Abstract:
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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY DOCUMENTS 
   The present document is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/612,926 filed Jul. 7, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,648, and is based on and claims priority of JPAP 2002-196,040 filed Jul. 4, 2002, JPAP 2002-249,282, filed Aug. 28, 2002, and JPAP 2003-154,828 filed May 30, 2003, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a fixing apparatus and a fixing method both of which fix a toner image onto a record medium. The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, printer, facsimile, or other fixing apparatus, and an image forming method and a record medium recycling method. 
   2. Discussion of the Background 
   A background image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile, or a printer fixes a toner image onto a record medium with heat, to make a copied or a recorded medium. The toner image is fixed onto the record medium, because the toner melts and softens and permeates into the record medium by heating the toner image and the record medium conveyed while being nipped. 
     FIG. 56  shows the structure in a background image forming apparatus. This apparatus includes image forming devices A, B, C, D forming toner images thereon, an intermediate transfer member E, first transfer members E 1 , E 2 , E 3 , E 4  transferring the toner images to the intermediate transfer member E, a second transfer member F transferring a toner image onto the record medium by electrostatic power, a fixing apparatus including a heating fixing roller G 1  with a heater and a pressing roller G 2  forming a nip between the heating fixing roller G 1  and the pressing roller  62 . 
     FIG. 57  shows a structure disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 10-63121. The structure includes an intermediate transfer member  100 , a driving roller  101  driving the intermediate transfer member  100 , a heat source  102  in the driving roller  101 , and a pressing roller  103  contacting and pressing against the intermediate transfer member  100 , to form a nip between the intermediate transfer member  100  and the pressing roller  103 . The structure also includes image forming devices  105  and first transfer members  106 . 
   According to this structure, the toner image is heated before approaching the nip, then the heated toner image is transferred and fixed onto a record medium  104  in the nip by heat, but not by electrostatic power. Thereby, it is possible to heat the toner image longer. 
   However the structure published in JP 10-63121 does not solve problems associated with transferring and fixing the toner image onto a record medium after heating the toner image. Further this structure does not show effective application in such a case. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel fixing apparatus reducing adverse heating influences to an intermediate transfer member during an image transfer operation, to provide an image forming apparatus including the novel fixing apparatus, and to provide a novel image forming method to be implemented in the novel image forming apparatus. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel fixing apparatus reducing a shift of a toner image on a record medium by vibration of the record medium in the nip, to provide a novel image forming apparatus including the novel fixing apparatus, and to provide a novel image forming method to be implemented in the novel image forming apparatus. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel fixing apparatus optimizing a heating value and heating distribution to fix a toner image onto a record medium, to provide a novel image forming apparatus including the novel fixing apparatus, and to provide a novel image forming method to be implemented in the novel image forming apparatus. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel record medium recycling method. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic front view showing a color copier as an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a view showing a distance between an intermediate transfer roller and a transfer fixing roller in the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic front view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic front view showing a second modification of the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic front view showing a third modification of the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic front view showing a fourth modification of the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic front view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a control block view showing a third embodiment and a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  are schematic front views showing a modification of the third embodiment. 
       FIGS. 12A and 12B  are schematic front views showing a second modification of the third embodiment. 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic front view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the fourth embodiment. 
       FIG. 15  is a schematic front view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the fifth embodiment. 
       FIG. 17  is a schematic front view showing a second modification of the fifth embodiment. 
       FIG. 18  is a schematic front view showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 19  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the sixth embodiment. 
       FIG. 20  is a schematic front view showing a second modification of the sixth embodiment. 
       FIG. 21  is a schematic front view showing a third modification of the sixth embodiment. 
       FIG. 22  is a schematic front view showing a fourth modification of the sixth embodiment. 
       FIG. 23  is a schematic front view showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 24  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the seventh embodiment. 
       FIG. 25  is a schematic front view showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 26  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the eighth embodiment. 
       FIG. 27  is a schematic front view showing a ninth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 28  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the ninth embodiment. 
       FIG. 29  is a schematic front view showing a second modification of the ninth embodiment. 
       FIG. 30  is a schematic front view showing a third modification of the ninth embodiment. 
       FIG. 31  is a schematic front view showing a tenth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 32  is a view showing temperature distribution in the toner image and the record medium in a direction of thickness just before the toner image is fixed onto the record medium in the nip in the tenth embodiment. 
       FIG. 33  is a view showing temperature distribution in the toner image and the record medium in a direction of the thickness in the tenth embodiment. 
       FIG. 34  is a view showing a temperature difference between a surface side and opposite side in the toner image on the record medium, based on  FIG. 33  in the tenth embodiment. 
       FIG. 35  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the tenth embodiment. 
       FIG. 36  is a schematic front view showing an eleventh embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 37  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the eleventh embodiment. 
       FIG. 38  is a schematic front view showing a twelfth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 39  is a view showing temperature distribution in a direction of thickness in the record medium according to the heating time in the twelfth embodiment. 
       FIG. 40  is a schematic front view showing a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 41  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the thirteenth embodiment. 
       FIG. 42  is a schematic front view showing a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 43  is a view showing the relation between wavelength and radiation strength of a halogen heater, radiation strength of a carbon heater, and transmissivity of cellulose in the fourteenth embodiment. 
       FIG. 44  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the fourteenth embodiment. 
       FIG. 45  is a schematic front view showing a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 46  is a view showing resistance changing and calorific value changing according to a temperature of a plane heater in the fifteenth embodiment. 
       FIG. 47  is a schematic front view showing a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 48A  and  FIG. 48B  are schematic front views showing an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 49A  and  FIG. 49B  are schematic front views showing a nineteenth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 50  is a schematic front view showing a twentieth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 51  is a schematic front view showing a twenty first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 52  is a schematic front view showing a twenty second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 53  is a schematic front view showing a twenty third embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 54  is a flow chart showing a manufacturing process in a twenty fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 55A ,  55 B,  55 C, and  55 D are schematic front view showing the twenty fourth embodiment. 
       FIG. 56  shows the structure in a background image forming apparatus. 
       FIG. 57  shows the structure published in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 10-63121 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, the description will be made of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts through the several views. 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic front view showing a color copier  1 , of a tandem type, as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is directed to other types of image forming apparatuses, as would be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The color copier  1  includes an image forming unit  1 A located in the middle of the apparatus, a sheet feeder unit  1 B located under the image forming unit  1 B, and an image scanning unit (not illustrated) located above the image forming unit  1 A. 
   The image forming unit  1 A includes an intermediate transfer belt  2  with a transfer surface extending horizontally as an intermediate transfer member, and image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B along and above the transfer surface of the intermediate transfer belt  2  as toner image forming devices. The image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B hold respective color toners of yellow, magenta, cyanogen, black, which we relate as complementary colors. 
   Each image forming member  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B is composed of a roller each rotating in the same direction, which is counterclockwise. Around each forming member, there are arranged charging units  4 Y,  4 M,  4 C,  4 B, exposure units  5 Y,  5 M,  5 C,  5 B, developing units  6 Y,  6 M,  6 C,  6 B, first transfer units  7 Y,  7 M,  7 C,  7 B, and drum cleaning units  8 Y,  8 M,  8 C,  8 B. Each developing unit  6 Y,  6 M,  6 C,  6 B takes in one respective color toner. 
