Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
399122000 | Fixing unit | 82 |
20080219700 | UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A unit, which is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a body of an apparatus, includes: a holding portion for holding the unit to attach and detach the unit to and from the apparatus body, the holding portion being projected from a housing of the unit; and a lock mechanism for fixing the unit to the apparatus body, wherein an operating portion of the lock mechanism is operated to retract inside a projection end portion of the holding portion, by an operation of moving the lock mechanism to a lock cancel position. | 09-11-2008 |
20080226343 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus to remove a jammed printing medium and to prevent a transmission of fixing heat is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit to fix a toner image into a printing medium when the toner image is transferred onto the printing medium, the fixing unit including a fixing frame on which a pair of fixing rollers are rotatably disposed, at least one discharge roller disposed on the fixing frame, and a discharge guide movable with respect to the fixing frame, and having a plurality of guide protrusions to guide the printing medium toward the discharge roller when the printing medium passes through the fixing unit. The fixing unit additionally includes a cover to cover the discharge roller and the discharge guide, and a plurality of heat dissipating ribs extending from an outer surface of the cover. The heat dissipating ribs have a height and are arranged at a gap from each other so as to prevent a user's hand from directly contacting the cover. | 09-18-2008 |
20080240781 | Image forming apparatus including fixing unit, and fixing unit support method and fixing unit position adjustment method therefor - An image forming apparatus and methods of supporting and adjusting a position of a fixing unit thereof. The apparatus includes a frame having a first side plate and a second side plate opposing the first side plate, a first unit holding member engaged with the first side plate by a combination of a guide groove and a guide protrusion, a second unit holding member attached to the second side plate, a detachable unit located between the first and second side plates and held by the first and second unit holding members, and a position adjustment member to move the first unit holding member in a longitudinal direction of the guide groove to adjust a position of the detachable unit. The position adjustment member engages the first unit holding member at a position vertically aligned with a center of gravity G of the detachable unit. | 10-02-2008 |
20080247777 | Switching Device and System - A heating assembly for a printing device includes a heating device configured to be energized or deenergized. A switching device includes a bimetallic element efficiently thermally coupled to the heating device and configured to deenergize the heating device in a defined period of time in the event of an over temperature condition. | 10-09-2008 |
20080260425 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image heating apparatus which can easily attach and detach an external heating unit and easily perform a maintenance operation. | 10-23-2008 |
20090010680 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - An engaging unit engages a housing of a fixing device with a main body of an image forming apparatus in an engaged position, and disengages the housing from the main body in a disengaged position. An operating member operates the engaging unit from the engaged position to the disengaged position or vice versa. A holding recession is formed on at least one corner between a front side and a lateral side of the housing. The operating member and the holding recession form a handling unit with which the housing is supported when the housing is attached to or detached from the main body. | 01-08-2009 |
20090016771 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus configured to effectively prevent a failure in an image is provided. The image forming apparatus of the invention includes a housing, a transport belt for transporting a sheet along a sheet transport face, an image forming portion arranged above the sheet transport face, and a fixing unit arranged on a downstream side of the sheet transport face of the transport belt in a sheet transport direction. The fixing unit includes a heating roller and a pressure roller. A deposit portion where a toner waste deposits is disposed between the image forming portion and the heating roller. The deposit portion is provided with a contact portion that is configured to make contact with an image formation outside region at a trailing edge of the sheet jumping in a direction approaching the heating roller by being separated from the sheet transport face. | 01-15-2009 |
20090022515 | Image Forming Device and Fixing Unit - A fixing unit is disposed at a position closer to a rear side wall than to a front side wall of a casing. A top wall is formed with a depressed portion depressed toward inside the casing. The depressed portion serves as a sheet discharge tray for receiving a recording medium that has passed through the fixing unit. The sheet discharge tray includes a tray member detachably disposed at the top wall. The rear side wall is formed with an opening through which the fixing unit is removed. When the tray member is disposed at the top wall, the tray member is positioned above and adjacent to the fixing unit and overlaps the fixing unit when viewed through the opening, thereby preventing the fixing unit from being removed from the casing. The fixing unit is removable through the opening when the tray member is detached from the top wall. | 01-22-2009 |
20090060571 | FUSING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus includes a frame, a fusing unit including a unit casing which is detachably attachable to the frame, a heater supported by the unit casing to heat a print medium, a pressure unit supported by the unit casing to press the print medium to the heater and a pressure adjuster provided in the unit casing to relatively move at least one of the pressure unit and the heater with respect to each other to adjust a pressure between the pressure unit and the heater; and a driver which is disposed in the frame to supply a driving force to the pressure adjuster if the fusing unit is attached to the frame. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060572 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a pair of first frames that support an axis of each of a fixing roller and a pressing roller and a pair of second frames arranged in parallel to an axial direction of the fixing roller to connect the first frames to each other. The second frames include cover portions that cover an upper peripheral surface and a lower peripheral surface of the rollers. A coupling member couples the cover portions to each other and has a bridge structure between the cover portions. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060573 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus may include a sheet conveyance path having a generally U-shaped portion. The U-shaped portion may be formed by inner and outer guides, and the guides may be arranged such that they may be sequentially removed from the apparatus in a common direction, and through a common opening in the apparatus. For example, to remove a fixing portion from within the apparatus, the outer guide may first be removed, followed by the removal of the inner guide, and then followed by the removal of the fixing portion. The guides may overlap one another when viewed from the common direction. | 03-05-2009 |
20090232549 | Fuser Assembly Including A NIP Release Bias Spring - A fuser assembly includes first and second fuser structures, drive apparatus and nip engagement and release apparatus. The nip engagement and release apparatus includes nip-loading structure, a bias spring for engaging the nip-loading structure, a nip release cam for engaging the bias spring, a swing arm assembly and nip release structure. The nip engagement and release apparatus is adapted to cause a fuser nip to release during a reverse operation except when performing a duplex operation. | 09-17-2009 |
