Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080240804 | SELF ACTUATED INTERMITENT FUSER SKIVE - An apparatus to intermittently skive the paper and/or toner from a roller to prevent the paper and/or toner sticking to the roller and thus keep the paper moving along the transport path. The self-actuated skive intermittently touches the roller to minimize contact with the roller as the receiver moves along the transport path past the fuser by automatically optimizing the timing and force that the self-actuated skive touches the roller. | 10-02-2008 |
20080260435 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image heating apparatus capable of holding an open/close unit at a normal position and capable of inexpensively avoiding conveyance failure and deterioration in image quality. | 10-23-2008 |
20080298861 | System and method for positioning one or more stripper fingers (in a fusing system) relative to an image - A fuser stripping subsystem for use with a fusing system is provided. In one embodiment, at least one movable stripper finger is disposed adjacent a fusing assembly in a first position. Assuming a selected condition is met, the at least one movable stripper finger is moved from the first position to a second position for substantially aligning the at least one movable stripper finger with a toned image section of a print media sheet passing through a nip defined by the rolls. In another embodiment, a print media sheet with a toned image section is shifted, prior to feeding the same through the nip, so that the toned image section may be substantially aligned with at least one stripper finger. In yet another embodiment, a combination of stripper finger movement and/or image shifting may be used to obtain substantial alignment between one or more stripper fingers and an image. | 12-04-2008 |
20090003896 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCED SHEET STRIPPING - An enhanced sheet stripping method and apparatus for stripping toner image carrying copy sheets from a surface of a moving heated fusing member forming a fusing nip. The apparatus includes (a) a moving assembly for moving a cut sheet towards the fusing nip; (b) a sheet curling device positioned upstream of the fusing nip relative to movement of the cut sheet for inducing a desired pre-curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip; and (c) a sheet stripping device positioned downstream of the fusing nip for stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the moving heated fusing member as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip. The method includes inducing a desired curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip and enhanced stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the fuser roll as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip. | 01-01-2009 |
20090003897 | Sheet separation device, sheet conveyance apparatus, and image forming system - A sheet separation member having a separation pick includes a substrate made of hard material, which is swingable around a support shaft connected to a stable member, and a wrapping member made of resin softer than the substrate for wrapping the substrate. A leading end of the substrate is integrally molded with the wrapping member using inert molding, and a leading end of the wrapping member protrudes from the leading end of the substrate by not more than 5 mm. | 01-01-2009 |
20090080953 | Fuser Assembly Having Selectable Fuser Detack Mechanism - A fuser assembly includes a fuser housing, a fuser roller rotatably mounted to the fuser housing, an actuator mechanism, and a fuser detack mechanism. The fuser detack mechanism includes a detack housing pivotably mounted to the fuser housing. The fuser detack mechanism is pivoted from a first position to a second position when the actuator mechanism is actuated. A plurality of detack fingers is mounted to the detack housing. Each of the plurality of detack fingers has a distal end, wherein when the fuser detack mechanism is in the first position, the distal end of each of the plurality of detack fingers is positioned to be disengaged from an exterior surface of the fuser roller, and when the fuser detack mechanism is in the second position, the distal end of each of the plurality of detack fingers is positioned to be engaged with the exterior surface of the fuser roller. | 03-26-2009 |
20090087234 | ENHANCED FUSER STRIPPING SYSTEM - An improved fuser includes a fuser member, a pressure member that forms a nip with the fuser member through which copy sheets pass to have images fused thereon and an air knife to assist in peeling copy sheets from the fuser member. The air knife has a device connected to it that blocks entrained airflow between the fuser and air knife to reduce fuser cooling and power loss. | 04-02-2009 |
20090180819 | Self Adjusting Metal Stripper Fingers - A plurality of stripper fingers in a fuser assembly are provided to assist in preventing damage to the fuser roll caused by prior art fingers. In the present invention, skiis are positioned away back from the tip of the stripper finger. These skiis extend beyond the lower surface of the stripper finger and are enabled to lift the tip away from the fuser surface during a paper jam or hard stripping situation. | 07-16-2009 |
20090190974 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A fixing apparatus including a fixing member for fixing developer image on a recording medium, and a separation member separating the recording medium from the fixing member to guide the recording medium in a delivery direction of the recording medium. The separation member includes a resin member, a metal member formed on a front side of the resin member, and an opening. In accordance with a preferred aspect of the fixing apparatus, when the developer image is fixed to the recording medium, the opening arranged at the separation member is formed to flow the gas around the fixing apparatus, thereby improving the printing quality of the printed images. | 07-30-2009 |
20090238615 | SEPARATING PLATE, FIXING DEVICE HAVING THE SEPARATING PLATE, METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SEPARATING PLATE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device ( | 09-24-2009 |
20090274492 | Sheet separator and fixing unit using the same and image forming apparatus incorporating the fixing unit - A sheet separator using air includes a plurality of nozzles and a guide member. The plurality of nozzles, through which compressed air is ejected against a nip portion where a plurality of rotating members meets, presses each other, and carries a sheet of a recording medium therebetween, is disposed downstream in a direction of sheet transport and also in a direction of a width of the recording medium. The guide member holds and secures the nozzles, and includes a conduit to supply the compressed air to the nozzles, and a guide surface to direct the recording medium separated from the nip portion. A tip of each of the nozzles from which air is ejected projects beyond the leading edge of the guide member on the nip portion side. A fixing unit includes the sheet separator. An image forming apparatus includes the sheet separator. | 11-05-2009 |
20090274493 | AIR DISCHARGING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An air discharging apparatus to discharge pressurized air at a predetermined timing is disclosed. The disclosed air discharging apparatus includes an air pump including a cylinder and a piston configured to reciprocate in the cylinder; an opening and closing member provided at an air discharge opening of the air pump and configured to open and close the air discharge opening; and a switching mechanism providing mechanical coupling between the piston and the opening and closing member. The mechanical coupling keeps the opening and closing member in a closed state until the piston reaches a predetermined position in a compression stroke and switches the opening and closing member to an opened state when the piston reaches the predetermined position. | 11-05-2009 |
20090279928 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station for forming an image, a registration member, a registration motor, and a fixing unit. The registration member is configured to feed the recording medium in appropriate timing such that a recording medium is aligned with the toner image formed in the image forming station. The registration motor is configured to drive the registration member. The fixing unit is configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium and includes a rotary heating member to heat the recording medium, a rotary pressure member to contact and press against the heating member forming a fixing nip portion where the heating roller and the pressure roller meet, and a sheet separator to eject air to separate the recording medium from the rotary heating member based on a drive signal of the registration motor. | 11-12-2009 |
20090304419 | ACTIVE ROTATION OF AIR KNIFE FOR INCREASED PERFORMANCE - According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of optimizing an electro-photographic reproduction machine having a fusing subsystem and an air knife. The methods acquire at least one electro-photographic reproduction machine objective and media characteristic; and the acquired objective and characteristic are used to determine values for the pressurized air emitted from the air knife, the position of the air knife, and the rotation of the air knife relative to a fuse roll in the fusing subsystem. The methods further disclose acquiring the leading edge of the media being stripped and then using the beam strength of the media to assist in stripping the body of the sheet. The air knife can be controlled by a controller or a processor based on determined optimization parameter values that relate to objectives and media characteristics. | 12-10-2009 |
20100040397 | STRIPPER FINGER FOR USE IN A FUSER ASSEMBLY - The present invention is a splitter finger for a fuser assembly such as is used in a photographic printing or copying machine. To provide the desired qualities of heat and wear resistance without using fabrication materials made using perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the splitter fingers have bee fabricated from a variety of polymeric materials. In some embodiment, glass in the form of chopped glass and/or glass beads is added to at least the lifter portion of the splitter finger to provide additional stiffness. | 02-18-2010 |
20100086332 | Image Forming Device With Downsizing Arrangement of Fixing Device - An image forming device includes a frame, a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a transfer roller, a heating roller, a backup roller, a peeling claw, and a protection member. The photosensitive drum has a surface on which a latent image is formable. The developing roller develops the latent image to provide a toner image. The transfer roller transfers the toner image onto a recording medium. The heating roller has a heating surface and a shaft supported to the frame and extending in a direction. The backup roller has a shaft supported to the frame and extending in the direction. The backup roller is in pressure contact with the heating roller. The peeling claw has a tip end in sliding contact with the heating surface of the heating roller. The protection member is configured to protect the peeling claw and prevent a user from accessing to the peeling claw. | 04-08-2010 |
20100092218 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a first rotary body; a second rotary body provided to face the first rotary body, wherein the first rotary body and the second rotary body form a nip portion by coming in contact with each other to rotate, at which a sheet bearing a toner image is conveyed while being heated and pressed, thereby fixing the toner image onto the sheet; a first nozzle which blows air to a first air blowing position established on a circumferential surface of the first rotary body and on a side of an outlet of the nip portion; and a second nozzle which blows air to a second air blowing position established on a circumferential surface of the second rotary body and established downstream of the first air blowing position in a traveling direction of the sheet. | 04-15-2010 |
