Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100321737 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - When multi-pass printing is performed, the dot overlap rate (ratio of the number of dots that overlap and are to be printed in the same pixel area by the plurality of relative movements with respect to the total number of dots to be printed in a pixel area by the plurality of relative movements) in pixel areas having medium-density where density unevenness caused by density fluctuation easily stands out is made higher than the dot overlap rate in pixel areas having low-density and pixel areas having high-density. By doing so density unevenness caused by density fluctuation is suppressed. In addition, the dot overlap rate in pixel areas having low-density and pixel areas having high-density is low, so it is possible to reduce graininess in low-density areas and suppress a decrease in density in high-density areas. | 12-23-2010 |
20110085183 | IMAGE PROCESSOR AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Inputted image data is converted to M number of multi-value data having a lower resolution than the inputted image data, and after quantization processing has been performed for each of the M number of multi-value data, an image is printed by M number of relative movements (M-pass printing) that corresponds to the M number of quantized data. By doing so, when compared with the case in which a resolution reduction process is not performed, it is possible to suppress the number of pixels that become the object of quantization processing, and it becomes possible to output an image with no fluctuation in image density or density unevenness without a decrease in the processing speed. | 04-14-2011 |
20110085189 | IMAGE PROCESSOR AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Provided is an image processor and image processing method that are capable of suppressing both density unevenness and graininess that occur due to deviation of the printing position of dots that are printed by a plurality of relative movements (or a plurality of printing element groups). In order to accomplish this, the dot overlap rate of an image characteristic in which density unevenness stands out is made higher than the dot overlap rate of an image characteristic in which other defects stand out more than the density unevenness. By doing so, it is possible to suitably adjust the dot overlap rate according to an image characteristic, and to output an image having no density unevenness or graininess. | 04-14-2011 |
20110122178 | IMAGE PROCESSOR AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Provided are an image processor and an image processing method that are capable of suppressing both density unevenness due to printing position shifts among a group of dots printed by a plurality of relative movements (or a plurality of printing element groups) and graininess. In order to accomplish this, a dot overlap rate in the printing mode in which the density unevenness stands out is made higher than the dot overlap rate in the printing mode in which other defects stand out more than the density unevenness. By doing so, it is possible to suitably adjust the dot overlap rate according to the image characteristic, and output an image having no density unevenness or graininess. | 05-26-2011 |
20110128561 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - When the number (M) of passes is smaller than a threshold value, a first processing mode is selected. In the first processing mode, multivalued image data is divided into pieces of multivalued data corresponding to passes and a common multivalued data for a plurality of passes, the pieces of multivalued data are individually binarized to generate pieces of binary data corresponding to the passes, and the common multivalued data is binarized to generate common binary data for these passes. On the other hand, when the number (M) of passes is equal to or larger than the threshold value, a second processing mode is selected. In the second processing mode, multivalued image data is binarized and the binary data is divided into pieces of binary data corresponding to passes with a mask. | 06-02-2011 |
20110141176 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - In image processing it is possible to adequately reduce density unevenness and graininess according to the duty of the image data. More specifically, when dividing multi-valued data and generating 2-pass multi-pass printing data, in addition to the divided multi-valued data for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to both of the two passes is also generated. Moreover, the quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected on the quantized data of each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, the division ratio when generating common data in the division of multi-valued data is set according to the duty (gradation value) of the multi-valued data. By doing so it becomes possible to adequately reduce the density unevenness and graininess according to the duty of the image data. | 06-16-2011 |
20110141523 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - In image processing, it is possible to suitably reduce density unevenness and graininess according to the ink used in printing. More specifically, when dividing multi-valued data and generating data for 2-pass multi-pass printing, in addition to divided multi-valued data for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to the two passes is also generated. Moreover, quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected on the quantized data for each of the passes. Furthermore, when generating the quantized data, the division ratios used when generating the common data using the aforementioned multi-valued data division are set according to the colors of ink used in printing. By doing so, it becomes possible to suitably reduce density unevenness and graininess according to the colors used in printing. | 06-16-2011 |
20110141524 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - When dividing multi-valued data and generating data for two-pass multi-pass printing, in addition to divided multi-valued data that are divided for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to both of the two passes is generated. Moreover, quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected onto the quantized data for each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, division ratios that are used when generating the common data by the multi-valued data division described above are set according to the image characteristics (whether or not the area is flesh color) of the multi-valued data. Thereby, it is possible to perform high-quality printing regardless of the image characteristics by taking a suitable balance between suppressing density unevenness and suppressing graininess. | 06-16-2011 |