20090232550 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus main body; a fixing unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the fixing unit including a unit-side connector that electrically connects with a main body-side connector of the image forming apparatus main body when the fixing unit is attached to the image forming apparatus main body to receive electric power from the image forming apparatus main body; a first fixing unit attachment detection portion that is disposed at a position different from a position of the main body-side connector of the image forming apparatus main body in a longitudinal direction of the fixing unit of the image forming apparatus main body; and a second fixing unit attachment detection portion that is provided at a position different from a position of the main body-side connector of the image forming apparatus main body and a position of the first fixing unit attachment detection portion in the longitudinal direction of the fixing unit of the image forming apparatus main body. Thereby, an attachment failure of the fixing unit in the image forming apparatus can be suppressed. | 09-17-2009 |
20090245865 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member, a pressing member, a drive input rotating body, a first frame, a support shaft, and at least one positioning member. The pressing member contacts the fixing member to form a fixing nip therebetween. The drive input rotating body receives an external driving force and transmits the driving force to the fixing member. The first frame supports the fixing member and the pressing member. The support shaft is provided on the first frame to support the drive input rotating body. At least one positioning member is supported by an image forming apparatus body when the fixing device is installed in the image forming apparatus body. | 10-01-2009 |
20100028044 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: an apparatus main assembly; an image forming unit; a fixing unit which has a pressure applying mechanism and a cam member; an opening and closing member which is attached to the apparatus main assembly to be capable of being opened and closed; a first gear which is provided at the apparatus main assembly; a second gear which is provided at the fixing unit; and a connection gear which connects the first gear and the second gear. The connection gear is configured to be detachable from between the first gear and the second gear and to be attachable being engaged with both the first gear and the second gear only in a case that the first gear and the second gear are respectively at a predetermined phase. | 02-04-2010 |
20100034559 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a recording material; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the recording material and including a nip forming member which forms a fixing nip that nips and conveys the recording material; a reverse roller unit for including a reverse roller, and the reverse roller rotates backward to convey the recording material to the image forming portion again after conveying the recording material which has passed through the fixing nip in a same direction as a conveying direction at the fixing nip; and a delivery roller for delivering the recording material which has passed through the fixing nip, out of the main body. The reverse roller unit is attached to the fixing unit, and is removably installable in the main body integrally with the fixing unit. | 02-11-2010 |
20100172671 | FIXING UNIT, ROLLER REPLACEMENT AUXILIARY TOOL OF FIXING UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Disclosed is a fixing unit that includes a heating roller; a pressure roller capable of being brought into press-contact with the heating roller, one of the heating roller and the pressure roller being capable of being extracted along a shaft direction of the roller; and an assist-unit linkage part to which an assist unit for assisting an extraction of the roller is detachably linked and which is provided at a tip end part in an extracting direction of the roller. | 07-08-2010 |
20100209142 | Dustproof Structure Used in Image Forming Device - An image forming device has a housing, a cover, a frame, a heating member, a transfer roller, a first shaft, and a shielding assembly. The housing has an opening. The cover opens and closes the opening. The frame is provided in the housing. The heating member is supported to the frame and heating a recording sheet. The transfer roller is rotatably positioned between the heating member and the opening in the frame. The transfer roller conveys the recording sheet in a sheet conveying direction and is positioned downstream of the heating member in the sheet conveying direction. The first shaft is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. The first shaft supports the transfer roller and facing the frame through a gap through which the sheet passes. The heating member is exposed to the opening through the gap. The shielding assembly extends in the first direction and is movable between a first position where at least a part of the shielding assembly is aligned with the gap in the sheet conveying direction and a second position where the shielding assembly is offset from the gap in the sheet conveying direction. | 08-19-2010 |
20100239316 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THEREWITH - A fixing unit is provided with a heat roller having a plurality of heaters provided therein for applying heat to a toner image formed on a sheet of paper, an upper-side casing for holding the heat roller, a holding member detachably fitted to the upper-side casing, and a plurality of fitting portions that are provided in the holding member and to which first to third terminal portions of the plurality of heaters can be detachably fitted from a same direction. | 09-23-2010 |
20100254728 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a first openable member openably and closably provided in the main assembly; a second openable member openably and closably provided in the main assembly; a fixing unit for fixing a toner image formed on a recording material, the fixing unit including a pressure applying mechanism for applying a pressure to a fixing nip of the fixing unit, wherein a operation force by an operator when at least one of the first openable member and the second openable member is opened by the operator applies to the pressure applying mechanism to release the pressure applied to the fixing nip; wherein the fixing unit is detachably mountable relative to the main assembly and includes a pressure switching member, engaged to the pressure applying mechanism, to receive the operation force when the first openable member is opened and to move the pressure applying mechanism, wherein an operation force when the second openable member is opened is also transmitted to the pressure switching member. | 10-07-2010 |
20100322667 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image heating member for heating a toner image formed on a recording material; a pressing member for pressing said image heating member to form a nip in which the recording material is to be nipped and conveyed; contact-and-separation device for permitting contact and separation between said image heating member and said pressing member; an executing portion for executing a stand-by state in which said image heating member and said pressing member are separated with a first distance therebetween and said image forming apparatus is ready for input of an image forming signal; a recording material detecting means for detecting the recording material present in the nip when an image forming operation is stopped; and a contact-and-separation device control portion for controlling an operation of said contact-and-separation device so that said image heating member and said pressing member are separated with a second distance therebetween larger than the first distance at least when said recording material detecting device detects the recording material present in the nip. | 12-23-2010 |