   Inside the intermediate transfer belt  2  are arranged a driving roller  9  and a following roller  10 , and the intermediate transfer belt  2  is tensioned by these rollers  9 ,  10  to be rotated. The intermediate transfer belt  2  moves in the same direction at the portion thereof facing each image forming member  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B. At the portion of the intermediate transfer belt  2  facing the following roller  10 , a belt cleaning unit  11  is provided. 
   A fixing apparatus  12  is provided near the driving roller  9 , which with intermediate transfer belt  2  operate as a transfer fixing apparatus. The fixing apparatus  12  includes a transfer fixing roller  13  as a transfer fixing member and a pressing roller  14  as a pressing member or an opposite member. The transfer fixing roller  13 , which has toner images transferred thereon from the intermediate transfer belt  2 , includes a metallic cylinder, such as aluminum, and a releasing layer on the surface thereof. In the transfer fixing roller  13  a halogen heater  15  is provided as a heating member for heating the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13 . The pressing roller  14 , which forms a nip N between it and the transfer fixing roller  13 , includes a metallic core  14   a  and an elastic layer  14   b.    
   The sheet feeder unit  1 B includes a sheet tray  16 , a feeding roller  17 , a pair of conveying rollers  18 , and a pair of resist rollers  19 . The sheet tray  16  holds plural record mediums. The feeding roller  17  separates the top most record medium from others in the sheet tray  16  and feeds the separated record medium. The pair of conveying roller  18  conveys the record medium toward the image forming unit  1 A. The pair of resist rollers  19  temporarily stops the record medium, and sends the record medium to the nip N as the position of the record medium coincides with the position of the toner image in the nip N, after adjusting the position of the record medium. 
   The following is a description of an operation of the color copier  1 . The image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B each form a static potential image on their surfaces based on image information output from the image scanning unit, after having their surfaces charged by the charging units  4 Y,  4 M,  4 C,  4 B. The developing units  6 Y,  6 M,  6 C,  6 B make the static potential images into visible images as toner images. The first transfer units  7 Y,  7 M,  7 C,  7 B firstly transfer the toner images from each image forming member  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B to the intermediate transfer belt  2 , and thereby the toner image of each color is put upon on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt  2 . After transferring the toner images, the drum cleaning units  8 Y,  8 M,  8 C,  8 B remove residual toner from the image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B, and then a discharge lamp (not illustrated) initializes an electric potential on the image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B. A bias supplying member (not illustrated) secondarily transfers the composite toner image from the intermediate transfer belt  2  to the transfer fixing roller  13  by electrostatic power caused by a bias supplied to the driving roller  9 . The transfer fixing roller  13  and the pressing roller  14  press and fix the toner image onto the record medium P passing through the nip N. 
   The toner image preferably uses the WARDELL working sphericiry φ of more than 0.8. The sphericiry φ=(a diameter of the circle whose area equals the projected area of the particle/a diameter of the circumscribed circle to the particle). These are easily calculated by the steps of gathering the toner image on the slide glass, magnifying the toner image  500  times by a microscope, and measuring 100 of the toner images. Thereby, it is possible to transfer the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt  2  to the transfer fixing roller  13  efficiently, as disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 9-2584747. 
   According to the embodiment described above, the toner image, which is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt  2  to the transfer fixing roller  13 , is heated without the record medium, i.e. is heated before being transferred onto the record medium P, and is heated until being fixed on the record medium P. Thereby, the toner image can be sufficiently fixed onto the record medium P while being heated at a lower temperature when the record medium P is at the nip N, compared to heating the toner image only when being transferred to the record medium P. The results of experiments conducted by the present inventors show that with this operation the toner image fixed on the record medium is of a high enough quality when the heating temperature on the transfer fixing roller  13  is 110°˜120° C. 
   Incidentally, the heat capacity to fix a monochrome image is generally about 1.5 times the heat capacity to fix a color image. Thereby, the record medium P may be excessively heated in the case of heating the toner image on the record medium P, and the toner image may excessively adhere to the record medium P in such a case. According to this embodiment described above, however, the record medium P is not excessively heated because the heating temperature at the time of transferring the toner image to the record medium P is reduced. Further, the toner image is not excessively adhered to the record medium P, because the toner image is heated independently of heating the record medium P, particularly in the case of the color toner image necessary for large energy. 
   Further, it is possible to reduce the influence of heat on the intermediate transfer belt  2 , because the toner image is heated by the transfer fixing roller  13 , not by the intermediate transfer belt  2 . Thereby, a lifetime of the image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B becomes longer, by reducing the heat influence to the image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B through the intermediate transfer belt  2 . 
   In this embodiment, the structure reduces the influence of heat on the intermediate transfer belt  2 . 
   Furthermore, an insulating plate  20  is arranged between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  13 , as a heat restraining member that restrains the heat from the transfer fixing roller  13  from impacting on the intermediate transfer belt  2 . The insulating plate  20  includes a frame forming an opening, the toner image being transferred from the intermediate transfer belt  2  to the transfer fixing roller  13  through the opening. The insulating plate  20  can be fixed to a casing of the image forming apparatus or the fixing apparatus. The insulating plate  20  is preferably composed of a metallic plate with a relatively lower radiation rate, more preferably a pair of metallic plates nipping a very small gap or an insulator. Furthermore, the insulating plate  20  may include a micro heat pipe mainly used to cool a CPU in a notebook-type personal computer, and thereby the insulating plate  20  is kept at a low temperature. 
   Between the portion facing the transfer fixing roller  13  and the portion facing the most upstream image forming member  3 B at the intermediate transfer belt  2 , a cooling roller  210  is arranged as a cooling member dissipating heat from the intermediate transfer belt  2 . The cooling roller  210 , which is composed of a material with a higher heat conductivity, rotates while contacting the intermediate transfer belt  2 . 
     FIG. 2  is a view showing a distance between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  13  in the image forming apparatus. The intermediate transfer belt  2  is separated from the transfer fixing roller  13  by a thickness g of the toner image. Thereby, the toner is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt  2  to the transfer fixing roller  13  while contacting the fixing roller, but the intermediate transfer belt  2  and transfer fixing roller do not contact each other in the area without the toner. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the influence of heat on the intermediate transfer belt  2 . 
     FIG. 3  is a schematic front view showing a modification of this embodiment. In this modification, the intermediate transfer belt  2  is exchanged for an intermediate transfer member  26  formed of a cylinder. It is common in such an embodiment for an intermediate transfer belt  2  to be exchangeable for such an intermediate transfer member  26 . 
   According to the first embodiment described above, the toner image is fixed on the record medium P while a heating temperature is lowered. Thereby, it is possible to shorten the time to warm up the transfer fixing roller  13 , and it is possible to realize energy conservation in the image forming apparatus. Further, it is possible to reduce the influence of heat on the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B. Thereby, a lifetime of the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B is lengthened. 
     FIG. 4  is a schematic front view showing a second embodiment. In this embodiment, at a portion inside the intermediate transfer belt  2  facing the transfer fixing roller  13  are arranged a pair of bias rollers  22 ,  23  as a bias supplying member. The pair of bias rollers  22 ,  23  support the intermediate transfer belt  2  and supply bias onto the intermediate transfer belt  2 . The pair of the bias rollers  22 ,  23  are formed by an elastic conductor material. Between the pair of resist rollers  19  and the nip N in the direction of the conveying record medium, a heater  25  is provided as a record medium heating member. The heater  25  heats the record medium P before it reaches the nip N. The transfer fixing roller  13 , the halogen heater  15 , and the heater  25  are individually exchangeable. 
