Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer on which an image is formed; a transfer device to form a transfer portion between the image bearer and the transfer device; a voltage application device to apply a transfer voltage to the transfer device to transfer the image from the image bearer to a transfer target at the transfer portion; an abnormality sensor to detect an abnormal level of the transfer voltage; a temperature sensor to detect an ambient temperature; and a control circuit. The control circuit controls the voltage application device to continue applying the transfer voltage irrespective of whether the abnormality sensor has detected the abnormal level of the transfer voltage when a detection temperature of the temperature sensor is below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A control method of an image forming apparatus including a fixing rotator includes transiting the image forming apparatus to a standby mode; detecting a temperature of the fixing rotator when the image forming apparatus is in the standby mode; determining that the fixing rotator is in a low temperature state that does not satisfy a predetermined heating condition based on the detected temperature of the fixing rotator; detecting at least one of an electric voltage, an electric current, and an electric power input to the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is in the standby mode; determining that the image forming apparatus is in a low input state that does not satisfy a predetermined input condition based on the detected one of the electric voltage, the electric current, and the electric power; and issuing a notification that urges a recovery operation of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A control method of an image forming apparatus including a fixing device including a fixing rotator includes starting warming up the fixing device; detecting at least one of an electric voltage, an electric current, and an electric power input to the image forming apparatus when the fixing device is warmed up; detecting a temperature of the fixing rotator when the fixing device is warmed up; determining that the image forming apparatus is in a low input state that does not satisfy a predetermined input condition based on the detected one of the electric voltage, the electric current, and the electric power; determining that the fixing rotator is in a low temperature state that does not satisfy a predetermined heating condition based on the detected temperature of the fixing rotator; and issuing a notification that urges a recovery operation of the fixing device.

Abstract: A control method of an image forming apparatus including a fixing rotator includes transiting the image forming apparatus to a standby mode; detecting a temperature of the fixing rotator when the image forming apparatus is in the standby mode; determining that the fixing rotator is in a low temperature state that does not satisfy a predetermined heating condition based on the detected temperature of the fixing rotator; detecting at least one of an electric voltage, an electric current, and an electric power input to the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is in the standby mode; determining that the image forming apparatus is in a low input state that does not satisfy a predetermined input condition based on the detected one of the electric voltage, the electric current, and the electric power; and issuing a notification that urges a recovery operation of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A control method of an image forming apparatus including a fixing device including a fixing rotator includes starting warming up the fixing device; detecting at least one of an electric voltage, an electric current, and an electric power input to the image forming apparatus when the fixing device is warmed up; detecting a temperature of the fixing rotator when the fixing device is warmed up; determining that the image forming apparatus is in a low input state that does not satisfy a predetermined input condition based on the detected one of the electric voltage, the electric current, and the electric power; determining that the fixing rotator is in a low temperature state that does not satisfy a predetermined heating condition based on the detected temperature of the fixing rotator; and issuing a notification that urges a recovery operation of the fixing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer on which an image is formed; a transfer device to form a transfer portion between the image bearer and the transfer device; a voltage application device to apply a transfer voltage to the transfer device to transfer the image from the image bearer to a transfer target at the transfer portion; an abnormality sensor to detect an abnormal level of the transfer voltage; a temperature sensor to detect an ambient temperature; and a control circuit. The control circuit controls the voltage application device to continue applying the transfer voltage irrespective of whether the abnormality sensor has detected the abnormal level of the transfer voltage when a detection temperature of the temperature sensor is below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a cleaning unit, and a controller. The fixing unit includes a pair of nipping members and a heat source that heats at least one of the pair of nipping members. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning web wound on a supply core to be supplied from the supply core and taken up on a take-up core, and a pressing roller that is pressed against one of the pair of nipping members. The controller causes the take-up core to rotate in such a manner that, when a leading portion of the cleaning web extending up to 2% of an overall length of the cleaning web from a leading end of the cleaning web is fed, a length of the cleaning web to be fed in one feeding is 10-30% larger than when a subsequent portion of the cleaning web is fed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a cleaning unit, and a controller. The fixing unit includes a pair of nipping members and a heat source that heats at least one of the pair of nipping members. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning web wound on a supply core to be supplied from the supply core and taken up on a take-up core, and a pressing roller that is pressed against one of the pair of nipping members. The controller causes the take-up core to rotate in such a manner that, when a leading portion of the cleaning web extending up to 2% of an overall length of the cleaning web from a leading end of the cleaning web is fed, a length of the cleaning web to be fed in one feeding is 10-30% larger than when a subsequent portion of the cleaning web is fed.

Abstract: A disclosed fusing device includes a fusing part; a pressing part rotatably pressed against the fusing part to form a fusing nip for fusing a toner image onto a sheet; a capacitor; a center heater for heating a center portion of the fusing part; an edge heater for heating edge portions of the fusing part; an auxiliary heater for heating the fusing part; and a control unit configured to continuously turn off the edge heater and to turn on the center heater and the auxiliary heater to heat the fusing part during a fusing process of one or more small-size sheets having a width less than that of the heat generating portion of the center heater. The control unit is configured to turn on the edge heater to heat the fusing part when the capacitor stops discharging electricity during a consecutive fusing process of multiple small-size sheets.

Abstract: A disclosed fusing device includes a fusing part; a pressing part rotatably pressed against the fusing part to form a fusing nip for fusing a toner image onto a sheet; a capacitor; a center heater for heating a center portion of the fusing part; an edge heater for heating edge portions of the fusing part; an auxiliary heater for heating the fusing part; and a control unit configured to continuously turn off the edge heater and to turn on the center heater and the auxiliary heater to heat the fusing part during a fusing process of one or more small-size sheets having a width less than that of the heat generating portion of the center heater. The control unit is configured to turn on the edge heater to heat the fusing part when the capacitor stops discharging electricity during a consecutive fusing process of multiple small-size sheets.

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 a fixing member disposed on a recording material conveyance path, a heating part that heats the fixing member to fix the image formed on the recording material by heat, and a storage unit that is charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part. The fixing device further includes a fixing temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the fixing member, and a control unit that controls the external power source to supply power to the heating part and to determine whether to start to supply power to the heating part from the storage unit based on the temperature of the fixing member, at the time of warming-up the fixing member by the heating part.

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: 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 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: 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.