Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090148205 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heat applying system having an exciting coil that creates a magnetic flux for generating induction heat in a heat generation layer provided in a fixing roller. Plural demagnetizing coils are stacked in plural layers partially overlying the exciting coil to cancel the magnetic flux at one end of the fixing roller. The plural demagnetizing coils partially overlap each other. | 06-11-2009 |
20090245897 | FIXER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixer includes a fixing member provided with a rotary heat generator, a pressure member to form a nip with the fixing member to sandwich the sheet, an excitation coil disposed facing a heat generation layer of the rotary heat generator to generate magnetic flux that inductively heats the heat generation layer, a loop-shaped demagnetization coil unit disposed facing the heat generation layer to generate magnetic flux that partly counteracts the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil, a first magnetic core disposed in a first area that is enclosed by both the excitation coil and the demagnetization coil unit, and a second magnetic core disposed in a second area that is outside a loop of the demagnetization coil unit and enclosed by the excitation coil. The first magnetic core and the second magnetic core are magnetically continuous in a rotary axial direction of the rotary heat generator. | 10-01-2009 |
20090297197 | Image forming apparatus and control method therefor - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixer to fix an image formed on a sheet and includes a rotary heat generator including a heat generation layer, a pressure member to form a nip with the rotary heat generator to sandwich the sheet therebetween, an excitation coil disposed facing the rotary heat generator, to inductively heat the heat generation layer, a demagnetization coil disposed facing the heat generation layer, to generate magnetic flux that partly counteracts magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil and a fixer controller to control activation of the excitation coil as well as the demagnetization coil before a second image formation job after completion of a first image formation job in which an image is formed on a sheet of recording media whose width is smaller than a maximum sheet width usable in the fixer. | 12-03-2009 |
20100061753 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device including a fixing member to melt a toner image to fix the toner image to a recording medium, a pressing member pressed against the fixing member to form a nip to where the recording medium is conveyed, multiple temperature detectors to detect a temperature at multiple positions on a surface of the pressing member in a width direction thereof, a heating member including a heating layer to heat the fixing member; an exciting coil to generate magnetic fluxes to inductively heat the heating layer, and one or more pairs of degaussing coils to generate magnetic fluxes to degauss the magnetic fluxes generated by the exciting coil. An amount of power supplied to the one or more pairs of degaussing coils is controlled based on a result detected by each of the multiple temperature detectors. | 03-11-2010 |
20110052277 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording medium includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a sheet guide, and a pressure adjusting mechanism. The fixing member heats the unfixed toner image on the recording medium. The pressure member is disposed opposite the fixing member and presses against the fixing member to define a fixing nip through which the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image passes to fix the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium. The position of the fixing nip is changeable. The sheet guide disposed adjacent to the pressure member guides the recording medium to the fixing nip and moves in conjunction with movement of the pressure member. The pressure adjusting mechanism operatively connected to the pressure member adjusts an amount of engagement of the pressure member relative to the fixing member. An image forming apparatus includes the fixing device. | 03-03-2011 |
20110058862 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes an endless, flexible fixing member, a metal member, a heater, a pressing member, a temperature detector, and a supporting member. The fixing member is rotatably provided in the fixing device to heat a toner image thereon. The metal member is fixedly mounted in the fixing device so as to be opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, to maintain the fixing member in a substantially circularly loop shape. The heater is disposed near the metal member to heat the metal member. The pressing member is rotatably pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member. The temperature detector is disposed in contact with the metal member, to detect a temperature of the metal member. The supporting member is disposed between the heater and the temperature detector to support the temperature detector. | 03-10-2011 |
20110058863 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes an endless, flexible fixing member, a heat conductive member, a heater, a pressing member, a nip formation member, and a radiation member. The endless, flexible fixing member is formed into a loop. The heat conductive member is disposed within the loop formed by the fixing member to conduct heat to the fixing member. The heater is disposed near the heat conductive member to heat the heat conductive member. The pressing member is rotatably pressed against the fixing member to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the pressing member. The recording medium is conveyed through the fixing nip. The radiation member is detachably pressable against an outer circumference of the fixing member to contact the fixing member with the heat conductive member to cool the fixing member and the heat conductive member. | 03-10-2011 |
