Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device including a flexible cylindrical rotary member and an inner-surface opposing portion that opposes an inner surface of the rotary member at an end portion of the rotary member in a generatrix direction. The inner-surface opposing portion moves upstream in a recording material conveying direction in accordance with lateral shift of the rotary member in the generatrix direction. This restricts the lateral shift of the rotary member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a cylindrical rotatable member, an exciting coil, a magnetic core, and a resin material layer provided between the exciting coil and the magnetic core. As seen in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the rotatable member, the exciting coil enters the resin material layer in a radial direction of the exciting coil.

Abstract: At least an electrode of a first electrode group and at least an electrode of a second electrode group are formed in a region nearer to one edge portion of a substrate than to a center of the substrate in a longer-side direction of the substrate, and the electrode that is nearest to the second electrode group in the longer-side direction among the first electrode group formed in the region nearer to the one edge portion and the second electrode group are provided with a space between the electrode and the second electrode group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device including a flexible cylindrical rotary member and an inner-surface opposing portion that opposes an inner surface of the rotary member at an end portion of the rotary member in a generatrix direction. The inner-surface opposing portion moves upstream in a recording material conveying direction in accordance with lateral shift of the rotary member in the generatrix direction. This restricts the lateral shift of the rotary member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device including a flexible cylindrical rotary member and an inner-surface opposing portion that opposes an inner surface of the rotary member at an end portion of the rotary member in a generatrix direction. The inner-surface opposing portion moves upstream in a recording material conveying direction in accordance with lateral shift of the rotary member in the generatrix direction. This restricts the lateral shift of the rotary member.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image on a recording material includes a cylindrical rotatable heater that is provided with a hole portion at least at a longitudinal end portion, and a driving member engaged with the longitudinal end portion of the heater to rotate the heater. The driving member is provided with a claw portion engaged with the hole portion of the heater. The image is fixed on the recording material by the heat from the heater. In addition, the heater is provided, at the other longitudinal end portion, with a slit extending toward a central portion, the slit being disposed at a position different from the hole portion with respect to a circumferential direction of the heater so as to overlap the hole portion in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a sheet includes a main assembly, an image forming station provided in the main assembly and configured to form a toner image on the sheet, and a fixing portion provided in the main assembly and configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet, on the sheet, the fixing portion including a fixing rotatable member and a covering member covering the rotatable member. The image forming apparatus also includes a suction mechanism including a duct connected with an opening provided in the covering member, and a fan configured to suck air inside the covering member through the duct. The air sucked by the suction mechanism is discharged into a space in the main assembly other than a space through which the sheet passes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device including a flexible cylindrical rotary member and an inner-surface opposing portion that opposes an inner surface of the rotary member at an end portion of the rotary member in a generatrix direction. The inner-surface opposing portion moves upstream in a recording material conveying direction in accordance with lateral shift of the rotary member in the generatrix direction. This restricts the lateral shift of the rotary member.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a cylindrical rotatable member including an electroconductive layer and having a hole at least at one of longitudinal end portions, a driving member engaged with the longitudinal end portion to rotate the rotatable member and including a claw engaged with the hole, a coil provided inside the rotatable member for forming an alternating magnetic field for heat generation of the electroconductive layer, and a magnetic core. The rotatable member generates heat by a current flowing in a circumferential direction of the rotatable member induced in the electroconductive layer in the magnetic field. The rotatable member is provided with a slot at the longitudinal end, the slot being disposed at a position different from a position of the hole with respect to the circumferential direction of the rotatable member and overlapping the hole with respect to a longitudinal direction of the rotatable member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device including a flexible cylindrical rotary member and an inner-surface opposing portion that opposes an inner surface of the rotary member at an end portion of the rotary member in a generatrix direction. The inner-surface opposing portion moves upstream in a recording material conveying direction in accordance with lateral shift of the rotary member in the generatrix direction. This restricts the lateral shift of the rotary member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a sheet, the image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; an image forming station provided in the main assembly and configured to form a toner image on the sheet; a fixing portion provided in the main assembly and configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet, on the sheet, the fixing portion including a fixing rotatable member and a covering member covering the rotatable member; and a suction mechanism including a duct connected with an opening provided in the covering member and a fan configured to suck air inside the covering member through the duct, wherein the air sucked by the suction mechanism is discharged into a space in the main assembly other than a space through which the sheet passes.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a cylinder including an electroconductive layer and having a hole at least an end; a driving member engaged with the end to rotate the cylinder and including a claw engaged with the hole; a coil inside the cylinder for forming an alternating magnetic field for heat generation of the layer, a magnetic core. The cylinder generates heat by a current flowing in a circumferential direction of the cylinder induced in the layer in the magnetic field, and wherein the cylinder is provided with a slit at the longitudinal end, the slit being disposed at a position different from a position of the hole with respect to the circumferential direction of the cylinder and overlapping the hole with respect to a longitudinal direction of the cylinder.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image on a recording material, the fixing device includes a cylindrical rotatable heater, the heater is provided with a hole portion at least at a longitudinal end portion; and a driving member engaged with the longitudinal end portion of the heater to rotate the heater, the driving member being provided with a claw portion engaged with the hole portion of the heater, wherein the image is fixed on the recording material by the heat from the heater, and wherein the heater is provided, at the other longitudinal end portion, with a slit extending toward a central portion, the slit being disposed at a position different from the hole portion with respect to a circumferential direction of the heater so as to overlap the hole portion in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device including a flexible cylindrical rotary member and an inner-surface opposing portion that opposes an inner surface of the rotary member at an end portion of the rotary member in a generatrix direction. The inner-surface opposing portion moves upstream in a recording material conveying direction in accordance with lateral shift of the rotary member in the generatrix direction. This restricts the lateral shift of the rotary member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device including a flexible cylindrical rotary member and an inner-surface opposing portion that opposes an inner surface of the rotary member at an end portion of the rotary member in a generatrix direction. The inner-surface opposing portion moves upstream in a recording material conveying direction in accordance with lateral shift of the rotary member in the generatrix direction. This restricts the lateral shift of the rotary member.

