapping proximity to the magnetizing coil and suppresses overheating in a non-sheet-passing region of the rotating body by partially canceling out the flux produced by the magnetizing coil when fixing is performed on a small sheet. The demagnetizing coil is a coil pattern printed on a flexible substrate, and the wire width thereof is wider than the inter-wire distance of neighboring portions of the wire. | 05-03-2012 |
20120121301 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a fixing device successively pressurizing and heating a toner image on a recording member being conveyed to fix the toner image onto the recording member, including a pressure roller, a heating roller arranged opposite to the pressure roller and sandwiching, with the pressure roller, the recording member with the toner image formed thereon to pressurize and heat the toner image on the recording member, thereby fixing the toner image onto the recording member, and a housing storing the pressure roller and the heating roller. The housing has a region covered with an emission reducing member smaller in emission rate than the housing. | 05-17-2012 |
20120148317 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a switch circuit that selectively connects an alternating electric current power supply to a first exciting coil and a second exciting coil. When the switch circuit connects the alternating electric current power supply to both the first exciting coil and the second exciting coil, the first exciting coil and the second exciting coil together generate a first magnetic flux having a first density that reaches only a first heat generation layer of a fixing rotary body. When the switch circuit connects the alternating electric current power supply to the first exciting coil only, the first exciting coil generates a second magnetic flux having a second density greater than the first density that reaches both the first heat generation layer of the fixing rotary body and a second heat generation layer of a heat generator. | 06-14-2012 |
20120155930 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE FIXING UNIT - A fixing unit and an image forming apparatus including the fixing unit. The fixing unit includes a heating roller having an internal space in which a heating source is disposed and a pressurizing roller facing the heating roller. The heating roller has a circular hollow pipe shape and includes a fixing nip forming part which forms a fixing nip between the fixing nip forming part and the pressurizing roller. The nip forming part can have a slim part disposed at a center thereof and a pair of deformation preventing parts formed at both ends of the slim part, each deformation preventing part having a thickness thicker than a thickness of the slim part. | 06-21-2012 |
20120155931 | Fusing device and image forming apparatus using the same - A fusing device includes a fusing roller, a compression roller, and a cam; a first link having an end as a rotation support point, another end with a contact point with the cam, and an intermediate point between the end and another end thereof; a second link having a first end, a second end, and a third end, the first end rotatably connected to the intermediate point of the first link, and the second end configured to rotatably support the compression roller; a third link having an end rotatably supported and another end rotatably connected to the third end of the second link; and an elastic compression member configured to elastically compress the compression roller against the fusing roller via the first link. | 06-21-2012 |
20120163882 | FUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fusing device to reduce lubricant leakage, includes a fusing belt having a heat source placed therein, a pressure roller placed to apply pressure to an outer surface of the fusing belt, and a nip plate to support an inner surface of the fusing belt so as to define a fusing nip between the fusing belt and the pressure roller. The nip plate includes a stepped portion spaced apart from the inner surface of the fusing belt so as to define a space for accommodation of a lubricant applied to the inner surface of the fusing belt. The fusing device may further include a side frame to rotatably support a longitudinal end of the fusing belt. The side frame may be provided with a lubricant guide to guide the lubricant on the longitudinal end of the fusing belt toward the center of the fusing belt. | 06-28-2012 |
20120177418 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - An induction heating-type fixing device includes a fixing member, an excitation coil, a magnetic core, a holder, and a pressing member. The fixing member includes a heat generating layer to heat and fuse a toner image on a recording medium. The excitation coil wound a predetermined number of times is disposed facing an outer surface of the fixing member, to generate a magnetic flux relative to the fixing member. The magnetic core forms a continuous magnetic path to direct the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil to the fixing member. The holder holds the excitation coil and the magnetic core. The pressing member is disposed opposite the fixing member to press against the fixing member and form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which the recording medium is conveyed. The magnetic core is exposed from the holder at the fixing member side. | 07-12-2012 |
20120183336 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus in which a nip portion is formed by a heating unit, which includes a flexible sleeve and a heater, and a pressure roller. The position of the heating unit is appropriately maintained by pressing the heating unit against the pressure roller using a pressure member so that the heating unit can contact two or more portions of a downstream side rim of a groove arranged on a frame that holds the heating unit, even when the pressure roller is rotated. | 07-19-2012 |
