Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a first heat generating member that generates heat upon receiving power from a commercial power source, an electrical condenser that stores charge when charged by the commercial power source, and a second heat generating member that generates heat upon receiving power from the electrical condenser. A fixing member is heated by the first and second heat generating members and fixes an image onto a recording medium. A control device is provided to restrict the power supplied from commercial power source to the first heat generating member when the temperature of the fixing member starts increasing. The electrical condenser starts supplying power to the second heat generating member before the control device terminates restriction of the power.

Abstract: Power is supplied from a capacitor of an auxiliary power source to a secondary heating element of a heating unit, thereby preventing temperature drop of a fixing roller at the time of continuous paper delivery. An allowable range for starting discharge from the capacitor is set to, for example, 30 to 40 volts. A discharge time in which the voltage of the capacitor reduces to a termination value, such as 20 volts, is longer than a time necessary for a reading unit to read a maximum number (for example, 100 sheets) of documents that can be read at one time.

Abstract: An energy storage device is disclosed that includes capacitor cells of a first type having a first internal resistance and 0 capacitor cells of a second type having a second internal resistance which is higher than the first internal resistance.

Abstract: A heating device of the invention comprises a heater, a main power supply, and an auxiliary power supply. The heater includes a main heating element which generates heat with power supplied from the main power supply, and an auxiliary heating element which has a resistance different from a resistance of the main heating element and generates heat with power supplied from the auxiliary power supply. The auxiliary power supply is provided to supply to the auxiliary heating element a current that is different from a current supplied from the main power supply to the main heating element.

Abstract: A heating device heats, by electromagnetic induction heating, a heating member disposed in a fixing device for use in an image forming apparatus. The fixing device heats and fixes an image on a recording material while nipping and transporting the recording material. The heating device includes an exciting coil that is disposed along the heating member and generates an alternating magnetic flux to heat the heating member by electromagnetic induction heating, a demagnetizing coil that encircles part of the alternating magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil and generates an electro motive force in a direction that cancels the alternating magnetic flux, and a demagnetizing regulator that is provided in a demagnetizing circuit including the demagnetizing coil and adjusts a current to be generated in the demagnetizing coil.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a heating part that heats the fixing member to fix an image formed on the recording material by heat, a storage unit that is charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part, and a control unit that controls the external power source to supply power to the heating part and determines whether to start to supply power to the heating part from the storage unit. The control unit controls the external power source to charge the storage unit during a period from when power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is completed at the time of warming-up the fixing member by the heating part until when the power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is started.

Abstract: A fixing unit thermally fixes a toner on a recording medium by a fixing member having a plurality of internal heaters and an outer peripheral surface, and a temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of the fixing member at a temperature detecting position. At least one first heater, of the heaters, receives power from a first power supply, and remaining second heaters receive power from a second power supply. One of the second heaters closest to the temperature detecting position is the same distance from the temperature detecting position as or is closer to the temperature detecting position than a first heater which is closest to the temperature detecting position.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material includes a fixing member and a pressing member which are rotatable to pass the recording material having an image through their nip part, a heating part that heats the fixing member, a storage unit that is charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part, and a control unit that controls the external power source and the storage unit to supply power to the heating part without rotating the fixing member and pressing member at a time of warming-up the fixing member by the heating part in a first case. The control unit further controls the external power source to supply power to the heating part and controls the storage unit so as not to supply power to the heating part while rotating the fixing member and the pressing member in a second case.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material includes a fixing member disposed on a recording material conveyance path, a heating part configured to heat the fixing member to fix the image formed on the recording material by heat, and a storage unit configured to be charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part. The fixing device further includes a local ambient temperature detecting unit configured to detect a local ambient temperature in the vicinity of the fixing member, and a control unit configured to change a supply of power from the storage unit to the heating part based on the local ambient temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a heating part that heats the fixing member to fix an image formed on the recording material by heat, a storage unit that is charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part, and a control unit that controls the external power source to supply power to the heating part and determines whether to start to supply power to the heating part from the storage unit. The control unit controls the external power source to charge the storage unit during a period from when power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is completed at the time of warming-up the fixing member by the heating part until when the power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is started.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material includes first and second rotary members having a nip part therebetween, a heating part that heats the first rotary member, a center portion temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of a center portion of the first rotary member, and an end portion temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of an end portion of the first rotary member. When recording materials each having a relatively large width consecutively pass through the nip part, a control unit controls a heating amount of a full width heating member based on the temperature detected by the center portion temperature detecting unit, and when recording materials each having a relatively small width consecutively pass through the nip part, the control unit controls the heating amount of the full width heating member based on the temperature detected by the end portion temperature detecting unit.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing member configured to fix an image formed on the recording material, a heating part that heats the fixing member, a storage unit that is charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part, and a control unit that controls the storage unit so as not to supply power to the heating part during a warming-up period from when a power switch of the image forming apparatus switches on to when the image forming apparatus becomes ready to start an image forming operation and that controls the external power source and the storage unit to supply power to the heating part during a returning period from when an off-mode is completed to when the image forming apparatus becomes ready to start the image forming operation.