20110013936 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, having: an image forming section to form a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device to fix the tone image on the sheet at a nip section having a pair of fixing members pressing each other to form the nip section and a heat source disposed on at least one of the fixing members to heat the fixing member; a swing section to swing the pair of the fixing members so that the fixing members displace relatively with respect to the sheet in a width direction which is perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction, and a heat source support section to support the heat source in a way that a position of the heat source is maintained constantly with respect to the sheet in the width direction. | 01-20-2011 |
20110020033 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, comprises an image forming section; a pair of fixing members coming in pressure contact with each other so as to form a nip portion and to fix a toner image on a sheet conveyed from the image forming section with the nip portion; an oscillating section to oscillate the fixing members in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction; an inclining section to incline the fixing members to the width direction in parallel to a conveyance surface; and a control section to control the oscillating section and the inclining section such that when a sheet is passing through the nip portion, a direction of a one-sided oscillation shift of the sheet due to the oscillation of the fixing members is made opposite to that of a one-sided inclination shift of the sheet due to the inclination of the fixing members. | 01-27-2011 |
20110052258 | Fixing roller for fixing unit, fixing unit, image forming apparatus, roller replacement aid for fixing unit, and method of replacing fixing roller in fixing unit - In a fixing unit in which at least one of a heating roller and a pressing roller is provided as a fixing roller and is replaceably supported along the axial direction of the fixing roller, a sliding member is formed integrally to the inside of the fixing roller, so that the sliding member slides on the outer circumference of a roller guiding shaft upon replacing the fixing roller. | 03-03-2011 |
20110052259 | PRESSURE ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR A FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heating member disposed with an internal heating source and a pressuring member that presses against the heating member. The fixing device is configured to be attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus body, and includes: brackets that retain the heating member; pressuring levers that retain the pressuring member and are movably supported in the brackets; urging means that push the pressuring levers in a direction where the pressuring member presses against the heating member; and cams that are rotatably supported in the brackets, contact the pressuring levers, and adjust the pressuring force of the pressuring member. | 03-03-2011 |
20110052260 | PRESSURE ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR A FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heating member disposed with an internal heating source and a pressuring member that presses against the heating member. The fixing device is configured to be attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus body, and includes: brackets that retain the heating member; pressuring levers that retain the pressuring member and are movably supported in the brackets; urging means that push the pressuring levers in a direction where the pressuring member presses against the heating member; and cams that are rotatably supported in the brackets, contact the pressuring levers, and adjust the pressuring force of the pressuring member. | 03-03-2011 |
20110064468 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a transporting path; a heating unit on the transporting path that is movably provided in a direction coming in contact with and departing from a continuous recording medium and that heats the continuous recording medium; a braking unit that has a first braking member and a second braking member and that brakes transportation of the continuous recording medium by sandwiching in the continuous recording medium between the first and second braking members, wherein the first and second braking members are provided on upstream and downstream sides on the transporting path of the heating unit, respectively; and a control unit that controls that the heating unit is brought into contact with the continuous recording medium and the braking of the continuous recording medium is released by the braking unit. | 03-17-2011 |
20110129253 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM EQUIPPED THEREWITH - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section which transfers a toner image in accordance with image data onto a recording sheet; a first fixing device having a first fixing roller, which fixes the toner image onto the recording sheet with heat; a second fixing device having a second fixing roller, which further applies heat to the recording sheet that has been fixed by the first fixing device; a second fixing roller surface roughness prevention mechanism which prevents a roughness on a surface of the second fixing roller that has been generated due to side ends of the recording sheet being brought into contact with the surface of the second fixing roller; and a controller which controls the image forming section, the first and second fixing devices and the second fixing roller surface roughness prevention mechanism. | 06-02-2011 |
20110135341 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes: a belt unit that includes a first roller member, a second roller member provided above the first roller member, a belt member rotating while laid around these roller members, and a positioning member rotatably holding the first roller member and used for positioning the first roller member; a pressure member provided below the first roller member and coming into pressure-contact with an outer peripheral surface of the belt member at a position where the pressure member faces the first roller member, thereby to form a fixing pressure portion; a first housing that supports the positioning member and includes a concave portion opening toward a lateral direction and a sloping portion sloping downward from a lower edge portion of the concave portion; and a second housing pressing the positioning member to fit into the concave portion, along with a closing operation with respect to the first housing. | 06-09-2011 |
20110142495 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A fixing device includes a fixing roller, a heat roller, an endless fixing belt wound around the two rollers to be driven to rotate, a nip forming member to form a nip while contacting the fixing belt at a position opposite the fixing roller, a pressing member to press the heat roller to separate it from the fixing roller, and a temperature detector to detect a temperature of the fixing belt at a position opposite the heat roller. The temperature detector is provided opposite or in contact with the fixing belt at a position, in parallel with the moving direction of the heat roller, on the outermost periphery of the displacement area of a surface of the fixing belt which displaces according to the approaching and departing movement of the heat roller. With such a simple structure, the temperature detector can detect the temperature of the fixing belt accurately. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142496 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus comprising: a fixing member for fixing a toner image onto a recording material; a pressure member for pressing the fixing member to form a nip portion by which the recording material is nipped and conveyed; an external heating portion, including a belt member, for heating an outer surface of the fixing member to heat the fixing member; a separation/contact portion which allows the fixing member and the external heating belt to abut each other or to be separated from each other; and a restricting portion for restricting the external heating belt from directing toward the fixing member by coming in contact with the outer surface of the external heating belt, when the fixing member and the external heating belt are separated from each other. | 06-16-2011 |
20110158691 | Pivoting End Cap for a Fuser Module of an Image Forming Device - A fuser module of an image forming device including a pivotable end cap and a movable entry guide attached therein. The movable entry guide moves according to the pivoting end cap to ensure reduced positional variability within the fuser module. The pivoting end cap also has a wheel to axle ratio of about 18:1 to ensure reduced force variability within the fuser module. | 06-30-2011 |