20120189361 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - Disclosed is a fixing device that easily suppresses an excessive temperature increase in a guide plate without extending a warm-up period, the device comprising: guide plate | 07-26-2012 |
20120195654 | FIXING ROTATING MEMBER AND FIXING DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - A fixing rotating member configured to, together with a pressure member, pinch and transport a recording material carrying an image includes a base material and a releasing layer, wherein 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 containing at least one type of polymer selected from among polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, and polymethyl methacrylate, and monomer electrolyte. | 08-02-2012 |
20120201579 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a first roller, a second roller, an endless belt, a third roller, a heater, a cooler, and a belt tensioner. The second roller is parallel to the first roller. The endless belt is looped for rotation around the first and second rollers. The third roller is opposite the first roller via the belt. The heater is in at least one of the rollers to heat the roller to in turn heat the belt. The cooler is inside the loop of the belt between the first and second rollers to cool the belt. The first and third rollers press against each other to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. The belt tensioner is in contact with the belt to tension the belt in a transverse direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the belt. | 08-09-2012 |
20120237273 | FIXING DEVICE WITH RESISTANCE HEATING ELEMENT CAPABLE OF ACCURATELY GENERATING HEAT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH FIXING DEVICE - In a fixing device, a heating element is extended along a fixing member at a location other than a nip on an inner circumferential surface side of the fixing member to generate heat. The fixing member contacts the heating element either indirectly via a gap of a prescribed size or directly contacts the heating element by with a prescribed pressure when the fixing member is rotating, and continuously separates from the heating element by a prescribed distance greater than the size of the gap when the fixing member stops rotating. | 09-20-2012 |
20120237274 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing unit includes a fixing rotatable body that is located at a side of a recording medium, the side carrying a not-fixed image, a pressing rotatable body that is located at another side of the recording medium and that is disposed so as to abut on the fixing rotatable body, a fixing heating unit that heats the fixing rotatable body, a first pressing heating unit that heats the pressing rotatable body from inside thereof, and a second pressing heating unit that is disposed opposite to a surface of the pressing rotatable body and that heats the pressing rotatable body from outside thereof. | 09-20-2012 |
20120269559 | PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - The processing apparatus includes a first storage device that stores correction image information defining a correction image Ap formed on the surface of a to-be-processed medium S, in which the positional relationship relative to an output image formed on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S is known; a second storage device that stores processing area information defining an area of the surface of the to-be-processed medium S heated by the heating unit, in which the positional relationship with the output image formed on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S is known; and a control unit that uses a detection result of a correction image formed on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S detected by the image detection unit and the correction image information to correct a heating position on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S heated by the heating unit indicated by the processing area information. | 10-25-2012 |
20120328338 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS, BEARING MOUNTING STRUCTURE AND RETAINING RING - An image heating apparatus includes a roller, a heating portion disposed within the roller, a bearing portion fitted around an end portion of the roller to rotably support the roller, and a retaining ring attached at an axially predetermined position of the roller to restrict the roller from moving in a axial direction of the roller with respect to the bearing portion. The retaining ring includes first and second projections fitted into a hole portion of the roller. Profiles of side surfaces of these first and second projections abutting edges of the hole portion in a circumferential direction are recessed in the circumferential direction. | 12-27-2012 |
20120328339 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing unit includes a heating rotor, a pressure rotor, an induction coil, and a magnetic core portion having a bypass core portion and a magnetic flux shielding member. The induction coil generates a magnetic flux to heat the heating rotor. A Curie point of the bypass core portion is higher than the temperature of the bypass core portion when the temperature of the heating rotor has reached a fixing temperature for fixing of the transfer material, and lower than the temperature of the bypass core portion when the temperature of the heating rotor has reached a heat-resistant temperature. The magnetic flux shielding member is configured about the periphery of the bypass core portion in close proximity or abutment with the bypass core portion. | 12-27-2012 |
20130004217 | LEVER SWITCHER WITH MECHANISM FOR MINIMIZING MECHANICAL SHOCK AND SOUND AND FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING LEVER SWITCHER - A fixing device includes a first opposed body and a second opposed body pressed against the first opposed body. A resilient member exerts a resilient bias to the second opposed body that presses the second opposed body against the first opposed body. A lever assembly is swingable to move the second opposed body against the resilient bias exerted by the resilient member between at least a reduced pressure position where the second opposed body presses against the first opposed body with reduced pressure therebetween and an enhanced pressure position where the second opposed body presses against the first opposed body with enhanced pressure therebetween. A resistance applier engages the lever assembly to exert drag on the lever assembly when the lever assembly moves the second opposed body from the reduced pressure position to the enhanced pressure position. | 01-03-2013 |