20100178085 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND METHODS OF STRIPPING MEDIA FROM SURFACES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful for printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful for printing comprises a first roll; a belt including an inner surface and an outer surface, the first roll and the outer surface of the belt forming a nip; and a stripping member located internal to the belt. The stripping member includes at least a first stripping surface and a second stripping surface having a smaller curvature than the first stripping surface. The stripping member is rotatable to selectively position one of the first stripping surface and the second stripping surface in contact with the inner surface of the belt. The one of the first stripping surface and the second stripping surface facilitates stripping of a medium fed to the nip from the outer surface of the belt. | 07-15-2010 |
20100178086 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETACHING MEDIA FROM A FUSER IN A PRINTER - An apparatus ( | 07-15-2010 |
20100196064 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND METHODS OF STRIPPING MEDIA FROM SURFACES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods for stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful for printing are disclosed. An apparatus useful for printing comprising a first member including a first outer surface; a second member including a second outer surface; a belt including an inner surface and an outer surface; a first nip formed by contact between the inner surface of the belt and the second outer surface and contact between the outer surface of the belt and the first outer surface; and a stripping mechanism comprising a stripping member disposed internal to the belt. The stripping member is positionable relative to the first nip to vary a pressure applied by the outer surface of the belt against the first outer surface downstream from the first nip. The media are stripped from the outer surface of the belt after exiting from the first nip. | 08-05-2010 |
20100215413 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING THE SAME - A separation mechanism of a fixing device includes a first separation member arranged opposite the first region in a state apart from the first region by a first gap, a second separation member arranged opposite the second region in a state apart from the second region by a second gap and at a position different from that of the first separation member in a direction orthogonal to the convey direction of the paper, a first gap adjustment member capable of moving the first separation member relative to the first region of the fixing member to adjust the first gap, and a second gap adjustment member capable of moving the second separation member relative to the second region of the fixing member to adjust the second gap. | 08-26-2010 |
20100221046 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND METHODS OF STRIPPING MEDIA FROM SURFACES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful for printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful for printing includes a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface; a gas source; a rotary valve including a gas inlet in fluid communication with the gas source, a gas outlet and a rotor including a gas passage; a gas knife in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the rotary valve, the gas knife being adapted to emit gas onto the second surface downstream from the nip; and a motor coupled to the rotor. The motor is operable to rotate the rotor to selectively position the rotary valve in at least a first open position in which the gas passage is in fluid communication with the gas inlet and gas outlet, gas is supplied from the rotary valve to the gas knife which emits the gas having a first pressure onto the second surface, and a closed position in which the gas passage is not in fluid communication with the gas inlet and gas outlet and gas is not supplied from the rotary valve to the gas knife. | 09-02-2010 |
20100221047 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING THE SAME - A separation mechanism of a fixing device includes a separation member extending in a direction orthogonal to the paper convey direction and arranged opposite the fixing member in a state apart from the fixing member by a predetermined gap, a support shaft member extending in a direction orthogonal to the paper convey direction and rotatably supporting the separation member, a first gap adjustment unit capable of rotating the separation member around the support shaft member to adjust the predetermined gap in the rotation direction, and a second gap adjustment unit capable of moving the separation member in a direction in which an imaginary surface from the support shaft member towards the fixing member extends, to adjust the predetermined gap in the surface direction. | 09-02-2010 |
20100232847 | RELEASING DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A releasing device includes: a releasing unit that is made of a resin and disposed on a downstream side in a conveying direction of a recording medium from a fixing portion of a fixing unit which fixes a toner image on the recording medium, the releasing unit releasing the recording medium from the fixing unit; a supporting unit that supports the releasing unit on a supporting face and maintains the releasing unit and the fixing unit in a non-contact state; a screw that is advanced in a direction along the supporting face to secure the releasing unit; and a protruding portion provided between the releasing unit and the supporting unit and disposed at a position in a range extending from a first region between the screw and the supporting face to a second region shifted from the first region in a tightening direction side of the screw. | 09-16-2010 |
20100232848 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same - In a fixing device, at least one separator is provided downstream from a fixing nip formed between a fixing rotary member and a pressing rotary member in a recording medium conveyance direction to contact the fixing rotary member to separate a recording medium having passed through the fixing nip from the fixing rotary member. A feeler is provided upstream from the fixing nip in the recording medium conveyance direction and contacted by the recording medium conveyed toward the fixing nip to receive a pushing force from the recording medium. A transmission assembly is connected between the feeler and the separator to receive and transmit the pushing force to the separator to move the separator from a non-contact position at which the separator does not contact the fixing rotary member to a contact position at which the separator contacts the fixing rotary member. | 09-16-2010 |
20100247179 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fixing device comprises: a pair of fixing rotors, at least one of which has a heating source and both of which are rotated in pressure contact with each other; and a click-shaped peeling member provided on a downstream side of the fixing rotor with respect to a transporting direction of a recording medium and disposed in contact with a surface of the fixing rotor, wherein a tip portion of the click-shaped peeling member which is to come in contact with the fixing rotor is elastically deformed in conformity to a shape of a surface of the fixing rotor when coming in contact with the fixing rotor. | 09-30-2010 |
20100254735 | Image forming apparatus and fixing device - An image forming apparatus including a fixing device having first and second rollers to press against each other with a sheet of paper to be transferred therebetween. The apparatus includes a roller frame to support the first roller; a separation claw, which, when disposed in an operational position on an outer circumferential surface of the first roller, separates the sheet of paper from the first roller; a claw frame to support the separation claw, which is movably attached to the roller frame to allow the separation claw to move between the operational position and a withdrawal position, at which the separation claw is withdrawn from the operational position; and an elastic member coupled between the claw frame and the roller frame, to bias the claw frame such that biasing force applied to the claw frame causes the separation claw to move from the withdrawal position to the operational position. | 10-07-2010 |
20100303521 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same - In a fixing device, a second rotary member disposed opposite a first rotary member forms a nip between the first rotary member and the second rotary member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A first separation member rotatively provided on a rotary shaft of the first rotary member separates the recording medium passing through the nip from the first rotary member. A rotation angle adjuster connected to the first separation member changes a rotation angle position of the first separation member. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303522 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus prevents poor imaging caused by temperature decrease of the fixing rotating member due to ejected air and reduces cost and power consumption. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303523 | Image forming apparatus and fixing device with fine sheet separation function - A fixing device comprises a fixing roller that fixes a toner image onto a sheet, plural rollers including the fixing roller, and an endless fixing belt driven and wound around the plural rollers. A pressing member is provided to press against the fixing roller via the fixing belt. The pressing member creates a fixing nip on the fixing belt. A slip supporting member is provided to press against the inner surface of the fixing belt at an exit section on a sheet conveyance path downstream of the fixing nip. Plural separation members are provided to separate the sheet ejected from the fixing nip. The plural separation members are arranged with their leading ends being distanced from the exit section. | 12-02-2010 |
20100322681 | FUSER FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fuser includes: a rotational member configured to rotate; a press member configured to press the rotational member; an induction-current generator configured to generate induction current in the rotational member; and a separator configured to separate a leading end of a recording medium that passes through a nip from the rotational member, when a distal end is in a separating position, and move to an open position. | 12-23-2010 |
20110026985 | APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING, FIXING DEVICES AND METHODS OF STRIPPING MEDIA FROM SURFACES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING - Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface; a belt including an inner surface contacting the second surface and an outer surface contacting the first surface to form a nip through which the belt rotates; and a tensioned stripping wire contacting the inner surface of the belt and spaced from the second surface. The stripping wire can produce a sufficiently-high stripping force to facilitate stripping of media passed through the nip from the outer surface of the belt. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026986 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing member; a pressure member for pressing against the fixing member so as to form a nip region between the pressure member and the fixing member; a pressure cancellation unit for pressing the pressure member against the fixing member and for cancelling the state in which the pressure member is pressed against the fixing member; a paper detachment member for detaching paper held between the fixing member and the pressure member in the nip region from the pressure member; and a separation mechanism for cleaning the paper detachment member by separating the paper detachment member from the pressure member in conjunction with a pressure cancellation operation of the pressure cancellation unit. | 02-03-2011 |
20110033214 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device including: a fixing member; a pressing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member, wherein the fixing member and the pressing member sandwich a recording medium, fix a toner image on the recording medium and convey the recording medium; a detection unit for detecting that a leading edge of the recording medium is located at the nip portion; a first air jetting unit for separating the recording medium from the fixing member by jetting air only to a position close to the leading edge of the recording medium having passed the nip portion based on the detection result by the detection unit; and a second jetting unit for jetting air to the recording medium whose leading edge has passed through the nip portion. | 02-10-2011 |
