| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
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| 20080199230 | Apparatus and method for fixing photocurable inks and printing apparatus - An apparatus for fixing photocurable inks includes: a light source for irradiating light for fixation to a recording side of a recording medium printed with photocurable ink; a fixing member which is disposed in a conveyance path of the printed recording medium, is formed in a cylindrical shape, and can transmit the light for fixation; a conveying member disposed so as to face the fixing member over the conveyance path; and a pressurizing unit for nipping the fixing member and the conveying member. The recording medium is conveyed between the fixing member and the conveying member which are nipped by the pressurizing unit, the fixing member and the recording side of the recording medium are made come into tight contact with each other, and a contact part between the fixing member and the recording side of the recording medium is irradiated by the light for fixation which transmits the fixing member to thereby cure/fix the photocurable ink on the recording side of the recording medium. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080213012 | DISCHARGE GUIDE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A discharge guide of an image forming apparatus. The discharge guide includes: a guide body disposed between a fixing unit and a discharging unit of the image forming apparatus; and a guide member disposed on the guide body. The guide member includes a guide edge, which forms different amounts of gap with a central portion end portions of a heating roller of the fixing unit. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080232868 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND FIXING UNIT - An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body; an image forming unit; a first fixing device; and a second fixing device, the first and second fixing device being selectively attached, and the apparatus body including: a first attaching region that is formed by detaching the first fixing device; a sheet-discharging region in which, in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the apparatus body, a sheet subjected to a fixing operation by the first fixing device is discharged into an upper portion of the apparatus body while downwardly directing a face on which the fixing operation is performed; and a second attaching region to which the second fixing device is attached, and that includes the first attaching region and the sheet-discharging region. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080232869 | IMAGE FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image fixing apparatus includes a first conveying path on which a sheet is conveyed, a first fixing unit that fixes a toner image on a sheet conveyed on the first conveying path, a second conveying path on which a sheet is conveyed, wherein the second conveying path branches from the first conveying path in a bifurcation provided on a upstream of the first fixing unit and joins into the first conveying path in a confluence provided on a downstream of the first fixing unit, and a second fixing unit provided on a upstream of the bifurcation or on a downstream of the confluence or on the second conveying path. Time to convey a sheet from the bifurcation to the confluence through the first conveying path and time to convey a sheet from the bifurcation to the confluence through the bypass conveying path are nearly equal. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080240803 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus has a heat member for heating an unfixed image and is configured so that a longitudinal center of the heat member becomes a conveyance center of the recording material, the image forming apparatus including a central portion temperature detection part adjacent to the conveyance center, an end portion temperature detection part for detecting an end portion temperature of the heat member, and a width detection part for detecting a lateral width of the recording material, wherein the width detection part is disposed at a side opposite to a side at which the end portion temperature detection part is disposed with respect to the conveyance center position of the recording material. The image forming apparatus achieves the control for error setting of the recording material based on the width detection part and the end portion temperature detection part. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20090035032 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image on a recording medium in a transfer unit and fixes the toner image on the recording medium in a fixing unit. The image forming apparatus performs duplex image formation in a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a mode in which a toner image is transferred and fixed on a second side of a recording medium after a toner image is transferred and fixed on a first side thereof. The second mode is a mode in which, after a toner image is transferred and fixed on a first side of a recording medium fed at first, a second side of the recording medium is subjected to fixing without transferring thereon a toner image. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090080952 | Belt Fuser Assembly Having Feature To Prevent Media Wrapping Of The Fuser Belt - A belt fuser assembly includes a housing, and a fuser belt rotatably mounted to the housing, with the fuser belt having a direction of rotation. A pivot body has a proximal portion pivotably mounted to the housing and has a first elongate member having a first distal end that extends from the proximal portion. The first elongate member has a width extending perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the fuser belt. The first distal end of the first elongate member has a smooth curved surface extending along the width for pressing against the fuser belt during a sheet jam occurring in the housing to prevent a sheet of media from wrapping around the fuser belt. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090142111 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE - The image-forming device includes an image-forming unit, a fixing unit, a pair of first guides, and a pair of second guides. The recording sheet defines a width in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction. The image-forming unit forms a developing agent image on the recording sheet. The fixing unit includes a heating and a pressure roller. The heating roller heats the recording sheet discharged from the image-forming unit. The pressure roller presses the recording sheet against the heating roller. The heating roller and the pressure roller provide a nip point where the recording sheet is nipped therebetween. The nip point is offset in a thickness direction of the recording sheet from a plane along which the recording sheet is discharged from the image-forming unit. A sheet conveying path is provided from the image-forming unit to the fixing unit. The pair of first guides dispose on the conveying path and configure to contact with an image-forming side of the recording sheet at both widthwise edges thereof, for restraining the recording sheet from being displaced toward the image-forming side. The pair of second guides dispose on the conveying path and configure to contact with the image-forming side of the recording sheet at both widthwise edges thereof for restraining the recording sheet from being displaced toward the image-forming side, a distance between the pair of first guides in the widthwise direction being greater than a distance between the pair of second guides in the widthwise direction, and the pair of second guides being offset from the pair of first guides in the sheet conveying direction. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090220287 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND RECORDING MEDIA CONVEYING METHOD FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An inlet guide having, on a recording media contact surface thereof, plural ribs inclining to a further inner side farther toward a recording media conveying direction is arranged upstream in a recording media conveying direction of a nip formed by a fixing roller and a pressing roller for heating and pressing a recording medium having a developer transferred thereon and the recording medium is brought into contact with the ribs of the inlet guide to guide the recording medium to the nip. The plural ribs are arranged such that an acute angle formed by center lines in a longitudinal direction of the plural ribs and a straight line parallel to a center line in width direction of a recording medium to be conveyed is equal to or larger than 5° and equal to or smaller than 20°. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090297233 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a heating member for heating a toner image on a recording material in a heating nip; a pressing member for forming the heating nip in contact with the heating member; a abrading member for abrading a surface of the heating member; a contact-and-separation device for permitting contact and separation of the abrading member with respect to the heating member; and a selecting device for selecting, depending on a basis weight of the recording material to be heated by said heating member, whether or not the contact-and-separation means brings the abrading member into contact with the pressing member before a recording material is conveyed to the heating nip. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090317151 | Feeding and fixing apparatus for feeding and fixing a functional element to a sheet of film - A feeding and fixing apparatus for feeding and fixing a functional element, such as a closure element, to a sheet of film includes a feed unit for holding a functional element. The feed unit includes at least one holding device for holding the functional element, the at least one holding device being arranged substantially parallel to the sheet of film and, with a pivoting movement, being capable of being positioned in the region of the sheet of film in a plane running parallel to the sheet of film. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100014898 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member pressed against the fixing member, a separating member disposed at a specific distance from the fixing member for separating a printing sheet therefrom after the printing sheet has passed through a nip portion formed between the fixing member and the pressure member, the separating member being made movable in directions toward and away from the fixing member, and a movement restricting member for limiting movement of the separating member in the direction away from the fixing member. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100135705 | PAPER GUIDING MECHANISM AND PRINTER USING THE SAME - A paper guiding mechanism and a printer using the same are provided. The paper guiding mechanism is disposed in a casing of a printer and located at an exiting end of a fusing device of the printer. The paper guiding mechanism guides a recording medium to a paper exit of the printer. The paper guiding mechanism includes a first guiding member and a second guiding member. The first guiding member is disposed in the casing. The second guiding member is movably attached to the casing. A passage is formed between the first guiding member and the second guiding member for the recording medium to pass through. The second guiding member may be moved by the force applied by the recording medium to guide the recording medium through the passage. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100183344 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH REDUCED THERMAL STRESS ON A SUBSTRATE - An imaging system including an image transfer structure configured to transfer marking material to a first side of a substrate; a tacker configured to fix the marking material to the substrate; a path controller; a substrate inverter; and a fuser. The path controller is configured to switch the substrate between a first path towards the fuser and a second path extending through the substrate inverter and returning to the image transfer structure. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100196063 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet using a first colorant to be heat-fixed on the sheet; a second image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet using a second colorant that is erasable by heating; and a fixing device arranged further on a downstream side in a sheet conveying direction than the first image forming unit and further on an upstream side in the sheet conveying direction than the second image forming unit and capable of executing fixing processing for heat-fixing the image, which is formed on the sheet by the first image forming unit, on the sheet and executing erasing processing for heating the sheet, on which the image is formed with the second colorant, to erasing temperature to thereby erase the second colorant on the sheet. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100232846 | Image forming apparatus and method - An image forming apparatus including a fixing device having a first nip to fix toner to a recording medium; a conveyance device provided at a position downstream from the fixing device in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium to convey the recording medium further downstream; a guide member provided along a conveyance path of the recording medium between the fixing device and the conveyance device to contact and convey the recording medium from the fixing device to the conveyance device, the guide member having multiple through-holes formed therein and penetrating from a front surface of the guide member facing the conveyance path of the recording medium to a back surface of the guide member; and an airflow generator to generate an airflow through the multiple through-holes. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100247178 | SHEET FEEDING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A sheet feeding device includes a first conveying roller conveying the sheet, a second conveying roller conveying the sheet conveyed from the first conveying roller, a first driving gear having a first number of teeth, and a second driving gear having a second number of teeth. When a first meshing frequency defined by multiplication of the first number of teeth and the number of rotations of the first driving gear is defined as A, and a second meshing frequency defined by multiplication of the second number of teeth and the number of rotations of the second driving gear is defined as B, the first meshing frequency A and the second meshing frequency B are set so as to satisfy the following expression (1): | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100254734 | SHEET CONVEYANCE APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a first roller and a second roller. The second roller is urged to the first roller by an elastic member. In the sheet conveyance apparatus, sheet guide rib is provided which can project into a sheet conveyance path formed by a sheet guide plate. The sheet conveyance apparatus further includes an interlock portion which is mechanically interlocking with a changing position of the second roller, and changes the projecting amount of the sheet guide rib into the sheet conveyance path such that the more the thickness of a sheet increases, the smaller the projecting amount becomes. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100310287 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic imaging unit, a fixing unit, a conveyance unit, and a guide assembly. The electrophotographic imaging unit forms a toner image on a recording medium for forwarding to a media conveyance path. The fixing unit is disposed in the conveyance path to fix the toner image in place on the recording medium through a fixing nip. The conveyance unit is disposed downstream of the fixing unit along the conveyance path to forward the recording medium from the fixing nip. The guide assembly is disposed between the fixing unit and the conveyance unit along the conveyance path to guide the recording medium therethrough. The guide assembly includes a pair of first and second media guide members to form a tapered passageway therebetween to pass the recording medium from the fixing nip into the conveyance unit. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20110044734 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - In a fixing device, a pressing member rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation. A flexible fixing member is disposed opposite the pressing member to rotate in accordance with rotation of the pressing member. A nip formation member is provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A contact member pressingly contacts an outer circumferential surface of the rotating fixing member at both ends of the fixing member in an axial direction thereof. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110070002 | Image forming apparatus - In the image forming apparatus, a developing unit and a fusing unit are arranged to horizontally face each other. A printing path between the developing unit and the fusing unit includes a downward slope to guide a printing medium immediately having passed through the transfer nip and an upward slope to guide the printing medium approaching the fusing nip. The fusing nip is located lower than the transfer nip, preventing pollution of a rear end of the printing medium. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110076066 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes: a first fixing unit including a first heating unit heats to a transfer material onto which an image has been transferred and a first pressure unit that forms a first nip portion; a second fixing unit including a second heating unit heats to the transfer material fixed in the first fixing unit and a second pressure unit that forms a second nip portion; and a fixing unit suction guide, including a suction surface that sucks the transfer material fixed in the first fixing unit upward with a surface of the transfer material onto which the image has been transferred facing downward, an end of the suction surface on a side toward the second fixing unit in a transport direction of the transfer material being located higher in the vertical direction than an imaginary line that connects the first nip portion and the second nip portion. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110076067 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus for forming an image on a transfer material includes first and second fixing roller units, a suction guide, and a movement member. The first fixing roller unit includes a first heating roller that heats the transfer material bearing the image and a first pressure roller being in contact with the first heating roller. The suction guide guides the transfer material, and includes a suction surface that vertically upwardly sucks the transfer material after being heated by the first fixing roller unit. The second fixing roller unit fixes the transfer material after being guided by the suction guide, and includes a second heating roller heating the transfer material and a second pressure roller being in contact with the second heating roller. The second pressure roller is disposed above the second heating roller in the vertical direction. The movement member causes the second pressure roller to move vertically upwardly. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110085830 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Disclosed in an image forming apparatus including a conveyance section to convey a paper, a first fixing device to fix a toner on the paper by heat fixing, a first cooling device to cool the paper in which the toner is fixed, a second fixing device to fix the toner on the paper by heat fixing, a second cooling device to cool the paper in which the toner is fixed, a conveyance path switching section to switch a conveyance path of the paper between a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path and a control section to control so as to carry out cooling by operating the second cooling device and not operating the first cooling device when the paper is to be conveyed to the first conveyance path and so as to carry out cooling by operating the first cooling device when the paper is to be conveyed to the second conveyance path. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110142504 | Image forming apparatus and method thereof - Disclosed herein is an image forming apparatus and method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a rotating member provided close to a distal end of a guide surface used to guide a printing medium to be introduced into a fusing unit. The rotating member comes into rolling contact with the printing medium to prevent jamming of the printing medium due to matter adhered to the distal end of the guide surface. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110206424 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus for fixing an image formed on a recording material, the fixing device includes a guiding member for guiding movement of the recording material, provided in a recording material passing opening of the apparatus; a rib projecting from a recording material passing surface of the guiding member, for being contacted by the recording material; a shutter provided at a position opposing the guiding member and movable between a position for opening the passing opening and a position closing the passing opening, and a projection provided at a position of the shutter opposing a position of the guiding member not having the rib with respect to a direction perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction, wherein when the shutter takes the closing position, a clearance between the rib and the shutter is larger than a clearance between the guiding member and the projection. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110211873 | SHEET PRESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet pressing device includes plurality of pressing members and a support member. The plurality of pressing members is provided on a downstream side in a discharging direction of fixing unit which carries out a fixing treatment over a sheet having an unfixed image transferred thereonto along the discharging direction. The plurality of pressing members presses both ends of the sheet in a direction along a surface of the sheet carried out the fixing treatment by the fixing unit and in a direction crossing the discharging direction. The support member supports the plurality of pressing members movably in such a direction as to approach or separate from the sheet when the sheet passes through the sheet pressing device. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110211874 | Image Forming Device With Holding Unit Engagement Mechanism - An image forming device includes: a main body; a plurality of image forming units; a holding unit; and an engagement mechanism. Each of the plurality of image forming units has a developing portion. The holding unit holds the plurality of image forming units. The plurality of image forming units are aligned in the holding unit in a predetermined drawing direction. The holding unit is configured so as to be drawn out in the predetermined drawing direction from a storage position where the holding unit is stored in the main body. The holding unit sequentially reaches a plurality of different drawing positions while moving in the predetermined drawing direction. The plurality of image forming units are sequentially exposed to the outside while the holding unit sequentially reaches the plurality of drawing positions. The engagement mechanism is configured to engage the holding unit with the main body when the holding unit reaches each of the plurality of drawing positions. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110299895 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing unit and a gloss equalizing unit. The fixing unit is disposed in a media conveyance path to fix a toner image on a recording medium conveyed therethrough. The fixing unit includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, and a media stripper. The fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is pressed against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween. The media stripper is held in contact with the pressure member to allow the recording medium to separate from the pressure member. The gloss equalizing unit is disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path. The gloss equalizing unit includes a pair of first and second rotary glossing rollers, at least one of which is heated and at least one of which is pressed against the other to form a gloss equalizing nip therebetween. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110318071 | SHEET STACKING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A sheet stacking device for stacking conveyed sheets includes a stacking surface on which the sheets are stacked; a plurality of projections that project from the stacking surface. Wherein, the projections extend generally in a travel direction of the sheets, which is a direction in which the sheets travel when entering the sheet stacking device, the projections include outer projections and inner projections, the inner projections are located between the inner projections, and a projecting height of the inner projections from the stacking surface is greater than that of the outer projections. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120034004 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing unit for fixing a toner image includes a fixing device and a guide member. The fixing device includes a fixing roller having a heater inside thereof and a pressing roller disposed opposite the fixing roller. The pressing roller presses against the fixing roller and fixes a toner image formed on a transfer medium. The guide member guides the transfer medium to the fixing device. The guide member includes a metal base member including at least one coating layer. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120034005 | SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS - A sheet conveying apparatus is provided with a decurling mechanism to correct a curl formed on a sheet; a pair of guides including a first guide member and a second guide member arranged to oppose to the first guide member, the pair of guides constituting a conveyance passage to guide a sheet discharged from the decurling mechanism toward the downstream aide in the sheet conveying direction; and an auxiliary guide arranged to protrude obliquely in the sheet conveying direction from the side of the first guide member toward the second guide member to a predetermined position in the conveyance passage. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120039644 | SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS - A sheet conveying apparatus is provided with a decurling mechanism to correct a curl formed on a sheet; a pair of guides including a first guide member and a second guide member arranged to oppose to the first guide member, the pair of guides constituting a conveyance passage to guide a sheet discharged from the decurling mechanism toward the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction; and an auxiliary guide arranged to protrude obliquely in the sheet conveying direction from the side of the first guide member toward the second guide member to a predetermined position in the conveyance passage. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120087701 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately curing curl which is apt to be generated at a fixing-completed sheet. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120207523 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing member configured to heat and fix a toner image onto a recording medium; a pressurizing member configured to press a heating member, which is used for heating the fixing member, against the fixing member and form a fixing nip part; and a guide member configured to guide the recording medium away from the fixing member and the pressurizing member at a downstream side of the fixing member or the pressurizing member in a conveying direction of the recording medium. The guide member includes a pushing unit for maintaining a relative positional relationship between the guide member and an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member or the pressurizing member, and the pushing unit is provided in a manner as to follow surface characteristics of outer peripheral parts of the fixing member or the pressurizing member where the pushing unit pushes. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120251200 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a first rotating member that rotates while pinching a sheet which holds an image on a first surface of the sheet and is transported, fixes the image to the sheet, and heats the image while coming into contact with the first surface; a second rotating member that comes into contact with a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface; a third rotating member that guides the sheet by rotating while coming into contact with the first surface of the sheet fed from a gap between the first and second rotating members; and a support member that supports the first, second, and third rotating members with a space through which the heat of the first rotating member is transferred to the third rotating member interposed between the first and third rotating members. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120251201 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a main body, an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a first feed path forming member, and an ejection portion. The first feed path forming member is disposed between the image forming unit and the fixing unit in the main body and forms a first feed path in which a transferring member is fed. The ejection portion includes a tray member disposed at an upper end portion of the main body and including a communication opening that provides communication between an inside and an outside of the main body. The communication opening is disposed between the image forming unit and the fixing unit in a plan view. The first feed path forming member includes a first through hole. The first through hole is open toward the communication opening and the communication opening is open toward the first through hole. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120269558 | SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a shutter member against which a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed abuts, for a skew feed correction, wherein the shutter member is pressed and moved by the sheet; and an actuation member which moves the shutter member that has been pressed and moved by the sheet being conveyed to a retracted position at which the shutter member is retracted from a sheet conveying path and holds the shutter member at the retracted position until the leading edge of the sheet being conveyed by the second conveying rotary member is nipped by the transfer nip portion. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20130114983 | POWER TRANSMISSION METHOD AND APPARATUS, MEDIUM DISCHARGING APPARATUS USING THE SAME, AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE HAVING THE MEDIUM DISCHARGING APPARATUS - A power transmission, which transmits a driving force from a driving roller to a driven roller by using a friction roller. The power transmission includes a driving roller, a driven roller spaced apart from the driving roller, and a friction roller to transmit a driving force from the driving roller to the driven roller. The friction roller is disposed above a line connecting between centers of the driving roller and the driven roller. With this construction, the friction roller transmits the driving force in a state of being interposed between the driving rollers and the driven rollers by rotation thereof, thereby allowing the power transmission to have a simplified structure, which does not require a separate pressing spring, and at the same time, to generate a minimum amount of power loss. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130183069 | MEDIUM TRANSPORTING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A medium transporting apparatus includes a first transporting section and first guide. The first transporting section transports a medium. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130266350 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND FIXING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a fixing member fixing a toner image onto a recording medium and a fixation pressing member coming into pressure contact with the fixing member to form a fixation pressing area, through which the recording medium passes, between the two members; a transport unit transporting the recording medium output from the fixing unit; and a guide unit disposed between the fixing and transport units and having a substantially arc-shaped transport path along which the output recording medium is guided and transported toward the transport unit. The guide unit has a substantially rib-shaped guide extending along the transport path and coming into contact with the recording medium at a predetermined position of the guide to guide the recording medium, and a recess provided downstream, in a recording-medium transport direction, of the predetermined position and recessed inward from the substantially arc-shaped transport path. | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130279953 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes: a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a sheet at a nip; and a guiding member for guiding the sheet toward the nip. The guiding member includes: an electroconductive metal plate which is electrically grounded; and an insulating resin member, provided to cover a part of the metal plate, slidable with the sheet. The resin member includes: a plurality of openings, provided at different positions with respect to a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction, for permitting exposure of the metal plate along the sheet conveyance direction; and a downstream portion, substantially free from a stepped portion, which is provided at a downstreammost portion with respect to the sheet conveyance direction and which is extended flat in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction in a sheet conveyance region. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20140003846 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140037345 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes a fixing unit configured to heat and fix an unfixed image, which is formed on a recording material, on the recording material, a rotating member provided with a metal shaft and configured to convey the recording material that has passed through the fixing unit, a cover member made of injection-molded resin and configured to cover the shaft of the rotating member from a recording material conveyance path side so that a portion of the rotating member in contact with the recording material is exposed, the cover member including a portion that has a U-shaped cross-section when viewed from one end side of the shaft, and a sheet member configured to cover an opening of the U-shaped portion of the cover member. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140079447 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members and a guide member. The guide member includes a guide plate having a guide surface, a back surface when the guide surface is defined as a front surface, and holes that are spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction of the sheet and that extend through the guide surface and the back surface; and sheet receiving members that are disposed in correspondence with the holes, each sheet receiving member including a body and an insertion portion that protrudes from the body and that is inserted into the corresponding hole, the insertion portions being inserted into the corresponding holes and being moved along the guide surface, so that the sheet receiving members are mounted to the guide plate while the bodies protrude from the guide surface. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140086644 | Fixing Device and Image Forming Apparatus - A fixing device may include a first fixing member, and a second fixing member, and may be configured to heat-fix a developer image on a recording sheet at a fixing nip formed between the first fixing member and the second fixing member. The fixing device may further include a charge-removing member arranged upstream of the fixing nip in a conveyance direction of the recording sheet and in a vicinity of a conveyance path of the recording sheet conveyed towards the fixing nip, and including a main body part and an end edge positioned at an edge of the main body part, and an insulating member arranged between the conveyance path and at least the entire end edge of the charge-removing member. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140086645 | Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, a heating member for heating a recording sheet and a pressuring member disposed below the heating member are supported by a fixing unit frame. A noncontact temperature sensor disposed facing the heating member detects a temperature of the heating member without contacting the heating member. An upper frame covers an upper portion of the heating member and an upstream portion of the heating member in a conveying direction of the recording sheet. A plate-shaped upper sheet guide protrudes upstream in the conveying direction from an upstream end of the upper frame and extends in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and to a vertical direction. The upper sheet guide and a lower sheet guide disposed below and facing the upper sheet guide the recording sheet in the conveying direction toward the heating member and the pressuring member. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140153976 | Image Forming Apparatus Including Movable Guide Unit - An image forming apparatus includes a main body, sheet discharge unit, fixing unit, and conveying guide. The fixing unit thermally fixes a developer image deposited on a sheet to provide an image-fixed sheet. The conveying guide defines at least a part of a conveying path. The conveying guide guides one surface of the image-fixed sheet. The conveying guide includes a fixed guide unit and movable guide unit. The fixed guide unit guides end portions of the image-fixed sheet in a widthwise direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the image-fixed sheet. The fixed guide unit is immovable relative to the main body. The movable guide unit is disposed adjacent to the fixed guide unit in the widthwise direction and movable relative to the fixed guide unit. The movable guide unit guides the image-fixed sheet in a first position. The movable guide unit exposes the conveying path in a second position. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140153977 | Image Forming Apparatus and Fixing Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, discharge unit, first and second guides, and top cover. The discharge unit is disposed obliquely above a heating member of the fixing unit. The first guide extends from a position above the heating member toward the discharge unit and has an upstream portion in a conveying direction of an image-fixed sheet. The second guide is disposed above the heating member and faces the upstream portion. The second guide defines an upper portion of the conveying path. A part of the second guide faces the upstream portion in the first position, and exposes the upstream portion in the second position. The top cover is movable between an open position where the second guide is exposed and a closed position where the second guide is covered. The first guide has a guide surface sloping downward in the conveying direction. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140153978 | Image Forming Apparatus Including Retaining Part for Retaining Movable Guide in Prescribed Position - An image forming apparatus includes a discharge unit, fixing unit, movable guide, cover, and retaining part. The discharge unit discharges a sheet out of a main body. The fixing unit thermally fixes developer image deposited on the sheet to provide an image-fixed sheet. The movable guide is movable between a first position and second position. The movable guide guides one surface of the sheet in the first position. The movable guide exposes a conveying path in the second position. The cover is movable between an open position where the movable guide is exposed and a closed position where the movable guide is covered. The movable guide is in the first position while the cover moves from the closed position to the open position. The retaining part is configured to retain the movable guide in the second position after the movable guide moves from the first position to the second position. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140212187 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS - A sheet processing apparatus comprises a heating unit configured to heat a sheet when the sheet is conveyed between a pair of rollers, a first guide unit that supports and guides movement of the heating unit in a first direction towards a predetermined position exterior to the sheet processing apparatus, and a second guide unit that supports and guides further movement of the heating unit in the first direction in cooperation with the first guide unit, the second guide unit including an abutment section configured to stop movement of the heating unit in the first direction when the heating unit reaches the predetermined position. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140233991 | FUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fusing device and an image forming apparatus including the fusing device are provided, the fusing device having a structure that ensures a stable transport of a printing medium by preventing a printing medium from deviating from a transport path between a transfer nip and a fusing nip. The fusing device includes a heating member, a pressing member to contact the heating member to form a fusing nip, and a guide member to guide a printing medium to the fusing nip. An end of the guide member is shaped such that a height of the end decreases as the end extends from a center thereof to opposite sides thereof, and disposed closer to the heating member than to the pressing member, with respect to an imaginary line extending from the fusing nip. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140233992 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material; and a guide member for guiding the recording material. The guide member is provided at an entrance to the fixing portion and at an end portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material The guide member is moved when the guide member is pushed by the recording material. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140328609 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus with a duplex printing function may include a closeable and openable portion. In one example, the portion may correspond to a cover of the image forming apparatus. The cover may include guiding portions configured to define a return path for duplex printing. In another example, the portion may correspond to a document reading unit including an outer casing. A portion of the outer casing may be configured to guide a recording sheet that is conveyed out of a housing of the image forming apparatus by a switchback roller. In one example, the switchback roller may convey a recording sheet to a position above an upper surface of the outer casing. | 11-06-2014 |