20110148964 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING SYSTEM - When a gradation mask is used to distribute image data to be recorded by overlapping portions in an overlapping head, color unevenness is generated in an image recorded by the overlapping portions due to a displacement in impact positions caused by an assembly error. As a result, accurate colorimetric measurement of patches recorded by the overlapping portion cannot be performed. To solve such a problem, a distribution ratio by which the image data is distributed to the overlapping portions is set to be approximately constant when recording a test pattern for performing color correction, as compared to when normally recording the image. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148969 | INK-JET RECORDING APPARATUS AND INK-JET RECORDING SYSTEM - In an overlapping head including a plurality of recording head chips overlapped to each other, a color shift can occur between a color recorded by an overlapping region and a color recorded by a non-overlapping region, which cannot be corrected by a density correction using head shading or the like. To correct such a color shift, a test pattern is recorded by the overlapping region and the non-overlapping region and colors of the recorded test pattern are measured. Color correction data to be used in correction of colors of an image to be recorded is generated based on a result of the measurement of the colors. | 06-23-2011 |
20110149305 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - In image processing, it is possible to suppress density fluctuation and keep graininess low as well as obtain a good balance of the processing load. More specifically, when dividing multi-valued data and generating two-pass multi-pass printing data, divided multi-valued data that is common to the two passes is generated in addition to the divided multi-valued data for each of the two passes. Moreover, quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected on the quantized data for each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, a process of generating common data by the aforementioned data division, or a process of performing quantization first without dividing the multi-valued data and then dividing the quantized 2-pass data is selectively performed according to the printing position on printing medium. | 06-23-2011 |
20110234661 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided which, when forming an image using a plurality of different inks, can produce a satisfactory image free from problematical levels of density unevenness, graininess and insufficient density with any of these inks. To this end, when printing on pixel areas of a print medium by a plurality of relative movements between the printing unit and the print medium, the dot overlap rate of an ink that tends to show density unevenness is set higher than that of an ink that tends to show other image impairments more conspicuously than the density unevenness. This results in a good image that eliminates such image impairments as density unevenness, graininess and density insufficiency in the entire color gamut. | 09-29-2011 |
20110235071 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided which, when forming an image using a plurality of different sizes of dots, can produce a satisfactory image free from problematical levels of density unevenness, graininess and insufficient density with any of these dot sizes. To this end, when printing on pixel areas of a print medium by a plurality of relative movements between the printing unit and the print medium, the dot overlap rate of a dot size that tends to show density unevenness is set higher than that of a dot size that tends to show other image impairments more conspicuously than the density unevenness. This results in a satisfactory image that eliminates such image impairments as density unevenness, graininess and density insufficiency in the entire grayscale range. | 09-29-2011 |
20140010454 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A method includes a state determination step of determining the quality of an object in image data, an extraction step of extracting feature information from the object, and a registration step of registering, in a dictionary, the feature information extracted in the extraction step. In the registration step, when the quality of the object determined in the determination step is lower than a predetermined reference, registration of the feature information of the object in the dictionary by the registration step is not performed. | 01-09-2014 |
20140010458 | APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An apparatus extracts feature information from an object of image data. The apparatus registers the extracted feature information in a dictionary. The apparatus refers to the dictionary and determines a similarity between feature information registered in the dictionary and the extracted feature information. The apparatus does not use, of feature information to be registered in the dictionary, feature information not satisfying a predetermined evaluation criterion in similarity determination. | 01-09-2014 |
20150015637 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS AND CHECK PATTERN PRINTING METHOD - A check pattern is printed which makes it possible to detect, with high precision, individual patterns corresponding to nozzles of a print head of an inkjet printing apparatus. More specifically, after an alignment mark is printed, ejection of an ink from the nozzles is stopped for a certain time. Because of this stoppage time, the concentration of a coloring material of the ink ejected from the nozzles increases, whereby the optical density of an analysis pattern which is printed later can be increased. In this manner, a scanner can read, with high precision, the patterns corresponding to the nozzles. | 01-15-2015 |