20110044735 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device including: a heated fixing member to fix a toner image on a recording medium; a pressing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member; a first blowing unit that blows air to a position close to a leading edge of the recording medium; and a second blowing unit that blows air to the recording medium, wherein a discharge pressure of the air discharged by the first blowing unit is larger than that of the air ejected by the second blowing unit; a discharged air volume discharged by the first blowing unit is less than that discharged by the second blowing unit; and a first discharge port from which air is blown by the first blowing unit is arranged upstream of a second discharge port from which air is blown by the second blowing unit. | 02-24-2011 |
20110058860 | SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR COIL TENSION SPRING - A support mechanism includes a coil spring that generates a tensile force, a hook, and a support member. The hook includes a first position extending from the coil spring, an open end, and a second position that is closer to the open end than the first position. The support member includes a first edge facing the first position and a second edge facing the second position. The second edge is convex in a direction away from the first edge, the direction crossing a plane passing through the first edge, the first position, and the second position. | 03-10-2011 |
20110076068 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF REMOVING RESIDUAL TONER - A fixing device includes: a heating belt configured to heat a toner to be transferred onto a sheet; a heater for heating the heating belt; a peeling blade for peeling off the sheet adhering to the heating belt; and a driving unit configured to drive the peeling blade between a contact position where the driving unit brings the peeling blade into contact with the heating belt and a separated position where the driving unit separates the peeling blade from the heating belt. The peeling blade is located in the contact position until the heating belt rotates at least once. | 03-31-2011 |
20110081173 | SEPARATION UNIT, FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A separation unit is provided on a downstream side of a contact area between a belt-like rotating body and a pressure rotating body. The separation unit includes a pressure member, a guide portion and a pressure portion. The pressure member extends along a width direction of the belt-like rotating body, and presses the belt-like rotating body to deform the belt-like rotating body into a bent shape changing a course away from a surface of the pressure rotating body. The guide portion is on the pressure rotating body side of the pressure member to guide the belt-like rotating body so that an angle portion of the bent shape bites into the pressure rotating body. The pressure portion is on the surface in the pressure rotating body side, and the surface separates sequentially from the pressure rotating body in the extending direction from a center portion to an end portion. | 04-07-2011 |
20110091249 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device including: a heated fixing member; a pressure member to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member; first blowing unit and second blowing unit both located close to an outlet of the nip portion and separate the recording medium from the fixing member by blowing air to the recording medium, wherein a velocity of the air discharged from the first unit is higher than that of the air discharged from the second unit, whereas a volume of the air discharged from the first unit is smaller than that of the air discharged from the second unit; and the first unit starts discharging air before a leading edge of the recording medium reaches the outlet of the nip portion, whereas the second unit starts discharging air after the leading edge of the recording medium has passed through the outlet of the nip portion. | 04-21-2011 |
20110097121 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED THEREWITH - A fixing device fixing a toner image on a recording material, includes: a first blowing section that blows air against a leading edge of the recording material that has passed through a nip portion formed by a heated fixing member and a pressing member kept in pressure contact with the fixing member, and a second blowing section that blows air against the recording material that has passed through the nip portion, wherein an air speed of air blown out from a first blowing outlet is higher than that of air blown out from a second blowing outlet, wherein an air flow amount from the first blowing outlet is less than that from the second blowing outlet, and wherein the first and second blowing outlets are arranged at the same position in a direction in parallel with a rotational axis of the fixing member. | 04-28-2011 |
20110135350 | A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING MEDIA FROM A SURFACE IN AN APPARATUS USEFUL IN PRINTING - An apparatus and method for stripping media from a surface and useful in printing may include a first member, a fixing belt, a first nip, a second nip, and a stripping device including a curved stripping edge contacting the inner surface of the fixing belt, the stripping edge being defined by a radius of less than about 10 mm, the stripping edge being spaced from the first outlet end of the first nip by a distance of less than about 10 mm, and the fixing belt bending at a stripping angle of about 20° to about 30° at the stripping edge, the stripping device being adjustably movable by a mechanism to vary the distance from the stripping edge to the first outlet end of the first nip, wherein media are stripped from an outer surface of the fixing belt after exiting from the first outlet end of the first nip. | 06-09-2011 |
20110135351 | RECORDING MEDIUM PEELING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A recording medium peeling device includes: a circularly moving section that has a moving surface circulating along a circulation course; and a pressing section that presses a recording medium passing through a pressing position in the circulation course, against the moving surface at the pressing position. The recording medium peeling device further includes: a peeling member that is disposed downstream from the pressing position in the circularly moving, is apart from the moving surface, is provided along the moving surface, extends in a direction crossing a direction of the circularly moving, and peels the recording medium after passing through the pressing position from the moving surface; and a protruding member that is disposed downstream from the peeling member in a direction in which the recording medium after being peeled by the peeling member proceeds, protrudes from the peeling member side to the recording medium side, and slopes downstream. | 06-09-2011 |
20110142505 | HEATING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heating device includes: a heating member that heats a recording medium; a pressure member that forms a heating pressure portion between the pressure member and the heating member by coming into pressure contact with the heating member, the heating pressure portion passing through the recording medium; a tensioning member that is placed to face the pressure member with the heating member interposed therebetween, and that provides a tension to the heating member; and a guide member that guides the recording medium having passed through the heating pressure portion, and that is movable between a first secure position and a second secure position. | 06-16-2011 |
20110164903 | Image forming apparatus and cover sheet conveyance system incorporated therein - An image forming apparatus includes a first pair of rotary members pressing against each other, forming a first nip therebetween, a cover sheet supply unit to transport to the first nip a cover sheet to be superimposed on an imaging surface of a recording medium, a separation unit that separates the cover sheet from the recording medium after the recording medium passes through the first nip and includes a second pair of rotary members pressing against each other, forming a second nip therebetween, and a drive unit to rotate the first and second pairs of rotary members in both a normal direction for transporting the cover sheet in a supply direction and a reverse direction. The first and second pairs of rotary members and the drive unit together form a cover sheet return mechanism for returning the cover sheet separated from the recording medium to the supply position. | 07-07-2011 |
20110164904 | FUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fusing device includes a rotary fusing part; a heating unit heating the rotary fusing part; a rotary pressure part pressed against the rotary fusing part; nozzles jetting compressed air to paper being conveyed through a nip between the rotary fusing part and the rotary pressure part; and separating parts guiding the paper separated from the rotary fusing part. The nozzles and the separating parts are disposed downstream of the nip in a paper conveying direction so as not to contact the rotary fusing part and the rotary pressure part and are arranged alternately along the length direction of the nip that is orthogonal to the paper conveying direction. The separating parts protrude beyond the tips of the nozzles toward the nip. | 07-07-2011 |
20110182631 | FUSER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A fuser device includes: a fuser member that heats developer on a print medium; a pressure member that presses the fuser member so as to provide a contact region therebetween; and a separation member that separates the print medium, which is ejected from the contact region, from either the fuser member or the pressure member. The separation member includes a separator in a plate-like shape and a support member that supports the separator such that the separator is disposed in the vicinity of the fuser member. The separator includes a planar part in a plate-like shape that is sustained by the support member; a tip part that is a tip of the separator, an inclined surface part that is inclined toward the tip part in a thickness direction of the separator, a border part that is defined as a boundary between the planar part and the inclined surface part. | 07-28-2011 |
20110188903 | APPARATUSES INCLUDING A VIBRATING STRIPPING DEVICE FOR STRIPPING PRINT MEDIA FROM A BELT AND METHODS OF STRIPPING PRINT MEDIA FROM BELTS - Apparatuses useful in printing onto media and methods for stripping print media from belts are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus useful in printing onto media includes a first member including a first surface; a second member; a fixing belt supported on the second member, the fixing belt including an inner surface and an outer surface, the first surface and the second surface forming a nip at which media are received; and a vibrating stripping device disposed between the second member and the inner surface of the fixing belt. The vibrating stripping device includes a stripping member including a stripping surface and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism produces vibration of the stripping surface and the fixing belt, and the vibration of the fixing belt assists separation of media passed through the nip from the outer surface of the fixing belt adjacent to the stripping surface of the stripping member. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188904 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing portion provided with a fixing roller, a heating roller and a fixing belt; a pressing roller that presses a recording sheet to the fixing belt; a cleaning unit provided with a cleaning web that cleans up the pressing roller; and contact/separation mechanism that separates fixing means from the pressing roller. Viscosity of silicone oil that impregnates the cleaning web is set to 3,000 cs or more, and the contact/separation mechanism separates the fixing belt from the pressing roller at the time of rotation operation before fixation. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188905 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH SAME - A fixing device is provided with a fixing roller, a peeling claw that peels a recording paper from the fixing roller, a peeling claw holder that rotatably supports the peeling claw, and a support member that movably supports the peeling claw holder to enable the peeling claw to retract by moving apart from the fixing roller, wherein not less than two directions are set as retracting directions of the peeling claw holder to be moved when the peeling claw is caused to retract by moving apart from the fixing roller. | 08-04-2011 |
