Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a flexible belt having a heat generating layer, an outer ring provided on one edge side of the belt and along an outer peripheral surface of the belt, the outer ring being electrically connected to the heat generating layer, an inner ring provided on the one edge side of the belt and along an inner peripheral surface of the belt to face the outer ring through the belt, and a power supply unit that is electrically connected to the outer ring and that feeds power. A difference obtained by subtracting a diameter of the inner ring at a normal temperature from a diameter of the inner ring at a fixing temperature is equivalent to or larger than a difference obtained by subtracting a diameter of the outer ring at the normal temperature from a diameter of the outer ring at the fixing temperature.

Abstract: An image heating device includes a fixing belt (100) including a heat generating layer (102); a pressure roller (110) configured to rotationally drive the fixing belt; a power feed ring (119) disposed at one end of the fixing belt in a longitudinal direction and extending along an outer periphery of the fixing belt, the power feed ring being electrically connected to the heat generating layer; a brush (81) configured to be brought into contact with an outer periphery of the power feed ring and electrically connected to the power feed ring; a power supply circuit (79) configured to feed power to the brush; and a leaf spring (82) configured to elastically press the brush toward the power feed ring, the leaf spring being configured to come into contact with the power feed ring when the brush wears by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating belt having a heat generating layer configured to generate heat by energization, a pressing roller configured to abut on an outer peripheral surface of the heating belt to form a nip portion, a pressing mechanism configured to press the heating belt against the pressing roller, an outer ring electrically connected to the heating belt in an end portion of the heating belt, a power feed member configured to abut on the outer ring to feed power to the outer ring, and an inner ring configured to clamp the end portion of the heating belt between the inner ring and the outer ring. A chamfered portion of the inner ring is chamfered.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a flexible belt having a heat generating layer, an outer ring provided on one edge side of the belt and along an outer peripheral surface of the belt, the outer ring being electrically connected to the heat generating layer, an inner ring provided on the one edge side of the belt and along an inner peripheral surface of the belt to face the outer ring through the belt, and a power supply unit that is electrically connected to the outer ring and that feeds power. A difference obtained by subtracting a diameter of the inner ring at a normal temperature from a diameter of the inner ring at a fixing temperature is equivalent to or larger than a difference obtained by subtracting a diameter of the outer ring at the normal temperature from a diameter of the outer ring at the fixing temperature.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating belt having a heat generating layer configured to generate heat by energization, a pressing roller configured to abut on an outer peripheral surface of the heating belt to form a nip portion, a pressing mechanism configured to press the heating belt against the pressing roller, an outer ring electrically connected to the heating belt in an end portion of the heating belt, a power feed member configured to abut on the outer ring to feed power to the outer ring, and an inner ring configured to clamp the end portion of the heating belt between the inner ring and the outer ring. A chamfered portion of the inner ring is chamfered.

Abstract: A fixing belt includes a cylindrical base composed of a metal and a polyimide resin layer formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical base, in which the polyimide resin layer has an imidization rate of 70% to 93%, and comprises a polyimide resin containing a specific constitutional unit.

Abstract: A fixing belt includes a cylindrical base composed of a metal and a polyimide resin layer formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical base, in which the polyimide resin layer has an imidization rate of 70% to 93%, and comprises a polyimide resin containing a specific constitutional unit.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including a light source for illuminating an original, a white member which is illuminated by the light emitted from the light source, a photoelectric converting element for receiving the reflection light from the original and the reflection light from the white member, a memory for storing a reference output of the photoelectric converting element which is obtained by receiving the reflection light from the white member, a shading compensation device for compensating an output of the photoelectric converting element which is obtained by receiving the reflection light from the original in accordance with the reference output, and a rewriting device for rewriting the reference output to be stored in the memory, wherein the rewriting device rewrites the reference output at a timing according to a fluctuation in light amount of the light source.

Abstract: The states of plural image output apparatuses are sensed. Then, an image output apparatus, which will supply image data, is selected according to a size of an image output job on the basis of image data and the states of the image output apparatuses in such a manner as to reduce an electric power consumption required for outputting images.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit for forming a non-fixed toner image on a recording material, a heater for heating the non-fixed toner image, a back-up member for cooperating with the heater to form a nip therebetween, the back-up member pinching and conveying the recording material at the nip in such a manner that the non-fixed toner image is contacted with the heater so that the non-fixed toner image is fixed to the recording material by heat from the heater, and a cleaning member for cleaning the back-up member. The cleaning member is brought into a first and second cleaning mode in which an image forming operation is not effected and the back-up member is cleaned, the second cleaning mode having a cleaning time longer than a cleaning time of the first cleaning mode.

Abstract: Imaging forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image formation unit for forming an image on the image bearing member, and a detection unit for detecting a voltage-current characteristic between the image bearing member and the charging member. The image formation unit has a charging member contactable to the image bearing member to charge the image bearing member. An image formation condition for the image bearing member is determined on the basis of a plurality of detection operations of the detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device for forming an unfixed image on a recording material; a heater; and a film movable with the recording material carrying the unfixed image, the heater heats the unfixed image through the film and a control unit controls the fixing conditions in accordance with the thermal property of the film.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating member; an endless belt for transferring the heat generated by the heating member to an image on a recording material; a driver for driving the endless belt; a driver controlling device for controlling the driver; a detector for detecting a position of the endless belt when the endless belt shifts out of a predetermined range; such that the driver controlling device interrupts driving operation of the driver in response to an output of the detector, and afterward, automatically restarts the driving operation of the driver.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heater which is stationary in use; a film in sliding contact with the heater; a pressing member cooperative with the film to form a nip therebetween; wherein the heater is provided with a portion which is stepped in a direction away from the film toward downstream with respect to a movement direction of the film, the stepped portion being in a width of the nip.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a heater; a film movable while being in contact with a recording material carrying a toner image, wherein the toner image is heated by heat from the heater through the film; wherein the film and the recording material are separated when a temperature of the toner image is lower than a maximum temperature provided by the heater and is higher than a glass transition point of the toner.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a heater; a film movable with a recording material, in which the recording material has a visualized image which is heated through the film by heat from the heater; and the film has a heat resistive resin base layer containing inorganic electrically insulative filler material and a parting layer containing electrically conductive filler material.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater having a heating surface; a base member for supporting said heater, said base member having an edge; a holder for supporting said base member; a film movable with a recording material in sliding contact with the heating surface; wherein said holder has a rounded projection for preventing contact of said film with the edge.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heater; a film movable in contact with a recording material carrying an image, wherein the image is heated from the heater through the film; the film having an insulative heat resistive resin base layer at a side near the heater and a parting layer containing conductive material at a side near the recording material; a conductive member contacted or close to the base layer of the film; and a potential maintaining device for maintaining substantially the same potential of the parting layer and the conductive member.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for heating a visualized image on a recording material includes a stationary heater; a film in sliding contact with the heater, wherein the recording material has a visualized image which is heated through the film by heat from the heater; wherein the film comprises plural layers each having a volume resistivity of not more than 10.sup.11 ohm.cm; and a device for maintaining a potential of one of the layers contactable with the film substantially at a predetermined level.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a heater which is stationary in use; a film for sliding contact with the heater and movable together with a recording material, wherein the recording material has a visualized image, which is heated through the film by heat from the heater; and wherein that surface of the film for sliding contact with the heater has a surface roughness of 0.5-7 microns at least in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction of the film.