Abstract: A heating device including: a rotating member for heating, an opposing member, which is arranged so as to be opposed to the rotating member, and forms a nip portion together with the rotating member, and a biasing member, which is arranged inside the rotating member, has an opposing surface with respect to an inner peripheral surface of the rotating member, and biases the rotating member to the opposing member. The inner peripheral surface and the opposing surface are brought into contact with each other via a grease composition to form a sliding portion. The grease composition contains a base oil. The base oil contains a fluoropolymer having a specific structure and a perfluoropolyether having a specific kinematic viscosity and a specific evaporation loss and having a specific structure.

Abstract: A heater includes a substrate, a first heating element and a second heating element disposed on a first surface of the substrate, a temperature detection element, and a conductor. The temperature detection element is disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface of the substrate. The conductor is disposed on the second surface and connected to the temperature detection element. The first heating element has a first distance from the temperature detection element in a lateral direction of the substrate orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and the second heating element has a second distance that is greater than the first distance from the temperature detection element in the lateral direction. As viewed in a thickness direction of the substrate orthogonal to the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction of the substrate, the conductor overlaps the first heating element and the second heating element.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to be rubbed against the first rotary member via lubricant, and being configured to receive radiant heat from a heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member involves a nip forming portion configured to be in contact with the first rotary member, and an extending portion formed continuously with a downstream edge portion of the nip forming portion. The extending portion involves a holding portion configured to hold the lubricant. The holding portion is longer than the second rotary member and shorter than the first rotary member, and when viewed in a sheet conveyance direction, both end portions of the holding portion are position outside of end portions of the second rotary member and inside of end portions of the first rotary member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to be rubbed against the first rotary member via lubricant, and being configured to receive radiant heat from a heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member involves a nip forming portion configured to be in contact with the first rotary member, and an extending portion formed continuously with a downstream edge portion of the nip forming portion. The extending portion involves a holding portion configured to hold the lubricant. The holding portion is longer than the second rotary member and shorter than the first rotary member, and when viewed in a sheet conveyance direction, both end portions of the holding portion are position outside of end portions of the second rotary member and inside of end portions of the first rotary member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges containing toners, each cartridge including a storage element that stores a type of thermal characteristic information of the toner contained therein, and a reading portion configured to read the type of thermal characteristic information. A fixing portion thermally fixes a toner image, formed by a plurality of toners of different colors contained in the cartridges, respectively, onto a recording material, and a control portion controls the fixing portion by switching a thermal fixing condition in accordance with a combination of the types of the thermal characteristic information read by the reading portion, the thermal fixing condition being a condition that prioritizes the performance of fixing, to a recording material, a toner, of the toners that form the toner image, that is transferred first to the recording material, from among the plurality of toners of different colors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges containing toners, each cartridge including a storage element that stores a type of thermal characteristic information of the toner contained therein, and a reading portion configured to read the type of thermal characteristic information. A fixing portion thermally fixes a toner image, formed by a plurality of toners of different colors contained in the cartridges, respectively, onto a recording material, and a control portion controls the fixing portion by switching a thermal fixing condition in accordance with a combination of the types of the thermal characteristic information read by the reading portion, the thermal fixing condition being a condition that prioritizes the performance of fixing, to a recording material, a toner, of the toners that form the toner image, that is transferred first to the recording material, from among the plurality of toners of different colors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges containing toners, each cartridge including a storage element that stores a type of thermal characteristic information of the toner contained therein, and a reading portion configured to read the type of thermal characteristic information. A fixing portion thermally fixes a toner image, formed by a plurality of toners of different colors contained in the cartridges, respectively, onto a recording material, and a control portion controls the fixing portion by switching a thermal fixing condition in accordance with a combination of the types of the thermal characteristic information read by the reading portion, the thermal fixing condition being a condition that prioritizes the performance of fixing, to a recording material, a toner, of the toners that form the toner image, that is transferred first to the recording material, from among the plurality of toners of different colors.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, a heat generating member that heats the first rotatable member, and a temperature detecting member that detects a temperature of the heat generating member. A motor drives one of the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member. In addition, a controller controls the fixing device by causing the motor to rotate in a state in which a predetermined amount of electrical power is supplied to the heat generating member, and then, supply of the electrical power to the heat generating member is stopped. On the basis of a temperature lowering rate of a detected temperature of the temperature detecting member during rotation of said motor, the controller detects, after stopping supply of the electrical power to the heat generating member, a rotational state of the one of the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat generating member, an endless belt, and a heat conductive member that contacts the heat generating member in a first region. A positioning portion is provided at an end portion of the heat conductive member, so as to extend in a direction in which the positioning portion is spaced apart from the heat generating member. A supporting member is provided with a first opening at a position corresponding to a second region of the heat generating member, and supports the heat generating member via the heat conductive member. An electrical power shut-off member, located in the first opening of the supporting member, shuts off electrical power supplied to the heat generating member. The positioning portion is inserted into the first opening of the supporting member to prevent movement of the heat conductive member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, a heat generating member, a temperature detecting member configured to detect a temperature of the heat generating member, a motor configured to drive the first rotatable member or the second rotatable member, and a controller configured to control the fixing device. The controller causes the motor to rotate in a state in which predetermined electric power is supplied to the heat generating member and then supply of electric power to the heat generating member is stopped. On the basis of a change amount of a detected temperature of the temperature detecting member during rotation of the motor, the controller detects a rotational state of the first rotatable member or the second rotatable member.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of cartridges configured to contain toner and to be detachably attached to an apparatus main body 2 includes a storage element that stores a type of thermal characteristic information on the toner which is classified into at least two types and which is contained in each of the cartridges. The image forming apparatus has a reading portion configured to read the type of the thermal characteristic information stored in the storage element, and a control portion switches a thermal fixing condition to control the fixing portion in accordance with a combination of the types of the thermal characteristic information that has been read by the reading portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat generating member extending in a longitudinal direction and having a first region and a second region, an endless belt, an opposing member opposing the endless belt, a heat conductive member extending in the longitudinal direction within the first region in which a surface of the heat conductive member contacts the heat generating member, a positioning portion extending from an end portion of the surface, an electric power shut-off member provided at a position corresponding to the second region, and a supporting member provided with an opening at a position corresponding to the second region and configured to support the heat generating member through the heat conductive member. The opening is configured to permit insertion of the positioning portion to prevent movement of the heat conductive member.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a heating rotary member that heats the toner image on a recording medium, a pressure member that comes in contact with the heating rotary member, wherein the recording medium provided with the toner image is conveyed at a nip portion, a cover that covers part of an outer surface of the heating rotary member to form a space with the heating rotary member and extends in a longitudinal direction of the heating rotary member, the cover including a partition including a surface perpendicular to a longitudinal direction on a cover end portion in the longitudinal direction and partitioning the space and outside of the space, and a flange provided on an end portion on a same side as the partition in the longitudinal direction and including an extending portion extending in a direction approaching the cover.

