Abstract: A nip forming device includes an endless film and a pressure rotator that presses against a heater via the endless film. A driver drives and rotates the pressure rotator to cause the pressure rotator to drive and rotate the endless film. A controller controls the driver to drive and rotate the pressure rotator, based on a temperature of the pressure rotator, that is detected by a detector, in a forward direction to convey a conveyed object and to interrupt forward rotation of the pressure rotator. In response to a determination that the temperature of the pressure rotator is higher than a predetermined temperature when a job of the nip forming device is finished, the controller controls the driver to drive and rotate the pressure rotator for a predetermined time in a backward direction opposite to the forward direction and to interrupt backward rotation of the pressure rotator.

Abstract: An automatic assembly tool can be used to perform placement of a conductive wire material that passes through a plurality of surfaces in a power feed path unit, thus enabling reduced costs and improved assembly productivity for the power feed path unit.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heating roller that includes a resistance heating layer, a bearing that supports the heating roller to allow the heating roller to be rotatable, and a connection power feeder that is mounted on an end portion of the heating roller, is connected to the resistance heating layer, and feeds power to the resistance heating layer, in which the connection power feeder includes an annular frame that is disposed to be concentric with the heating roller and is conductively connected to the resistance heating layer, a power feed shaft of which a portion is disposed in the frame and which feeds power, and plural rolling bodies that roll while being in conductive contact with an inner peripheral surface of the frame and an outer peripheral surface of the power feed shaft, and the bearing is mounted on a portion of the end portion of the heating roller that is closer to an inside than the connection power feeder in an axial direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing rotator, a temperature detector, a pressure rotator, a nip formation pad, and a plurality of heaters. The temperature detector detects a temperature of the fixing rotator. The pressure rotator is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The nip formation pad is disposed inside a loop of the fixing rotator to form a nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The plurality of heaters heat an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator and includes a first heater and a second heater. The first heater uniformly generates heat in a longitudinal direction of the fixing rotator and independently receives power. The second heater generates different heat generation amounts at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the fixing rotator and receives power together with the first heater.

Abstract: An image forming method comprising a fixing step of fixing a toner image to a recording material while nipping and conveying the recording material, on which the toner image has been formed, by a fixing nip portion, wherein the toner comprises a toner particle comprising a toner base particle and an organosilicon polymer on a surface thereof, the organosilicon polymer has a structure represented by R—SiO3/2, where R is an C1 to C6 alkyl group or a phenyl group, the organosilicon polymer has convex portions formed on an outer surface thereof, and the convex portions satisfy specific relationships, and a contact pressure ? (MPa) of the pressure member and the fixing film and a storage elastic modulus G (MPa) of the toner at a temperature of a surface of the fixing film when the recording material is nipped and conveyed by the fixing nip portion satisfy specific relationships.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus to fix a toner image formed on a recording material to the recording material includes a rotatable member having a heat generation layer, a power supply circuit, and a control unit. The power supply circuit supplies electrical power to the rotatable member. The control unit controls supply of electrical power to the rotatable member and detects a change rate of electrical resistance of the heat generation layer. The heat generation layer generates heat by the electrical power supplied to the rotatable member, and the toner image on the recording material is fixed to the recording material by the heat from the heat generation layer. If the change rate of the electrical resistance to the supplied electrical power is higher than a predetermined threshold, the control unit stops the supply of electrical power to the rotatable member.

Abstract: An electrothermal heating device for heating a print medium includes an endless belt, a first electrode and a second electrode. The endless belt rotates in a rotational direction about a rotation axis that defines an axial direction, so as to generate heat when the endless belt rotates and is supplied with power. The endless belt includes a base portion made of a nanocomposite material having a carbon filler. The first and second electrodes are in contact with the base portion of the endless belt. The first and second electrodes extend in the axial direction of the endless belt, and are spaced apart in the rotational direction of the endless belt. A volume resistivity of the base portion of the endless belt in the rotational direction is less than a volume resistivity of the base portion in the axial direction.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a fixing belt, and a heater configured to heat the fixing belt and including a substrate and a heating layer that is formed on the substrate, and a controller configured to, upon detecting an absence of a current flowing through the fixing belt, control the heater to not generate heat.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a temperature sensing circuit to which a temperature sensing element is electrically connected, wherein a surface of a heater on a side where the temperature sensing element is provided is in contact with the inner surface of a film, a heating element is provided in a primary side circuit which is electrically connected to a commercial power supply, and the temperature sensing circuit is electrically insulated from both of the primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit which is electrically insulated from the primary side circuit.

