Abstract: Provided is a color image forming apparatus which has photosensitive members and a light irradiation unit irradiating at least one of the photosensitive members, the color image forming apparatus including: a laser driving unit causing the light irradiation unit to emit light of a light amount at a first emission level for printing when exposing an image portion and to emit light of a light amount at a second emission level for weak emission when exposing a non-image portion; an acquiring unit acquiring information of remaining lifetime of each of the photosensitive members; a first light intensity adjusting unit adjusting a first drive current to emit light at the first emission level; and a second light intensity adjusting unit adjusting a second drive current to emit light at the second emission level, the second light intensity adjusting unit changing the second drive current in accordance with the information.

Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus, the amount of light of an exposure unit for a weak exposure is changed according to a remaining service life of a photosensitive drum when the weak exposure is performed for the background area of a corresponding photosensitive drum by using the exposure unit.

Abstract: The image fixing apparatus forms a cleaning nip portion by pressing a web roll-up portion on a fixing rotation member with a feeding roller, a used portion for cleaning of the web is fed from a cleaning nip portion formation area, and during non-cleaning, a roller is at a waiting position at which the roller is farther from the fixing rotation member than its position during cleaning so as to separate the web roll-up portion from the fixing rotation member. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce degradation of a cleaning ability due to a toner component held by the used portion of the cleaning web.

Abstract: A controller which causes a light emitting element to continuously perform minute emission for a plurality of dots in a level in which toner is not attached to a non-image section on an image bearing member is provided. The controller controls a first driving current for an image section and controls a second driving current used to perform the minute emission by the light emitting element in the non-image section several times in one job. In the image section, a driving current obtained by adding the first driving current to the second driving current is supplied so that the light emitting element emits light.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image formed on a recording material includes a fixing roller; a cleaning unit for cleaning the fixing roller, the cleaning unit including a first shaft, a second shaft, and cleaning fabric extended between the first shaft and the second shaft and wound on the first shaft and the second shaft to be fed out from the first shaft and wound up on the second shaft, wherein at the time of cleaning the fixing roller, an outer surface of the cleaning fabric wound on the first shaft contacts the fixing roller, and wherein an outer diameter of the cleaning fabric wound on the first shaft is larger than that wound on the second shaft irrespective of amount of the cleaning fabric on the first shaft.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms a non-margin image by forming, on an image bearing member, a toner image including an edge portion area (Ae) and an internal area (Ai), transferring the toner image formed on the image bearing member to the transfer material. On the toner image corresponding to the edge portion area, which is formed on the image bearing member, toner amount increase processing is performed, the toner amount increase processing including toner amount gradual increase processing of gradually increasing intensity of the toner amount increase processing from the inner side of the edge portion area toward an outer side thereof. The image forming section forms, on the image bearing member, the toner image subjected to the toner amount increase processing. Accordingly, fixing performance during non-margin printing is enhanced and a high-quality image is formed.

Abstract: A cylindrical heat generating belt for use in an image heating apparatus includes a heat generating layer, in which an electroconductive filler is dispersed in a resin material, for generating heat by being supplied with electric power; and a surface parting layer. The heat generating layer has a sheet resistance, with respect to a generatrix direction of the heat generating belt, which is larger than that with respect to a circumferential direction of the heat generating belt.

Abstract: When a toner image including an edge area (Ae) corresponding to an area defined between edges of a transfer material (P), and an internal area (Ai) corresponding to an area inside the edge area (Ae) is formed on an image bearing member (11), the toner image in the edge area is subjected to toner amount increment processing of incrementing a toner amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which prevents occurrence of conveying malfunction or image failure due to variation of conveying speed caused by endurance of a fixing unit or a conveying unit, variation of using environment, or a type of a recording material. The image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit for heating and fixing a toner image on a recording sheet (P); a secondary transferring portion for conveying the recording sheet (P) to the fixing unit; a loop sensor for detecting a degree of a loop of the recording sheet (P) generated according to a speed difference between a conveying speed of the fixing unit and a conveying speed of the secondary transferring portion; a CPU for controlling the conveying speed of the fixing unit; a fixing deliver sensor for detecting a used amount of the fixing unit; and an EEPROM for storing information on the used amount of the fixing unit detected by the fixing deliver sensor.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a control circuit which controls the electrifying to a first heater so that a temperature detected by a first temperature detection portion reaches a first target temperature and controls the electrifying to a second heater so that a temperature detected by a second temperature detection portion reaches a second target temperature, when warm-up is initiated, and, when the warm-up initiated, if an initial temperature of a rotary member is below a predetermined temperature, the control circuit sets the first target temperature to a temperature value greater than the first target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature and sets the second target temperature to a temperature value greater than the second target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: The image fixing apparatus forms a cleaning nip portion by pressing a web roll-up portion on a fixing rotation member with a feeding roller, a used portion for cleaning of the web is fed from a cleaning nip portion formation area, and during non-cleaning, a roller is at a waiting position at which the roller is further from the fixing rotation member than a position during cleaning so as to separate the web roll-up portion from the fixing rotation member. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce degradation of a cleaning ability due to a toner component held by the used portion of the cleaning web.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a control circuit which controls the electrifying to a first heater so that a temperature detected by a first temperature detection portion reaches a first target temperature and controls the electrifying to a second heater so that a temperature detected by a second temperature detection portion reaches a second target temperature, when warm-up is initiated, and, when the warm-up initiated, if an initial temperature of a rotary member is below a predetermined temperature, the control circuit sets the first target temperature to a temperature value greater than the first target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature and sets the second target temperature to a temperature value greater than the second target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a control circuit which controls the electrifying to a first heater so that a temperature detected by a first temperature detection portion reaches a first target temperature and controls the electrifying to a second heater so that a temperature detected by a second temperature detection portion reaches a second target temperature, when warm-up is initiated, and, when the warm-up initiated, if an initial temperature of a rotary member is below a predetermined temperature, the control circuit sets the first target temperature to a temperature value greater than the first target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature and sets the second target temperature to a temperature value greater than the second target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which prevents occurrence of conveying malfunction or image failure due to variation of conveying speed caused by endurance of a fixing unit or a conveying unit, variation of using environment, or a type of a recording material. The image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit for heating and fixing a toner image on a recording sheet (P); a secondary transferring portion for conveying the recording sheet (P) to the fixing unit; a loop sensor for detecting a degree of a loop of the recording sheet (P) generated according to a speed difference between a conveying speed of the fixing unit and a conveying speed of the secondary transferring portion; a CPU for controlling the conveying speed of the fixing unit; a fixing deliver sensor for detecting a used amount of the fixing unit; and an EEPROM for storing information on the used amount of the fixing unit detected by the fixing deliver sensor.

