Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller controlling a movement of a moving member to successively move a plurality of developing devices to a developing position in an image forming operation. A moving distance in at least one moving operation is different from a moving distance in other moving operations. A controller performs at least one moving operation and other moving operations during a transfer operation by a primary transferring device. The controller controls a moving speed of the moving member so that a relative position of a trailing edge of an image forming region on the image bearing member with respect to the developing position is controlled for the at least one moving operation and the other moving operations and so that the moving speed is uniform when the moving member performs a developer supplying operation in a non-image forming operation.

Abstract: An image heating member includes a first region having a Curie temperature higher than a preset temperature, and a second region having a Curie temperature lower than the Curie temperature of the first region. A width of the first region in a conveying direction of a recording material is equal to or larger than a width of the recording material of a maximum size to be fed. The second region is provided outside the first region.

Abstract: There is provided an image reading apparatus for acquiring a read signal of an image by receiving and photoelectrically converting a light reflected from a document. The location of an alien substance on an original plate is detected based on a reflected light received by a light receiving unit adapted to receive a light reflected from a document. When an alien substance is detected, an illumination unit selectively illuminates the location in which the alien substance has been detected. Also, a message which prompts cleaning of the alien substance is displayed. A method of displaying the alien substance location are also provided. Thereby, the image reading apparatus of the present invention can assists a user in cleaning the alien substance such as a dust or dirt on the original plate.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes magnetic flux generating means; a rotatable heat generation member for generating heat by a magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generating means to heat a recording material; a magnetic flux adjusting member, disposed between the magnetic flux generating means and the heat generation member, for adjusting a magnetic flux effective region for the heat generation member, with respect to a longitudinal direction which is perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material; moving means for moving the magnetic flux adjusting member to a predetermined magnetic flux adjusting position to adjust a temperature distribution of the heat generation member with respect to the longitudinal direction; and a drive receiving portion, disposed at opposite end portions of the magnetic flux adjusting member, for receiving a driving force from the moving means.

Abstract: A fixation apparatus having a good fixability in its longitudinal direction and an image forming apparatus are provided. The fixation apparatus includes an electromagnetic induction heating member which is a hollow rotation member, and a magnetic flux generation member for causing the electromagnetic induction heating member to generate heat by generating magnetic flux in the electromagnetic induction heating member. The fixation apparatus fixes a toner image on a recording material by imparting heat energy by heat generation of the electromagnetic induction heating member to the recording material to be conveyed. The electromagnetic induction heating member has a different thickness in the longitudinal direction thereof and a uniform diameter at a surface facing the magnetic flux generation means in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus wherein developer images formed by an electrostatic image on an image bearing member being developed by the use of a developing apparatus which has a moving member holding a plurality of developing devices having developers of different colors therein and capable of selectively moving the developing devices to a developing position, and in which during the moving operation of each developing device to the developing position, the moving distance of at least one developing device differs from the moving distance of the other developing devices, when the moving operation is performed during an ordinary image forming operation, the movement of the moving member is controlled so that the position of an image forming region on the image bearing member when the at least one developing device has arrived at the developing position and the position of the image forming region on the image bearing member when the other developing devices have arrived at the developing position may become

Abstract: A heating apparatus for heating a material to be heated by heat generated by induction heat generation member includes a magnetic flux generator, a holder for holding and fixing the magnetic flux generator, and an induction heating member which generates heat by electromagnetic induction heating by an action of magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. A magnetic flux adjuster adjusts an area in which magnetic flux acts on the magnetic flux generator in a longitudinal direction, of the induction heat generation member, perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a material to be heated. The magnetic flux adjuster includes a magnetic flux adjusting member capable of coming into surface contact with the holder in the longitudinal direction of the induction heat generation member and a moving element for moving the magnetic flux adjusting member by sliding the magnetic flux adjusting member on the surface of the holder.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capble of selectively moving a plurality of developing devices to a developing position. During the moving operation of each developing device to the developing position, the moving distance of at least one developing device differs from the moving distance of the other developing devices. When the moving operation is performed during an ordinary image forming operation, the moving member is controlled so that the position of an image forming region on the image bearing member when the at least one developing device is at the developing position and the position of the image forming region on the image bearing member when the other developing devices is at the developing position may become substantially equal to each other.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus reads an image from a document being simultaneously fed by the apparatus. A document feeder unit feeds the document on a original plate. A first image reading unit reads an image from the fed document at a first document-read position on the original plate. A second image reading unit reads an image from the fed document at a second document-read position located at a predetermined distance from the first document-read position in a document feeding direction. An abnormal pixel detection unit detects abnormal pixels resulting from rubbish moved between the first document-read position and second document-read position on the original plate together with the document.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for heating a material to be heated by heat generated by induction heat generation member includes a magnetic flux generator, a holder for holding and fixing the magnetic flux generator, and an induction heating member which generates heat by electromagnetic induction heating by an action of magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. A magnetic flux adjuster adjusts an area in which magnetic flux acts on the magnetic flux generator in a longitudinal direction, of the induction heat generation member, perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a material to be heated. The magnetic flux adjuster includes a magnetic flux adjusting member capable of coming into surface contact with the holder in the longitudinal direction of the induction heat generation member and a moving element for moving the magnetic flux adjusting member by sliding the magnetic flux adjusting member on the surface of the holder.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a fixing apparatus 9 that performs electromagnetic induction-heating due to an operation of magnetic fluxes emitted from a magnetic flux generating unit, and a high-frequency power supply circuit which supplies a high-frequency current to the magnetic flux generating unit. The high-frequency power supply circuit is disposed in a casing frame of a main body of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image heating device includes magnetic flux generating means; a heat generating element for generating heat by a magnetic flux from the magnetic flux generating means to heat an image on a recording material; a magnetic flux confining member for confining the magnetic flux directed toward the heat generating element from the magnetic flux generating means, the magnetic flux confining member including a magnetic flux confining portion for confining the magnetic flux directed toward a predetermined region of the heat generating element at a predetermined magnetic flux confining position and a connecting portion connecting with the magnetic flux confining portion in a longitudinal direction of the heat generating element to hold the magnetic flux confining portion; and moving means for moving the magnetic flux confining member to a magnetic flux confining position or to a retracted position where the magnetic flux confining member is retracted from the magnetic flux confining position, wherein the connecting