Abstract: A heating device for heating a medium on which an image can be formed includes a cylindrical belt, a first heating unit, and a second heating unit. The first and second heating units are inside the cylindrical belt and face an inner circumferential surface of the belt. A controller is configured to control the heating units to generate heat. When the medium is to be heated to reach an image fixing temperature at which the image can be fixed to the medium, the controller controls the first and second heating units to both generate heat. After the medium is heated to the image fixing temperature, the controllers control the first heating unit to generate heat, but not the second heating unit.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a motor that drives a fixing device; and a controller. The motor outputs a signal corresponding to a driving current value of the motor. The controller performs a first operation where a magnitude value of the signal has fallen out of a first range while driving the motor in a first operation mode. The controller performs a second operation where the magnitude value of the signal has fallen out of a second range while driving the motor in a second operation mode.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a heating device includes a fixing belt configured to be rotated and a pressure roller configured to abut against the fixing belt and be driven to cause the fixing belt to rotate. A heater is configured to heat the fixing belt. A motor is configured to drive the pressure roller to rotate. A current sensor is configured to measure a driving current of the motor. A controller is configured to stop the heater based on the measured driving current.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a power supply unit configured to generate a DC voltage from an AC voltage and supply the DC voltage to a load, the image forming apparatus configured to perform image formation on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including a first control unit configured to control the image formation on the recording material, the power supply unit including a second control unit configured to control a voltage generation unit that generates the DC voltage from the AC voltage input from an AC power supply, a zero-crossing detection unit configured to detect a zero-crossing timing of the AC voltage according to the AC voltage input, and to output a zero-crossing detection signal, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the zero-crossing detection signal output from the zero-crossing detection unit to the first control unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a pressurization member rotated by a motor in a direction of transportation in the fixing apparatus, of the recording material downstream in a transportation path, a fixing belt that forms, as being opposed to the pressurization member, a nip region where an unfixed image is fixed, the fixing belt being rotated as following rotation of the pressurization member, a support member that is arranged on an inner side of the fixing belt and slidably supports the fixing belt at a position opposed to the pressurization member against a pressure applied by the pressurization member, and a control unit that obtains torque at the time when the motor is driven each time a predetermined condition is satisfied, and determines that the fixing apparatus has reached the end of its life based on variation over time in obtained torque turning from increase to decrease.

Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a voltage measuring device, a fixing device, and a controller. The voltage measuring device measures an input voltage. The fixing device includes a heater that heats a sheet. When the measured voltage becomes equal to or greater than a threshold value, the controller determines a heating timing of the heater based on the voltage and activates the heater at the determined heating timing.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a heating device includes a fixing belt configured to be rotated and a pressure roller configured to abut against the fixing belt and be driven to cause the fixing belt to rotate. A heater is configured to heat the fixing belt. A motor is configured to drive the pressure roller to rotate. A current sensor is configured to measure a driving current of the motor. A controller is configured to stop the heater based on the measured driving current.