   In this embodiment, it is possible to better control the interaction between the toner image and the record medium P, because the record medium P is independently heated by the heater  25 , and thereby heating of the toner image can be reduced as even more heat is taken by the record medium. Thereby, it is possible to control minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium P. 
   Further a heating control member (not illustrated) is provided, which can continuously or gradually changes the heating value both of the halogen heater  15  and the heater  25 . The heating control member also can continuously or gradually change the ratio between the heating value of the halogen heater  15  and of the heater  25 . The heating control member can change the heating value based on the record medium, e.g. whether an OHP or not, a thermal capacity of the record medium, an amount of toner, a thickness of the toner image, a kind of toner image, etc. The heating control member can also change the above mentioned ratio based on a kind of the record medium, a thermal capacity of the record medium, an amount of the toner, a thickness of the toner image, a kind of toner image, etc. Thereby, it is possible to control more minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium P. 
   The bias roller  22  supplies the bias of an opposite polarity as the toner image. This bias prevents an electric field between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  13 , and generates an electric field to adhere the toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt  2 . Thereby, the toner on the intermediate transfer belt  2  is prevented from scattering before approaching the nip between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  13 . To obtain the same effect, the bias roller  22  may ground the intermediate transfer belt  2 . 
   The bias roller  23  supplies the bias of a same polarity as the toner image. This bias gives an electrostatic repellent to the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt  2 . 
   Thereby, the toner on the intermediate transfer belt  2  is transferred and adhered onto the transfer fixing roller  13  by the electrostatic power in the nip between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  13 . To obtain the same effect, the bias roller  23  may be exchanged for a bias board spring  24 . Further, the bias roller  23  or the bias board spring  24  is preferably arranged as close, but not contacting, to not short out, to the bias roller  22 . The most suitable gap is about 1 mm. Thereby, it is possible to develop a high quality toner image transferred onto the transfer fixing roller  13 . 
   In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt  2  is separated from the transfer fixing roller  13  by a thickness of the toner image. Thereby, it is further possible to reduce the influence of heat on the intermediate transfer belt  2 . That also prevents reducing the quality of transferring the toner image caused by making the distance between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  13  too long, because the toner on the intermediate transfer belt  2  is transferred and adhered onto the transfer fixing roller  13  by electrostatic power. 
     FIG. 5  is a schematic front view showing a modification of this embodiment. In this modification, the bias roller  23  is arranged downstream of a nip between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  13  in the direction of rotation of the intermediate transfer belt  2 . Therefore, the strength of the bias gradually changes along the direction of rotation of the intermediate transfer belt  2 . Thereby, it is possible to develop a high quality toner image transferred onto the transfer fixing roller  13 . 
     FIG. 6  is a schematic front view showing a second modification of this embodiment. In this modification, the bias roller  22  is exchanged for a bias board spring  220 , also supplied with a bias of an opposite polarity to the toner image. Therefore, it is possible to develop a high quality toner image transferred onto the transfer fixing roller  13 . 
     FIG. 7  shows a further modification utilizing both the bias roller  22  and bias board spring  220 . 
     FIG. 8  is a schematic front view showing a fourth modification of this embodiment. In this modification, a bias roller  80  is provided close and separated from the transfer fixing roller  13 . The bias roller  80  is electrified by bias multiplexing AC and DC whose polarity is opposite to the toner image. The transfer fixing roller  13  includes a conductor layer near the surface thereof, and then the transfer fixing roller  13  is electrified to eliminate the electrification by the bias roller  80 . Thereby, it is possible to stabilize the electric potential on the surface of the transfer fixing roller  13 , to stabilize the toner image fixing on the record medium P, and offset is prevented. 
   According to the second embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce the influence of heat to the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B. Further, there is no reduction of the quality of transferring the toner image caused by making the distance between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  13  too long. In addition, it is possible to be consistent with reducing the influence of heat and maintaining the quality of transferring the toner image. Furthermore, it is possible to control the conditions of the interface between the toner image and the record medium. Thereby, it is possible to control minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium. 
     FIG. 9  is a schematic front view showing a third embodiment. In this embodiment a transfer fixing member  27 , which is formed as a belt or a sheet, is flexible. The transfer fixing member  27  is supported by a supporting member  29 , a supporting roller  31 , and a heating roller  33 . The supporting member  29  includes a metallic base  29   a  and an elastic layer  29   b . The supporting roller  31  includes a halogen heater  32  as a heating member. The transfer fixing member  27  rotates by the pressing roller  14  rotating. In this embodiment, it is possible to heat the toner image longer because the toner image is heated on the fixing member  27 . 
     FIG. 10  is a control block view showing this third embodiment. The intermediate transfer belt  2  includes a controller  52 , an operating panel  53  including a switch  54 , and a transfer fixing member driving motor  55  as a distance changing member. The operating panel  53  outputs a signal according to operating the switch  54  to the controller  52 , and inputs a signal from the controller  52 . The controller  52  inputs the signal from the operating panel  53 , and outputs signals according to the signal from the operating panel  53  to the operating panel  53  and the transfer fixing member driving motor  55 . In this embodiment, the transfer fixing member driving motor  55  changes the distance or the contacting pressure between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing member  27 , by changing the position of the supporting roller  31  between the solid line position and the two-dot chain line position in  FIG. 9 . 
   The controller  52  drives the transfer fixing member driving motor  55  except while the toner image is being transferred from the intermediate transfer belt  2  onto the transfer fixing member  27 . Thereby, the supporting roller  31  is moved from the solid line position and the two-dot chain line position in  FIG. 9 . The controller  52  may make the transfer fixing member driving motor  55  move the supporting roller  31  as the contacting pressure between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing member  27  decreases while the intermediate transfer belt  2  contacts the transfer fixing member  27 . Therefore, it is possible to reduce the influence of heat to the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B. Further, it is possible to prevent melted toner from anchoring onto the intermediate transfer belt  2  when a paper jam occurs. 
     FIGS. 11A and 11B  are schematic front views showing a modification of the third embodiment. In this modification the transfer fixing member  27  is exchanged for a transfer fixing roller  36  including the halogen heater  15 , a metallic core  34 , and an elastic layer  35 . The transfer fixing member driving motor  55  also lengthens the distance between the pressing roller  14  and the transfer fixing roller  36 , while lengthening the distance between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  36 . The transfer fixing member driving motor  55  may also decrease the contacting pressure between the pressing roller  14  and the transfer fixing roller  36 , while decreasing the contacting pressure between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  36 . 
     FIGS. 12A and 12B  are schematic front views showing a second modification of the third embodiment.  FIG. 12A  shows that the toner image is not being transferred from the intermediate transfer belt  2  to the transfer fixing member  27 , when the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing member  27  are driven because there is a record medium P in the nip N between the transfer fixing roller  36  and the pressing roller  14 .  FIG. 12B  shows that the toner image is not being transferred from the intermediate transfer belt  2  to the transfer fixing member  27 , when the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing member  27  are driven because the next record medium approaches the nip N between the transfer fixing roller  36  and the pressing roller  14 . In this modification, the transfer fixing member driving motor  55  lengthens the distance or decreases the contacting pressure between the pressing roller  14  and the transfer fixing roller  36 , while the toner image is not being transferred from the intermediate transfer belt  2  to the transfer fixing member  27  when the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing member  27  are driven. 
   According to the third embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce the influence of heat to the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B. 
