1. An ionizing system, comprising:
a first transfer device having a first channel with an inlet disposed in a first pressure region and outlet disposed in a second pressure region having a pressure that is less than a pressure in the first pressure region;
an intermediate coupling device having a second channel configured to receive a portion of the first transfer device and to receive a second transfer device that is configured to be coupled to an input of a mass spectrometer, the intermediate coupling device defining a second channel that is in fluid communication with the channel of the first transfer device and the channel of the second transfer device.
2. The ionizing system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate transfer device is configured to receive an ionization device therein.
3. The ionizing system of claim 2, wherein the ionization device includes an electrically charged device coupled to a voltage supply.
4. The ionizing system of claim 3, further comprising an electrical insulator coupled to an input of the second channel, the insulator configured to couple the ionization device to the intermediate transfer device to allow independent voltages to be applied to each device.
5. The ionizing system of claim 2, wherein the inlet of the first transfer device is configured to receive a gas or a solution from a heat tolerant conduit.
6. The ionizing system of claim 5, wherein the conduit includes fused silica tubing.
7. The ionizing system of claim 5, wherein the gas is ionized by the ionizing device intermediate connector device.
8. The ionizing system of claim 2, wherein the ionizing device includes a wire or ribbon filament onto which a voltage between 10 and 200 V relative to a counter electrode is applied to cause an emission of electrons to effect ionization.
9. The ionizing system of claim 5, wherein the conduit carrying solution to the first transfer device includes a first conduit and a second conduit connected by a connector such that the solution is in contact with the connector.
10. The ionizing system of claim 9, wherein the connector includes a conductive material.
11. The ionizing system of claim 9, wherein the connector includes a non-conducting material.
12. The ionizing system of claim 10, wherein a voltage of between \xb11000 and 16000 volts is applied to a conductive plate that is separated from the connector by an insulating material.
13. The ionizing system of claim 12, wherein a distance between the conductive plate and the insulating material is between 0.1 and 10 mm.
14. The ionizing system of claim 12, wherein the voltage is between \xb14000 and 7000 volts.
15. The ionizing system of claim 9, further comprising a power source configured to apply a voltage between \xb150 and 7000 volts to the connector.
16. The ionizing system of claim 1, wherein the first transfer device is configured to be heated or cooled.
17. The ionizing system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate coupling device is configured to be heated.
18. The ionizing system of claim 1, wherein the second transfer device is configured to be heated.
19. The ionizing system of claim 1, wherein a pressure within the first and second channels defined by the first and second transfer devices, respectively, is between a pressure at the inlet of the first transfer device and a pressure at the input of the mass spectrometer.
20. The ionizing system of claim 1, wherein the first channel defined by the first transfer device is disposed at an angle that is less than or equal to 180 degrees relative to the second channel defined by the second transfer device.
21. The ionizing system of claim 1, wherein the first channel defined by the first transfer device is disposed at an angle between 60 and 120 degrees relative to the second channel defined by the second transfer device.
22. The ionizing system of claim 1, wherein the first channel defined by the first transfer device is disposed at 180 degrees relative to the second channel defined by the second transfer device but is offset within the intermediate connector device such that a line-of-sight is not available between the channels of the first and second transfer device.
23. The ionizing system of claim 1, wherein the ionizing device includes having an edge or a point onto which between \xb1600 and 10,000 volts are applied to create an electric discharge to initiate ionization.
24. The ionizing system of claim 1, wherein between 1,000 and 4,000 volts are applied to the edge or the point of the ionizing device.
25. The ionizing system of claim 1, wherein the first transfer device, the second transfer device, and the intermediate coupling device are monolithically formed from a heat tolerant material.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An image forming apparatus provided with a fixing unit, comprising:
(a) a fixing member having a heating member;
(b) a pressing member that presses against the fixing member,
wherein an image supporting material carrying a toner image is grasped and conveyed by a nipping portion formed between the fixing member and the pressing member and the toner image is fixed by applying heat and pressure at the nipping portion;
(c) an air blowing section provided downstream of the nipping portion in a sheet conveyance direction and above a conveying path of the image supporting material, which sends an air blow toward an entire width of the conveyance path; and
(d) an air flow path switching section that switches between a first position at which the air blow in both ends areas of the air blowing section is sent toward both ends areas of the fixing member, and a second position in which the air blow in both of the ends areas of the air blowing section is sent toward both ends areas of the conveying path of the image supporting material.
2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air flow path switching section is rotated on a shaft.
3. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein both of the ends areas of the conveying path of the image supporting material are areas excluding an area where a small size of the image supporting material passes.
4. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein air flow path switching section switches between the first and second positions according to a size of the image supporting material.