Abstract: An electronic control device including a first power supply path that supplies power from a battery for in-vehicle use through an electric power supply terminal, to a load; a first disconnecting part in the first power supply path and performs connection/cutoff of the first power supply path; a second power supply path that supplies power from the battery for in-vehicle use, to a control part that controls the first disconnecting part, through a control power supply terminal and a power supply IC; a third power supply path that supplies power from the control power supply terminal, to a connecting point between the first disconnecting part and the load in the first power supply path from a point between the control power supply terminal and the power supply IC in the second power supply path; a second disconnecting part that is provided in the third power supply path and performs connection/cutoff of the third power supply path; and a detecting part that detects a voltage in the first power supply path.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a roller having a rotation axis, and a belt unit that conveys a sheet in combination with the roller. The belt unit includes an endless belt, a nip forming member that forms a nip in combination with the roller, and an upstream belt guide. The fixing device further includes a chute having a guide surface configured to guide the sheet toward the nip. In a section orthogonal to the rotation axis, a line segment connecting a downstream end of the guide surface and an upstream end of the nip does not intersect the upstream belt guide, and an extended line extended from the downstream end of the guide surface along the guide surface toward the roller intersects a surface of the roller at a position upstream of an upstream end of the nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a film-shaped cylindrical body, a heating body unit, a first member, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The cylindrical body has a sheet-passing region coming into contact with the sheet to fix the image to the sheet moving in a first direction. The cylindrical body is broader than the sheet-passing region in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The heating body unit includes a heating body and comes into contact with a first surface inside the cylindrical body. The first member is disposed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the heating body. The first member has an outer end disposed outside an outer end of the sheet-passing region in the second direction. The control unit allows the heating body to generate heat inside the outer end of the sheet-passing region in the second region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heating member, a temperature sensor to output detection values for determining a temperature of the heating member, a first amplifier to amplify a difference value between the detection values with a first amplification factor, a second amplifier to amplify the difference value with a second amplification factor, a converter to generate first temperature information through analog-to-digital conversion of the difference value amplified by the first amplifier, generate second temperature information through analog-to-digital conversion of the difference value amplified by the second amplifier, and generate compensation temperature information, and a temperature determiner to determine the temperature of the heating member based on the second temperature information and the compensation temperature information, in a particular temperature range, and determine the temperature of the heating member based on the first temperature information and the compensation temperature i

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a heater and a fixing belt. The fixing belt is electrically connected between a first power source and a ground terminal. A controller is configured to control the heater to heat the fixing belt. The controller is further configured to determine whether a current is flowing through the fixing belt and, upon determining that a current is not flowing through the fixing belt, control the heater not to heat the fixing belt.

Abstract: A wiring holder includes a first member and a second member attached to the first member. The first member and the second member are configured to hold an electric wire. At least one of the first member and the second member includes a connector cover portion configured to cover a connector at one end of the electric wire.

Abstract: A printing device containing a heating apparatus that heats an image substrate, a temperature sensor associated with the image substrate and a processor communicatively coupled to the heating apparatus. The processor determines the heating power of the heating apparatus, compares the heating power to a predetermined power range, determines a status of the temperature sensor when the heating power is outside the predetermined power range, and triggers a response mode of the printing device based on the determined status of the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A thermal fixing apparatus, including a rotatable first member; a heater heating the first member; a rotatable second member forming a nip portion with the first member; and a pressurizing member disposed inside the first member, and having a contact surface with an inner surface of the first member. The pressurizing member includes a surface layer constituting the contact surface, and the surface layer comprises a diamond-like carbon film containing a hydrogen atom (H), a carbon atom (C) and a silicon atom (Si). 100×(H)/((H)+(C)) is 5 or less. 100×(Si)/((Si)+(C)) is 1 to 20. Between the contact surface and an inner circumferential surface of the first member, an oil film containing a fluorinated oil and a silicone oil is present.

