Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Kentaro Yamashita

Daisuke Inoue

Hiroshi Yoshinaga

Takamasa Hase

Yoshiki Yamaguchi

Arinobu Yoshiura

Takashi Seto

Mototaka Iwama

Ippei Fujimoto

Toshiyuki Kabata

Ryohei Matsuda

Ryohhei Sugiyama

Shogo Nakamoto

A fixing device includes a fixing rotator to fix an unfixed image on a recording medium, a pressure member disposed opposite the fixing rotator to press an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator; a heating source disposed inside an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator, and a composite member disposed inside the inner circumferential surface. The composite member includes a first member, a second member attached to the first member, and an inspection region for measurement of glossiness. The first member and the second member have a difference in glossiness. The inspection region allows identification of which one of the first member and the second member is present on a surface of the inspection region based on the glossiness of the inspection region, and determination of that the fixing device has a desired fixing configuration based on a result of the identification.

Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and inspection method

A fixing device includes a first rotator and a second rotator that form a nip therebetween and fix an image on a recording medium that enters the nip. A heater heats at least one of the first rotator or the second rotator. A controller controls the heater to switch between a first heating and a second heating, to switch from the first heating to the second heating before the recording medium enters the nip, to start the second heating at a time prior to a nip entry time at which the recording medium enters the nip by a delay time period taken for the heater to conduct heat to the nip, and to continue the first heating before the second heating for at least one control cycle at a duty cycle of power supplied to the heater. The duty cycle is not greater than 40%.

Fixing device and image forming apparatus with a controller to switch between a first heating and a second heating

A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a first heater, a second heater, and circuitry. The first heater heats a region on the fixing rotator to heat a recording medium having a width smaller than a predetermined width. The second heater heats a region on the fixing rotator to heat a maximum recording medium used in the fixing device. The second heater has a heat generation distribution in which a heat generation amount of each of both end portions corresponding to both end portions of the maximum recording medium in a width direction of the recording medium is larger than a heat generation amount of a center portion. The circuitry determines whether to turn on the first heater and turn off the second heater or to turn on both the first heater and the second heater based on a required power to bring the fixing rotator to a fixing temperature.

Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same

A nip formation pad includes a base, a high thermal conduction member, and an attachment. The high thermal conduction member has a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the base. The attachment is attached to the high thermal conduction member by elastic deformation of the attachment on the base held between the high thermal conduction member and the attachment.

Nip formation pad, heating device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus

A nip former that forms a nip between an endless belt and a pressure rotator includes a base that is made of aluminum and has a nip forming face disposed opposite the nip. An anodic oxidation coating is treated with sealing and coats at least the nip forming face. The anodic oxidation coating has a thickness that is not smaller than 22 &#x3bc;m and is not greater than 45 &#x3bc;m and a variation in thickness that is not greater than 20 percent. The base and the anodic oxidation coating define a nip forming portion that is disposed opposite the nip. The nip forming portion has a thickness that is not smaller than 0.40 mm and is not greater than 1.20 mm.

Nip former, fixing device, and image forming apparatus

A fixing device includes a fixing rotator that is endless and rotates in a rotation direction and a pressure rotator that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to form a nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. A flange is disposed opposite each lateral end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction of the fixing rotator and contacts an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The flange includes a first portion disposed farthest from the nip and a second portion disposed in proximity to the nip. The flange is inclined to define a distance from the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to the flange in a separation direction in which the flange separates from the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The distance increases from the first portion to the second portion.

Growing community of inventors

Shizuoka, Japan

Kentaro Yamashita