20130022381 | FUSER AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - A fuser includes a cylindrical heating rotating body including a heat generator and a pressure rotating body including a circumferential face which has contact with the heating rotating body to form a nip portion for fusing, wherein a disk-like outside plate, which is exposed outside, is provided in one end or both ends of the heating rotating body in a rotation axis direction, a disk-like inside plate is provided in an inner circumferential face of the heating rotating body on an inside of the outside plate to have an interval relative to the outside plate, a center vent is provided near a center of the outside plate, an outer edge vent is provided in an outer edge or the neighborhood thereof of the outside plate, and a flow path, which connects the center vent and the outer edge vent, is provided between the outside vent and the inside vent. | 01-24-2013 |
20130064584 | FUSER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH SAME - A fuser device includes a first motor for rotatably driving one of a heating member and a pressure-applying member, a second motor rotating either in a forward direction or a reverse direction in order to switch a pressure-application-switching mechanism between an applied-pressure state and a released-pressure state, a first detector for detecting whether the first motor is rotating, and a second detector for detecting the forward-direction or reverse-direction rotation of the second motor. The first detector has a first sensor for detecting the rotation of the first detector plate caused to rotate by the first motor. The second detector has a second sensor for detecting changes in the rotational state of the second detector plate caused to rotate in the forward and reverse directions by the second motor. A single sensor constitutes the first sensor and the second sensor. | 03-14-2013 |
20130078016 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes; an image forming station for forming a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device including a fixing member and a pressing member; an air feeding member for air feeding cooling air toward the pressing member; and a shutter, provided between the air feeding member and the pressing member, for controlling an air feeding region, wherein the image forming apparatus operable selectively in a first mode for feeding the air an entire area with respect to the longitudinal direction of the pressing member, and in a second mode for feeding the air only a non-sheet-passing area when a small size sheet is fed. | 03-28-2013 |
20130101325 | FIXING APPARATUS FOR A SHEET-FED ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTER - A fixing apparatus includes a fixing drum having a heating heater internally equipped therein, the fixing drum positioned spaced part and downstream from a sheet delivery site at a downstream-most side of printing units and is adapted to rotate at a peripheral speed identical to a speed of travel of the sheet of paper. A first sprocket is positioned adjoining the sheet delivery site at the downstream-most side of the printing units, and a second sprocket is positioned coaxially with the fixing drum and being adapted to rotate integrally with the fixing drum. A conveyer chain having a gripper is wound around and engaging with the first and second sprockets to wind and convey a sheet of paper on a peripheral surface of the fixing drum upon gripping in turn with the gripper the sheet of paper traveling from the sheet delivery site at the downstream-most side. | 04-25-2013 |
20130108337 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE | 05-02-2013 |
20130142551 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium by heating the recording medium, with a heating area and a non-heating area selected in accordance with a magnetic flux and a repulsive magnetic flux. The fixing device includes a heat generating layer, an exciting coil, and a demagnetizing member. The heat generating layer generates heat. The exciting coil generates the magnetic flux, and thereby inductively heats the heat generating layer. The demagnetizing member faces the heat generating layer in the non-heating area. The demagnetizing member generates the repulsive magnetic flux against the magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil, and thereby demagnetizes the magnetic flux and suppresses the heating. Further, the demagnetizing member has a demagnetization effect different between at least a portion of the non-heating area adjacent to the heating area and the remaining portion of the non-heating area. | 06-06-2013 |
20130209145 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heating member configured to heat a toner image on a sheet; a belt unit including an endless belt configured to heat the rotatable heating member by contacting an outer surface of the rotatable heating member, and a supporting mechanism configured to rotatably supporting the endless belt; a detector configured to detect that the endless belt is out of a predetermined zone in a widthwise direction of the endless belt; and a tilting mechanism configured to tilt the belt unit in a direction of causing the endless belt to return into the predetermined zone based on an output of the detector. | 08-15-2013 |