     FIG. 13  is a schematic front view showing a fourth embodiment. In this embodiment the heating roller  33  with the halogen heater  32  are arranged at a position such that the position on the transfer fixing member  27  with the highest temperature is away from the portion where the toner image is transferred onto the transfer fixing roller  13 . Thereby, it is possible to reduce the influence of heat to the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B. Further, it is possible to efficiently heat the toner image. 
     FIG. 14  is a schematic front view showing a modification of this embodiment, in which the supporting member  29  is exchanged for a supporting roller  49  with a metallic core  49   a  and an elastic layer  49   b.    
   According to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the influence of heat to the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the image forming members  3 Y,  3 M,  3 C,  3 B. Further, it is possible to efficiently heat the toner image. 
     FIG. 15  is a schematic front view showing a fifth embodiment. In this embodiment, vibration caused by the record medium approaching into the nip N is prevented from being transmitted to the nip between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing member  27 , because the transfer fixing member  27  itself and the elastic layer  29   b  absorb the vibration by being deformed. Thereby, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching into the nip N is prevented, particularly in a case of transferring a color toner image that is easily influenced by vibration. 
     FIG. 16  is a schematic front view showing a modification of this embodiment in which inside the transfer fixing member  27  are provided a board spring  28 , which supports the portion forming the nip between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing member  27 , and a reflector  30  reflecting the heat by the halogen heater  15 . In this modification, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching into the nip N is prevented. 
     FIG. 17  is a schematic front view showing a second modification of this embodiment in which a rubber or a foamed material is used for the material of the elastic layer  35 . The maximum thickness of the elastic layer  35  is decided by a thickness with which the bias on the surface of the transfer fixing roller  36  is still generated. In this modification, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching into the nip N is prevented. 
   In the fifth embodiments described above, the toner image can be formed by a resolution of more than 600 dpi, which is easily influenced by vibration, and a total thickness of the elastic layer in the transfer fixing member and the pressing member is more than a thickness of the record medium. In  FIG. 17 , the total thickness of the elastic layer  35  and the elastic layer  14   b  can be more than the thickness of the record medium. The total thickness of the elastic layer in the transfer fixing member and the pressing member is preferably more than twice the thickness of the record medium. Thereby, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching into the nip N, in particularly a case of the toner image formed by a resolution more than 600 dpi, is prevented. 
   The following is a detailed description regarding the effect described above. Human beings can recognize the difference of an image more than 10 cycle/mm frequency (254 dpi, 100 μm pitch) based on MTF characteristic (the VTF) “Basic and application of electric photography technology.” p.717-718, Electric Photography Society, 1988.6.15. Thereby, differences of an image of more than 100 μm is a problem. 
   Further, when a smaller image such as a photograph is formed in the image forming apparatus with a resolution of 600 dpi, a dot interval is 42.3 μm. In this case, human being cannot clearly recognize overlapping of each other dot, but can feel uncomfortable while seeing the image. Incidentally, in the case of a resolution of 1200 dpi, a dot interval is 21.2 μm. In this case, human being can not recognize overlapping of each other dot, because this interval is smaller than a fifth of 100 μm based on the VTF. 
   A thickness of the record medium used in the electric photograph is actually 60˜100 μm. The difference of the image caused by the thickness of the record medium is maximized to equal the thickness of the record medium, when the direction in which the record medium approaches the nip N is a right angle to the common tangent to the intermediate transfer member and the transfer fixing member. Meanwhile an elastic layer, whose rubber hardness is between 5 and 90, is easily compressed to about 30% of a thickness thereof. 
   Based on these parameters, in the case that the thickness of the elastic layer is twice 60 μm, the maximum difference of the image=60−(60*0.3)=42 μm. In the case that the thickness of the elastic layer is twice 60 μm, the maximum difference of the image=60−(120*0.3)=24 μm. In the case that the thickness of the elastic layer is twice 100 μm, the maximum difference of the image=100−(200*0.3)=40 μm. 
   These parameters give rise to the following expression. The difference of the image=(a thickness of the record medium−the total thickness of the elastic layer)*|sin θ|&lt;42.3 μm (preferable)&lt;100 μm (necessary). θ is an angle between the direction in which the record medium approaches into the nip N and the common tangent to the intermediate transfer member and the transfer fixing member. 
   In this embodiment described above, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching the nip N is prevented, especially in a case of the toner image formed at a resolution of more than 600 dpi. 
   Furthermore, in the second modification of this embodiment in  FIG. 17 , the transfer fixing roller  36  is driven by the driving source (not illustrated), but is not driven by the pressing roller  14 . The pressing roller  14  is driven by a driving source or by the transfer fixing roller  36 . Thereby, a substantial increase of the driving radius of the pressing roller  14  caused by the record medium being a part on the pressing roller  14  is prevented, when the record medium reaches the nip N, compared with the case that the transfer fixing roller  36  is driven by the pressing roller  14 . Therefore, a change of a line speed on the surface of the transfer fixing roller  36  caused by a substantial increase of the driving radius of the pressing roller  14  is prevented. Then, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the change of the line speed on the surface of the transfer fixing roller  36  is prevented. 
   The following is a detailed description regarding the effect described above. The difference of the image is maximized in the case that there is no elastic layer in the pressing roller  14 . In this case, the difference of the image=the line speed of the transfer fixing roller  36 *(a thickness of the record medium/the radius of the pressing roller  14  in the nip N)*transferring time in the nip between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  36 =the transferring width in the nip between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  36 *(a thickness of the record medium/the radius of the pressing roller  14  in the nip N)&lt;42.3 μm (preferable)&lt;100 μm (necessary). 
   In a case that the transferring width in the nip is less than 10 mm, the radius of the pressing roller  14  in the nip N is 20 mm, and a thickness of the record medium is 0.1 mm, the difference is less than 50 μm. In a case that the transferring width in the nip is less than 5 mm, the radius of the pressing roller  14  in the nip N is 20 mm, and a thickness of the record medium is 0.1 mm, the difference is less than 25 μm. Thereby, it is better to prevent the difference of the image when the transferring width in the nip is shorter. Further, it is better to prevent the influence of heat to the intermediate transfer belt  2  when the transferring width in the nip is shorter. In addition, in a case that a thickness of the record medium is about 0.1 mm, the following expression can satisfy the difference of the image to be less than 42.3 μm as a dot pitch in the image forming apparatus with a resolution of 600 dpi; the difference of the image=(the transferring width in the nip between the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  36 /the radius of the pressing roller  14  in the nip N)&lt;=0.423. 
   According to the fifth embodiment described above, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching into nip N is prevented, especially in a case of the toner image formed at a resolution more than 600 dpi. 
     FIG. 18  is a schematic front view showing a sixth embodiment. The embodiment includes a pressing member  37  including the pressing roller  14 , a supporting roller  38 , and a pressing belt  39  supported by the pressing roller  14  and the supporting roller  38 . The transfer fixing roller  36  and the pressing belt  39  form an upstream nip Na and a downstream nip N in the direction in which the record medium is passing. The upstream nip Na is pressed by the tension of the pressing belt  39 ; the downstream nip N is pressed by the pressure of the pressing roller  14 . The pressure of the pressing roller  14  and the tension of the pressing belt  39  are set up so the pressure at the upstream nip Na is weaker than the pressure at the downstream nip N. 