Abstract: The heating apparatus of a surface-heating type, includes a rotary member, an opposing member that forms a nip with respect to the rotary member, and a heating member for heating a portion of a rotary member surface other than the nip, in which temperature used for heating the rotary member by the heating member is controlled, and a heating material inserted in the nip to be nipped and conveyed therein is heated using heat of the rotary member. Accordingly, after insertion of the heating material in the nip starts, control temperature of the heating member is increased before the rotary member rotates by one revolution, thereby preventing an uneven heating phenomenon of the heating material in the first revolution and the second revolution or later, and preventing uneven gloss due to the uneven heating phenomenon in the fixing apparatus.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a control circuit which controls the electrifying to a first heater so that a temperature detected by a first temperature detection portion reaches a first target temperature and controls the electrifying to a second heater so that a temperature detected by a second temperature detection portion reaches a second target temperature, when warm-up is initiated, and, when the warm-up initiated, if an initial temperature of a rotary member is below a predetermined temperature, the control circuit sets the first target temperature to a temperature value greater than the first target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature and sets the second target temperature to a temperature value greater than the second target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: The heating apparatus of a surface-heating type, includes a rotary member, an opposing member that forms a nip with respect to the rotary member, and a heating member for heating a portion of a rotary member surface other than the nip, in which temperature used for heating the rotary member by the heating member is controlled, and a heating material inserted in the nip to be nipped and conveyed therein is heated using heat of the rotary member. Accordingly, after insertion of the heating material in the nip starts, control temperature of the heating member is increased before the rotary member rotates by one revolution, thereby preventing an uneven heating phenomenon of the heating material in the first revolution and the second revolution or later, and preventing uneven gloss due to the uneven heating phenomenon in the fixing apparatus.

Abstract: The heating apparatus of a surface-heating type, includes a rotary member, an opposing member that forms a nip with respect to the rotary member, and a heating member for heating a portion of a rotary member surface other than the nip, in which temperature used for heating the rotary member by the heating member is controlled, and a heating material inserted in the nip to be nipped and conveyed therein is heated using heat of the rotary member. Accordingly, after insertion of the heating material in the nip starts, control temperature of the heating member is increased before the rotary member rotates by one revolution, thereby preventing an uneven heating phenomenon of the heating material in the first revolution and the second revolution or later, and preventing uneven gloss due to the uneven heating phenomenon in the fixing apparatus.

Abstract: The heating apparatus of a surface-heating type, includes a rotary member, an opposing member that forms a nip with respect to the rotary member, and a heating member for heating a portion of a rotary member surface other than the nip, in which temperature used for heating the rotary member by the heating member is controlled, and a heating material inserted in the nip to be nipped and conveyed therein is heated using heat of the rotary member. Accordingly, after insertion of the heating material in the nip starts, control temperature of the heating member is increased before the rotary member rotates by one revolution, thereby preventing an uneven heating phenomenon of the heating material in the first revolution and the second revolution or later, and preventing uneven gloss due to the uneven heating phenomenon in the fixing apparatus.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, includes a heating member; a flexible member movable in contact with the heating member; an elastic roller for forming a nip with the heating member with the flexible member interposed therebetween; wherein a pressure in the nip increases to a maximum peak toward downstream substantially without decreasing with respect to a moving direction of the recording material, wherein the heating member is disposed upstream of the maximum peak portion with respect to the moving direction of the recording material.