Abstract: In one example of the disclosure, a first sensor located adjacent to a first end of the blanket drum is utilized to take a first temperature reading. A second sensor located adjacent to a second end of the blanket drum is utilized to take a second temperature reading. A blanket creep condition is identified responsive to determining a difference in blanket drum temperatures is in excess of a predetermined threshold. A remedial measure is caused to be performed to address the blanket creep condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to bear a non-fixed toner image, a transfer portion configured to transfer the non-fixed toner image onto a sheet at a transfer nip, a fixing portion including a first rotary member, a second rotary member and a heating portion configured to heat the first rotary member, a control portion configured to execute a nip image forming process of forming a nip image, on the sheet, corresponding to a shape of the fixing nip, and a reading unit configured to read the nip image, wherein the control portion sets the heating portion to a first temperature in a case where the non-fixed toner image passes through the fixing nip and sets the heating portion to a second temperature which is lower than the first temperature in a case where the nip image passes through the fixing nip.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a heater, a fixing member, a press roller, a sensor, a processor, and a memory. The fixing member is heated by heat generated by the heater. The press roller forms a nip portion through which a medium having a fixing target material transferred thereto passes, between the press roller and the fixing member. The sensor measures a temperature of the fixing member. The processor controls the temperature of the fixing member so as to be a target value by acquiring the temperature detected by the sensor in a first period, and also acquires the temperature detected by the sensor in a second period shorter than the first period. The memory records the temperature acquired in the second period.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit having a first rotating member and a second rotating member, and includes a first motor, a second motor, a drive transmission unit that operates in a first state and in a second state, and an adjustment member that adjusts a shaft-to-shaft distance and moves between a first position and a second position. In a state where a driving force of the second motor is not transmitted to the adjustment member located at the second position, the adjustment member maintains the shaft-to-shaft distance at a second distance that is shorter than a first distance. In a state where the drive transmission unit operates in the first state and the shaft-to-shaft distance is maintained at the second distance by the adjustment member located at the second position, the first rotating member is driven by both the first and second motors.

Abstract: A fixing device is drawn from an image forming apparatus in a drawing direction. The fixing device includes a first unit, a second unit coupled with the first unit, and a third unit coupled with the second unit. A fastener releases coupling between at least two of the first unit, the second unit, and the third unit. An exterior cover is disposed at a front of the image forming apparatus in the drawing direction. The exterior cover includes a slot disposed opposite the fastener.

Abstract: A sensor unit (12) includes a thermistor (21) and a connector (22). A protection unit (13) includes a thermal cutoff (31) and a connector (32). First and second intermediate connector units (14-1, 14-2) electrically connects the connectors (22, 32) and an external connection connector (11) to each other, respectively. An intermediate wire (53) electrically connects the first and second intermediate connector units (14-1, 14-2) to each other. The first intermediate connector unit (14-1) electrically connects an end of a loopback wire (23) of the connector (22) to the external connection connector (11), the second intermediate connector unit (14-2) connects an end of the thermal cutoff (31) to the external connection connector (11), the intermediate wire (53) electrically connects an other end of the loopback wire (23) and an other end of the thermal cutoff (31) to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and a processor. The fixing device has a heat generating element, a fixing belt which moves along a surface of the heat generating element while an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt makes contact with the heat generating element, a rotatable body configured to be pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt, and a lubricant which is applied to and in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt. The processor is configured to acquire a physical quantity which changes in accordance with a magnitude of a torque that is applied to rotate the rotatable body, and cause the rotatable body to execute a predetermined operation to adjust a gap between the heat generating element and the fixing belt, based on the physical quantity acquired while the fixing device is carrying out image formation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a heater and a fixing belt. The fixing belt is electrically connected between a first power source and a ground terminal. A controller is configured to control the heater to heat the fixing belt. The controller is further configured to determine whether a current is flowing through the fixing belt and, upon determining that a current is not flowing through the fixing belt, control the heater not to heat the fixing belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image forming portion that forms an image on a recording material based on image data; a fixing portion that includes a heater having a plurality of heat generating members arranged in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of a recording material, and that fixes the image to the recording material using heat of the heater; a storage portion that stores history information on the recording material when image forming operation is performed in which the image forming portion forms the image and the fixing portion fixes the image, a control portion that sets power to be supplied to the heat generating members based on the history information before a type of the recording material on which the image is formed or content of the image data of the image to be formed on the recording material is determined.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heater including a heating element, a driving unit that supplies electrical power to the heating element, and a plurality of temperature detection portions, each detecting a temperature of the heater, and being disposed on a first circuit. A control unit controls the driving unit based on the temperatures detected by the plurality of temperature detection portions, the control unit being disposed on a second circuit, which is isolated from the first circuit. A plurality of abnormality detection circuit portions output signals corresponding to the temperatures detected by the plurality of temperature detection portions, and are disposed on the first circuits. In addition, an abnormality transmission circuit portion transmits a signal indicating an abnormality in the heater to the control unit based on the signals output by the abnormality detection circuit portions.