   In this embodiment, the record medium is pressed in the upstream nip Na with a weaker pressing, before pressed in the downstream nip N with a stronger pressing. Thereby, the record medium can smoothly approach the downstream nip N, and vibrations caused by the record medium approaching the nip are reduced. In addition the vibration is further reduced because of the same reason as in the fifth embodiment based on the elastic layer  35  in the transfer fixing roller  36 . Therefore, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching the nip N is prevented, especially in case of a thick record medium. 
   Further, the width of the nip Na can be less than 5 mm. Thereby, a rumple that arises on the thin record medium caused by the weaker pressure in the nip Na is prevented. Thereby, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the rumple on the record medium is prevented, especially in a case of a thin record medium. 
     FIG. 19  is a schematic front view showing a modification of this embodiment in which inside the pressing belt  39  a board spring  40  is provided at the upstream nip Na. In this modification it is easy to regulate the pressure in the nip Na by regulating the pressure of the board spring  40 . 
     FIG. 20  is a schematic front view showing a second modification of this embodiment in which a transfer fixing member  41  includes the heating roller  33 , a supporting roller  42  including a metallic core  42   a  and an elastic layer  42   b , and a transfer fixing belt  43  supported by the heating roller  33  and the supporting roller  42 . A pressing roller  44  includes a metallic core  44   a  and an elastic layer  44   b . The transfer fixing belt  43  and the pressing roller  44  form an upstream nip Na and a downstream nip N in the direction in which the record medium is passing. The upstream nip Na is pressed by the tension of the transfer fixing belt  43 , and the downstream nip N is pressed by the pressure of the pressing roller  44 . The pressure of the pressing roller  44  and the tension of the transfer fixing belt  43  are set up so that the pressure at the upstream nip Na is weaker than the pressure at the downstream nip N. Therefore, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching the nip N is prevented. 
     FIG. 21  is a schematic front view showing a third modification of this embodiment in which inside the transfer fixing belt  43  a board spring  40  is provided that presses the upstream nip Na. In this modification it is easy to regulate the pressure in the nip Na by regulating the pressure of the board spring  40 . 
     FIG. 22  is a schematic front view showing a fourth modification of this embodiment, in which a magnetic body  45  is provided inside the transfer fixing belt  43 , and the pressing roller  44  includes a magnet  46 . The magnetic body  45  presses the upstream nip Na by the magnetism of the magnet  46 . In this modification it is easy to regulate the pressure in the nip Na by regulating the magnetism of the magnet  46 . 
   According to the sixth embodiment described above, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching the nip N is prevented. 
     FIG. 23  is a schematic front view showing a seventh embodiment. In this embodiment, a bias roller  48  as an opposite member  12  is provided separated from the transfer fixing roller  13  by at least a thickness of the record medium. The bias roller  48 , which is supplied a bias by an adhesive power supplying member (not illustrated), supplies electrostatic adhesive power to the record medium P. Thereby, the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  is transferred and fixed onto the record medium P by the electrostatic adhesive power. Therefore, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching into the nip N is prevented, because there is no vibration when the record medium reaches the nip N. 
   In this embodiment further, the heater  25  heats the record medium P before reaching the nip N. That prevents the toner image transferred onto the record medium from losing too much heat by the record medium. Thereby, the toner image is certainly fixed on the record medium. Further, it is possible to control minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium P. 
     FIG. 24  is a schematic front view showing a modification of the seventh embodiment, using the flexible transfer fixing member  27  as in the earlier described modifications. The effect of this modification is the same as in the embodiment in  FIG. 23 . 
   According to the seventh embodiment described above, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching the nip N is prevented. Further, it is possible to control minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium. 
     FIG. 25  is a schematic front view showing an eighth embodiment. In this embodiment, the direction in which the record medium approaches the nip N is substantially parallel to the common tangent to the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  36 . According to the description in the fifth embodiment, the difference of the image=(a thickness of the record medium−the total thickness of the elastic layer)*|sin θ|&lt;42.3 μm (preferable). In a case of the total thickness of the elastic layer=0, the thickness of the record medium=60 to 100 μm, θ satisfying this expression is within ±45° or ±25°. Thereby, substantially parallel means within ±45°, or ±25° in a case of a thicker record medium. In this embodiment, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching the nip N is prevented. 
     FIG. 26  is a schematic front view showing a modification of this embodiment. In this modification, the direction in which the record medium approaches the nip N is parallel to the common tangent to the intermediate transfer belt  2  and the transfer fixing roller  36 . Thereby, it is more certain that reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching the nip N is prevented, because the vibration direction L does not affect the difference of the toner image transferred. Further, in this modification, the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  36  is heated longer. Thereby, it is possible to make the transfer fixing roller  36  smaller. 
   According to the eighth embodiment described above, reduction of image quality of transferring the toner image caused by the record medium approaching into the nip N is prevented. 
     FIG. 27  is a schematic front view showing a ninth embodiment. In this embodiment, outside the transfer fixing roller  13 , an outer heating member  21  is arranged to heat the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  from the surface side of the toner image. The surface side of the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  is the side with the toner image fixed on the record medium. The halogen heater  15  as an inner heating member heats the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  from the surface side of the transfer fixing roller  13 . 
   According to the structure described above, it is possible to heat the surface of the toner image on the transfer fixing member not based on the thickness of the toner image. Further, it is possible to control the interface between the toner image and the record medium, because the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  is heated from outside. Thereby, it is possible to control minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium. Further, that prevents the toner image from being excessively heated from the transfer fixing roller  13  to prevent melting the outside of the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13 . Thereby, a luster of the toner image fixed on the record medium is prevented from being damaged by excessive heating. 
   Further in this embodiment, it is possible to control both the luster and the adhesion degree of the toner image on the record medium, because the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  is heated from both the side of the transfer fixing roller  13  and outside. In other words, it is possible to control the temperature gradation along the thickness direction of the toner image. 
   In this embodiment, the outer heating member  21  is formed as a metallic heating board with a relatively lower radiation rate. The transfer fixing roller  13  is preferably formed transparently. Thereby, the outer heating member  21  can effectively reflect the heat that the transfer fixing roller  13  transmits to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the heat by the halogen heater  15  to heat the toner image from the outside. 
   The following describes a comparison of this embodiment in  FIG. 27  with the background art in  FIG. 56  and  FIG. 57 . L in  FIG. 56 , L 1  in  FIG. 57 , and L 4  in  FIG. 27  show the time while the toner image is heated. As thereby shown, the toner image in this embodiment is heated longer than the background art in  FIG. 56 , and as long as the background art in  FIG. 57 . L in  FIG. 56 , L 2  in  FIG. 57 , and L 5  in  FIG. 27  show the time while the record medium is heated. As thereby shown, the record medium in this embodiment is heated as long as the background arts in  FIG. 56  and  FIG. 57 . L 1  in  FIG. 57  and L 3  in  FIG. 27  show the time while the intermediate transfer member is heated. As thereby shown, the intermediate transfer member in this embodiment is heated shorter than the background art in  FIG. 57 . 
     FIG. 28  is a schematic front view showing a modification of this embodiment in which the outer heating member  21  is not a board but a thicker member. 
     FIG. 29  is a schematic front view showing a second modification of this embodiment in which the outer heating member  21  is formed as a heating board with a higher radiation rate. The outer heating member  21  generates heat itself by electric power. The outer heating member  21  preferably includes a black coating on the surface facing the transfer fixing roller  13 . Thereby, the radiation rate of the outer heating member  21  is further increased. 
