Image forming apparatus

Claim 2

An image forming apparatus comprising: transfer means for transferring a toner image to a sheet-like medium; a pair of fixing rollers which are held in pressure contact with each other such that the nip line formed therebetween does not orthogonally cross the direction of feed of said sheet-like medium, thereby to form a curl in said sheet-like medium when said sheet-like medium passes between said fixing rollers; sheet feeding means arranged along a feed passage extending from the position of said transfer means to the position of said fixing rollers, said feeding means being capable of feeding said sheet-like medium in contact only with a first surface of said sheet-like medium; and first and second rollers disposed downstream of said transfer means and spaced apart from each other in the direction perpendicular to the direction of feed of said sheet-like medium, said first and second rollers being adapted for rotating in contact with a second surface of said sheet-like medium opposite to said first surface, said first and second rollers being arranged such that they diverge in the downstream direction so as to impart a breadthwise tension to the curl in said sheet-like medium; wherein the second surface of said sheet-like medium is contacted only by said first and second rollers during feeding from said transfer means to said fixing rollers, and wherein the length of said feed passage extending from the position of said transfer means to the nip of said fixing rollers is shorter than the length of said sheet-like medium.

Claim 3

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means transfers a toner image to said second surface of said sheet-like medium.

Claim 4

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sheet feeding means includes an opposing guide member contacting said first surface of said sheet-like medium.

Claim 5

An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising power supply means capable of applying a voltage of the same polarity as the toner of said toner image formed on said sheet-like medium to said first and second rollers.

Claim 6

An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said opposing guide members includes a conveyor belt which runs together with said sheet-like medium carried thereon.

Claim 7

An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising supporting means for supporting said conveyor belt at positions corresponding to said first and second rollers.

Claim 8

An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said supporting means includes idle rollers rotatable in accordance with the movement of said conveyor belt.

Claim 9

An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising power supply means capable of applying a voltage of the opposite polarity to the toner of said toner image formed on said sheet-like medium to said supporting means.

Claim 10

An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said opposing guide member includes a conveyor roller means which rotates in contact with said first surface of said sheet-like medium.

Claim 11

An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said conveyor roller means includes a first conveyor roller and a second conveyor roller which cooperate with said first roller and said second roller, respectively, in clamping said sheet-like medium therebetween.

Claim 12

An image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first conveyor roller and said second conveyor roller are spaced apart from each other in the direction perpendicular to the direction of feed of said sheet-like medium and are disposed such that they diverge in the downstream direction so as to impart a breadthwise tension to said sheet-like medium.

Claim 13

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising opposing roller means rotatable in contact with said first surface of said sheet-like medium.

Claim 14

An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said opposing roller means includes a first opposing roller and a second opposing roller which are adapted for cooperating with said first roller and said second roller, respectively, in clamping said sheet-like medium therebetween.

Claim 15

An image forming apparatus comprising: transfer means for transferring a toner image to a sheet-like medium; a pair of fixing rollers held in pressure contact with each other and arranged such that the nip line formed therebetween extends at a predetermined angle to a line which is orthogonal to the direction of feed of said sheet-like medium, thereby to form a curl in said sheet-like medium when the sheet-like medium passes between said fixing rollers; a sheet guide member contacting a first surface of said sheet-like medium so as to guide said sheet-like medium during feeding thereof from said transfer means to said fixing rollers; first and second rollers disposed between said transfer means and said fixing rollers and spaced apart from each other in the direction orthogonal to the direction of feed of said sheet-like medium, said first and second rollers being rotatable in contact with a second surface of said sheet-like medium opposite to said first surface, said first and second rollers being arranged such as to diverge in the downstream direction so as to impact a breadthwise tension to the curl in said sheet-like medium; and first and second opposing rollers adapted for rotating in contact with said first surface of said sheet-like medium; wherein the second surface of said sheet-like medium is contacted only by said first and second rollers during feeding from said transfer means to said fixing rollers, and wherein the length of said feed passage extending from the position of said transfer means to the nip of said fixing rollers is shorter than the length of said sheet-like medium.

Claim 16

An image forming apparatus comprising: transfer means for transferring a toner image to a sheet-like medium; a pair of fixing rollers held in pressure contact with each other and arranged such that the nip line formed therebetween extends at a predetermined angle to a line which is orthogonal to the direction of feed of said sheet-like medium, thereby to form a curl in said sheet-like medium when the sheet-like medium passes between said fixing rollers; a sheet guide member contacting a first surface of said sheet-like medium so as to guide said sheet-like medium during feeding thereof from said transfer means to said fixing rollers; first and second rollers disposed between said transfer means and said fixing rollers and spaced apart from each other in the direction orthogonal to the direction of feed of said sheet-like medium, said first and second rollers being rotatable in contact with a second surface of said sheet-like medium opposite to said first surface, said first and second rollers being arranged such as to diverge in the downstream direction so as to impact a breadthwise tension to the curl in said sheet-like medium; and first and second opposing rollers adapted for rotating in contact with said first surface of said sheet-like medium; wherein the second surface of said sheet-like medium is contacted only by said first and second rollers during feeding from said transfer means to said fixing rollers, and wherein the length of said feed passage extending from the position of said transfer means to the nip of said fixing rollers is shorter than the length of said sheet-like medium.

Claim 17

An image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first and second opposing rollers are supported so as to be rotatable about axes which are orthogonal to the direction of feed of said sheet-like medium.

Claim 18

An image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first and second opposing rollers are driven so as to feed said sheet-like medium.

Claim 19

An image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first and second opposing rollers are adapted for cooperating with said first and second rollers, respectively, in clamping said sheet-like medium therebetween.

Claim 20

An image forming apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for applying to the surface of said first and second opposing rollers a voltage of the same polarity as the transferred toner image.