Abstract: A metal plate, which reinforces a backup member in contact with an inner surface of a fixing film, has a flat portion pressed against the backup member. The fixing film includes an electrically conductive layer. A current flows through the electrically conductive layer entirely in a circumferential direction of the fixing film, thereby causing the fixing film to generate heat.

Abstract: A metal plate, which reinforces a backup member in contact with an inner surface of a fixing film, has a flat portion pressed against the backup member. The fixing film includes an electrically conductive layer. A current flows through the electrically conductive layer entirely in a circumferential direction of the fixing film, thereby causing the fixing film to generate heat.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device including a flexible cylindrical rotary member and an inner-surface opposing portion that opposes an inner surface of the rotary member at an end portion of the rotary member in a generatrix direction. The inner-surface opposing portion moves upstream in a recording material conveying direction in accordance with lateral shift of the rotary member in the generatrix direction. This restricts the lateral shift of the rotary member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which apparatus a process cartridge is detachably mountable, wherein said process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum unit and a developing unit, wherein said photosensitive drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, and said developing unit is rotatably engageable with said photosensitive drum unit and includes a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, and wherein said developing unit is movable between a contact position in which said developing roller is in contact to said photosensitive drum and a spaced position in which said developing roller is spaced from said photosensitive drum, said image forming apparatus including means for exposing said photosensitive drum with light through a transmission member to form the electrostatic latent image, wherein said exposure means is positioned below said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to a main assem

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body and a fixing unit, as well as first and second fixing unit attachment detection portions, each of which includes an optical sensor. The fixing unit is detachably attached to the main body, and includes a unit-side connector which connects with a main body-side connector when the fixing unit is attached to the main body to receive power. The first fixing unit attachment detection portion is at a different position on the main body from where the main body-side connector is located in a longitudinal direction of the fixing unit. The second fixing unit attachment detection portion is at a different position on the main body from where the main body-side connector is located and a position where the first fixing unit attachment detection portion is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the fixing unit.