Abstract: A power supply device is connectable to a commercial power supply to output power to a supply destination device. The power supply device includes a filter circuit and a switching unit. The filter circuit includes a capacitor unit. The switching unit is configured to switch a capacitor capacity of the capacitor unit.

Abstract: A power supply device includes a first circuit, a second circuit and a second detector. The first circuit includes an adjustment unit, a first controller which controls the adjustment unit, a first detector which detects a parameter about electric power supplied to a load, a first communication unit. The second circuit includes a second communication unit which performs wireless communication with the first communication unit and a second controller. The second detector detects a temperature of the load. The first controller is operated by electric power supplied thereto by a voltage output to the second communication unit. The first communication unit transmits information about a result of detection by the first detector to the second communication unit. The second controller controls the first controller via the first communication unit and the second communication unit based on the information.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a heater, a fixing member, a press roller, a sensor, a processor, and a memory. The fixing member is heated by heat generated by the heater. The press roller forms a nip portion through which a medium having a fixing target material transferred thereto passes, between the press roller and the fixing member. The sensor measures a temperature of the fixing member. The processor controls the temperature of the fixing member so as to be a target value by acquiring the temperature detected by the sensor in a first period, and also acquires the temperature detected by the sensor in a second period shorter than the first period. The memory records the temperature acquired in the second period.

Abstract: An infrared temperature sensor includes a sensor case, a heat conversion film configured to absorb infrared rays and to convert the infrared rays into heat, a sensor cover that is disposed to face the sensor case through the heat conversion film, and an infrared detection element and a temperature compensation element that are disposed on the heat conversion film. The sensor case includes a case base portion that includes a front surface and a rear surface, a light guiding region that is provided to penetrate through the front surface and the rear surface of the case base portion, and a light shielded region that is provided inside a light shielding dome erected from the front surface side of the case base portion.

Abstract: The fixing device includes a film that is heated by a heater having at least two heat generation members, a pressure roller that forms a fixing nip portion together with the film, a heat generation member switching device that switches a power supply path for supplying power to the at least two heat generation members; and a CPU that controls the heat generation member switching device. In continuous printing on small-size sheets, the CPU causes, while a small-size sheet is held in the fixing nip portion N, the heat generation member switching device to start the operation of switching the power supply path so that power is supplied to one of the at least two heat generation members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet, and includes: a rotator used to form the image; a motor that drives the rotator rotationally; a current measurer that measures motor current flowing through a current-carrying path including a winding of the motor, at measurement timing that is timing after the motor starts up; a torque acquirer that acquires a torque value of the motor based on a measured value of the motor current; and a corrector that performs correction for cancellation of an amount of error based on one or both of a variation in characteristic corresponding to motor speed of the motor and a variation in characteristic corresponding to the motor current at the measurement timing, at the acquisition of the torque value by the torque acquirer.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a temperature sensing circuit to which a temperature sensing element is electrically connected, wherein a surface of a heater on a side where the temperature sensing element is provided is in contact with the inner surface of a film, a heating element is provided in a primary side circuit which is electrically connected to a commercial power supply, and the temperature sensing circuit is electrically insulated from both of the primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit which is electrically insulated from the primary side circuit.

Abstract: The power supply apparatus includes a circuit board on which mounted are a transformer, a switching element connected in series with a primary winding of the transformer, a rectification element connected with a secondary winding of the transformer, a detection unit detecting a temperature of the rectification element when the transformer is supplied with power by a switching operation of the switching element, and a resistance element connected in parallel with the rectification element. The resistance element is mounted at a predetermined mounting section among a plurality of mounting sections on the circuit board.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, an image heating apparatus including an image heating unit, a rotatable pressing roller, and an information storing portion; a reading portion; a counter portion; a display portion; and a controller. The controller controls the counter portion so that a) when the image heating apparatus mounted is exchanged with an image heating apparatus including a new image heating unit, on the basis of information of the information storing portion, the count value of the image heating apparatus, the count value of the image heating unit and the count value of the rotatable pressing member are reset, and b) when only the image heating unit mounted is exchanged with a new one, the count value of the image heating unit is reset and the count value of the rotatable pressing member is not reset.