20110206425 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a developing device configured to form a toner image on the image carrier; a compressed air generating unit configured to generate compressed air; an air nozzle configured to eject the compressed air; a fixing device configured to fix the toner image on a sheet, the sheet being separated from the fixing device by the compressed air ejected from the air nozzle to the sheet; a pressure regulation unit provided between the compressed air generating unit and the air nozzle; and a guide path connected to the pressure regulation unit and configured to guide excess air generated by a pressure regulation of the pressure regulation unit to at least one part in the image forming apparatus. | 08-25-2011 |
20110211875 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a fixing device including: a fixing member; and a pressure member configured to be pressed against the fixing member in order to form a nip portion, wherein a sheet configured to be fed into the nip portion in order to fix unfixed toner image thereon; a compressor configured to supply compressed air; a nozzle configured to be disposed at an outlet side of the nip portion and to blast the compressed air to an adhered portion of the sheet to the fixing member; and a controller configured to correct open-time of the nozzle based on image forming condition and to control number of times that the compressed air is blasted to the sheet in accordance with length of corrected open-time, wherein the open-time of the nozzle is determined in accordance with basis weight of the sheet. | 09-01-2011 |
20110211876 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a flexible, endless belt-shaped fixing member that rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation, a substantially cylindrical metal heat conductor provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and facing an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, a pressing member that presses the fixing member against the metal heat conductor to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes, and a separator that presses the fixing member against the metal heat conductor, provided downstream from the nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing member and contacting the recording medium discharged from the nip to separate the recording medium from the fixing member and guide the recording medium out of the fixing device. | 09-01-2011 |
20110217091 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same - A fixing device includes a heater, a rotary fixing member, and a rotary pressing member pressing against the rotary fixing member to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes to fix the toner image thereon. The fixing device includes an air supply tube disposed downstream from the nip in the direction of conveyance of the recording medium and connected to an air source of an image forming apparatus, to supply compressed air to a plurality of nozzles disposed on the air supply tube along a long axis of the nip perpendicular to the direction of conveyance and inject pulsed compressed air against the recording medium passing through the nip. The air supply tube includes an exhaust opening disposed at an extreme upstream end of the flow of the compressed air outside the recording medium passing area near the air source. | 09-08-2011 |
20110222921 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording sheet by applying a pressure and a heat during conveying the recording sheet at a nip portion, includes: a fixing member including a heating section; a pressure-applying member forming the nip portion with the fixing member; an air blow duct provided with an air discharge opening which opens toward a vicinity of a recording sheet outlet of the nip portion; and an air blowing section which blows air toward the vicinity, wherein fixing device further includes an air drain path provided with an air suction opening at the vicinity of the outlet of the recording sheet and suctioning the air blown toward the vicinity of the outlet of the recording sheet thereby draining the air. The air drain path is separated from a sheet conveyance path by a separation wall member and formed above the sheet conveyance path. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222922 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING THE SAME - Disclosed is a fixing device, which makes it possible to prevent the air blasting section from deterioration, caused by heat transferred from the duct to the air blasting section. The fixing device includes a fixing section to fix the toner image onto the paper sheet; a heat source; and a separating section to separate the paper sheet from the pair of fixing members. On the other hand, the separating section includes: a gas blasting section to blast a gas; and a duct to guide the gas towards the pair of fixing members, and that is provided with a duct wall serving as a heat receiving surface to receive radiation heat irradiated from the fixing section, and at least one of the gas blasting section and the duct is provided with such a connection structure that suppresses heat transferring action from the duct to the gas blasting section. | 09-15-2011 |
20110229220 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device including: a fixing member that heats toner image and fixes it onto a recording material; a pressure member that forms a nip that presses the recording material against the fixing member; a first air separating section that blows air against the fixing member and separates the recording sheet from the fixing member; and a separation claw that separates the recording material from the pressure member, wherein a tip of the separation claw contacts the pressure member at a position which is downstream, in a direction of movement of a surface of the pressure member, of a peak of an air blast pressure distribution on a surface of the pressure member, and wherein the air blast pressure distribution is formed by air blown against the pressure member which is caused by the air blown by the first air separating section against the fixing member. | 09-22-2011 |
20110243619 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device conveying a sheet carrying a toner image under heating and pressurization at a nip section and fixing the toner image on the sheet comprising; a fixing member provided with a heating member, a pressure member pressing on the fixing member and forming the nip section which sandwiches the sheet carrying the toner image; a blower duct equipped with an outlet opening toward a vicinity of a sheet outlet of the nip section; a blower member for blowing air in a vicinity of the sheet outlet through the blower duct; and a guide device provided with a guide member for guiding the sheet ejected from the nip section arranged on an upper side of a sheet conveyance path; and, further comprising a biasing member for biasing the sheet toward the guide member, in the vicinity of the nip section. | 10-06-2011 |
20110249996 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH SAME - A fixing device is provided in which a rotation member and a roller are caused to rotate pressing against each other, a recording paper is sandwiched and transported in a nip region between the rotation member and the roller, a leading edge of a peeling plate is positioned with respect to a peripheral surface of the rotation member, and the recording paper is separated from the rotation member by the peeling plate. In this fixing device, a surface of the peeling plate faces a transport route of the recording paper. Furthermore, in this fixing device, a contact member is provided that contacts a rear surface of the peeling plate displaced in a direction in which the leading edge of the peeling plate approaches the peripheral surface of the rotation member and prohibits displacement of the peeling plate after contact of the peeling plate to the contact member. | 10-13-2011 |
20110280634 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heating member to heat a sheet on which a toner image is supported; a pressing member to contact with the heating member so as to form a nip portion; a temperature detecting sensor to detect a temperature of the heating member without contacting with a surface of the heating member; and an air separating section to separate the sheet from the heating member by blowing air from a outlet to the sheet conveyed out from the nip portion, wherein the heating member is arranged to interrupt a straight line which connects the outlet and the temperature detecting sensor. | 11-17-2011 |
20110305491 | Compressed-air sheet separation mechanism and image forming apparatus including same - A sheet separation mechanism including a compressed air generator, a first nozzle to eject compressed air onto a leading edge of a sheet, a control valve provided between the compressed air generator and the first nozzle to control a flow of the compressed air, and a second nozzle provided between the control valve and the first nozzle. The control valve controls the compressed air to be simultaneously ejected from both the first nozzle and the second nozzle. | 12-15-2011 |
20110305492 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes: a fixing section which passes a sheet through a fixing nip portion formed by a pair of fixing members and thereby fixes a toner image on the sheet by heating; a blowing section which separates the sheet from the fixing members by blowing separation wind from a sheet discharge side of the fixing nip portion to the fixing members; an opening setting section which is provided with an opening region in which an opening width in a sheet width direction is adjustable, and adjusts a blowing range in the sheet width direction of the separation wind blown through the opening range from the blowing section to the fixing members; a temperature detection sensor for detecting temperature of the fixing members; and a control section which controls the opening width of the opening setting section based on the temperature detected of the fixing members. | 12-15-2011 |
20120003019 | FIXING DEVICE INCLUDING MOVABLE PEELING PLATE - According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes: an image-side rotating section to come into contact with an unfixed image on a recording medium; a pressing section to form a nip between the pressing section and the image-side rotating section; a pressing adjusting section to adjust pressing force between the image-side rotating section and the pressing section; and a peeling plate to move to a position during jam treatment if the pressing force is pressing force during the jam treatment and peel the recording medium off the image-side rotating section. | 01-05-2012 |
20120014725 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus including a fixing device to fix a toner image on a recoding medium; a compressed air generator to generate a compressed air; an air nozzle to inject the compressed air to separate the recording medium having the fixed toner image from the fixing device; a first switching unit to switch the air nozzle between injection and termination, which is provided upstream from the air nozzle; and a buffer unit to retain the compressed air, which is provided upstream from the air nozzle and downstream from the first switching unit. | 01-19-2012 |
20120027476 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE - An image heating device includes a rotatable image heating member for heating an image on a recording material and for forming a nip; a blowing member for blowing air; and an ejecting member for ejecting air to separate the recording material passing through the nip from said image heating member, the ejecting member ejecting the air from the blowing member toward the image heating member so that a speed of the air toward an end portion of the image heating member is higher than that of the air toward a central portion of the image heating member with respect to a rotational axis direction of the image heating member. | 02-02-2012 |
