Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Echigo Katsuhiro

Fujita Takashi

Kikuchi Hisashi

Kurotaka Shigeo

Baba Toshihiko

Nakafuji Atsushi

Ikenoue Hirokazu

Someya Yukimichi

Kunii Hiroyuki

Takashi Fujita

Hisashi Kikuchi

Hideki Kosugi

Toshihiko Baba

Atsushi Nakafuji

Shigeo Kurotaka

Jun Yura

Hirokazu Ikenoue

Kiyoshi Ohshima

Yura Jun

A fixing apparatus includes a fixing member to be heated and a pressure-contacting member for pressure contacting the fixing member. The fixing apparatus directs and conveys a recording member through a nip formed between the fixing member and pressure applying member in such a manner that a toner image carried on a recording member contacts the fixing member in order to be fixed thereto with heat and pressure. The fixing apparatus is configured to direct a tip margin of the recording member toward the pressure applying member across a virtual linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip. A fixing member side separation device may be separately provided from the surface of the fixing apparatus so as to separate the recording member exiting from the nip. A gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the fixing member side separation device is set smaller than the width of the tip margin.

Sheet wrapping avoidable fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus

For an image forming apparatus, a transfer fixing apparatus and a transfer fixing method fix a toner image onto a record medium. The fixing apparatus and the image forming apparatus have a structure to reduce adverse heat influences impacting on an intermediate transfer member, and can further reduce vibrations generated to the intermediate transfer member and to a recording medium onto which a visualized image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member. Further, a heating value and a heat distribution in the fixing apparatus can be controlled to be optimized.

Image forming apparatus with a pressing member and transfer fixing member

Fixing apparatus with a pressing member and transfer fixing member

A transfer fixing apparatus including an intermediate transfer member having an outer surface onto which a toner image is transferred, a transfer fixing member having an outer surface onto which the toner image is transferred by the intermediate transfer member, a heating member configured to heat the toner image on the outer surface of the transfer fixing member, and an opposite member formed opposite the transfer fixing member. A nip is formed between the transfer fixing member and the opposite member, the toner image being fixed onto the recording medium while passing through the nip. The transfer member is separated by a space from the intermediate transfer member by a thickness of the toner image.

Transfer fixing apparatus

A toner fixing device that includes a fixing member and a member formed opposite the fixing member so as to form a nip between the fixing member and the opposite member. The device is supplied with power from a main power source. A charger connects an electric double-layer capacitor to the main power source. A fixing member heater is powered by the electric double-layer capacitor and heats the fixing member. A controllable switch is disposed between the electric double-layer capacitor and the fixing member heater. A fixing member temperature sensor is in contact with the fixing member. A controller controls the switch such that the electric double-layer capacitor connects to or disconnects from the heater based on comparing a temperature sensed by the fixing member temperature sensor to a temperature threshold value so that a toner image is more efficiently fixed onto a recording medium passing through the nip.

Fixing device, image forming apparatus, method

Growing community of inventors

Asaka, Japan

Echigo Katsuhiro