Abstract: An energization controlling portion selectively controls energization of a plurality of heat generating elements so that electric power to be supplied to the heat generating elements to heat a non-image heating region, through which an image formed on a recording material does not pass, among a plurality of heating regions of an image heating portion, is smaller than electric power to be supplied to the heat generating elements to heat an image heating region, through which the image passes, among the plurality of heating regions. When an abnormality detecting portion detects an abnormality in an image forming apparatus, the energization controlling portion increases the electric power to be supplied to the heat generating elements to heat the non-image heating region.

Abstract: According to embodiments, an image forming apparatus includes a fixation member, a pressurization member, a heat source, a drive unit, a measurement unit, and a control unit. The measurement unit measures the time that elapses after the image forming apparatus ends image forming processing until the image forming apparatus receives an instruction to perform the next image forming processing. If the elapsed time does not exceed a predetermined threshold, the control unit causes the drive unit to start to drive the fixation member after a temperature of the fixation member reaches a first control temperature. If the elapsed time exceeds the predetermined threshold, the control unit causes the drive unit to start to drive the fixation member after the temperature of the fixation member reaches a second control temperature that is higher than the first control temperature.

Abstract: A fixation device performing a fixation process on a medium in conjunction with a pressure roller includes: a fuser heating to a predetermined temperature to perform the fixation process; a temperature sensor senses a temperature of the fuser as time elapses; a controller electrically connected to the fuser and the temperature sensor; and a database connected to the controller and storing heating time data; wherein the controller obtains a heating time period, during which a temperature of the fuser rises from a non-environment temperature to the predetermined temperature, through the temperature sensor, and judges whether the heating time period falls within a qualified range specified by the heating time data. If the heating time period does not fall within the qualified range, then the controller provides an abnormal message, so that the problem of the fixation device can be solved.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a first conveyance unit, an image forming unit, a second conveyance unit, a stacking unit, and a control unit. The control unit controls, in a case where a sheet stacking condition of the stacking unit does not satisfy a predetermined stacking condition, the second conveyance unit to convey the sheet at a second conveyance speed that is faster than the first conveyance speed. The control unit controls, in a case where the sheet stacking condition of the stacking unit satisfies the predetermined stacking condition, the second conveyance unit to convey the sheet at a third conveyance speed that is slower than the second conveyance speed.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to make contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate, and a heat conduction member configured to make contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof being in contact with the film, the heat conduction member having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate, and being divided into parts in a generatrix direction of the film. The toner image formed on the recording material is fixed on the recording material by using heat of the film, and one of the parts of the heat conduction member is configured to make contact with the heater continuously from a center to an end of a heat generation region of the heater in the generatrix direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of types of parts, and forms an image on a sheet using the plurality of parts. The apparatus includes the following. An image former forms the image on the sheet. An image reader reads image data of the sheet on which the image is formed. A hardware processor detects an image abnormality from the read image data, specifies a target part for diagnosis from the plurality of parts based on the detected image abnormality, calculates a deterioration degree of the specified target part, and diagnoses whether the target part is a cause for the detected image abnormality based on the calculated deterioration degree.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming portion, a fixing device, a temperature sensing device, and a control portion. The fixing device has a fixing member having a heated rotary member and a pressing member forming a fixing nip by making contact with the heated rotary member. The temperature sensing device senses the surface temperature of at least one of the heated rotary member and the pressing member in a plurality of regions in the axial direction. The control portion estimates the thickness distribution of the surface layer of at least one of the heated rotary member and the pressing member in the axial direction based on the time taken for the surface temperature in the plurality of regions to reach the predetermined temperature, and thereby estimates the lifetime of at least one of the heated rotary member or the pressing member based on the estimated thickness distribution.