20120045260 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, a first media stripper, and a second media stripper. The rotary fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is pressed against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is passed in a media conveyance direction under heat and pressure as the fuser and pressure members rotate together. The first media stripper includes at least one pneumatic nozzle disposed adjacent to the fuser member to direct compressed gas toward the fixing nip along the fuser member for stripping the recording medium from the fuser member. The second media stripper includes at least one contact finger disposed in contact with the pressure member to slide against the pressure member during rotation for stripping the recording medium from the pressure member. | 02-23-2012 |
20120063821 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes: a fixing belt which is supported by one or more rollers; and a fixing roller which is in pressed contact with at least one of the rollers across the fixing belt, wherein the fixing roller includes a core portion which is rotatably provided, an elastic portion which covers the core portion so as to form a cylindrical shape with a rotation axis of the core portion being defined as a center, and a release portion which covers a cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the elastic portion, and an end of the elastic portion in a direction along the rotation axis and an end of the release portion in the direction along the rotation axis project from an end of the core portion, in the direction along the rotation axis, at a part where the core portion and the elastic portion are in contact with each other. | 03-15-2012 |
20120063822 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED THEREWITH - A fixing device includes: a heating section which heats a recording material; a pressing section which presses the recording material toward the heating section; a separation claw which separates the recording material from the heating section or the pressing section; a fixing unit moving section which reciprocates the heating section, the pressing section and the separation claw in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording material; and a separation claw moving section which reciprocates the separation claw in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, wherein the separation claw moving section moves the separation claw toward a direction opposite to a moving direction toward which the heating section, the pressing section and the separation claw move in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. | 03-15-2012 |
20120070204 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing unit includes: a support member; an endless-belt-like fixing member which is wound on the support member; a pressure member which rotates in a fixed rotation direction while being pressed onto the fixing member; a fixing portion in which the fixing member and the pressure member abut against each other to perform fixation on a recording medium; a separation unit which is provided in a space between the support member and the fixing member on a downstream side of the fixing member in a rotation direction of the fixing member and for separating the recording medium from the fixing member; a separation portion which is provided in the separation unit to press the fixing member onto the pressure member and guide the fixing member to leave the pressure member; and an adjustment unit as defined herein. | 03-22-2012 |
20120082491 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device includes two rollers to form a fixing nip and a separation plate assembly disposed near one of the rollers. The separation plate assembly includes at least one separation plate to separate a recording medium from the roller, a pair of contact members, a holding member having a rotation shaft at each end in a longitudinal direction thereof, to hold at least one separation plate and the contact members in a rotation axis direction, and a contact pressure adjuster to adjust a contact pressure of the contact members relative to the roller by bending a portion of the holding member holding one of the pair of contact members to the roller and to the opposite of the roller. When the holding member is rotated about the rotation shafts, the contact members contact the roller to separate at least one separation plate from the roller. | 04-05-2012 |
20120114400 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device to fix a toner image on a recording medium in a nip portion formed by a treated fixing member and a pressure member, the fixing device including; an air ejection section to eject and blow air against the recording medium to separate the recording medium from the fixing member, a first guide member provided on a fixing face side of the recording medium discharged from the nip portion to guide the recording medium, a second guide member provided on a non-fixing face side of the recording medium discharged from the nip portion to guide the recording medium, also having a predetermined clearance with respect to the pressure member, and an air suction section provided on a opposite side position with respect to the first guide member in the second guide member to suction air of the clearance and attract the recording medium to the second guide member. | 05-10-2012 |
20120195652 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device, including a fixing member; an opposing member contacting the fixing member to form a fixing nip; plural separation assisting members; a contact direction biasing member contacting an end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member; a contact and release switching member switching contacting the end of the auxiliary separation members to the surface of the fixing member and releasing the end of the auxiliary separation members therefrom; a fixing exit guide member guiding a recording medium to a discharge direction and separated from the fixing member by the separation assisting member; a first rotating member near the auxiliary separation members downstream from an end thereof; and a second rotating member guiding a recording medium guided by the fixing exit guide member in the recording medium conveyance direction while rotating. | 08-02-2012 |
20120207524 | Fusing apparatus and electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the same - A fusing apparatus to fuse a toner image transferred to a printing medium by applying heat and pressure. The fusing apparatus includes a separation member that is rotatably mounted on a rotation axis to separate the printing medium from one of a heating roller and a pressing roller. The separation member includes a hollow portion into which the rotation axis is inserted, and a separation portion that contacts an outer circumference of the heating roller. The separation member is installed so as to be pitched around the rotation axis and a pitching axis having an inclination angle within a range of ±10° with respect to a line that connects a contact point between the separation portion and the outer circumference of the roller from which the printing medium is to be separated and a center of the roller from which the printing medium is to be separated. | 08-16-2012 |
20120224893 | MEDIA STRIPPER MECHANISM, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A media stripper mechanism includes a shaft, one or more first stripping members, and one or more second stripping members. The shaft extends in an axial direction thereof parallel to a rotational axis of the rotary member. Each of the one or more first stripping members is a pneumatic nozzle that has a proximal end thereof supported on the shaft, and a distal, free end opposite the proximal end thereof pointing toward the rotary member to direct compressed gas toward the nip along the rotary member for stripping the recording medium from the rotary member. Each of the one or more second stripping members is a non-contact finger that has a proximal end thereof supported on the shaft, and a distal, free end opposite the proximal end thereof pointing toward the rotary member to assist in stripping the recording medium from the rotary member without contacting the rotary member. | 09-06-2012 |
20120243919 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A fixing device includes a first and a second rollers which form a fixing nip portion, a separating member for sheets, a supporting mechanism and a contact portion. The separating member is displaced between a first posture in which the tip of the separating member is close to the circumferential surface of the first roller and a second posture in which the tip is distant from that. The contact portion forms a gap between the tip of the separating member and the circumferential surface of the first roller. The supporting mechanism includes a pair of supporting members arranged near the opposite ends of the first roller, pivot members extending from the separating members and serving as a pivot of rotation of the separating member, and long holes which are provided at the opposite ends of the separating member and into which the pivot members are inserted. | 09-27-2012 |
20120251202 | APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS INCLUDING BELT-ROLL FUSER STRIPPING SHOE WITH ROBUST COMPLIANT TIP - A belt-roll fuser stripping system has a stripping shoe and a stripping shim. The shim is support by a support member. The support member supports the shim to maintain a desired nip pressure profile, and reduce deformation and wear of the shim and belt-roll fuser components. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251203 | FUSING UNIT FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fusing unit includes a heat roller and a press roller, which fuse a toner image fused to a recording sheet; a first separating pawl contacting a circumferential surface of the heat roller and separating the recording sheet from the heat roller; second separating pawls that are spaced from the first separating pawl in an axial direction to contact the circumferential surface of the heat roller and separate the recording sheet from the heat roller; a first rotatable guide in the first separating pawl that guides the recording sheet to a sheet discharge guide of an exit feed path while changing its orientation; a second rotatable guide provided in each of the second separating pawls which guides the recording sheet to a sheet discharge guide of an exit feed path while changing an orientation of the recording sheet; and a fusing feed path that reaches the sheet discharge guide. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251204 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Driving of a driving unit is controlled so as to satisfy relationship of L>|X+Y|(|X|≦X | 10-04-2012 |
20120321359 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO IMPROVE BELT ROLL FUSING STRIPPING LATITUDE BY STRIP SHOE POSITION ADJUSTMENT - According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided apparatus and methods of improving the self-stripping capabilities of a printing system employing a belt roll fuser structure. An exemplary embodiment apparatus comprises a pressure roll; a fuser belt; a nip formed by the fuser belt contacting the pressure roll, the nip including an inlet end where a medium enters the nip, an outlet end where the medium exits the nip, and a first nip width defined between the inlet end and the outlet end; and a striping shoe coupled to a controller that uses a lookup table to incrementally move the stripping shoe to some defined optimum position to compensate for at least one of belt degradation, media weight, and media coating to gain stripping latitude. | 12-20-2012 |
20130004213 | FIXING DEVICE WITH MECHANISM CAPABLE OF MINIMIZING DAMAGE TO TONER IMAGE AND RECORDING MEDIUM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes at least one separator including a pawl separatably contacting a fixing rotary body to separate a recording medium discharged from a fixing nip formed between the fixing rotary body and a pressing rotary body from the fixing rotary body; at least one first rotary body rotatably supported by the at least one separator to contact and guide the recording medium separated by the pawl in a recording medium conveyance direction; at least one second rotary body disposed downstream from the first rotary body in the recording medium conveyance direction to contact and guide the recording medium guided by the first rotary body in the recording medium conveyance direction; and at least one brush mounted on an outer circumferential surface of at least one of the first rotary body and the second rotary body. | 01-03-2013 |