Abstract: A rotatable fixing member includes an elastic layer, a primer layer provided on the elastic layer, and a parting layer provided on the primer layer. The primer layer contains a crystalline fluorocarbon polymer having a functional group and has a thickness of 850 nm or less. The parting layer is a coating layer of a crystalline fluorocarbon polymer.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus which fixes a toner image on a recording material, includes a tubular film; a heater disposed in contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generating resistor formed on the substrate; a contact member disposed in contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface of the heater in contact with the film, a coefficient of linear expansion of the contact member being larger than that of the substrate; and a support member configured to support the heater, the support member sandwiching the contact member with the heater, wherein a lubricant is applied in at least a longitudinal end portion of a contact region between the heater and the contact member.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a heating rotary member that heats the toner image on a recording medium, a pressure member that comes in contact with the heating rotary member, wherein the recording medium provided with the toner image is conveyed at a nip portion, a cover that covers part of an outer surface of the heating rotary member to form a space with the heating rotary member and extends in a longitudinal direction of the heating rotary member, the cover including a partition including a surface perpendicular to a longitudinal direction on a cover end portion in the longitudinal direction and partitioning the space and outside of the space, and a flange provided on an end portion on a same side as the partition in the longitudinal direction and including an extending portion extending in a direction approaching the cover.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus which fixes a toner image on a recording material, includes a tubular film; a heater disposed in contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generating resistor formed on the substrate; a contact member disposed in contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface of the heater in contact with the film, a coefficient of linear expansion of the contact member being larger than that of the substrate; and a support member configured to support the heater, the support member sandwiching the contact member with the heater, wherein a lubricant is applied in at least a longitudinal end portion of a contact region between the heater and the contact member.

Abstract: The fixing device includes a rotary member for contacting the unfixed toner image, a pressure member for forming the nip portion by contacting the rotary member, and a cover for covering the rotary member with a space between the rotary member and the cover. In a cross section of the fixing device, the cross section being orthogonal to a generatrix direction of the rotary member, the shortest distance (H) between the nip portion and a farthest surface portion of the rotary member farthest away from a surface portion forming the nip portion of the rotary member, the maximum width (W) of the rotary member in the conveyance direction of the recording member, and an area (S) of the space in a range of the maximum width W in the cross section satisfy with a relationship of S/W?0.7×H.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus configured to heat a recording material having a toner image formed thereon and fix the toner image fixing on the recording material comprising: a film; a heater configured to contact the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate; a thermal conduction member configured to contact a surface of the heater opposite to a surface of the heater that contacts the film, the thermal conduction member having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the substrate; and a pressurizing roller configured to form a pressing portion with the heater via the film, wherein the thermal conduction member contacts the heater so as not to overlap with an end region of the heat generation resistor in a longitudinal direction of the heat generation member.

Abstract: This invention provides a fixing member whose hardness is not easily changed even when used for a long period of time and which has high endurance. The fixing member has a substrate, an elastic layer, and a surface layer in this order, in which the elastic layer contains silicone rubber, a thermally conductive filler containing alkali metal ions, and a compound having a phosphate group in the molecule.