20130236221 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heat member that includes a heat portion and rotates in a circumferential direction; a pressure member that faces the heat member and fixes a toner image transferred on a sheet to the sheet by applying pressure when the heat member applies heat; and first and second housing chambers that house electric wires, that are spaces isolated from the heat member and the pressure member, and that respectively have first and second openings being open to the outside in the circumferential direction and being covered with lid members, the electric wires being respectively arranged through the first and second openings, the second housing chamber being formed separately from the first housing chamber, the second opening being open in a direction different from a direction of the first opening. | 09-12-2013 |
20130251418 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a cylindrical rotating member rotating in a circumferential direction thereof and having a slot at an end thereof and a protruding section extending along an edge of the slot at a front side in a rotational direction of the rotating member, the rotating member receiving a rotational driving force via the slot; a pressing member pressing a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image on a surface thereof by nipping the recording medium together with the rotating member so as to fix the toner image onto the surface; a heat source heating the recording medium; and a driving member having an engagement section engaged with the slot and in contact with the protruding section at a position separated from a peripheral wall of the cylinder by a certain distance, the driving member imparting the rotational driving force to the rotating member via the engagement section. | 09-26-2013 |
20130259544 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a pressing member that is rotatably held and provides a pressure acting in one direction; a heating member that is rotatably held, faces the pressing member, and includes a substantially cylindrical member and a heating unit, the substantially cylindrical member receiving the pressure, the heating unit being provided inside the substantially cylindrical member, the heating member fixing a toner image on a sheet with the pressure and heat; a drive source that outputs a driving force with which the heating member is rotated; and a transmission member having a space that receives an end of the substantially cylindrical member with a gap interposed therebetween, the transmission member having an inner circumferential surface that comes into contact with the end of the substantially cylindrical member in the space when the substantially cylindrical member receives the pressure, the transmission member transmitting the driving force to the heating member. | 10-03-2013 |
20130259545 | MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR BEARING MEMBER, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A mounting structure for a bearing member comprises the bearing member, bearing a rotary shaft; a frame body that includes a mounting hole; and a plurality of projections, each of the projections being formed at one of three or more positions on at least one of an outer circumferential surface of the bearing member and an inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole, the positions extending radially from a centre of the rotary shaft, the bearing member being press fitted into the mounting hole via the projections, each of the projections being formed at a circumferential position having no other projection formed at a position 180° therefrom with respect to the centre of the rotary shaft. | 10-03-2013 |
20130302072 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HEATING - A heating head, a heating apparatus using the heating head, and a heating method are disclosed. The heating head is comprised of a strip-shaped heating resistive element configured for heating media which is used to write or erase records on a thermal rewritable media, for thermal transfer or re-transfer to the media, for toner fusing, adhesion or fusion by heating, for a transformation process by heating, for over-coating and document lamination process, for adhesion of sheets, for an imprinting process, such as an uneven surface process for plastics. To the side on which the heating resistive element is not placed which is faced out to be exposed, a spacer is placed to cover the side. | 11-14-2013 |
20130302073 | FIXING DEVICE THAT SUPPRESSES ENERGY LOSS CAUSED BY HEAT RELEASE TO OUTSIDE THEREOF AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a housing, and heating-side and pressing-side heat conservation plates. The fixing member includes a heating member and a pressing member that is in pressure contact with the heating member. The housing includes the fixing member and has openings on upstream and downstream sides in a recording medium transportation direction. The heating-side heat conservation plate opposes the heating member so as to be spaced apart from an outer peripheral surface of the heating member. The pressing-side heat conservation plate opposes the pressing member so as to be spaced apart from an outer peripheral surface of the pressing member. A distance between the pressing member and the pressing-side heat conservation plate is greater than a distance between the heating member and the heating-side heat conservation plate. | 11-14-2013 |
20140029992 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes: an exciting coil; a current applying device configured to apply a high-frequency current to the exciting coil; a rotatable heating member configured to heat a toner image on a recording material at a nip, wherein the rotatable heating member includes a first electroconductive layer for generating heat by electromagnetic induction of magnetic flux from the exciting coil; a rotatable pressing member configured to press-contact the rotatable heating member to form the nip, wherein the rotatable pressing member includes a second electroconductive layer electrically insulated from the first electroconductive layer; and a rectifying element configured to be connected between the second electroconductive layer and the ground in a direction in which a surface potential of the rotatable pressing member has an opposite polarity to a normal charge polarity of a toner. | 01-30-2014 |