20110194872 | COMPONENT REPLACEMENT SUPPORT TOOLS FOR FUSING UNIT - A component replacement support tool for a fusing unit with a roller that contains a lamp cartridge includes a roller insertion/removal guide shaft and a lamp protection member detachably housed in the roller insertion/removal guide shaft. The fusing unit includes a replacement opening via which the roller or the lamp cartridge can be removed from or inserted into the fusing unit along an axis of the roller for replacement. The roller insertion/removal guide shaft is inserted into the roller along the axis of the roller and fixed therein so as to guide the roller when the roller is removed from or inserted into the fusing unit via the replacement opening. The lamp protection member is inserted between the roller and the lamp cartridge when the lamp cartridge is pulled out of or inserted into the roller along the axis of the roller via the replacement opening. | 08-11-2011 |
20110229200 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING REMOVABLE FIXING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, temperature detector, and a support member. The fixing device is removably installable in the image forming apparatus and includes a rotary fixing member to fuse a toner image on a recording medium, a fixing frame to support the fixing member, and an outer fixing cover provided to cover the fixing member and the fixing frame and having an opening from which a portion of a surface of the fixing member is exposed to the outside. The temperature detector is disposed opposing the fixing member to detect a temperature of the surface of the fixing member without contacting the fixing member when the fixing member is installed in the image forming apparatus. The support member supports the temperature detector to introduce the temperature detector into the inside of the fixing cover through the opening upon installation of the fixing member. | 09-22-2011 |
20110229201 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium includes a first fixing station. The first fixing station includes a fixing roller to rotate about a shaft in a predetermined direction, a pressing roller to rotate and contact the fixing roller to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes to fix the toner image by heat and pressure, a positioning mechanism to change the position of the pressing roller, a sheet separator disposed downstream from the nip to move in conjunction with movement of the pressing roller without changing relative positions with respect to the fixing roller, and a bracket disposed rotatable about the shaft of the fixing roller, to hold the sheet separator. A portion of the bracket contacts a portion of the positioning mechanism to be positioned in place. | 09-22-2011 |
20110236067 | FIXING DEVICE, SINGLE-SIDED IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND DOUBLE-SIDED IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device is provided with a fixing device body, a fixing member, and a first attachment section. The fixing device body is adapted to attach to and detach from an apparatus body of a double-sided image forming apparatus, which has a return passage through which a recording medium is returned to an image forming position, and an apparatus body of a single-sided image forming apparatus, which does not have the return passage. The first attachment section is provided at a return passage side in the fixing device body, and is adapted to have a passage surface member, which has a passage surface of an introduction passage through which a fixed recording medium is introduced into the return passage, attached thereto. | 09-29-2011 |
20110236068 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a main body mounted on an image forming apparatus body; a fixing member that is included in the main body and that fixes an image to a recording medium; a pair of conveying rolls that is supported by the main body and that conveys the recording medium to which an image is fixed by the fixing member, the pair of conveying rolls comprising a driven roll and a driving roll disposed under the driven roll; and an exterior portion that is formed in the main body, disposed under the driving roll, forms an exterior face of the main body, and also forms an exterior face of the image forming apparatus body while the main body is mounted on the image forming apparatus body. | 09-29-2011 |
20110236069 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A fixing device includes: a fixing rotating member; a pressing rotating member pressed to the fixing surface of the fixing rotating member; a displacing mechanism that can displace the pressing rotating member at least at a first setting position that the pressing rotating member pressed to the fixing surface is located in a first position relative to the fixing rotating member and at a second setting position the pressing rotating member pressed to the fixing surface is in a second position shifted from the first position in the downstream or upstream side of a passing direction of the recording medium at the fixing process part; a guide member having a guide part that guides the recording medium to an introducing portion of the fixing process part; an adjusting mechanism that can adjust the position of the guide member in accordance with the displacement of the pressing rotating member to the first setting position or the second setting position. | 09-29-2011 |
20110236070 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording paper sheet includes a heating member for heating the recording paper sheet, a pressing member for applying a pressure by forming contact with the heating member, a casing accommodating the heating member and the pressing member, and provided with an exit port for discharging the recording paper sheet, and a closing portion arranged at the exit port for keeping a temperature of the casing. The closing portion has a rotation member, and an opposed member forming a nip region together with the rotation member. A separating unit for changing at least a part of the closing portion from a closed state to an open state. | 09-29-2011 |
20110243607 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes: a heating rotator, a pressurizing rotator and a fixing housing. The heating rotator is configured to be rotatable about a first rotational axis and has a peripheral surface heated by a heat source provided inside or outside of the heating rotator. The pressurizing rotator is configured to be rotatable about a second rotational axis parallel to the first rotational axis. The pressurizing rotator forms a fixing nip in conjunction with the heating rotator. The fixing housing is configured to accommodate the heating rotator and the pressurizing rotator. The heating rotator, the pressurizing rotator and the fixing housing form a fixing rotator unit. The fixing rotator unit is configured to be withdrawable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus and such that the peripheral surface of the heating rotator is exposed when the fixing rotator unit is withdrawn from the apparatus main body. | 10-06-2011 |
20110274463 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus provided with a resin frame made of a resin, an image forming unit and a fixing unit includes a duct for allowing air to flow between the image forming unit and the fixing unit. The resin frame includes a main frame to which the image forming unit is attached, and a fixing unit attachment frame that is separate from the main frame and to which the fixing unit is attached, and the fixing unit attachment frame has a duct portion that constitutes at least one part of the duct. | 11-10-2011 |