| 20140376976 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a recording paper to which a toner has been transferred is guided by a guide member and transported to a nip region between two rotatable members that are pressed against each other, and the toner on the recording paper is fixed at the nip region. In this image forming apparatus, a conductive or semiconductive region and an insulating region that are to be brought into contact with the recording paper are sequentially arranged in a recording paper transport direction on a guide face of the guide member, the conductive or semiconductive region is grounded, and the insulating region includes an end portion of the guide member oriented in the recording paper transport direction. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150063881 | Fixing Device Ensuring Smooth Delivery of Sheet - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, and a guiding member. The guiding member includes a first guide surface, a second guide surface, and a pair of third guide surfaces consecutively installing both end portions in the axial direction of the first guide surface and both end portions in the axial direction of the second guide surface. The first end edge of the first guide surface has a first circular arc shape arranged such that a center portion in the axial direction projects toward the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to both end portions in the axial direction. The second guide surface is one of a curved surface in a second circular arc shape arranged such that a center portion in the axial direction is close to the first circumference surface with respect to both end portions in the axial direction. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150086250 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a transfer unit for transferring a toner image from the image bearing member onto the recording material; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the recording material; an electroconductive member contactable to the recording material; a resistance element connected with the electroconductive member; and a capacitor element connected with the electroconductive member, wherein the electroconductive member is disposed so as to be nipped simultaneously by the transfer nip and the fixing nip and so as to be contacted by the recording material, and the electroconductive member and the capacitor element are connected in parallel between the electroconductive member and a ground potential. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150086251 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a toner image forming unit; an intermediary transfer belt; a transfer roller; a fixing device including a first belt stretched by a first roller and a first stretching roller and a second belt stretched by a second roller and a second stretching roller spaced from the first stretching roller; and a guiding member. The guiding member is provided downstream of a transfer portion and upstream of the fixing device with respect to a recording material feeding direction. The guiding member is disposed, at a downstream end thereof, in a nip side relative to an upstream common tangential line of the first and second stretching rollers with respect to the feeding direction and is disposed at a position closer to the second stretching roller than to the first stretching roller on the upstream common tangential line. The guiding member includes a flat plate-like electrode. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150086252 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS SEQUENTIALLY OUTPUTTING A SHEET HAVING BEEN SUBJECTED TO IMAGE FORMATION PROCESSING TO A PAPER OUTPUT TRAY - An image forming apparatus capable of effectively cooling down a sheet having been subjected to fixing processing while preventing an apparatus from becoming larger in size and a sheet conveyance failure from occurring is provided. The image forming apparatus ( | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150093159 | Fixing Device Provided With Positioning Member Capable Of Positioning Heating Unit With Respect To Pressure Roller - A fixing device includes: a heating unit; a rotatable body; an urging mechanism; first and second bearings; a frame; first and second positioning members. The first and second bearings support first and second axial end portions of the rotatable body, respectively. The frame supports the heating unit and has two side walls. One of the side walls supports the first bearing, and the other supports the second bearing. Each side wall includes: a first wall portion supporting the first or second bearing; and second and third wall portions supporting the heating unit while interposing the heating unit therebetween. The first and second positioning members extend from the heating unit toward the first and second bearings, respectively. The heating unit is fixed in position relative to the first and second bearings upon engagement of the first and second positioning members with the first and second bearings, respectively. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150093160 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING A COMPACT SIZE - An image forming apparatus having a compact size includes a printing medium supplying unit to hold printing media and to supply a printing medium, an image forming unit disposed above the printing medium supplying unit to form images on a printing medium, and a printing medium feeding part substantially formed in a letter “C” shape, having a part which extends to the image forming unit and which is inclined in a downward direction along a printing medium moving direction to feed the printing medium from the printing medium supplying unit to the image forming unit | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150117919 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus comprising a drum for carrying a toner image; a transfer member for contacting the drum to form a transfer nip, the transfer member being capable of electrostatically transferring the toner image from the drum onto a sheet; a fixing unit provided, downstream of the transfer member with respect to a sheet feeding direction, for fixing the toner image on the sheet by a fixing nip; a first current path provided between the fixing nip and a ground potential; a feeding unit, provided downstream of the fixing unit, for feeding the sheet while nipping by a feeding nip; a guiding member, disposed downstream of the feeding unit, for feeding the sheet passing through the transfer nip; and a second current path provided between the feeding nip and the ground potential, the second path having an electric resistance which is lower than that of the first path. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150316876 | SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first pair of rotating members; a second pair of rotating members which is provided in a downstream side of the first pair of rotating members in a conveying direction of a sheet; and a load portion which applies a load on a rotation of the first pair of rotating members to generate a tensile stress in the sheet; wherein the load portion includes, a slidably moving member arranged on both sides in an axial direction of a rotary member, a fixing member arranged to nip the slidably moving member on both sides in the axial direction of the rotary member from both outer sides in the axial direction, the fixing member being arranged to be movable in the axial direction and being rotation regulated, and a force applying portion which applies force on the fixing member in the axial direction of the rotary member. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150316877 | SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a sheet conveying apparatus including: a first pair of rotating members which includes a first rotating member and a second rotating member and conveys a sheet; a second pair of rotating members provided in a downstream side of the first pair of rotating members in a sheet conveying direction and conveys a sheet; a load portion capable of applying a load to rotation of the first pair of rotating members so as to generate a tensile stress onto the sheet when the sheet is nipped by the first pair of rotating members and the second pair of rotating members; and a load transmission path which transmits a load torque according to the load portion to the first rotating member and the second rotating member. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150362875 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing part, a first conveying part, a second conveying part, a biasing member and a separation supporting mechanism. The first conveying part following the fixing part includes rollers to convey a sheet at second linear velocity faster than first linear velocity of the fixing part. The second conveying part following the first conveying part conveys the sheet at third linear velocity faster than the first linear velocity near a heating rotation body of the fixing part from a first reference line passing through nip parts of the fixing part and first conveying part. The separation supporting mechanism supports one roller in a direction separating from another roller and receives force from the sheet in the separating direction to the one roller when the second conveying part conveys the sheet to withdraw the one roller in the separating direction from the first reference line. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150370202 | HEAT SOURCE UNIT - In accordance with one embodiment, a heat source unit comprises a first heating section configured to include a first heating member and a first pressing member; a second heating section, which is arranged at the downstream side of the first heating section in a paper conveyance direction, configured to include a second heating member and a second pressing member; a heat source opening and closing mechanism configured to include a rotation shaft at the upstream side of the first heating section in the paper conveyance direction, and be capable of being opened and closed around the rotation shaft; and a paper conveyance guide section configured to include, between the first and the second heating sections, a first paper conveyance rib arranged at one side of the paper conveyance path and a second paper conveyance rib arranged at the other side of the paper conveyance path. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20160077473 | IMAGE FORMING AND ERASING APPARATUS WITH MULTIPLE CONVEYANCE PATHS - In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming section configured to be capable of forming an image with erasable coloring agent; a storage section configured to include a first and a second cassettes capable of storing an image receiving medium; an erasing section configured to heat the image receiving medium on which an image is formed with the erasable coloring agent at a pre-set temperature to erase the image; and a conveyance section configured to convey the image receiving medium stacked in the first cassette through a first conveyance path which passes through the image forming section and the erasing section, and convey the image receiving medium the image on which is erased by the erasing section to the second cassette of the storage section through a second conveyance path. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160085186 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming apparatus includes a transport module that is capable of being pulled out from an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus and in which a transport path along which a recording material, to which a toner image has been transferred, is to be transported is formed and a fixing unit that is provided in the transport module and that includes a fixing member, which fixes the toner image onto the recording material, and a pressure member, which forms a pressing part to which the recording material is to be transported between the fixing member and the pressure member. When the recording material whose length in a transport direction is longer than that of the transport module is present in the transport path, the transport module is pulled out from the apparatus body while the recording material is being nipped by the fixing member and the pressure member. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160091852 | Fixing Device - A fixing device includes: an endless belt; a heater; a nip plate; a backup member, a reflective plate, a stay and a heat insulating member, wherein the heat insulating member includes: an upstream support face, which supports the nip plate; and a downstream support face, which is disposed separated downstream in the conveyance direction from the upstream support face and supports the nip plate, and wherein a gap in the conveyance direction between the upstream support face and the downstream support face at a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the heat insulating member is smaller than a gap in the conveyance direction between the upstream support face and the downstream support face at an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the heat insulating member. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160139546 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming the toner image on the recording material; and a fixing portion for fixing the toner image on the recording material by feeding and heating the recording material on which the toner image is formed at a nip. The fixing portion includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member for forming the nip in contact with the first rotatable member, and a casing. An outer surface of the first rotatable member has electroconductivity. The casing has an opposing surface which opposes the outer surface of the first rotatable member and which has electroconductivity. In a region above a lowest point of the outer surface of the first rotatable member with respect to a direction of gravity, an insulating member is provided between the opposing surface and the outer surface of the first rotatable member. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160139547 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material; and a guide member for guiding the recording material. The guide member is provided at an entrance to the fixing portion and at an end portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material The guide member is moved when the guide member is pushed by the recording material. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160154348 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 06-02-2016 |
| 20160170341 | Fixing Device That Reduces Friction against Sheet and Image Forming Apparatus Including the Same | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160378032 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressing rotator, and a guide. The pressing rotator forms a fixing nip with the fixing rotator. The guide guides a recording medium to the fixing nip. The guide includes a guide surface that contacts a surface of the recording medium against a guide the recording medium. The guide surface is provided parallel to a line tangent to the fixing rotator and the pressing rotator. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20190146385 | Image Forming Apparatus | 05-16-2019 |