20140029993 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH SAME - A fixing device includes a heat source, a fixing roller, a pressure roller, an elastic layer, a pressing portion, a restricting portion and a driving unit. The fixing roller is heated by the heat source. The pressure roller is held in contact with the fixing roller and forms a fixing nip portion through which a sheet is to be passed. The elastic layer is formed on an inner layer of the fixing roller. The pressing portion presses one roller of the fixing roller and the pressure roller against the other roller while compressing the elastic layer. The restricting portion restricts a compression amount of the elastic layer lest the compression amount should exceed a preset compression amount when the pressing portion presses the roller. The driving unit drives and rotates one of the fixing roller and the pressure roller in a state where the compression amount is restricted. | 01-30-2014 |
20140037346 | SUPPRESSING TONER OFFSET IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH FIXING UNIT - By connecting a first diode between a conductive heating element of a fixing roller and ground, electric charge with the same polarity as the charged polarity of toner can be held on the surface of the fixing roller. Meanwhile, by connecting a second diode between the surface of a pressing roller that does not contact an un-fixed toner image, electric charge with the reverse polarity of the charged polarity of the toner can be held at the surface of the pressing roller. The polarity of the electric charge that is induced by electromagnetic induction is held at the polarity decided by the two diodes, and as a result the fixing offset can be suppressed without newly adding a collector member or a charging capacitor. | 02-06-2014 |
20140037347 | FUSING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fusing unit and an image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium including a fusing unit are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a heating member having a surface divided into a plurality of heating regions and heating the recording medium, and a pressurizing member to apply pressure to the recording medium, the fusing unit fusing the image to the recording medium by applying heat and pressure to the recording medium, a driving unit to supply rotational force to the pressurizing member, and a power supply to supply power to the heating member and the driving unit, wherein the heating regions have different heating values per unit area. The image forming apparatus prevents overheating of a paper-contact heating region without idling the fusing unit in order to radiate heat accumulated in the paper-contact heating region. | 02-06-2014 |
20140064802 | ROTATING BODY SUPPORT DEVICE AND FIXING DEVICE HAVING ROTATING BODY SUPPORT DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A rotating body support device includes a shaft, a bearing, a mounting member, and a protruding part. The shaft serves as a rotating shaft which rotates or a fixed shaft during rotation of a rotating body. The bearing includes an inner peripheral part for supporting the shaft and an outer peripheral part disposed at an interval in a radial direction relative to the inner peripheral part. The mounting member includes an insertion part on which the outer peripheral part is mounted, and supports the bearing. The protruding part is provided to protrude from one of a peripheral face of the shaft and the inner peripheral part of the bearing in the radial direction along a peripheral direction of the rotation. Moreover, the protruding part comes into contact, along the peripheral direction, with the other one of the peripheral face of the shaft and the inner peripheral part of the bearing. | 03-06-2014 |
20140086647 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus comprising first and second rotatable members for heating a toner image therebetween; an endless belt for heating the first rotatable member while being rotated by the first rotatable member; first and second rollers provided inside the endless belt in this order along a rotational moving direction of the first rotatable member and for urging the endless belt toward the first rotatable member; a holding mechanism for rotatably holding the first and second rollers, the first roller being movable relative to the second roller; an urging mechanism for urging the holding mechanism toward the first rotatable member; and an urging member for urging the first roller in a direction away from the second roller. | 03-27-2014 |
20140093287 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes: a rotatable heating member; a belt unit including an endless belt and first and second supporting members; a detector; a rotating mechanism; and a displacing mechanism for permitting displacement, with rotation of the belt unit by the rotating mechanism, of the first supporting member in a direction of equalizing forces urging the belt toward the rotatable heating member by the first supporting member at widthwise ends of the belt, and for permitting displacement, with rotation of the belt unit by the rotating mechanism, of the second supporting member in a direction of equalizing forces urging the belt toward the rotatable heating member by the second supporting member at the widthwise ends of the belt. | 04-03-2014 |
20140119785 | FIXING DEVICE PREVENTABLE UNEVENNESS OF HEAT GENERATION OF PAPER PASSING REGION - A fixing device includes a heating member, a pressing member, and an induction heating unit. In this fixing device, (i) a wound width Wc of a center portion of an induction heating coil in a longitudinal direction seen from an axial direction of the heating member, (ii) a wound width Wp in the vicinity of and inside edges of a maximum recording medium passing region of a recoding medium, and (iii) a wound width We of at least one of both edges of the induction heating coil in the longitudinal direction satisfy parameters that the wound width Wc is smaller than the wound width Wp and is larger than or equal to the wound width We. | 05-01-2014 |