20110274464 | Image Forming Apparatus With Integral Unit of Fixing Unit and Reverse Rollers in Main Body - An image forming apparatus has a main body; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a recording material; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the recording material and including a nip forming member which forms a fixing nip that nips and fixes and conveys the recording material; a reverse roller unit for including a reverse roller, and the reverse roller rotates backward to convey the recording material to the image forming portion again after conveying the recording material which has passed through the fixing nip in a same direction as a conveying direction at the fixing nip; and a delivery roller for delivering the recording material which has passed through the fixing nip, out of the main body. The reverse roller unit is attached to the fixing unit, and is removably installable in the main body integrally with the fixing unit and the main body includes a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion, and when an integral unit of the fixing unit and the reverse roller unit is installed in the main body, the fixing unit is positioned with respect to the first positioning portion, and the reverse roller unit is positioned with respect to the second positioning portion. | 11-10-2011 |
20110280625 | SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS, SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A roller separating mechanism rotates an upper roller-moving cam and a lower roller-moving cam at the same time, and swings the upper roller arm plate and the lower roller arm plate such that a pair of folding rollers separate from each other. When the pair of folding rollers are to be abutted against each other, the upper roller arm plate and the lower roller arm plate are swung with different timing in a direction in which the pair of folding rollers abut against each other. | 11-17-2011 |
20120020701 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus main body; an opening and closing part that is attached to the image forming apparatus main body in an openable and closeable manner; and a fixing device that is removably installed in the image forming apparatus main body to fix a developer image onto a recording medium, the opening and closing part being provided with an engaging portion to engage with an engaged portion defined on the image forming apparatus main body, and the engaging portion including a pressing part that presses the fixing device toward a proper position when a part of the fixing device is positioned in a movement locus of the engaging portion during a closing movement of the opening and closing part. | 01-26-2012 |
20120027462 | FIXING DEVICE, METHOD OF INSTALLING SAME, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes an enclosure housing, a removable handle, and a detachable attachment mechanism. The enclosure housing encloses the fixing device therein. The removable handle detachably attaches to the housing to move the housing at least in a direction of handling. The detachable attachment mechanism includes a pair of first mutually engageable portions in the housing and a pair of second mutually engageable portions in the handle. A method of installing a fixing device in an image forming apparatus is also disclosed. | 02-02-2012 |
20120057901 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The invention provides an image forming apparatus, having: an apparatus main body; a fixing unit fixing an image onto a recording material at a fixing nip portion, the fixing unit including a pressure applying portion applying a pressure to the fixing nip portion and a pressure releasing portion releasing the pressure; an opening/closing member disposed in the apparatus main body; an engaging portion engaging with the pressure releasing portion of the fixing unit in a state of being mounted to the apparatus main body for moving the pressure releasing portion, the engaging portion moving in conjunction with an opening/closing action of the opening/closing member; and a phase adjusting portion adjusting a phase of the pressure releasing portion to a phase of the engaging portion when the opening/closing member is opened, in conjunction with a mounting action of the fixing unit to the apparatus main body. | 03-08-2012 |
20120148303 | BELT ASSEMBLY, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a frame, a tubular belt holder, a rotatable, flexible fuser belt, a heater, a fuser pad, a pressure member, and a mounting attachment. The tubular belt holder extends in an axial direction thereof. The fuser belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration around the belt holder to rotate in a circumferential direction of the belt holder. The heater is disposed adjacent to the belt holder to heat the belt holder. The fuser pad is accommodated in the belt holder inside the loop of the fuser belt, and extends in the axial direction. The pressure member is disposed opposite the belt holder with the fuser belt interposed between the fuser pad and the pressure member. The mounting attachment is provided to a longitudinal end of the tubular belt holder to allow retention and detachable attachment of the belt holder end to the frame. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148304 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a heating unit including a rotatable image heating member; an induction heating unit for externally induction heating the image heating member; a nip forming member press-contacting an outer surface of the image heating member to form a nip therewith; a pressing member for pressing the heating unit to the nip forming member; a press releasing member for releasing a pressure of the pressing member to the heating unit; fastening means for fastening the heating unit and the induction heating unit together; and a force receiving portion, provided on the induction heating unit, for contacting the pressing member to move the heating unit away from the nip forming member when the press releasing member releases the heating unit from the pressure of the pressing member. | 06-14-2012 |
20120155918 | FIXING DEVICE INCLUDING BELT GUIDE MEMBER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator unit and an induction heating portion. The fixing rotator unit includes a heating rotary belt, a pressing member being in contact with the inner surface of the heating rotary belt, a pressurizing rotator forming a fixing nip between the pressurizing rotator and the pressing member, a belt guide member including a guide portion and an extending portion, positioning the heating rotary belt, and guiding rotation. The induction heating portion includes a magnetic-flux generating portion, a magnetic core portion, and a support member supporting the magnetic-flux generating portion. The support member includes a positioning portion that positions the belt guide member by coming into contact with or engaging the extending portion to control a distance between the magnetic-flux generating portion and the outer surface of the heating rotary belt. | 06-21-2012 |
20120163864 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image processor, an exterior housing, a fixing unit, an outlet, and a first partition. The image processor is configured to transfer a toner image to a recording medium. The exterior housing accommodates the image processor. The fixing unit is configured to fix the toner image, transferred by the image processor to the recording medium, onto the recording medium. The outlet is on the exterior housing and communicates with a conveyance path extending from the image processor toward the fixing unit. The first partition is adjacent the outlet on the exterior housing. The first partition separates the image processor and the fixing unit from one another. | 06-28-2012 |
20120219324 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a heating member that heats a recording medium, a backup member that rotates and contacts the heating member, and a pressure mechanism that supports one of the heating member and the backup member such that the one of the heating member and the backup member moves relative to the other. The apparatus includes a main body including the fixing unit inside, and has a first opening on a downstream side of the fixing unit and a second opening on a side of the main body different from the first opening. Also the apparatus has first and second covers that open and close the first and second openings, respectively, and an interlocking mechanism that causes the pressure mechanism to move the one of the heating member and the backup member in conjunction with movement of the first cover and the second cover. | 08-30-2012 |