20130004214 | GUIDE DEVICE WITH MECHANISM CAPABLE OF MINIMIZING DAMAGE TO TONER IMAGE AND RECORDING MEDIUM AND FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A guide device includes a fixing exit guide, a first rotary body, a second rotary body disposed downstream from the first rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction and partially protruding from a guide face through a slot of the fixing exit guide to contact and support an image side of a recording medium conveyed over the second rotary body, and at least one guide rib mounted on the guide face of the fixing exit guide and extending substantially in the recording medium conveyance direction. The guide rib includes a contact face contacting the image side of the recording medium and a downstream end disposed downstream from the contact face in the recording medium conveyance direction to overlap the second rotary body in cross-section taken along a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the second rotary body. | 01-03-2013 |
20130078015 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a fixing member and a paper separation part. The fixing member fixes an image by heating and applying a pressure to a sheet of printing paper S on which a toner image is transferred, while transferring the paper S. The paper separation part has a blower part and an air ejecting part that ejects the air sent out from the blower part against a paper outlet port of a nipping part N of the fixing member. The air ejection part has ribs that divide the air flow sent out from said blower part. | 03-28-2013 |
20130094885 | MULTI-CHAMBERED AIR KNIFE FOR IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An air knife for separating media from a roll in an image forming system includes a body; a first air plenum; a first plenum passage fluidly connected to the first air plenum; a first exit passage fluidly connected to the first plenum passage; a first air exit fluidly connecting the first exit passage to an outside of the body such that the first air plenum is fluidly connected to the outside of the body through the first air exit; a second air plenum separated from the first air plenum such that fluid in the second air plenum is separated from fluid in the first air plenum; a second plenum passage fluidly connected to the second air plenum; a second exit passage fluidly connected to the second plenum passage; and a second air exit fluidly connecting the second exit passage to an outside of the body. | 04-18-2013 |
20130101324 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - The image forming apparatus includes a fixing-side member that comes into contact with an image-formation side of a sheet having a toner image formed thereon by an image forming section; a reverse-side supporting member that comes into contact with a reverse side of the sheet by being pressed toward the fixing-side member; a heat source that supplies heat to the sheet via the fixing-side member; an air separation section that discharges compressed air supplied by an air supply source, to a surface of the fixing-side member to separate the sheet from the fixing-side member; and a control section that controls a pressure accumulation operation in the air supply source. Moreover, the control section disables the pressure accumulation operation in the air supply source in a time period when an image forming process is not performed in the image forming section. | 04-25-2013 |
20130108335 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
20130108336 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME | 05-02-2013 |
20130121735 | MEDIA STRIPPER MECHANISM - A media stripper mechanism includes a stripping member. The stripping member has a stripping edge extending in an axial, longitudinal direction of the rotary member for contacting the recording medium upon exiting the nip, and a guide surface extending from the stripping edge for guiding the recording medium after stripping from the rotary member. The guide surface exhibits a maximum height roughness Rz of approximately 10 to 18 micrometers. | 05-16-2013 |
20130136510 | Fixing Unit, Image Forming Apparatus Including the Same, and Method for Separating Recording Medium - A fixing unit includes a heating member, a pressing member, a casing, a separating member, and an urging member. The separating member has a separation claw and a rotating unit. The urging member urges the separation claw toward the surface of the heating member. The rotating unit has an engaging portion and guide surfaces opposing at an interval smaller than that of the engaging portion. The supporting portion includes an engagement supporting portion that rotatably engages the engaging portion and an insertion opening. The separating member rotates to retract guide surfaces from a position facing the inner wall surfaces of the insertion opening. The guide surfaces oppose the inner wall surfaces of the insertion opening to bring the engaging portion to the engagement supporting portion and thereafter mounting the heating member on the casing. | 05-30-2013 |
20130170877 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, AND SEPARATING MEMBER - In an embodiment, provided is a fixing device that includes: a fixing belt rotatable and endless; a belt holding member holding the fixing belt at each end part in an axial direction; a heat source heating the fixing belt; a nip forming member provided inside the fixing belt; an opposing rotator forming a nip portion between the opposing rotator and the fixing belt via the fixing belt; and a separating member that extends near the nip portion and separates a recording medium from a surface of the fixing belt. A leading end of the separating member is provided with a receding portion and an approaching portion that is at a different position from a position of the receding portion different in the axial direction. The approaching portion is provided nearer to the nip portion than the receding portion is provided. | 07-04-2013 |
20130189004 | SELF-POSITIONING STRIPPER BAR APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR BELT ROLL FUSER SYSTEMS - A self-positioning belt roll fuser stripping apparatus and system includes an internal pressure roll entraining a fuser belt. The internal pressure engages an external pressure roll to form a fusing nip. The internal pressure roll includes an internal pressure roll bearing to which a mounting plate is attached, allowing the mounting plate to move about a rotational axis of the internal pressure roll. A strip bar is attached to the mounting plate, and configured to force the fuser belt toward the external pressure roll. A mounting plate ski is configured to contact an external pressure roll bearing to limit movement of the mounting plate, positioning the strip shoe as desired when the mounting plate is moved to guide the strip show toward the fusing nip. | 07-25-2013 |
20130189005 | SEPARATOR AND SEPARATION DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A separator includes a front edge disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of an endless belt. The front edge contacts and separates a recording medium from the endless belt. A separation plate mounts the front edge. A contact plate projects from the separation plate in an axial direction of the endless belt and contacts a belt holder that supports the endless belt. A bracket projects from the separation plate in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the contact plate projects from the separation plate. The bracket includes a notch that engages the belt holder. The contact plate contacting the belt holder and the notch of the bracket engaging the belt holder produce an interval between the front edge of the separator and the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt. | 07-25-2013 |
20130202331 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED THEREWITH - When an arm member | 08-08-2013 |
20130251417 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heating member, a pressure member forming a nip portion with the heating member; and a separation member disposed on a downstream side of the nip portion in a medium conveyance direction, wherein the separation member includes a guide portion having a guide surface for guiding the recording medium to be conveyed, and a condensation portion formed at a position remote from the guide surface, to promote generation of water droplets due to condensation at the condensation portion and to prevent recording failures from occurring due to condensation by evaporating the generated water droplets at the condensation portion. | 09-26-2013 |
20130266351 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The print performance of an image forming apparatus is improved by adequately estimating the behavior of a sheet receiving separation air and controlling the output of separation air. A fixing control unit | 10-10-2013 |
20130272756 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes a fixing belt configured to fix a toner image on a sheet at a nip portion, a rotating member configured to convey the sheet cooperatively with the fixing belt at the nip portion, a supporting roller configured to rotatably support the fixing belt and to press the fixing belt toward the rotating member, a separation pad provided in a position which is downstream of the supporting roller in a sheet conveyance direction and configured to press the fixing belt toward the rotating member to separate the sheet from the fixing belt, a holder configured to hold the separation pad, the holder being swingable around a center which is further away from the rotating member than the nip portion and which is downstream of the supporting roller, and an urging member configured to urge the holder in a rotational direction of the fixing belt. | 10-17-2013 |
20130279954 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an image forming apparatus which uses a separation claw to separate a recording medium from a photosensitive member without damaging the recording medium even when the recording medium is thin. The employed separation claw fixed to a frame is a flattened plate made of a resin. The separation claw is gradually tapered toward a leading end thereof, and is provided with a slit from the apex toward the frame . The separation claw is not gradually tapered in a thickness direction and has a constant thickness. A plurality of separation claws are fixed to the frame in a length direction of the photosensitive drum so that the recording medium can be separated regardless of the sheet size. The frame is moved to easily adjust the positional relationship between the photosensitive drum and the separation claws. | 10-24-2013 |
20130287458 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS, FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes: a rotatable member; a pair of frames; a separating unit including a separating plate and a pair of spacers; and a holding unit including a holding portion and an urging portion. The holding unit is rotatable between a first position where the spacers are abutted against the rotatable member and a second position where the spacers are spaced from the rotatable member. The frames include a pair of shaft portions, and the separating unit includes a pair of guiding slots with movement of the holding unit from the second position to the first position. The holding portion permits inclination of the separating unit so that only one of the shaft portions is abutted against a stopper portion of its associated guiding slot with the abutment of the spacers against the rotatable member. | 10-31-2013 |
20130294802 | SHEET SEPARATING DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet separating device is attached to a fixing device. The fixing device includes: a fixing member that is a rotary body having a heating unit; and a pressing member that is pressed against and is brought into contact with the fixing member. The fixing device conveys a sheet material that carries unfixed toner thereon through a nip section formed by the fixing member and the pressing member so as to fix the unfixed toner image to the sheet material. The sheet separating device includes: at least one nozzle member that discharges compressed gas from the direction of a nip outlet toward the nip section along the fixing member. The nozzle member is rotatably supported by a shaft member that is provided parallel to the fixing member and includes a gas flow passage through which compressed gas is supplied to the nozzle member. | 11-07-2013 |