20140119786 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fixing device includes an auxiliary duct. The auxiliary duct is provided between a cover member attached to a coil bobbin so as to cover a magnetic core and a coil, and a core holder provided opposing to the coil bobbin, to which the magnetic core is attached. The auxiliary duct communicates with an intake hole provided at one end in a longitudinal direction of the cover member, and has opening holes overlapping with some of holder opening portions formed on the core holder. The fixing device causes air to flow into between the core holder and the coil bobbin via the auxiliary duct and the holder opening portions from the intake hole, and discharges the air warmed by heat of the coil from an exhaust hole formed at the other end of the cover member, thereby adjusting the flowing amount of air in a longitudinal direction of the coil. | 05-01-2014 |
20140153979 | Fixing Device Provided with Temperature Sensor - There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member, a reflection plate, a backup member, a stay and a temperature sensor. The flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member. The reflection plate is configured to reflect the radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member, the reflection plate having an outer profile. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member. The stay covers the reflection plate and supports the nip member, the stay having a profile in conformance with the outer profile of the reflection plate, and the stay being formed with one of a through-hole and a notch. The temperature sensor is disposed in the internal space and extends through the one of the through-hole and the notch. | 06-05-2014 |
20140169845 | FIXING DEVICE AND HEATER USED IN FIXING DEVICE - A heater used for a fixing device includes a substrate, first and second conductor patterns formed at either end of the substrate in the short direction of the substrate, a third conductor pattern formed between the first and second conductor patterns and separated from the two conductor patterns, a first heating member disposed between the first and third conductor patterns and electrically connected to the two conductor patterns, and a second heating member disposed between the second and third conductor patterns and electrically connected to the conductor patterns. The heater has both end regions in which the widths of the third conductor pattern in the short direction is smaller than that of a middle portion of the third conductor pattern. The widths of the first and second heating members in the end regions are smaller than the widths of the first and second heating members in the other region, respectively. | 06-19-2014 |
20140205331 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device that includes a rotary fixing member; a pressure roller configured to press against the fixing member to form a nip with the fixing member; and an induction heating unit as a heat source to heat the fixing member. The induction heating unit includes an excitation coil; a coil retainer to hold the excitation coil; and a cover member disposed opposite the coil retainer in an opposite side of the rotary fixing member, in which the cover member protrudes toward a central predetermined range of the excitation coil in an axial direction of the rotary fixing member to effectively cool the fixing device. The induction heating unit further includes a rectifying member to effectively cool the fixing device. | 07-24-2014 |
20140241764 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing member including a heat generator and an induction heater to heat the fixing member by electromagnetic induction. The induction heater includes an excitation coil, a ferromagnetic core to form a magnetic path to direct magnetic flux arising from the excitation coil to the fixing member, and a holder to hold the excitation coil and the ferromagnetic core. The holder has a surface facing the heat generator. The surface has a plurality of slits extending parallel to a direction of rotation of the fixing member. The ferromagnetic core is coupled to the holder and covers an open bottom portion of each slit of the plurality of slits to form a plurality of bottomed grooves. | 08-28-2014 |
20140248071 | FIXING DEVICE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a fixing device whose required heat generation amount can be obtained with a smaller amount of a microwave absorbing material, hence start-up (warm-up) time for achieving fixable temperature of the fixing device can be shortened without impairing characteristics such as flexibility, releasing property, durability. The fixing device comprises: a heating member; a pressurizing member; and a microwave generating unit, the fixing device being configured to fix an unfixed toner on a recording material by passing the recording material through a nip formed between the heating member and the pressurizing member, wherein: the heating member includes a heat generating layer for generating heat with microwave generated by the microwave generating unit; and the heat generating layer contains a high molecular compound and a carbon fiber having an average fiber diameter of 80-150 nm, an average fiber length of 6-10 μm, and in Raman spectrum, an absorption peak resulting from graphite structure. | 09-04-2014 |
20140321892 | WET-TYPE IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - A wet-type image formation apparatus includes: an intermediate transfer body that carries a toner image including toner particles, which are charged to have a first polarity, and a carrier liquid; a transferring roller that transfers a toner image onto a transfer surface of a recording medium; a charging device that charges the transfer surface to have a second polarity opposite to the first polarity; and a fixing mechanism that fixes the toner image. The fixing mechanism includes a noncontact heating device. The noncontact heating device forms the toner particles into a film such that the toner particles and the carrier liquid are separated from each other by heating the toner image when the toner particles charged to the first polarity is electrostatically adsorbed onto the transfer surface charged to have the second polarity. The film of the toner particles is fixed onto the transfer surface. | 10-30-2014 |