20150022863 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus executes color conversion so that when printing is performed based on image data compressed and decompressed with a lossy compression method, the image data reproduces expected colors of the image data before compression. More specifically, a range of a signal value of a black image affected by compression of image data, such as black character to be printed with black ink, is obtained, and a color separation table is generated such that color ink is not used but black ink is used within this range. This allows the image data to reproduce expected colors of the image data before compression when printing is performed based on the image data compressed and decompressed with a lossy compression method. | 01-22-2015 |
20150124301 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - In an image processing apparatus for encoding image data and a method of controlling the same, whether an attribute of each of a plurality of areas in image data corresponds to an edge in an image based on the image data is determined, and one of a plurality of sub-sampling processes is selected according to the determination for each of the plurality of areas. Note that the plurality of sub-sampling processes can sub-sample color difference components of each of the plurality of areas by different processes. By the sub-sampling process selected as that corresponding to each of the plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas is sub-sampled to encode the image data. | 05-07-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090160125 | SHEET CONVEYANCE APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a reference surface extending along a sheet conveyance direction and configured to regulate the position of a side edge of a sheet to be conveyed, a skew conveyance mechanism configured to convey the sheet obliquely so that the side edge of the sheet collides against the reference surface, and a sheet deforming unit configured to deform the side edge of the sheet when the sheet is conveyed toward the reference surface by the skew conveyance mechanism. | 06-25-2009 |
20110031679 | SHEET FEEDING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An upper limit detection sensor detects that a top face position of a sheet stack on a tray reaches an upper limit position which enables feeding of sheets one by one by a sheet feeding portion and a lower limit detection sensor detects that the top face position of the sheet stack on the tray reaches a lower limit position which enable feeding of sheets one by one. When the sheet stack is loosened by blowing air against a side face of the sheet stack on the tray with an air spouting nozzle provided on an air loosening device, if a sheet floated by air from the air loosening device exceeds an upper limit position of a feeding enabled range, the lowering amount of the tray is controlled so that at least a sheet next to the sheet to be fed is not lower than a lower end position of the air spouting port of the air loosening device. | 02-10-2011 |
20110115150 | SHEET CONVEYANCE APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a reference surface extending along a sheet conveyance direction and configured to regulate the position of a side edge of a sheet to be conveyed, a skew conveyance mechanism configured to convey the sheet obliquely so that the side edge of the sheet collides against the reference surface, and a sheet deforming unit configured to deform the side edge of the sheet when the sheet is conveyed toward the reference surface by the skew conveyance mechanism. | 05-19-2011 |
20110156341 | SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The apparatus of the present invention is provided with: a spherical conveying rotation member that is driven to rotate in a desired direction; a driven rotation member disposed above the conveying rotation member so as to be pressed onto an upper portion of the conveying rotation member so that the driven rotation member nips a sheet in cooperation with the conveying rotation member to convey the sheet; two driving rollers press with the conveying rotation member so as to drive the conveying rotation member to rotate; and a driven roller that is made in press-contact with the conveying rotation member to be driven together therewith, and in this structure, the two driving rollers and the driven roller are disposed below the conveying rotation member so as to support the conveying rotation member by the two driving rollers and the driven roller from below. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158724 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to the present invention, skew feeding of a sheet is corrected while conveying the sheet, positioning of a side edge of the sheet in the width direction is carried out, and an image is formed on the sheet by an image forming portion | 06-30-2011 |
20120063803 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - To remove also VOC gas generated from the discharged sheets, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet; a tray on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked; a suction device which sucks air from the surrounding space of sheets stacked up on the tray; and a VOC removing unit which removes VOC contained in the air sucked by the sucking device. | 03-15-2012 |
20120256368 | SHEET CONVEYANCE APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a reference surface extending along a sheet conveyance direction and configured to regulate the position of a side edge of a sheet to be conveyed, a skew conveyance mechanism configured to convey the sheet obliquely so that the side edge of the sheet collides against the reference surface, and a sheet deforming unit configured to deform the side edge of the sheet when the sheet is conveyed toward the reference surface by the skew conveyance mechanism. | 10-11-2012 |
20120269559 | PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - The processing apparatus includes a first storage device that stores correction image information defining a correction image Ap formed on the surface of a to-be-processed medium S, in which the positional relationship relative to an output image formed on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S is known; a second storage device that stores processing area information defining an area of the surface of the to-be-processed medium S heated by the heating unit, in which the positional relationship with the output image formed on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S is known; and a control unit that uses a detection result of a correction image formed on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S detected by the image detection unit and the correction image information to correct a heating position on the surface of the to-be-processed medium S heated by the heating unit indicated by the processing area information. | 10-25-2012 |