Abstract: Power is supplied from a capacitor of an auxiliary power source to a secondary heating element of a heating unit, thereby preventing temperature drop of a fixing roller at the time of continuous paper delivery. An allowable range for starting discharge from the capacitor is set to, for example, 30 to 40 volts. A discharge time in which the voltage of the capacitor reduces to a termination value, such as 20 volts, is longer than a time necessary for a reading unit to read a maximum number (for example, 100 sheets) of documents that can be read at one time.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus is disclosed. The image formation apparatus includes a manuscript reading unit for reading a manuscript, a main power supply for supplying electric power to an alternating-current load and a direct-current load, and an auxiliary power supply that is capable of storing electric power for supplying electric power to the direct-current load. Power supply to the direct-current load is switched between the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply when reading the manuscript is not being carried out.

Abstract: A power supply device includes a first power-supply unit to input external power and to output first power supplying a predetermined constant voltage to a load, a second power-supply unit to accumulate charge and to output second power to the load in parallel with the first power being supplied from the first power-supply unit, and a controller to output a control signal to prevent the second power-supply unit from supplying power in case of a current increase due to a dynamic load change, and to cause the first power-supply unit to supply power for the dynamic current increase. The first power-supply unit supplies power having a current value smaller than a predetermined maximum current of the first power-supply unit. The second power-supply unit supplies power for a shortfall current exceeding the predetermined maximum current of the first power-supply unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main power unit that outputs a first DC power and an auxiliary power unit that outputs a second DC power to the components of the image forming apparatus. The auxiliary power unit includes a rechargeable capacitor. A measuring unit measures performance of the capacitor and a determining unit determines performance insufficiency of the capacitor based on the measured performance and the system configuration of the image forming apparatus. The performance is, for example, changes in a capacitance of the capacitor with time. When the determining unit determines performance insufficiency of the capacitor, a control unit adjusts, for example, a use range of the capacitor.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heating roller that is heated by heating units, a main power supply that supplies power from an external power supply to the main heating unit, and an auxiliary power supply that supplies power to the auxiliary heating unit. The auxiliary power supply further includes a mass capacitor of multiple capacitor cells, which are charged by the external power supply. The connection mode of the capacitor cells is changed at least at the time of electric discharge.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heating roller that is heated by heating units, a main power supply that supplies power from an external power supply to the main heating unit, and an auxiliary power supply that supplies power to the auxiliary heating unit. The auxiliary power supply further includes a mass capacitor of multiple capacitor cells, which are charged by the external power supply. The connection mode of the capacitor cells is changed at least at the time of electric discharge.

Abstract: Power is supplied from a capacitor of an auxiliary power source to a secondary heating element of a heating unit, thereby preventing temperature drop of a fixing roller at the time of continuous paper delivery. An allowable range for starting discharge from the capacitor is set to, for example, 30 to 40 volts. A discharge time in which the voltage of the capacitor reduces to a termination value, such as 20 volts, is longer than a time necessary for a reading unit to read a maximum number (for example, 100 sheets) of documents that can be read at one time.

Abstract: A heating device of the invention comprises a heater, a main power supply, and an auxiliary power supply. The heater includes a main heating element which generates heat with power supplied from the main power supply, and an auxiliary heating element which has a resistance different from a resistance of the main heating element and generates heat with power supplied from the auxiliary power supply. The auxiliary power supply is provided to supply to the auxiliary heating element a current that is different from a current supplied from the main power supply to the main heating element.