20130330110 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a separator disposed downstream from a fixing nip formed between a fixing rotary body and a pressing rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction to separate a recording medium from the fixing rotary body. The separator includes a front disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body with a given interval therebetween and a conveyance face contiguous to the front, over which the recording medium slides. A coating layer, made of fluoroplastic, coats the front and the conveyance face of the separator. The coating layer includes a front portion corresponding to the front of the separator and produced with a plurality of recesses extending in a width direction of the separator orthogonal to the recording medium conveyance direction throughout substantially an entire width of the separator in the width direction thereof. | 12-12-2013 |
20130336682 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING BULGE RADIUS OF A PRESSURE MEMBER - An apparatus, system and method are provided for controlling a bulge radius of a pressure member in a belt-roll fuser. The belt-roll fuser has a first pressure member. The belt-roll fuser also has a fuser belt having a portion that faces a surface of the first pressure member at a region defining a fusing nip. The belt-roll fuser further has a second pressure member that faces another portion of the fuser belt at the fusing nip such that the fuser belt is entrained between the first pressure member and the second pressure member. The belt-roll fuser additionally has a deformation member configured to deform the first pressure member. | 12-19-2013 |
20130336683 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING STRIP RADIUS IN A FUSER UNIT USEFUL IN PRINTING - An apparatus, system and method are provided for controlling a nip pressure profile at a fusing nip and a strip radius in a fuser. The fuser has a first pressure member configured to be inflatable comprising one or more radial webs configured to extend between an external portion of the first pressure member and an internal member of the first pressure member. The fuser also has a second pressure member that having a surface that faces a surface of the first pressure member at a region defining a fusing nip. The second pressure member is configured to cause a deformation of the first pressure member to cause, at least in part, a selectable strip radius. | 12-19-2013 |
20130336684 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING STRIP RADIUS IN A PRINTING SYSTEM - An apparatus, system and method are provided for controlling one or more strip radii in a fuser. The fuser has a first member having a first surface. The fuser also has a belt having a first portion that contacts the first surface of the first member. The fuser further has a second member having a second surface that contacts a second portion of the belt in a region defining a nip. The fuser additionally has a stripping apparatus, positioned downstream of the nip in a process direction, comprising one or more adjustable blades configured to selectively exert one or more variable predetermined pressures on one or more selected sections of the first portion of the belt causing one or more selectable strip radii. | 12-19-2013 |
20130336685 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A STRIP RADIUS IN A PRINTING SYSTEM - An apparatus, system and method are provided for causing one or more selectable strip radii associated with stripping a substrate from a belt in a fuser after an image has been fused to the substrate during a printing process. The fuser has a first member having a first surface, and a belt having a first portion that contacts the first of the first member. The fuser has a second member having a second surface that contacts a second portion of the belt in a region defining a fusing nip. The fuser has a stripping apparatus, positioned downstream of the fusing nip in a process direction, comprising one or more transducers that cause one or more respective transducer segments to move at a frequency that deflects one or more sections of the first portion of the belt to cause one or more selectable strip radii on demand. | 12-19-2013 |
20130336686 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a plurality of separation assemblies disposed opposite a fixing rotary body to separate a recording medium from the fixing rotary body. Each separation assembly includes a separator separatably contacting the fixing rotary body, a contact biasing member anchored to the separator to bias the separator against the fixing rotary body, an arm separatably contacting the separator to isolate the separator from the fixing rotary body, and an actuator connected to the arm to separate the arm from the separator. A controller is operatively connected to the actuator of each separation assembly to control the actuator of at least one of the plurality of separation assemblies to separate the arm from the separator so as to bring the separator into contact with the fixing rotary body by the contact biasing member. | 12-19-2013 |
20140029989 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a supporting mechanism and contact members. The supporting mechanism pivotably supports a separating member. The contact members come into contact with the circumferential surface near both ends of the first roller and form a gap having a predetermined distance between the distal end of the tabular member and the circumferential surface of the first roller. The supporting mechanism includes first and second fulcrum members functioning as a fulcrum for pivoting of the separating member and first and second holes provided in the separating member. The first fulcrum member is inserted into the first hole and the second fulcrum member is inserted into the second hole. The first hole is a hole that allows the separating member to substantially shift only in a predetermined direction. The second hole is a hole that does not substantially restrict displacement of the separating member. | 01-30-2014 |
20140029990 | FIXING DEVICE PROVIDED WITH A SHEET MATERIAL HAVING PENETRATING HOLES BETWEEN SEPARATION GUIDES AND PRINTING DEVICE - A penetrating hole is positioned facing a concave area between a separation guide and a separation guide of a sheet supporting the separation guides. When the front edge of a printing medium has passed through and emerged from a fixing clasp, water vapor generated from the printing medium by heating from a heating belt catches airflow flowing along a circulation movement surface of the heating belt and is sucked into a spatial region where a frame of the fixing device body is positioned from the penetrating hole. | 01-30-2014 |
20140050511 | SEPARATION DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A separation device includes at least one separator disposed opposite one of a first rotary body and a second rotary body. Each separator includes a front aligned in an axial direction of the one of the first rotary body and the second rotary body and including a recording medium conveyance face over which a recording medium slides. The recording medium conveyance face includes a front edge produced with a burr having a height not greater than about 25 micrometers. A recess produced on the recording medium conveyance face extends in a direction perpendicular to a recording medium conveyance direction. The recording medium conveyance face has a surface roughness defined by one of an arithmetic average roughness not greater than about 1.5 micrometers, a maximum height not greater than about 10.0 micrometers, and a ten point average roughness not greater than about 7.2 micrometers. | 02-20-2014 |
20140086646 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided in which an application of air for separating a sheet from a fixing section can be performed in a stable manner with an appropriate air quantity and air velocity. In the image forming apparatus, a control section sets, on the basis of an individual difference of a separation fan motor, a fan motor drive condition for a sheet passing period in which the sheet passes through a nip portion N, and the control section maintains the fan motor drive condition thus set throughout the sheet passing period. | 03-27-2014 |
20140193180 | SHEET GUIDING UNIT SEPARATING MECHANISM, FIXING DEVICE WITH SHEET GUIDING UNIT SEPARATING MECHANISM, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH FIXING DEVICE WITH SHEET GUIDING UNIT SEPARATING MECHANISM - A sheet guiding unit separating mechanism includes a pair of first and second sheet guiding units disposed facing first and second sides of a recording medium, respectively, to guide a recording medium discharged from a fixing nip downstream. One of the pair of sheet guiding units facing the first side includes a first sheet guiding element disposed immediately downstream of the fixing nip and a second sheet guiding element disposed downstream of the first sheet guiding element. The second sheet guiding element is displaceable substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium and separate from the sheet guiding unit facing the second side when the sheet guiding unit separating mechanism is moved to separate from the fixing nip. The first and second sheet guiding elements together pivot around a first rotation fulcrum to separate from the fixing nip after the second sheet guiding element is displaced. | 07-10-2014 |
20140199099 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, and a separation roller. The fixing member is configured to rotate in a first direction. The pressure member is configured to rotate in a second direction so as to allow fixing target to pass between the fixing member and the pressure member. The separation roller is configured to rotate only in the same direction as the first direction to separate the fixing target from the fixing member or to rotate only in the same direction as the second direction to separate the fixing target from the pressure member. | 07-17-2014 |
20140212188 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a heating device for heating the fixing member, a pressure member, and a separation unit. The pressure member is pressed against the fixing member to form a fixing nip for receiving a recording medium carrying an unfixed toner image and fixing the unfixed toner image on the recording medium. The separation unit has a surface facing the fixing member and having an opening therein. The separation unit includes a separation member and a removable rubbing member. The separation member disposed in the opening in the separation unit to be located near an exit of the fixing nip separates the recording medium from the fixing member. The rubbing member is housed in the separation unit and contactable with the fixing member through the opening in the separation unit, and rubs against a surface of the fixing member. | 07-31-2014 |
20140233993 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING A DOUBLE BELT ROLL FUSER GEOMETRY IN AN IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A system and method are provided to implement a double belt roll fuser geometry to enable consistent self-stripping of image receiving media exiting a fuser assembly in an image forming device. Interaction between an image receiving medium substrate and a fuser belt of a belt roll fuser device is modified to include configuration in which an opposing belt is positioned around a pressure roller to oppose the fuser belt provided around the fuser roller. The fuser belt and the opposing belt extend in a downstream direction from the fusing nip and are configured to provide an appropriate length downstream of the fusing nip that sandwiches the image receiving medium substrate between the fuser belt and the opposing belt. Each of the fuser belt and the opposing belt wrap 70 degrees or more around significantly smaller diameter rollers positioned downstream of the fusing nip to form a stripping nip. | 08-21-2014 |