20150108709 | SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet conveying apparatus comprising: a conveying rotating member which is rotatably driven by a driving portion conveys a sheet; a cylindrical follower rotating member which is disposed to face the conveying rotating member; a support member which passes through a hollow portion of the follower rotating member and supports the cylindrical follower; a pressure portion which pressurizes the support member to the conveying rotating member so that the follower rotating member comes into contact with the conveying rotating member; and a bearing portion which is disposed between an outer peripheral surface of the support member and an inner peripheral surface of the follower rotating member and is disposed on an inner side in an axial direction of the support member from an end portion of the conveying rotating member, and rotatably supports the follower rotating member with respect to the support member. | 04-23-2015 |
20150284204 | SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention includes: a pair of conveying rollers | 10-08-2015 |
20150286166 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a toner image forming unit; an endless transfer belt; a transfer roller urged from an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt toward the image bearing member via the transfer belt; a feeding surface forming roller, provided downstream of the transfer roller with respect to a traveling direction of the transfer belt, having such a shape that a diameter at each of end portions is smaller than a diameter at a central portion with respect to a rotational axis direction; and a stretching roller, downstream of the feeding surface forming roller with respect to the traveling direction of the transfer belt, having such a shape that a diameter at each of end portions is larger than a diameter at a central portion with respect to the rotational axis direction. | 10-08-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080199229 | Transfer-fixing device, image forming apparatus, and transfer-fixing method - A transfer-fixing device includes a transfer-fixing member, a pressing member, a heating device, and a temperature equalizer. The transfer-fixing member carries the toner image. The pressing member presses against the transfer-fixing member to form a nip portion to which the recording medium is conveyed. The heating device heats the transfer-fixing surface of the recording medium conveyed toward the nip portion. The temperature equalizer equalizes a temperature distribution of a surface of the transfer-fixing member in a width direction of the transfer-fixing member after the surface of the transfer-fixing member passes through the nip portion. | 08-21-2008 |
20080292347 | FIXING APPARATUS AND AN IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus and an image formation apparatus are disclosed. The fixing apparatus includes two or more heaters with temperature detecting function that generate heat with electric current and detect temperature; a heating unit that includes the heater with the temperature detecting function; a film, a surface of which slides on the heating unit; a thermal fixing unit that is heated by the heating unit through the film for fusing a toner image that is yet-to-be fixed on a recording paper at a predetermined fixing temperature; a pressurization roller for pressing the recording paper to the thermal fixing unit; and a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the heater to be a predetermined temperature based on the temperature of the heater detected by the heater with the temperature detecting function. | 11-27-2008 |
20090074431 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a toner-layer filling-rate lowering unit that causes a toner layer of toner images to be formed on an image carrier so that the toner layer has sufficient optical transparency for exposing and the toner-layer filling rate is set relatively low; and a toner rolling rate adjusting unit that rolls the toner images at a predetermined toner rolling rate in accordance with the toner-layer filling rate when the toner images are transferred to the transferring/fixing unit. | 03-19-2009 |
20090309996 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, STORAGE MEDIUM, AND PROGRAM - In an image processing apparatus which can always provide an excellent processed image, an analysis unit analyzes condition information representing a condition at a time when an image is obtained and being included in image information, and determines an algorithm of an image correction process for the image based on the analyzed result. | 12-17-2009 |
20100232844 | Transfer fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same - A transfer fixing device includes a transfer fixing member, a pressure member, and a primary heater. The transfer fixing member defines a moving surface on which a toner image travels. The pressure member is pressed against the transfer fixing member to define a transfer fixing nip where the toner image traveling along the moving surface meets a surface of a recording medium traveling along the media conveyance path. The primary heater is located upstream of the transfer fixing nip along the media conveyance path to heat the surface of the recording medium before entering the transfer fixing nip. The heated surface of the recording medium fuses toner for transfer and fixing into place at the transfer fixing nip. The pressure member is at least partially electrically biased to generate an electrostatic field to promote transfer of toner at the transfer fixing nip. | 09-16-2010 |
20100239292 | Transfer-fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same - In a transfer-fixing device for transferring and fixing a toner image on a transfer-fixing side of a recording medium, a transfer-fixing member carries the toner image. A pressing member presses against the transfer-fixing member to form a nip between the transfer-fixing member and the pressing member through which the recording medium passes. A heat transmission member is provided upstream from the nip in a recording medium conveyance direction to heat the transfer-fixing side of the recording medium while guiding the recording medium to the nip. A heating member is connected to the heat transmission member to heat the heat transmission member. A biasing member biases the recording medium guided by the heat transmission member against the heat transmission member. | 09-23-2010 |
