Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, the apparatus including a conveying roller for conveying a recording material, the conveying roller including a metal core and an elastic layer provided outside the metal core, wherein the metal core has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and tapered shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually decreases toward ends in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the elastic layer has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and inverted crown shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually increases toward ends in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image heating apparatus having a flexible sleeve of an excellent durability. To this end, an image heating apparatus according to the present invention includes: a flexible sleeve; a driving roller contacting an external periphery surface of the sleeve and serving to rotate the sleeve; a sliding member contacting an internal periphery surface of the sleeve to form a nip portion in cooperation with the driving roller; and a restricting member for restricting a movement of the sleeve in a generatrix direction of the sleeve, wherein, within an edge face of the sleeve in a mounted state on the apparatus, equally bisected by an imaginary plane substantially parallel to a nip plane of the nip portion into a first area closer to the nip portion and a second area farther from the nip portion, the restricting member executes a restricting action only on the second area.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a temperature sensing part of temperature sensing means is arranged to come into contact with the surface opposite to the image surface of a recording material at the time of one-sided printing without providing such an opposed member that comes into contact with the image surface of the recording material at least in a position corresponding to the position of the temperature sensing part that is in contact with the recording material.

Abstract: In continuous printing operation which repeatedly sets a state in which when a preceding printing material passes through the nip area of a thermal fixing unit, a succeeding printing material has been supplied to an image forming unit and image forming operation has been started, a first temperature indicating an ambient temperature near the thermal fixing unit is measured at an early time point in the continuous printing operation. A second temperature indicating the temperature of the printing material which has passed through the press contact nip portion at a predetermined period of time during the continuous printing operation is measured. The amount of heat to be supplied to the succeeding printing material is controlled on the basis of the measured first and second temperatures.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a flexible sleeve and a regulating member disposed at a position opposed to an end surface of the sleeve for regulating the movement of the sleeve in a generatrix direction thereof, the regulating member having a first surface opposed to the end surface of the sleeve, and a second surface opposed to the inner peripheral surface of the end portion of the sleeve in the generatrix direction thereof, wherein the regulating member is a combination of a first part having the first surface and a second part having the second surface. Thereby, the damage of the end portion of the flexible sleeve can be suppressed.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, the apparatus including a conveying roller for conveying a recording material, the conveying roller including a metal core and an elastic layer provided outside the metal core, wherein the metal core has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and tapered shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually decreases toward ends in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the elastic layer has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and inverted crown shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually increases toward ends in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a flexible sleeve and a regulating member disposed at a position opposed to an end surface of the sleeve for regulating the movement of the sleeve in a generatrix direction thereof, the regulating member having a first surface opposed to the end surface of the sleeve, and a second surface opposed to the inner peripheral surface of the end portion of the sleeve in the generatrix direction thereof, wherein the regulating member is a combination of a first part having the first surface and a second part having the second surface. Thereby, the damage of the end portion of the flexible sleeve can be suppressed.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a movable lever which functions as a recording medium detector for detecting the passage of a recording medium and a temperature detecting portion provided on the movable lever. The temperature of the recording medium is detected without providing an additional space for a sensor for detecting the temperature of the recording medium.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a temperature sensing part of temperature sensing means is arranged to come into contact with the surface opposite to the image surface of a recording material at the time of one-sided printing without providing such an opposed member that comes into contact with the image surface of the recording material at least in a position corresponding to the position of the temperature sensing part that is in contact with the recording material.

Abstract: In continuous printing operation which repeatedly sets a state in which when a preceding printing material passes through the nip area of a thermal fixing unit, a succeeding printing material has been supplied to an image forming unit and image forming operation has been started, a first temperature indicating an ambient temperature near the thermal fixing unit is measured at an early time point in the continuous printing operation. A second temperature indicating the temperature of the printing material which has passed through the press contact nip portion at a predetermined period of time during the continuous printing operation is measured. The amount of heat to be supplied to the succeeding printing material is controlled on the basis of the measured first and second temperatures.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image heating apparatus having a flexible sleeve of an excellent durability. To this end, an image heating apparatus according to the present invention includes: a flexible sleeve; a driving roller contacting an external periphery surface of the sleeve and serving to rotate the sleeve; a sliding member contacting an internal periphery surface of the sleeve to form a nip portion in cooperation with the driving roller; and a restricting member for restricting a movement of the sleeve in a generatrix direction of the sleeve, wherein, within an edge face of the sleeve in a mounted state on the apparatus, equally bisected by an imaginary plane substantially parallel to a nip plane of the nip portion into a first area closer to the nip portion and a second area farther from the nip portion, the restricting member executes a restricting action only on the second area.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable member contactable to a recording material carrying an image; a regulating member for regulating a movement of rotatable member in the direction of a generating line of rotatable member; wherein the regulating member is fixed so as not to rotate and has a surface opposed to an outer surface of an end portion of the rotatable member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable member contactable to a recording material carrying an image; a regulating member for regulating a movement of rotatable member in the direction of a generating line of rotatable member; wherein the regulating member is fixed so as not to rotate and has a surface opposed to an outer surface of an end portion of the rotatable member.