20120224886 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a cartridge for forming a toner image on a sheet material; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the sheet material; and an opening for exposing an inside of the main assembly. The fixing unit and the cartridge are mountable into the main assembly and are disposed side by side. When the fixing unit and the cartridge are mounted or demounted, the fixing unit passes through the opening, and the cartridge passes through a space in which the fixing unit is to be mounted and passes through the opening. When the fixing unit and the cartridge at the time of passing through the opening are projected onto a surface perpendicular to a mounting and demounting direction, a contour of a projected area of the cartridge is at least partly inside a contour of a projected area of the fixing device, and the cartridge passes through the inside of the contour of the projected area of the fixing device when passing through the opening. | 09-06-2012 |
20120237259 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a housing, a cover member pivotally mounted on the housing, and operable to change the posture thereof between a closing posture and an opening posture, and a first and second urging member. A first conveyance roller for conveying a sheet is rotatably supported on the housing, and a second conveyance roller to be pressingly contacted with the first conveyance roller is rotatably supported on the cover member. The first urging member applies, to the cover member in the opening posture, an urging force for returning the cover member from the opening posture to an intermediate posture between the opening posture and the closing posture. The second urging member applies, to the second conveyance roller, an urging force with which the second conveyance roller is pressingly contacted with the first conveyance roller when the cover member is in the closing posture. | 09-20-2012 |
20130004203 | PROCESSING STRUCTURAL MEMBER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A processing structural member has a processing housing for supporting a processing portion, a locking lever, a cover and a holding portion. The locking lever changes the posture thereof between a locking posture of locking the position of the processing housing, and a releasing posture of releasing the locking. The cover is mounted on the processing housing to be pivotally movable between a covering position of covering the locking lever, and an opening position of exposing the locking lever to be visually recognizable. The holding portion is mounted on the processing housing to be pivotally movable with the cover. The cover has an interference member which is inoperable to interfere with the locking lever in the locking posture and is operable to interfere with the locking lever in the releasing posture in shifting the cover from the opening position to the covering position. | 01-03-2013 |
20130011160 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing member that is rotated by a driving unit and that fixes a developer image on a recording medium; an external heating member that is driven and rotated while contacting an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member, and that heats the fixing member; a moving unit that moves the external heating member between a separation position and a contact position, and that moves the external heating member from the separation position to the contact position after starting the fixing by the fixing member; a drive transmitting mechanism including a fixing-side gear, an external-heating-member-side gear, and a drive transmitting member; and a driving force transmitting/non-transmitting unit that is provided at the drive transmitting mechanism. | 01-10-2013 |
20130058682 | UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A unit, which is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a body of an apparatus, includes: a holding portion for holding the unit to attach and detach the unit to and from the apparatus body, the holding portion being projected from a housing of the unit; and a lock mechanism for fixing the unit to the apparatus body, wherein an operating portion of the lock mechanism is operated to retract inside a projection end portion of the holding portion, by an operation of moving the lock mechanism to a lock cancel position. | 03-07-2013 |
20130077993 | UNIT MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING MECHANISM, MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING MECHANISM FOR FIXING UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A unit mounting and dismounting mechanism includes a unit mountable in and dismountable from an apparatus body, an engaging portion provided in one of the apparatus body and the unit, a pressing member provided in the other of the apparatus body and the unit, the pressing member engaging with the engaging portion and pressing the unit against the apparatus body with a biasing force of a biasing member in a mounting direction of the unit when the unit is mounted in the apparatus body, and a release member provided in the unit, the release member being operated in a direction different from a dismounting direction of the unit from the apparatus body so as to move the pressing member against the biasing force of the biasing member in a direction to release pressing. | 03-28-2013 |
20130084102 | REPLACEMENT FIXING BELT AND METHOD OF REPLACING A FIXING BELT - A replacement fixing belt to be used in a fixing apparatus, the replacement fixing belt including: an endless base layer; a toner releasing layer provided on a surface of the replacement fixing belt; and a lubrication film formed on an inner surface of the endless base layer by applying to the inner surface a liquid in which a fluorinated oil and fluorinated solid lubricant particles are dispersed in a volatile solvent. | 04-04-2013 |
20130188991 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device comprises a rotatable fixing member to heat a side of a recording medium bearing an unfixed image; a heat source to heat the rotatable fixing member; a rotatable pressing member disposed opposite the fixing member to press against an outer side of the fixing member; a housing to accommodate the fixing member and the pressing member; a conveyance path defined internally within the fixing device to convey a recording medium therethrough and between the fixing member and the pressing member, and a shutter actuator to move the shutter to open and close the conveyance path. The housing holds the shutter and the shutter actuator. | 07-25-2013 |
20130209139 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device capable of incorporating in an image forming apparatus includes a belt unit including a rotatable elastic endless belt having a sleeve shape without a driving shaft and a nip forming member disposed contactable against an inner surface of the endless belt, and a pressing member to form a nip contact portion through which a recording medium passes by pressing against the nip forming member via the endless belt. The endless belt is configured to be removable from the fixing device without contacting the endless belt. | 08-15-2013 |
20130259527 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, FIXING-SECTION-HOLDING MECHANISM, AND FIXING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body in which an image forming section that forms an image on a recording material and a drive mechanism that generates a rotational driving force are provided; a fixing section that transports the recording material while receiving the rotational driving force and fixes the image on the recording material, the fixing section being held by the apparatus body at two axial ends thereof; and a transmission mechanism that is provided at one of the two axial ends of the fixing section and is connected to the drive mechanism, the transmission mechanism transmitting the rotational driving force from the drive mechanism to the fixing section. When a pulling force is applied to a recording material that is present in the fixing section, the drive mechanism and the transmission mechanism are disconnected from each other. | 10-03-2013 |
20130330103 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS AND BELT EXCHANGING METHOD - An image heating apparatus comprising an endless belt for heating a toner image on a recording material; a holding member for holding the endless belt at an inside of the endless belt; a temperature sensor, provided inside the endless belt, for detecting a temperature of the endless belt; and a moving mechanism moved the temperature sensor between a first position for detecting the temperature of the endless belt and a second position for permitting the endless belt to be taken out of the holding member substantially along a longitudinal direction of the holding member. | 12-12-2013 |