20110064443 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a hollow, stationary metal roller, a flexible fuser belt, a rotatable pressure member, a fuser pad, a reinforcing member, and a heating assembly. The metal roller has an outer circumference thereof subjected to heating. The flexible fuser belt is looped for rotation around the metal roller to transfer heat radially outward from the heated metal roller. The fuser pad is held stationary inside the loop of the fuser belt to press against the pressure member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The reinforcing member is disposed stationary within the roller interior. The heating assembly is disposed stationary within the roller interior to heat the metal roller from inside, and includes a first heater and a second heater. The first and second heaters are arranged in juxtaposition with each other along the inner circumference of the metal roller. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064490 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating the fixing device - An elastic layer is provided on a surface of one of a metal core and a substrate. A fixing member and a pressure member press into each other and collectively create a nip therebetween. A toner image is conveyed and fixed when passing through the nip. A thickness of the elastic layer is different in at least two widthwise regions by the same amount from the other region. A pair of edges of a prescribed size of the transfer sheet pass through these two widthwise regions, respectively. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064502 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING THE FIXING DEVICE - A fixing system includes a fixing device that fixes a non-fixed image with heat onto a recording medium. The fixing device includes a fixing roller that generates heat and a pressing roller that presses against the fixing roller. A curl correction device is provided to correct curling of the recording medium passing through the fixing device. The curl correction device includes a heating roller unit that generates heat and an elastic roller that presses against the heating roller unit. A magnetic flux generating device is arranged in the vicinity of the fixing device and the curl correction device and generates magnetic flux. | 03-17-2011 |
20110085832 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a stationary at least partially tubular thermal member, a flexible fuser belt, a fuser pad, and a rotatable pressure member. The thermal member has a tubular portion thereof extending in an axial direction and defining a closed axial cross-section. A circumference of the thermal member is subjected to heating. The fuser belt is looped for rotation around the thermal member. An inner circumference of the fuser belt at least partially faces the thermal member. The fuser pad is held stationary inside the loop of the fuser belt. The pressure member extends opposite the thermal member in the axial direction with the fuser belt interposed between the fuser pad and the pressure member. The fuser pad is pressed against the pressure member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The thermal member is spaced apart from the fuser pad. | 04-14-2011 |
20110116848 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes an endless belt, a fuser pad, a pressure member, a tubular belt holder, and a reinforcing member. The endless belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration extending in an axial direction. The fuser pad extends in the axial direction inside the loop of endless belt. The pressure member extends in the axial direction with the belt interposed between the fuser pad and the pressure member. The pressure member is pressed against the fuser pad through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The belt holder extends in the axial direction inside the loop of endless belt to retain the belt in shape along an outer circumference thereof. The belt holder accommodates the fuser pad in a longitudinal side slot defined on one side thereof. The reinforcing member is disposed inside the tubular belt holder to reinforce the belt holder around the side slot. | 05-19-2011 |
20110194869 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same - A fixing device includes a substantially cylindrical metal member, a heater, an endless, flexible fixing member, a rotary pressing member, and a stationary member. The heater heats the metal member. The fixing member is disposed rotatable around the metal member. An inner circumferential surface of the fixing member is heated by the metal member to heat and fix a toner image. The rotary pressing member is disposed opposite the metal member and pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip between the rotary pressing member and the fixing member through which a recording medium bearing the toner image passes. The stationary member is disposed in pressure contact with the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, and has an opposing face opposing the rotary pressing member and having a curvature smaller than a curvature of the rotary pressing member. | 08-11-2011 |
20110206427 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same - A fixing device includes an endless fuser belt, a contact member, a pressure member, a heater, a heater support, and a belt tensioner. The endless fuser belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration extending in an axial direction thereof. The contact member extends in the axial direction inside the loop of the fuser belt. The pressure member extends in the axial direction with the belt interposed between the contact member and the pressure member. The pressure member is pressed against the contact member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The heater is disposed inside the loop of the fuser belt to heat the fuser belt. The heater support is disposed inside the loop of the fuser belt to hold the heater in position. The belt tensioner is disposed inside the loop of the fuser belt to tighten the fuser belt. | 08-25-2011 |