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating roller for heating an image on a recording material; a coil unit disposed in said heating roller and including a coil for induction heat generation in said heating roller; a supporting member for rotatably supporting said heating roller, wherein said supporting member including a holding portion for substantially non-rotatably holding said coil unit.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for an image heating apparatus for heating an image on a recording material by a heat from a heat generating element for producing heat by a magnetic flux generated by magnetic flux generating means, the apparatus including a magnetic flux confining member for confining a magnetic flux directing toward a predetermined region of the heat generating element from the magnetic flux generating means, and a first drive transmission member, provided at one end of the magnetic flux confining member, for transmitting rotational drive to the magnetic flux confining member and a second drive transmission member, provided at the other end of the magnetic flux confining member, for transmitting rotational drive to the magnetic flux confining member, the method comprising an adjusting step of adjusting such that first and second drive transmission members are supported by the magnetic flux confining member with a predetermined rotational position relation, using marks provided on the first and second

Abstract: A fixation apparatus having a good fixability in its longitudinal direction and an image forming apparatus are provided. The fixation apparatus includes an electromagnetic induction heating member which is a hollow rotation member, and a magnetic flux generation member for causing the electromagnetic induction heating member to generate heat by generating magnetic flux in the electromagnetic induction heating member. The fixation apparatus fixes a toner image on a recording material by imparting heat energy by heat generation of the electromagnetic induction heating member to the recording material to be conveyed. The electromagnetic induction heating member has a different thickness in the longitudinal direction thereof and a uniform diameter at a surface facing the magnetic flux generation means in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes magnetic flux generating means; a rotatable heat generation member for generating heat by a magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generating means to heat a recording material; a magnetic flux adjusting member, disposed between the magnetic flux generating means and the heat generation member, for adjusting a magnetic flux effective region for the heat generation member, with respect to a longitudinal direction which is perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material; moving means for moving the magnetic flux adjusting member to a predetermined magnetic flux adjusting position to adjust a temperature distribution of the heat generation member with respect to the longitudinal direction; and a drive receiving portion, disposed at opposite end portions of the magnetic flux adjusting member, for receiving a driving force from the moving means.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus wherein developer images formed by an electrostatic image on an image bearing member being developed by the use of a developing apparatus which has a moving member holding a plurality of developing devices having developers of different colors therein and capable of selectively moving the developing devices to a developing position, and in which during the moving operation of each developing device to the developing position, the moving distance of at least one developing device differs from the moving distance of the other developing devices, when the moving operation is performed during an ordinary image forming operation, the movement of the moving member is controlled so that the position of an image forming region on the image bearing member when the at least one developing device has arrived at the developing position and the position of the image forming region on the image bearing member when the other developing devices have arrived at the developing position may become

Abstract: An operation unit is detachably mountable on any one of an image forming unit and an image reading unit, and an image forming apparatus includes such an operation unit, the image forming unit and the image reading unit. The operation unit common to the image forming unit and the image reading unit can be used, so that it is possible to provide a copier configuration having an excellent operability in accordance with the operator's conditions. Furthermore, it is possible to provide various configurations, a printer configuration and the like, with a low production cost.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device can perform registration of a sheet with high precision even if the sheet is fed at high speed. The device includes a pair of active registration rollers, disposed at a side upstream from a reading unit in the sheet feeding direction, for correcting skew of the sheet, skew-amount detection sensors, disposed at a side downstream from the pair of active registration rollers in the sheet feeding direction, respective pairs of feeding rollers, disposed at a side upstream from the pairs of active registration rollers in the sheet feeding direction, and sheet detection sensors, disposed at a side upstream from the pairs of feeding rollers in the sheet feeding direction. Each of the pairs of feeding rollers includes a roller having a semispherical cross section at the driving side.