20140255064 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device to fix an unfixed image carried on a recording medium includes an endless, rotary fixing member; a heat source to heat the fixing member; an opposed member disposed opposite the fixing member and to form a fixing nip in combination with the fixing member; and a biasing member disposed opposite the opposed member with the fixing member interposed therebetween, to press the fixing member from a back side of the fixing member against the opposed member at the fixing nip; grip portions at which the fixing member and the opposed member contact each other in areas through which the recording medium does not pass, among the fixing nip along a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording medium; and a cleaning member to clean an outer circumference of at least one of the grip portions of the fixing member and the opposed member. | 09-11-2014 |
20140270865 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body. A pressing rotary body contacts the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A separator is disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction to separate the recording medium from one of the fixing rotary body and the pressing rotary body. The separator includes a separation plate including an upstream portion disposed opposite the fixing nip and at least one slot disposed downstream from the upstream portion in the recording medium conveyance direction. | 09-18-2014 |
20140314454 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing unit includes a current detection portion configured to detect a drive current of a pump unit and determines whether a valve unit is in an abnormal state corresponding to the output of the current detection portion. | 10-23-2014 |
20140314455 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heating source, a pressing member, a heating member, a nip pressure switching mechanism, a separating member and a restricting piece. The pressing member comes in pressure-contact with the heating member and forms a fixing nip. The nip pressure switching mechanism moves the pressing member between a first position and a second position. The separating member is movable between a separating position where the separating member is in contact with the heating member or faces the heating member and a cleaning position separated away from the heating member farther than the separating position. The restricting piece restricts the movement of the separating member under a state where the pressing member is at the first position and permits the movement of the separating member under a state where the pressing member is at the second position. | 10-23-2014 |
20150030358 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member and a separating member. The fixing member is provided with a sheet passing region through which a recording medium is passed and a non-sheet passing region arranged outside the sheet passing region. The pressing member comes in pressure-contact with the fixing member to form a fixing nip. The separating member is configured to separate the recording medium passed through the fixing nip from the fixing member. The separating member has a separating plate and a restricting piece. The separating plate faces the sheet passing region with an interval. The restricting piece restricts the interval. The restricting piece is provided with a contacting surface which comes in contact with the non-sheet passing region. The contacting surface has a width which becomes wider from an upstream side to a downstream side in the rotation direction of the fixing member. | 01-29-2015 |
20150030359 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member and a separating member. The fixing member is provided with a sheet passing region and a non-sheet passing region. The separating member has a separating plate and a restricting piece. The restricting piece is provided with a curving surface on a region including the contacting portion with the non-sheet passing region. The curving surface has a first curving area and a second curving area. The first curving area is provided on a downstream side from the contacting portion in a rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area is provided on an upstream side from the contacting portion in the rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area has a radius of curvature larger than that of the first curving area. | 01-29-2015 |
20150117920 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion configured to form a toner image on a sheet; a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member which are configured to form a nip therebetween for heating the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming portion; a separation member configured to separate the sheet in contact with the second rotatable member; a moving mechanism configured to move the separating member so that the separating member is movable to a contact position contacting the second rotatable member and a spaced position spaced from the second rotatable member; and a controller configured to control an operation of the moving mechanism. The controller moves the separating member from the spaced position to the contact position by the moving mechanism when an image forming process is interrupted in a state in which the separating member is in the spaced position. | 04-30-2015 |
20150132034 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device | 05-14-2015 |
20150309455 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes: a unit that includes a fixing member and a pressure member contacting the fixing member to form a nip, and heats a medium with a toner image while conveying it with it nipped in the nip, fixing the toner image; a separating member that separates the medium from the fixing member; and a holder holding the separating member. The separating member includes: a separating guide portion that is disposed downstream of the nip in a conveying direction of the medium and faces the fixing member along a width direction of the fixing member, extends along the conveying direction, and separates the medium from the fixing member; and an extending portion that extends from a downstream edge in the conveying direction of the separating guide portion, and is bent with respect to the separating guide portion to separate from the medium downstream in the conveying direction. | 10-29-2015 |
20150316882 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus, a roll sheet carrying an unfixed toner image is passed through a nip portion of a fixing portion including a fixing member heated to a predetermined temperature and a pressurizing member press-contacted with the fixing member so as to fix the toner image on the roll sheet. Then, the control portion performs winding prevention control of the roll sheet around the fixing member and the pressurizing member in accordance with a winding direction of the roll sheet and/or a roll radius of the remaining roll sheet. | 11-05-2015 |
20150346653 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fixing device includes a separation plate, an arm member, an axial member, a support bracket, and a temperature sensor. The separation plate is disposed spaced apart from a peripheral surface of a heating rotating body by a predetermined clearance distance K | 12-03-2015 |
20150355583 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fixing device includes a heated roller member, a pressure member, a separation member, and a discharge state switching mechanism. The heated roller member is heated by heating means. The pressure member contacts with the heated roller member so as to form a fixing nip portion. The separation member is conductive and disposed with a predetermined gap to a surface of the heated roller member, so as to separate a recording medium after passing through the fixing nip portion from the heated roller member. The discharge state switching mechanism switches between a discharge permissive condition that permits discharge from the heated roller member to the separation member and a discharge restricted condition that restricts the discharge from the heated roller member to the separation member. | 12-10-2015 |
20160004194 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fixing device including: arms that support the heating roller and the pressure roller so as to be displaced between a pressure-contact attitude in which a nip portion is formed and a distanced attitude in which the nip portion is released; a solenoid that displaces the rollers to the distanced attitude; a separation plate that has an electric conductivity, is disposed to face the heating roller, and separates the sheet that has passed through the nip portion from the heating roller; and interlocking arms that, in interlock with displacement from the pressure-contact attitude to the distanced attitude by the solenoid, displace a first end portion of the separation plate to an attitude to be distanced away from the heating roller by a first distance, change the potential of the separation plate from a floating potential to a reference potential, and accelerate discharge between the heating roller and the separation plate. | 01-07-2016 |
20160026140 | SHEET CONVEYING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet conveying device that passes a sheet to a nip portion formed between first and second rotating bodies, and conveys the sheet, the sheet conveying device includes a separation state determining unit configured to determine a separation state between the sheet having passed the nip portion and a surface of the first rotating body, a sheet separating unit configured to allow force to act on the sheet, and a control unit configured to control the force acting on the sheet by the sheet separating unit according to a result of the separation state determining unit, wherein the separation state determining unit includes an illumination unit, an imaging unit, and an acquisition unit, and the separation state between the sheet and the first rotating body is determined based on the acquired positional information of a tip of the sheet. | 01-28-2016 |
20160124361 | SEPARATION DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A separation device separates a recording medium ejected from a fixing nip formed between a first rotator and a second rotator from the first rotator. The separation device includes a separator including a front end disposed opposite the fixing nip and the recording medium and a plurality of recesses disposed on the front end of the separator at least in a conveyance span on the separator where the recording medium is conveyed. The plurality of recesses includes a first recess extending in a first extension line that is oblique relative to a recording medium conveyance direction and a second recess adjacent to the first recess and extending in a second extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction. The second extension line overlaps the first extension line in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction to define an overlap span. | 05-05-2016 |
20160139549 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt stretched taut across a first roller and a second roller and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation. A pressure rotator is pressed against the first roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A separation aid, disposed downstream from the fixing nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to separate the recording medium from the fixing belt, includes a contact face contacting an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt and a bulge disposed at a center of the contact face in a longitudinal direction of the separation aid. The bulge projects toward the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt relative to each lateral end of the contact face in the longitudinal direction of the separation aid. | 05-19-2016 |
20160378028 | SEPARATOR, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A separator for separating a recording medium from a fixing rotator includes a separation body including a front end and a conveyance path side face. The front end is disposed in proximity to an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The conveyance path side face faces a conveyance path where the recording medium is conveyed. At least one rotary separation aid projects beyond the conveyance path side face of the separation body toward the conveyance path. The rotary separation aid is rotated by the recording medium as the recording medium comes into contact with the rotary separation aid. | 12-29-2016 |
20170235259 | SEPARATION DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 08-17-2017 |