20110269926 | SOLID CATALYST COMPONENT FOR OLEFIN POLYMERIZATION, MANUFACTURING METHOD, AND CATALYST AND OLEFIN POLYMER MANUFACTURING METHOD - A solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization includes a solid component obtained by causing a magnesium compound (a), a titanium halide compound (b), and an electron donor compound (c) to come in contact with each other, the titanium compound in an amount equivalent to a titanium content of 0.2 to 2.5 wt % in the solid catalyst component being washed away from the solid catalyst component by washing with heptane. A granular or spherical polymer that has high stereoregularity and a narrow particle size distribution can be obtained in high yield while suppressing production of a fine powder by polymerizing an olefin using a catalyst that includes the solid catalyst component. | 11-03-2011 |
20150116718 | OPTICAL SENSOR AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - An optical sensor includes a light-emitting unit to emit light onto a measuring object, a regular reflection light receiver to receive regular reflection light from the measuring object out of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit, and a diffuse reflection light receiver to receive diffuse reflection light from the measuring object out of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit. An angle of incidence of the light emitted onto a surface of the measuring object is not smaller than 75° and not larger than 85°. The diffuse reflection light receiver receives, out of the diffuse reflection light from the measuring object, diffuse reflection light having an angle of reflection with respect to a perpendicular to the surface of the measuring object larger than 0° and smaller than an angle of reflection of the regular reflection light with respect to the perpendicular to the surface of the measuring object. | 04-30-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080219717 | TRANSFER-FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND TRANSFER-FIXING METHOD - The transfer-fixing device includes an image carrier, a pressing member, a heater, and an electrical field generator. The image carrier carries a toner image. The pressing member presses against the image carrier to form a transfer-fixing nip between the pressing member and the image carrier. The heater heats the toner image carried by the image carrier so that a temperature of the toner image is not higher than Tm +10 degrees centigrade when a toner softening point is Tm degrees centigrade. The electrical field generator forms a transfer electrical field at the transfer-fixing nip. | 09-11-2008 |
20090003898 | CLEANING DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cleaning device including a cleaning member that moves in a predetermined direction and is in contact with a cleaning target that moves in a predetermined direction and which is directly or indirectly heated by a heater, to remove toner particles on a surface of the cleaning target. A contact surface of the cleaning member with the cleaning target includes a plurality of regions of different toner-releasing ability. | 01-01-2009 |
20090016786 | TRANSFER FIXING MEMBER, TRANSFER FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A transfer fixing member containing a base, and an outermost surface layer composed of an elastic material in which a conductive material is dispersed, wherein when a pressure applied to a surface of the transfer fixing member by making a toner image bearing member in contact with the transfer fixing member upon transferring of a toner image on the toner image bearing member onto the transfer fixing member is 0.2 kg/cm | 01-15-2009 |
20090116880 | Image transfer fixation apparatus and image formation apparatus - A transfer fixation apparatus includes: a fixing member that carries the toner image; a pressurizing member that becomes in contact with the fixing member with pressure to form a nip through which the recording target medium is transported; and a plurality of heating members that are provided at relatively upstream positions when viewed from the relatively downstream nip and apply heat to the surface of the recording target medium that is transported toward the nip, wherein the number of heating members that apply heat to the surface of the recording target medium is changed depending on whether the transfer of the toner image is performed only on the front side of the recording target medium or the transfer of the toner image is performed also on the reverse side of the recording target medium after the transfer of the toner image on the front side of the recording target medium. | 05-07-2009 |
20100014897 | Transfer and fixing device and image forming apparatus - A transfer and fixing device as means for heating a recording medium prior to transfer and fixing, without risk of fire, superior in energy efficiency, and able to stably heat irrespective of the thickness of the recording medium; and an imaging forming apparatus comprising such a transfer and fixing device comprising: a transfer and fixing member by which an image is transferred; a pressurizing member that forms a nip by pressure contact with the transfer and fixing member and pressurizes and fixes the image on the recording medium that passes through the aforementioned nip; a radiant heat source that is arranged on the upstream side of the nip in the direction of transport of the recording medium; and a thermoconductive member that is heated by the radiant heat source and heats the recording medium when in contact, wherein a radiant heat region is provided, between the nip and the thermoconductive member, where the recording medium is heated by radiant heat from the radiant heat source. | 01-21-2010 |
20100014903 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear an electrostatic latent image on the surface thereof, a transfer-fixing member disposed adjacent to the image baring member, including a transfer surface onto which the toner image is transferred from the image bearing member, a first pressure member to meet and press against the transfer-fixing member to form a nip therebetween, a heating member to heat a recording medium, provided upstream of the nip in a direction of transport of the recording medium, and a transport guide member to change a contact area of the recording medium and the heating member in accordance with a thickness or a resilience of the recording medium. When the recording medium passes the nip, the toner image is pressed and fixed on the recording medium. | 01-21-2010 |