20140064786 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heating member; an exciting coil; a magnetic core including a first engaging portion in the neighborhood of an end thereof and a second engaging portion in the neighborhood of another end thereof; a holder including a first recess into which the first engaging portion is inserted and a second recess into which the second engaging portion is inserted; and an elastic member fixed on the holder so as to be located between the magnetic core and the holder. The elastic member urges the first engaging portion, inserted into the first recess, in a direction perpendicular to an inserting direction so that a position of the second engaging portion is determined by the second recess. | 03-06-2014 |
20140064787 | FIXING DEVICE AND CONTROL DEVICE - A fixing device includes a fixing unit including a first roller and a second roller which form a nip to fix a toner image on a sheet, the fixing unit being capable of fixing the toner image on a maximum width sheet and a small width sheet; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the fixing unit in a widthwise direction; and an operating device for operating the reciprocating mechanism, wherein the operating device operates the reciprocating mechanism for a fixing operation on the small width sheet, and the operating device does not operate the reciprocating mechanism for the fixing operation on the maximum width sheet. | 03-06-2014 |
20140064788 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing device including rollers which form a nip therebetween to fix a toner image on a sheet; a supporting mechanism for movably supporting the fixing unit; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the fixing unit relative to the supporting mechanism in a longitudinal direction thereof; an electric connector provided on the supporting mechanism; and a wire connecting between the electric energy supply connector and the fixing unit and having an enough length to permit reciprocation of the fixing unit. | 03-06-2014 |
20140099146 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a pressing rotary body disposed opposite the fixing rotary body. A pivotable pressurization member contacts and presses the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body. A pressurization pivot is provided on the pressurization member. A depressurization member, pivotable about the pressurization pivot, causes the pressurization member to isolate the pressing rotary body from the fixing rotary body. A depressurization pivot is provided on the depressurization member. A lock is pivotable about the depressurization pivot and engageable with the pressurization pivot. A biasing member, anchored to the lock, exerts a resilient bias that allows the lock to cause the pressurization member to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body. A detent is situated in a pivotal trajectory of the lock to restrict pivot of the lock by contacting the lock. | 04-10-2014 |
20140147169 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TRANSLATION CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit that heats and presses a recording sheet having a toner image formed thereon, by means of a fixing nip portion to thereby fix the toner image to the recording sheet; a translation section that translates the fixing unit in a direction that is orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording sheet; and a controlling section that controls the translation section so that the fixing unit is translated by a translation amount that is one-half of a value obtained by subtracting an image width of the toner image from a sheet width of the recording sheet. | 05-29-2014 |
20140153965 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH SAME, AND METHOD OF SMOOTHLY DETACHING AND ATTACHING FIXING DEVICE FROM AND TO IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a housing detachably attached to a body of an image forming apparatus, a fixing unit mounted on the housing to heat and fix an unfixed toner image onto a recording medium, a locking mechanism to lock and unlock the housing in the body of the image forming apparatus by switching its own position from a locking position to an unlocking position, vice-versa, and an operating member integrally connected to the locking mechanism to operate the locking mechanism. First and second handling members are provided on lower and upper sides of the housing, respectively, to be handled when the housing is either attached to or detached from the body of the image forming apparatus. The operating member approaches the second handling member when the locking mechanism changes its position to detach the housing from the body of the image forming apparatus. | 06-05-2014 |
20140153966 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes an image heating unit including a pair of rotatable members between which a sheet is nipped and fed while heating a toner image thereon; and a retracting unit retractable from the image heating unit, the retracting unit including an air discharging portion configured to discharge air for separating the sheet from the rotatable member, and a feeding portion provided with a pair of rotatable members and configured to nip and feed therebetween the sheet heated by the image heating unit. | 06-05-2014 |
20140186074 | Fixing Device Provided with Frame Movably Supporting Heating Assembly - A fixing device may include: a roller; a heating assembly; a pressing assembly; and a frame. The heating assembly may include a guided portion having first and second surfaces. The frame may movably support the heating assembly. The frame may include: a recessed portion; first and second guide portions. The first and second guide portions may guide movement of the heating assembly. The guided portion may be interposed between the first and second guide portions. The first guide portion may have a first restriction surface facing the first surface to restrict the guided portion from moving. The second guide portion may have a second restriction surface facing the second surface to restrict the guided portion from moving. Farthest end portions of the first and second restriction surfaces to the roller may face the first and second surfaces respectively when the heating assembly is in its closest position. | 07-03-2014 |
20140193175 | FIXING UNIT POSITION-ADJUSTING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention is concerning to a fixing unit position-adjusting apparatus including: a first member configured to include a positioning portion that is formed on a lateral surface of the first member, the positioning portion being engaged with a positioning portion of a main body so that the first member is mounted on the main body in a manner positionable in a left and right direction; and a second member configured to include a reference pin insertion portion that is formed to receive insertion of a reference pin of the main body, the second member being assembled with the first member. | 07-10-2014 |
20140294442 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED THEREWITH - A fixing device is configured to move the pressure release member in predetermined movement directions relative to the support member such that the biasing member can function. The support member has a first retaining part. The pressure release member has a retention element to be held in the first retaining part of the support member. When the retention element is held in the first retaining part of the support member, the pressure release member is configured to apply a biasing force of the biasing member to the support member and thereby to cause the second fixing member to be pressed against the first fixing member. When the retention element is released from the first retaining part of the support member, the pressure release member is configured to stay at a release position in the movement directions at which position the biasing member ceases to apply the biasing force to the support member, and thereby to release the pressure contact state where the second fixing member is pressed against the first fixing member. | 10-02-2014 |