20150093161 | Fixing Device Provided with Member for Covering Terminal of Heater - A fixing device includes a tubular body extending in a first direction, a heater disposed in an internal space of the tubular body, a frame supporting the tubular body and a plate-like member provided on the frame. The tubular body has an open end in the first direction. The heater includes a hollow tube extending in the first direction, a heat generating element disposed in a hollow space of the tube, a terminal fixed to the frame, and a pin connecting the heat generating element and the terminal. The frame has a first surface positioned to oppose the open end of the tubular body in the first direction. The plate-like member is positioned between the open end and the first surface in the first direction, the plate-like member being formed with a pin opening for permitting the pin to penetrate therethrough. | 04-02-2015 |
20150093162 | Fixing Device - A fixing device includes a heating element extending in a first direction and configured to generate heat, a nip member extending along the heating element in the first direction and configured to receive radiant heat from the heating element, an endless belt extending along the heating element in the first direction, a backup member extending along the heating element in the first direction, and an adhesive. The endless belt is configured to rotate. The endless belt surrounds the heating element and the nip member. The backup member nips the endless belt in cooperation with the nip member. The adhesive is disposed between the heating element and the nip member and fixes the heating element and the nip member relative to each other. | 04-02-2015 |
20150110529 | FUSER FOR UNIFORMING TEMPERATURE OF HEATING DEVICE - A fuser comprises an endless heating device having a heat transport device and a heat generation layer closely contacted with the heat transport device, an induction current generation device configured to heat the heating device through electromagnetic induction and a pressurization device forming a nip with the heating device. | 04-23-2015 |
20150301485 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device fixes a toner to a recording medium. The fixing device includes a rotary member, a bearing, and a bearing holder. The rotary member is rotatable about an axis of rotation of the rotary member. The bearing is disposed around an end part of the rotary member. The bearing holder holds the bearing. The bearing has an outer circumferential surface with a flat portion and a bearing groove. The bearing groove has a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface. The first side surface of the bearing groove is capable of being in contact with the bearing holder. The second side surface of the bearing groove is capable of being in contact with the bearing holder. The bearing holder is engaged with the bearing groove such as to be in contact with the first and second side surfaces of the bearing groove. | 10-22-2015 |
20150301486 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heating roller and a pressuring roller, a first holding member, a supporting member and a temperature detecting part. The heating roller and pressuring roller sandwiches and heats a sheet to fix a toner image formed on the sheet onto the sheet. The first holding member has a facing part facing to a circumference face of the heating roller to hold the heating roller. The supporting member is made of material with high heat resisting property as compared with the first holding member, arranged between the facing part of the first holding member and the circumference face of the heating roller so as to face to the circumference face of the heating roller, and formed in an elongated shape along an axial direction of the heating roller. The temperature detecting part is arranged in the supporting member to detect temperature of the heating roller. | 10-22-2015 |
20150301488 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - 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. | 10-22-2015 |
20150331375 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus that heats, at a nip portion, a recording material, bearing a toner image, while conveying the recording material to fix the toner image thereto, includes a roller, a heating unit configured to contact the roller to form a heating portion with the roller, and heat the roller via the heating portion, wherein the heating unit includes a film, and a heating portion forming member configured to contact an inner surface of the film and form the heating portion with the roller via the film, and a backup member configured to contact the roller and form the nip portion with the roller. A micro hardness of a surface of the roller is lower than that of the film at the heating portion, and in at least a partial region of the heating portion, a velocity difference is provided between the surfaces of the roller and the film. | 11-19-2015 |
20150370201 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressuring member, a heat insulating member and a coil spring. The fixing member is arranged rotatably. The pressuring member is arranged rotatably and configured to come into pressure contact with the fixing member so as to form a fixing nip. The heat insulating member is configured to cover an outer circumference of at least one of the fixing member and the pressuring member and to curve in an arc shape. The coil spring is electrically grounded and configured to come into contact with an outer circumference face of the heat insulating member so as to curve in an arc shape. | 12-24-2015 |