   Further a heating control member (not illustrated) can be provided, which continuously or gradually changes heating values both by the halogen heater  15  and by the outer heating member  21 . The heating control member can also change the ratio between the heating value of the halogen heater  15  and of the outer heating member  21 . The heating control member can change the heating value based on a kind of the record medium, a thermal capacity of the record medium, an amount of the toner, a thickness of the toner image, a kind of toner image, etc. The heating control member can also change the above mentioned ratio based on a kind of the record medium, a thermal capacity of the record medium, an amount of the toner, a thickness of the toner image, a kind of toner image, etc. The heating control member preferably gives priority to the heat by the outer heating member  21  to improve the toner image fixing on the record medium. Thereby, it is possible to control minutely both the luster and the adhesion degree of the toner image on the record medium. 
     FIG. 30  is a schematic front view showing a third modification of this embodiment in which the intermediate transfer belt  2  is exchanged for an intermediate transfer member  26  formed of a cylinder as described in the first embodiment. 
   According to the ninth embodiment, it is possible to control minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium. Further, the luster of the toner image fixed on the record medium is prevented from being damaged by excessive heating. In addition, it is possible to control both the luster and the adhesion degree of the toner image on the record medium, and it is possible to control the temperature gradation along the thickness direction of the toner image. 
     FIG. 31  is a schematic front view showing a tenth embodiment. In this embodiment the outer heating member  21  includes a radiating heater  21 A as a halogen heater and a reflector  21  B that reflects the heat radiated by the radiating heater  21  A to the transfer fixing member  27 . Thereby, the outer heating member  21  radiates the toner image on the transfer fixing member  27  from the surface side of the toner image. 
   In this embodiment, it is easy to concentrate the heat energy on the toner image on the transfer fixing member  27 , because the toner image is radiated by the outer heating member  21 . Thereby, it is possible to increase heating efficiency to the toner image, and it is possible to control minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium. Further, the surface of the transfer fixing member  27  is preferably formed by a material with a high reflective rate. Thereby, there is nothing to absorb the radiation by the outer heating member  21  except for the toner on the transfer fixing member  27 , and then the toner absorbs the radiation even more. The surface of the transfer fixing member  27  may be coated by black, but should not be formed transparent. 
     FIG. 32  is a view showing the temperature distribution in the toner image and the record medium in the direction of the thickness just before the toner image is fixed onto the record medium in the nip.  FIG. 32  includes each temperature distribution of the background art in  FIG. 56 , the tenth embodiment in  FIG. 28 , and this embodiment in  FIG. 31 . The “0” side in the toner image means the side of the toner image fixed onto the record medium, and the surface side of the toner image on the transfer fixing member.  FIG. 32  shows experimental results carried out in the condition that the transfer fixing or fixing member and the pressing member both include a gum layer and a releasing layer, and the temperature inside the gum layer in the transfer fixing member is 160° C., and the temperature inside the gum layer in the pressing member is 100° C. 
   According to  FIG. 32 , the temperature distribution in the direction of the thickness of the toner image in the background art is equally and as high as the record medium. The temperature distribution in the direction of the thickness of the toner image in this embodiment is equally and much higher than the record medium. The temperature distribution in the direction of the thickness of the toner image in this embodiment is that the temperature of the surface side is higher than the opposite side, and much higher than the record medium. 
   The following describes the temperature distribution in the direction of the thickness of the toner image on the record medium just after the record medium reaches the nip, based on the results in  FIG. 32 . In this embodiment, the temperature of the fixing side in the toner image becomes lower than the opposite side, because the record medium directly takes the heat from the fixing side, but does not directly take the heat from the opposite side. The fixing side of the toner image does not keep the lower temperature than the opposite side, despite the record medium taking the heat from the fixing side. 
   Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to control minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium. In this view, the outer heating member  21  radiates heat to the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  without the halogen heater  15 . Further it is possible to control both the luster and the adhesion degree of the toner image on the record medium, and it is possible to control the temperature gradation along the thickness direction of the toner image. In this view, the outer heating member  21  preferably radiates heat to the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  with the halogen heater  15 . 
     FIG. 33  is a view showing the temperature distribution in the toner image and the record medium in the direction of the thickness according to the time 10 ms, 30 ms, 100 ms while the toner image and the record medium is passing through the nip.  FIG. 33  includes each temperature distribution of the background art in  FIG. 56 , the eighth embodiment in  FIG. 28 , and this embodiment in  FIG. 31 .  FIG. 34  is a view showing the temperature difference between the surface side and the opposite side in the toner image on the record medium, based on  FIG. 33 . 
   According to these  FIGS. 33-34 , the temperature difference in this embodiment is much smaller (H 1 &lt;H 2 &lt;H 3 ). Further the temperature gap in this embodiment at 10 ms is almost the same as in the background art at 30˜70 ms. Thereby, the toner image is prevented from returning to be transferred onto the fixing member caused by the larger temperature gap. 
   Further in this embodiment, it is possible to not excessively heat the toner image from the side of the fixing member. Thereby, the outer heating member  21  may radiate heat to dry the object, instead of radiating heat to melt the toner image. In this case, an ink is suitable as the object. 
     FIG. 35  is a schematic front view showing a modification of this embodiment. In this modification, the halogen heater  15  and the reflector  30  are exchanged for the halogen heater  32  and the heating roller  33 , and the board spring  28  is exchanged for the supporting roller  31 . 
   According to the tenth embodiment, it is possible to increase heating efficiency to the toner image, and it is possible to control minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium. 
     FIG. 36  is a schematic front view showing an eleventh embodiment. In this embodiment, the outer heating member  21  as a thick member is located above the intermediate transfer belt  2 , and the transfer fixing roller  13  is located above the outer heating member  21 . Thereby, heating of the intermediate transfer belt  2  by the transfer fixing roller  13  and the outer heating member  21  is reduced. Further, it is possible to heat the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  by heat convection between the transfer fixing roller  13  and the outer heating member  21 , to thereby increase heating efficiency to the toner image. 
     FIG. 37  is a schematic front view showing a modification of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the outer heating member  21  is formed by a board, and the driving roller  9  is exchanged for a pair of driving rollers  99 . The portion of the intermediate transfer belt  2  between the driving rollers  99  is transformed according to the surface of the transfer fixing roller  13 . Further, the intermediate transfer belt  2  contacts the transfer fixing roller  13  from the opposite side to the pressing roller  14 . Thereby, it is possible to heat the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  longer. 
   According to the eleventh embodiment, it is possible to efficiently heat the toner image, and it is possible to control the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium. 
     FIG. 38  is a schematic front view showing a twelfth embodiment. In this embodiment, the heating roller  211  as a heating member, which is located below the transfer fixing roller  13 , heats the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  from the surface side of the toner image, and heats the record medium before it reaches the nip N. The heating roller  211  includes a radiant source  300  and a double transparent tube surrounding the radiant source  300 . The double transparent tube includes a vacuum or decompression chamber between the outer tube and the inner tube. Further, the heating roller  211  forms a nip, where the record medium passes between itself and a resist roller  19 . In addition, between the heating roller  211  and the transfer fixing roller  13  is arranged a heating preventing member, which protects the transfer fixing roller  13  from the heat from the heating roller  211 . 
   In this structure, a toner dropped from the transfer fixing roller  13  is prevented from directly contacting the radiant source  300 . That prevents emitting smoke or a burning smell caused by excessive heating of the toner. Further, the radiant source  300  can effectively radiate the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13 . Incidentally, in a case of calling the radiant source  300  a heating member, the double tube is a contact restraining member that transmits the heat radiation by the radiant source  300  and prevents the toner image from contacting the radiant source  300 . 