20140348542 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device configured to form a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device, including first and second rotatable members for forming a nip, configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming device; a mounting portion to which the fixing device is detachably mountable substantially along a longitudinal direction thereof; a pressing mechanism configured to press the first rotatable member toward the second rotatable member by entrance thereof, along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, into a space of the mounting portion through which the fixing device passes during mounting and demounting; and a retracting mechanism configured to retract the pressing mechanism from the space. | 11-27-2014 |
20150050046 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and an abutment rotator contacting the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A thermopile array is disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to detect a temperature of the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The thermopile array is tilted with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to cause a bisector dividing a view angle of the thermopile array in an axial direction of the fixing rotator into two equal parts and a rotation axis of the fixing rotator to define an outboard angle and an inboard angle disposed inboard from the outboard angle in the axial direction of the fixing rotator and different from the outboard angle. | 02-19-2015 |
20150063868 | IMAGE HEATING UNIT, RECORDING MEDIUM CONVEYING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image heating unit detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the image heating unit includes first and second rotatable members configured to and feed a recording material in an image heating process; a casing enclosing the first and second rotatable member and provided with an opening configured to permit passage of the recording material; a movable member movable relative to the opening between a first position taken when the image heating process is carried out and a second position in which a jam clearance operation is capable through the opening and in which a test finger is prevented from entering through the opening into the casing; and a locking mechanism configured to lock the movable member at the second position. | 03-05-2015 |
20150071680 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: a main assembly; and a fixing unit. The main assembly includes an advancing-and-retracting member capable of advancing and retracting in a direction substantially perpendicular to a mounting direction of the fixing unit, and includes an urging member configured to urge the advancing-and-retracting member in an advancing direction. The fixing unit includes an engaging member engageable with the advancing-and-retracting member, wherein the engaging member includes a retracting portion configured to retract the advancing-and-retracting member against an urging force of the urging member with a mounting operation to the main assembly and includes a permitting portion configured to permit advance of the advancing-and-retracting member by the urging portion with a further mounting operation to the main assembly and configured to receive a force for moving the fixing unit in a mounting direction by the advancing-and-retracting member. | 03-12-2015 |
20150086241 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, a first support portion, and a second support portion. First support portion fits with and positions first supported portion, which is end of fixing unit, in up-down direction and supports first supported portion movably in insertion direction of fixing unit toward attachment position. Second support portion fits with and positions second supported portion, which is another end of fixing unit, in up-down direction and supports second supported portion movably in insertion direction. Height adjustment portion adjusts height position of fixing unit by moving second support portion in up-down direction. The first support portion includes vertical surface facing first supported portion and extending in up-down direction, and vertical surface has projection at an end thereof on foreside of insertion direction, the projection projecting from the vertical surface in first direction of going away from the vertical surface. | 03-26-2015 |
20150110524 | FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a fixing device including a fixing member that fixes toner onto a recording material, a pressurizing member that forms a nip portion, through which the recording material passes, between the fixing member and the pressurizing member, a moving member that is disposed to be movable in response to passage of the recording material in a transport path of the recording material which passes through the nip portion, a detection unit that detects a presence or absence of the moving member, a displacement mechanism that changes a position of the pressurizing member with respect to the fixing member, and an attachment/detachment member that is disposed in a detachable manner at a facing position facing the displacement mechanism and comes into contact with the moving member. | 04-23-2015 |
20150338807 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station; a heating roller and a pressing roller forming a fixing nip therebetween; a changing mechanism for changing a relative positional relation between the heating roller and the pressing rotatable member between a contacting position in which they are contacted, a first spacing position in which they are spaced, and the second spacing position in which they are spaced by a shorter distance; and a controller for the changing mechanism such that in a period after the sheet passes through the fixing nip and before a next sheet reaches the fixing nip, the relation is brought into the first spacing position when the period is longer than a first predetermined period, and that the relation is brought into the second spacing position when the period is shorter than the first predetermined period and is longer than a second predetermined period. | 11-26-2015 |
20160033929 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An object of the present invention is to increase the accuracy of positions of a drive gear and a driven gear without an increase in size of an apparatus. In an image forming apparatus, a driven gear | 02-04-2016 |
20160124382 | Fixing Device That Ensures Downsized Opening/Closing Space of Fixing Cover and Image Forming Apparatus - A fixing device includes a fixing device main body and a fixing cover. The fixing device main body has an opening across a back portion and an upper portion of a conveying passage of a recording sheet. The fixing cover openably/closably covers the opening by rotatably supported with a first axle as a rotational central axle. The first axle extends in width direction of the recording sheet in a lower end of the back portion of the opening. The fixing cover includes a first fixing cover portion and a second fixing cover portion. The first fixing cover portion covers the back portion of the conveying passage and its lower end portion is rotatably supported with the first axle as the rotational central axle. The second fixing cover portion covers the upper portion of the conveying passage and has a bendable structure with respect to the first fixing cover portion. | 05-05-2016 |
20160147194 | LATCH MECHANISM FOR A FUSER ASSEMBLY HAVING A HEAT TRANSFER ROLL - A fuser assembly for an electrophotographic imaging device which transfers heat from overheated portions of the fuser assembly to portions having lesser temperatures. The fuser assembly includes a heating member; a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith; a heat transfer device in contact with backup roll; a positioning mechanism coupled to the heat transfer device for positioning the heat transfer device in a first position in which the heat transfer device contacts the backup roll, and a second position in which the heat transfer device is spaced apart from the backup roll; and a latch mechanism for latching the heat transfer device in the second position. | 05-26-2016 |