Abstract: An identification apparatus includes a guide member defining a guide path, a scanning portion that scans the sheet inserted in the guide path, a first detection portion disposed upstream of the scanning portion in an insertion direction of the sheet in the guide path that detects presence/absence of the sheet, and a second detection portion disposed downstream of the scanning portion in the insertion direction in the guide path and detects presence/absence of the sheet. The identification apparatus is configured to start measurement of a surface property of the sheet by the scanning portion in response to a change in a detection result of one of the first detection portion or the second detection portion, and complete the measurement in response to a change in a detection result whichever of the first detection portion or the second detection portion not used in determining the start of the measurement.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus forms a test chart on an image bearing member, the test chart including a plurality of test images including a first test image of a first density and a second test image formed at a position different from a position of the first test image in a conveying direction of a recording medium, the second test image having a second density different from the first density. The image forming apparatus transfers the test chart to the recording medium with a transfer roller and controls the rotation velocity of the transfer roller when the recording medium passes through a transfer portion based on a result of reading the test chart on the recording medium with a reading unit.

Abstract: A calculation system includes an obtaining unit and a calculation unit. The obtaining unit obtains information of a sheet. The calculation unit calculates an amount of change in length of the sheet in a conveyance direction of the sheet heated by a heating device to fix a toner image to the sheet based on the information of the sheet obtained by the obtaining unit and an elapsed time from a time when the sheet passes through the heating device.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus including: a pair of inlet rollers; a pair of outlet rollers; a pair of movable rollers disposed between the inlet rollers and the outlet rollers; a moving unit configured to move the movable rollers; a pair of upstream rollers disposed between the inlet rollers and the movable rollers; a pair of downstream rollers disposed between the movable rollers and the outlet rollers; a first conveyance belt passed over a first inlet roller, a first outlet roller, a first movable roller, a first upstream roller, and a first downstream roller; and a second conveyance belt passed over a second inlet roller, a second outlet roller, a second movable roller, a second upstream roller, and a second downstream roller. A diameter of the pair of upstream rollers and a diameter of the pair of downstream rollers are smaller than a diameter of the pair of movable rollers.

Abstract: An air blowing cooling mechanism includes a duct provided with an air blowing port, a fan configured to blow air toward the air blowing port, a first louver portion provided inside the duct, a shutter member, and a second louver portion provided downstream of the shutter member with respect to an air blowing direction of the fan. With respect to the air blowing direction, the fan, the first louver portion, the shutter member, the second louver portion and the rotatable heating member are disposed in a named order.

Abstract: An air blowing cooling mechanism includes a duct, a fan, a first shutter member, a second shutter member, a first drive transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force to the second shutter member, and a second drive transmitting portion for transmitting the driving force from the second shutter member to the first shutter member. The second shutter member is supported by the duct so as to be slidable relative to the duct. The first shutter member is supported by the second shutter member so as to be slidable relative to the second shutter member. The second shutter member includes a slidable portion slidable relative to the first shutter member when said first shutter member slides.

Abstract: An air blowing cooling mechanism includes a duct, a fan, a first shutter member, a second shutter member, a first drive transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force to the second shutter member, and a second drive transmitting portion for transmitting the driving force from the second shutter member to the first shutter member. The second shutter member is supported by the duct so as to be slidable relative to the duct. The first shutter member is supported by the second shutter member so as to be slidable relative to the second shutter member. The second shutter member includes a slidable portion slidable relative to the first shutter member when said first shutter member slides.