20160004196 | FIXING APPARATUS - In one aspect of the invention, a fixing apparatus that heats a recording material having a toner image while conveying the recording material at a nip portion to make the toner image fix onto the recording material includes a cylindrical belt having a heat generating layer that generates heat by being energized and a contact for supplying electricity to the heat generating layer. The contact is in contact with one of an outer surface and an inner surface of an end of the belt in the generatrix direction of the belt. An electrically conductive layer is provided, along the direction of rotation of the belt, on a surface of the heat generating layer opposite to a surface of the heat generating layer at which the contact is present. | 01-07-2016 |
20160018770 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a rotating member, a bearing and a holding member. The rotating member is configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium. The bearing is configured to support the rotating member so that the rotating member is rotatable around a rotation axis. The holding member is configured to hold the bearing. The holding member has a restricting part configured to face an outside face in the rotation axis direction of the bearing at an interval. | 01-21-2016 |
20160041512 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a rotating member, a bearing and a heat insulating member. The rotating member fixes a toner image onto a recording medium. The bearing rotatably supports the rotating member. The heat insulating member is interposed between the rotating member and the bearing and rotated around a rotation axis. A notch part is arranged in a portion in a circumferential direction of the heat insulating member so as to continue from an end part at an inside to an end part at an outside in a direction of the rotation axis. At least one groove part is formed in a contact portion with the rotating member or the bearing in a circumference face of the heat insulating member. | 02-11-2016 |
20160116874 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus according to the present invention can switch a fixing nip portion between a pressurized state and a pressure released state by rotating a cam via a first engagement portion provided in a fixing unit, and a second engagement portion provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus, in which a difference between a phase of the cam in the pressurized state and a phase of the cam in the pressure released state is 180°, and the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion engage with each other when the fixing unit is mounted on the main body regardless of whether the fixing nip portion is in the pressurized state or the pressure released state. | 04-28-2016 |
20160116876 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - In a state in which a swing lever has been driven to a first swing position by a driving mechanism, a compression coil spring has a natural length and a tension coil spring has a first predetermined length longer than a natural length, so that press-contact force between both the rollers becomes first press-contact force. On the other hand, in a state in which the swing lever has been driven to a second swing position by the driving mechanism, the compression coil spring has a second predetermined length shorter than the natural length and the tension coil spring has the natural length, so that the press-contact force between both the rollers becomes second press-contact force. | 04-28-2016 |
20160132010 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes: a cylindrical film; a nip forming member; and a back-up member for forming a nip. The nip forming member includes a projected portion. A projection amount of the projected portion is smaller in an end portion region positioned at an end portion of the projected portion with respect to a generatrix direction of the film than in a central region positioned at a central portion of the projected portion with respect to the generatrix direction, at least a part of the end portion region being inside a feeding region of a maximum-sized recording material usable in the fixing device. With respect to the recording material feeding direction, a width of the part, of the projected portion, inside the nip is broader in the end portion region than in the central region. | 05-12-2016 |
20160378030 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a casing, a fixing roller, a pressure roller, a heat source, a sensor, and a duct. The fixing roller is disposed in the casing. The pressure roller forms a fixing nip region in cooperation with the fixing roller. The fixing heat source heats the fixing roller. The sensor detects whether or not a recording medium is present in the fixing nip region. The duct is disposed on the casing. One end part of opposite end parts of the heat source protrudes out of the casing. The duct covers the one end part of the heat source and exhausts heat generated from the one end part of the heat source in a direction away from the sensor. | 12-29-2016 |
20220137539 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a contact-separation mechanism and circuitry. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator to fix a toner image onto a sheet, a pressure rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a nip, and a polisher to contact and polish a surface of the fixing rotator. The contact-separation mechanism contacts and separates the polisher to or from the fixing rotator. The circuitry calculates a cumulative weighted sheet passing distance that is a sum of values each obtained by multiplying a length of the sheet in a conveyance direction by a coefficient determined according to sheet information on the sheet different from the length every time the sheet passes through the nip and executes a control mode in which the contact-separation mechanism moves the polisher to contact the surface of the fixing rotator based on the cumulative weighted sheet passing distance. | 05-05-2022 |