   Further, the heating roller  211  heats the record medium P before reaching the nip N as a medium heating member. Thereby, it is possible to control the interface between the toner image and the record medium, because the toner image is prevented from taking too much heat by the record medium. Thereby, it is possible to control minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium. 
   In addition, the radiant source  300  can be electrically turned on while the record medium is being transferred. Thereby, the heating roller  211  heats the toner image on the transfer fixing roller  13  while the record medium is being transferred. That prevents overheating around the heating roller  211  and wasting of energy. 
   Incidentally, in a case of calling the radiant source  300  a heating member or a medium heating member, the double tube is a movement restraining member that transmits the heat radiation by the radiant source  300  and prevents the record medium before reaching the nip N from moving to contact the radiant source  300 . Further, the heating roller  211  and the resist roller  19  may be referred to as a heating member. 
   The heating roller  211  preferably heats the record medium with a radiation wavelength easily absorbed by cellulose in a short time. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently heat just the interface but not all of the record medium whose thermal capacity is large. 
     FIG. 39  is a view showing temperature distribution in the direction of the thickness in the record medium according to the heating time.  FIG. 39  shows calculation results in the condition that the electric power irradiated is 48 W, the width of the record medium is 300 mm, and the thickness of the record medium is 70 μm. A difference equation of one-dimensional heat conduction is solved by the explicit method. The calculation unit of the thickness is every 2.5 μm, and the calculation unit of the time is 50 μm. An actual measurement corresponds to the calculation result in a case that the absorbable efficiency of the record medium is 40˜60%. According to the results in  FIG. 39 , it is preferable to heat the record medium for 2.5 ms˜10 ms, because the temperature of the opposite side of the record medium does not rise much. 
   According to the twelfth embodiment, smoke or a burning smell caused by excessive heating of the toner is prevented, and it is possible to control minutely the fixing and adhering conditions of the toner image on the record medium. Further, the record medium is prevented from directly contacting the radiation source. In addition, it is possible to efficiently heat the record image. 
     FIG. 40  is a schematic front view showing a thirteenth embodiment. In this embodiment, the transfer fixing roller  13  does not include an inner heating member, and a movement restraining member  72  is connected to the reflector  21 B by a hinge  74 . The movement restraining member  72 , which transmits the heat radiation by the radiating heater  21 A as a medium heating member, prevents the record medium P before reaching the nip N from moving into the radiating heater  21 A. A guide member  75  guides the record medium P before reaching the nip N together with the movement restraining member  72 . Thereby, it is possible for the outer heating member  21  to also heat the record medium P, while preventing the record medium P from directly contacting the outer heating member  21 . 
     FIG. 41  is a schematic front view showing a modification of this embodiment. In this modification, the movement restraining member  72  is connected to the reflector  21 B, and is arranged between the transfer fixing roller  13  and the radiating heater  21 A. Thereby, the radiating heater  21 A is surrounded by the reflector  21 B and the movement restraining member  72 , and then it is possible for the outer heating member  21  to also heat the record medium P, and prevent the record medium P from directly contacting the radiating heater  21 A. 
     FIG. 42  is a schematic front view showing a fourteenth embodiment. In this embodiment, the outer heating member  21  as a radiation heating member includes a carbon  76  as a radiation source, a reflector  77 , and a transparent member  77   a  surrounding the carbon  76 . The transparent member  77   a  is arranged between the transfer fixing roller  13  and the carbon  76 . The carbon  76 , whose shape is like a board or a sheet, makes substantially a right angle to a tangent to the surface of the transfer fixing roller  13 . The carbon  76  radiates the heating radiation in the direction of thickness thereof, and the reflector  77  reflects the radiation by the carbon  76  to the transfer fixing roller  13 . Thereby, it is easy to make the radiation zone narrow, and then it is easy to make the temperature gradient of the toner image large in the thickness direction of the toner image. Further, part of the heating radiation through the transparent member  77   a  radiates onto the record medium P. 
     FIG. 43  is a view showing relations between the wavelength and the radiation strength of the halogen heater, the radiation strength of the carbon heater, and the transmissivity of cellulose. Cellulose, which is main component of the record medium, has an OH combination and a CH combination. An absorbable zone of the cellulose is around 2.6˜3.3 μm by the vibration of the OH expanding and contracting, and about 3.6 μm by the vibration of the CH expanding and contracting according to measuring the infrared rays absorbed. On the other hand, the peak of the halogen heater is about 1.2 μm, and the peak of the carbon heater is about 2.5 μm. Thereby, it is possible to use a halogen heater as a medium heating member, but it is preferable to use a carbon heater as a medium heating member. Further, it is possible to regulate the radiation strength of the carbon heater in a wider zone than the halogen heater. The heating efficiency to the record medium increases when the electric power decreases, because the wavelength shifts to be longer. Further, the toner preferably includes a binder with the OH as a polyol or a polyethylene, or a chemical to absorb the infrared rays. 
     FIG. 44  is a schematic front view showing a modification of this embodiment. In this modification, the carbon  76  is substantially parallel to a tangent to the surface of the transfer fixing roller  13 . In this case, the part of the radiation reflected by the reflector  77  returns to the carbon  76 . 
   According to the fourteenth embodiment, it is easy to make the radiation zone narrow. Further it is possible to heat the record medium efficiently. 
     FIG. 45  is a schematic front view showing a fifteenth embodiment. In this embodiment the heating roller  33  is exchanged for a plane heater  50  with PCT characteristics whose electrical resistance rapidly rises. 
     FIG. 46  is a view showing the resistance changing and the calorific value changing according to the temperature of the plane heater  50 . In this embodiment, it is possible to apply the plane heater  50  to the heating member, because it is not necessary to heat higher the toner image on the transfer fixing member  27 . Further, the heating member can also serve as a temperature safety device on the transfer fixing member  27 . 
   According to the fifteenth embodiment, it is possible to efficiently heat the toner image. 
     FIG. 47  is a schematic front view showing a sixteenth embodiment. In this embodiment the pressing member includes the pressing roller  14 , a supporting roller  56 , and a pressing belt  57  supported by the pressing roller  14  and the supporting roller  56 . In this embodiment, the width of the nip N changes from N 1  to N 2 , by changing the position of the supporting roller  56  from the solid line position to the two-dot chain line position. Thereby, the toner image is heated longer in the nip N, to prevent an uneven toner image being fixed on the record medium. 
     FIG. 10  is cited again to describe a seventeenth embodiment. In this embodiment, the transfer fixing member driving motor  55  changes a line speed of the transfer fixing member. The switch  54  is pushed when a record medium with high thermal capacity is used. The controller  52  drives the transfer fixing member driving motor  55  as the line speed of the transfer fixing member slows down. Thereby, the toner image on the transfer fixing member is heated longer, to prevent an uneven toner image being fixed on the record medium. 
   Further, the transfer fixing member rotates with the line speed less than the intermediate transfer member, because the transfer fixing member driving motor  55  slows down the line speed of the transfer fixing member. Thereby, the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the transfer fixing member according to the line speed gap between the intermediate transfer member and the transfer fixing member. That prevents the center part in the toner image area missing in a case that the toner image area is large. 