Abstract: An air blowing cooling mechanism includes a duct provided with an air blowing port, a fan configured to blow air toward the air blowing port, a first louver portion provided inside the duct, a shutter member, and a second louver portion provided downstream of the shutter member with respect to an air blowing direction of the fan. With respect to the air blowing direction, the fan, the first louver portion, the shutter member, the second louver portion and the rotatable heating member are disposed in a named order.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station for forming a toner image on a sheet; a heating member and a pressing roller that form a nip for fixing the toner image on a sheet; a heat absorption roller for absorbing heat by contacting the pressing roller; a moving mechanism for moving the heat absorption roller to and away from the pressing roller; a detector for detecting an abnormal state that heat absorption roller remains contacted the pressing roller; and a controller for controlling an interval between adjacent sheets when image forming operation is continuously carried out for a plurality of sheets, wherein when the detector does not detect the abnormal state, the controller supplies the sheets at a first feeding interval, and, when the detector detects the abnormal state, the controller supplies of the sheets at a second feeding interval longer than the first interval.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station for forming a toner image on a sheet; a heating roller and a pressing roller which form a nip for fixing the toner image on the sheet; a heat absorption roller for absorbing heat by contacting the pressing roller; a moving mechanism for moving the heat absorption roller to and away from the pressing roller; a detector for detecting an abnormal state that heat absorption roller remains contacted the pressing roller; and a controller for controlling an interval between adjacent sheets when image forming operation is continuously carried out for a plurality of sheets, wherein when the detector does not detect the abnormal state, the controller supplies the sheets at a first feeding interval, and when the detector detects the abnormal state, the controller supplies of the sheets at a second feeding interval longer than the first interval.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit including a first roller and a second roller which form a nip to fix a toner image on a sheet, the fixing unit being capable of fixing the toner image on a maximum width sheet and a small width sheet; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the fixing unit in a widthwise direction; and an operating device for operating the reciprocating mechanism, wherein the operating device operates the reciprocating mechanism for a fixing operation on the small width sheet, and the operating device does not operate the reciprocating mechanism for the fixing operation on the maximum width sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing device including rollers which form a nip therebetween to fix a toner image on a sheet; a supporting mechanism for movably supporting the fixing unit; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the fixing unit relative to the supporting mechanism in a longitudinal direction thereof; an electric connector provided on the supporting mechanism; and a wire connecting between the electric energy supply connector and the fixing unit and having an enough length to permit reciprocation of the fixing unit.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a rotatable heating member for heating a toner image formed on a recording material by using a toner containing a parting agent; an exciting coil for causing the rotatable heating member to generate heat by electromagnetic induction heating; a magnetic flux suppressing member for suppressing a part of magnetic flux acting from the exciting coil onto the rotatable heating member; a moving mechanism for moving the magnetic flux suppressing member depending on a width size of the recording material; a motor for operating the moving mechanism; and an executing portion capable of selectively executing an operation in a first mode in which a first current is supplied to the motor and an operation in a second mode in which a second current larger than the first current is supplied to the motor.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heating member; an exciting coil; a magnetic core including a first engaging portion in the neighborhood of an end thereof and a second engaging portion in the neighborhood of another end thereof; a holder including a first recess into which the first engaging portion is inserted and a second recess into which the second engaging portion is inserted; and an elastic member fixed on the holder so as to be located between the magnetic core and the holder. The elastic member urges the first engaging portion, inserted into the first recess, in a direction perpendicular to an inserting direction so that a position of the second engaging portion is determined by the second recess.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing device including rollers which form a nip therebetween to fix a toner image on a sheet; a reciprocating mechanism, including a motor, for reciprocating the fixing device within a predetermined range by moving the fixing device in a longitudinal direction thereof for each passages of a predetermined number of sheets through the nip; and a controller for controlling the motor so that a drive time of the motor per the predetermined number of the sheets is longer in a first range including a point at which a moving direction of the fixing device reverses than in a second range in which the moving direction of the fixing device does not reverse.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a rotating member configured to rotate by being pushed by a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed; a sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a position of the rotating member; a first abutting portion provided on the rotating member and with which the leading edge of the sheet being conveyed comes into contact; and a second abutting portion provided on the rotating member on a side opposite from the first abutting portion with respect to a rotation shaft of the rotating member and configured to come into contact with the sheet being conveyed in the course of the rotation of the rotating member by being pushed by the leading edge of the sheet being conveyed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit including a first roller and a second roller which form a nip to fix a toner image on a sheet, the fixing unit being capable of fixing the toner image on a maximum width sheet and a small width sheet; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the fixing unit in a widthwise direction; and an operating device for operating the reciprocating mechanism, wherein the operating device operates the reciprocating mechanism for a fixing operation on the small width sheet, and the operating device does not operate the reciprocating mechanism for the fixing operation on the maximum width sheet.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heating member; an exciting coil; a magnetic core including a first engaging portion in the neighborhood of an end thereof and a second engaging portion in the neighborhood of another end thereof; a holder including a first recess into which the first engaging portion is inserted and a second recess into which the second engaging portion is inserted; and an elastic member fixed on the holder so as to be located between the magnetic core and the holder. The elastic member urges the first engaging portion, inserted into the first recess, in a direction perpendicular to an inserting direction so that a position of the second engaging portion is determined by the second recess.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing device including rollers which form a nip therebetween to fix a toner image on a sheet; a reciprocating mechanism, including a motor, for reciprocating the fixing device within a predetermined range by moving the fixing device in a longitudinal direction thereof for each passages of a predetermined number of sheets through the nip; and a controller for controlling the motor so that a drive time of the motor per the predetermined number of the sheets is longer in a first range including a point at which a moving direction of the fixing device reverses than in a second range in which the moving direction of the fixing device does not reverse.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing device including rollers which form a nip therebetween to fix a toner image on a sheet; a supporting mechanism for movably supporting the fixing unit; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the fixing unit relative to the supporting mechanism in a longitudinal direction thereof; an electric connector provided on the supporting mechanism; and a wire connecting between the electric energy supply connector and the fixing unit and having an enough length to permit reciprocation of the fixing unit.