     FIG. 48A  and  FIG. 48B  are schematic front views showing an eighteenth embodiment. In this embodiment, the outer heating member  21  radiates heat to the toner image on the transfer fixing member  27 . The toner image device holds the toner image of plural colors, yellow, magenta, cyanogen, black on the surface thereof, the color black with the highest radiation rate among the plural colors being formed at the outermost portion of the transfer fixing member  27 . The black circles show the black toner image in  FIG. 48A  and  FIG. 48B . Thereby, the toner image including plural colors can efficiently absorb the heat by the radiating heater  21 A. 
     FIG. 49A  and  FIG. 49B  are schematic front views showing a nineteenth embodiment. In this embodiment, the outer heating member  21  heats the toner image on the transfer fixing member  27  by heat convection between the outer heating member  21  and the toner image. The toner image device holds the toner image of plural colors, yellow, magenta, cyanogen, black on the surface thereof, the color with the lowest radiation rate among the plural colors being formed at the outermost position of the transfer fixing member  27 . The white circles show the toner image of the color with the lowest radiation rate among the plural colors, the black circle showing the black toner image as in  FIG. 48A  and  FIG. 48B . Thereby, the toner image including plural color is prevented from radiating outside. 
     FIG. 50  is a schematic front view showing a twentieth embodiment. In this embodiment, each of the transfer fixing roller  13  and the outer heating member  21  is accommodated in each of a unit V 1  and a unit V 2  that are individually modularized in a casing  1 A. Thereby, the transfer fixing roller  13  and the outer heating member  21  as an image heating member or a medium heating member are individually exchangeable, or the halogen heater  15  and the outer heating member  21  are individually exchangeable. Therefore, it is unnecessary to exchange all members if only one member becomes defective. 
     FIG. 51  is a schematic front view showing a twenty first embodiment. In this embodiment, the transfer fixing roller  13  is arranged at an upper side in the image forming unit  1 A and above the intermediate transfer belt  2 . The image forming unit  1 A includes an upper surface with an output for the record medium, and the upper surface connects a tray  1 A 1  arranged above it, which receives the record medium sent from the output. The transfer fixing roller  13  and the upper surface and the tray  1 A 1  are arranged as the record medium is continuously passed from the transfer fixing roller  13  to the tray  1 A 1 . Thereby, the record medium sent from the transfer fixing roller  13  moves upward. Further, the intermediate transfer belt  2  just after transferring the toner image moves downward. 
   In this embodiment, heating of the intermediate transfer belt  2  by the transfer fixing roller  13  is reduced, because the transfer fixing roller  13  is arranged above the intermediate transfer belt  2 . In addition, it can be realized easily that the direction of the record medium sent from the transfer fixing roller  13  is opposite to the direction of the intermediate transfer belt  2  just after transferring the record medium, because the transfer fixing roller  13  is arranged between the record medium and the intermediate transfer belt  2 . Further, it is possible to regulate the direction of the record medium sent from the transfer fixing roller  13  in a small space, because the transfer fixing roller  13  is a roller. Thereby, it is possible that the record medium sent from the transfer fixing roller  13  moves upward, and the intermediate transfer belt  2  just after transferring the toner image moves downward. Therefore, it is possible to use the space above the apparatus efficiently, and it is possible to make the space for the tray  1 A 1  smaller. Thereby, it is possible to make the space for the entire apparatus smaller. 
   Further, as the transfer fixing roller  13  transfers and fixes the toner image onto only one surface of the record medium, the transfer fixing roller  13  and the upper surface are arranged so the surface with the toner image of the record medium faces downward on the tray  1 A 1 . Thereby, it is unnecessary to change the turn of plural record mediums. 
   According to the twenty first embodiment, heating of the intermediate transfer belt  2  by the transfer fixing roller  13  is reduced, and it is possible to make the space for the apparatus smaller. 
     FIG. 52  is a schematic front view showing a twenty second embodiment. In this embodiment, a roller  81  is arranged to contact the intermediate transfer belt  2  just after transferring the toner image, a driving roller  82  is provided nipping the intermediate transfer belt  2  between itself and the roller  81 , and a roller  83  is provided nipping the record medium between itself and the roller  82 . Thereby, changes in the line speed of the intermediate transfer belt  2  caused by the thickness of the toner image changing are reduced. Further, the roller  82  is preferably formed by metal including copper or by a heat pipe. Thereby, it is possible to cool the intermediate transfer belt  2  and to heat the record medium. 
     FIG. 53  is a schematic front view showing a twenty third embodiment. In this embodiment, a transfer fixing roller  70 , which includes mainly A 1  and carbon fiber CS to strengthen it, has a modulus of elasticity of three times iron, and a flexibility of a third of iron. Thereby, the transfer fixing roller  70  can equally contact the intermediate transfer member, and then the toner image can be equally transferred from the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer fixing member. 
   In the embodiments describe above, the heating member may include individual or assorted of various heaters such as an induction heater, except for the embodiment including the characteristic regarding a kind of heating member. 
   Further, the transfer fixing member and the opposite member or the pressing member may be assorted by a roller and a belt, except for the embodiment including the characteristic regarding a kind of them. In a case that they are both belts, their thermal capacity is the smallest. 
   In addition, the surface of various members contacting the toner image may include the combination of a releasing layer and an elastic layer. Further, the surface of the transfer fixing member may include a lower radiation rate material as a metal. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the difference of the temperature between the potion with the toner image and the portion without the toner image on the transfer fixing member. 
   Furthermore, the pressing member may include plural portions whose pressure is individually set up. Thereby, the pressure of the downstream portion may be higher to cope with the melted toner image. It is possible to increase pressure, by combining with other pressing members. 
     FIG. 54  is a flow chart showing a manufacturing process in a twenty fourth embodiment. In this embodiment a record medium recycling method includes forming a toner image on an toner image carrier, primarily transferring the toner image onto an intermediate transfer member, secondarily transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer fixing member, thirdly transferring and fixing the toner member on the transfer fixing member onto a record medium, according to one of all the embodiments described above. 
   Further, the record medium recycling method includes a heating step of heating the toner image on the transfer fixing member according to one of any of the embodiments described above, and a removing step of removing the toner image from the record medium. The removing step includes feeding the record medium with the toner image (S 1 ), primarily eliminating the toner image on the surface of the record medium (S 2 ), second eliminating the toner image in the fiber tissue of the record medium (S 3 ), third eliminating the residual toner image isolated around the surface of the record medium (S 4 ), restoring the surface of the record medium (S 5 ), and discharging the recycled record medium (S 6 ), as published in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 10-63121. Further, a recycling apparatus includes a means corresponding to each step in the removing step. 
     FIGS. 55A ,  55 B,  55 C,  55 D are schematic front view showing this embodiment. In this embodiment, a blade roller  60  as a first eliminating means eliminates a toner image  61  on the surface of a record medium P. A pair of heating pressing rollers  62  as second eliminating means eliminates the toner image in the fiber tissue of the record medium P by the toner image transferred onto the surface of the heating pressing roller  62 . A pair of magnetic rollers  63  as third eliminating means eliminates the residual toner image isolated around the surface of the record medium P by magnetism. A pair of elastic rollers  64  as a restoring means presses to restore the surface of the record medium P. A brush  65  is used to clean the blade roller  60 . 
   According to the method and the structure, it is easy to control the interface between the toner image and the record medium, and the toner image and the record medium are prevented from being excessively heated, by heating the toner image on the transfer fixing member. Therefore, it is easy to eliminate the toner image from the record medium. 
   Obviously, numerous additional modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.