Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material has a second image forming mode that (i) controls the target control temperature of a heater to be lower than in a normal image forming mode and at least (ii) extends a period of time from the start of image forming to a point of time at which the recording material reaches the nip portion to be longer than in the normal image forming mode based on (A) recording material information indicating the hardness of the recording material, at least one of (B) margin information indicating the size of the margin at the leading end in the transport direction of the recording material and (C) toner amount information at the leading end of the image formed on the recording material, and (D) information of an environment in which the image forming apparatus is installed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit to fix a toner image which has been transferred onto a sheet by a transfer portion, a loop detector to detect an amount of a loop formed on the sheet at a position between the transfer portion and the fixing unit, and a controller to control a sheet conveyance speed of the fixing unit based on a detection result of the loop detector and control a rotational speed of rotary members to convey the sheet based on an area ratio which is a ratio of an area in which the toner image is formed by the transfer portion within a predetermined region set on a printing surface of the sheet onto which the toner image is transferred. The predetermined region is located at a position distant from a leading edge of the sheet more than a distance between the transfer portion and the fixing unit in the sheet conveyance direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material has a second image forming mode that (i) controls the target control temperature of a heater to be lower than in a normal image forming mode and at least (ii) extends a period of time from the start of image forming to a point of time at which the recording material reaches the nip portion to be longer than in the normal image forming mode based on (A) recording material information indicating the hardness of the recording material, at least one of (B) margin information indicating the size of the margin at the leading end in the transport direction of the recording material and (C) toner amount information at the leading end of the image formed on the recording material, and (D) information of an environment in which the image forming apparatus is installed.

Abstract: In a warm-up period of a fixing apparatus of the present disclosure, a control unit supplies first electric power to a heater and thereafter supplies second electric power larger than the first electric power to the heater. The timing of starting to supply the second electric power is determined according to the degree of an increase in temperature sensed by a temperature sensing member after a driving signal is transmitted to a driving source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a position deviation detection unit configured to detect a position deviation of a recording medium in a width direction of the recording medium in a current job on a basis of (a) an amount of change over time in a difference between temperature detected by a first temperature detection element and temperature detected by a second temperature detection element and (b) information on temperature distribution on a fixing unit that occurred before the current job.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image onto a sheet, a fixing portion configured to fix the toner image to the sheet, a loop detecting portion configured to detect an amount of a loop formed on the sheet, a rotary member pair disposed downstream in a sheet conveyance direction of the fixing portion and configured to convey the sheet, and a control portion configured to control a sheet conveyance speed of the fixing portion based on a detection result of the loop detecting portion and control a rotational speed of the rotary member pair based on an area ratio which is a ratio of an area in which the toner image is formed by the transfer portion within a predetermined region set on a printing surface of the sheet onto which the toner image is transferred.

Abstract: A controller of an image heating apparatus executes a first heater control operation, when a sheet having a width such that the sheet passes both a position of a first temperature detector and a position of a second temperature detector, is heated in a nip, for controlling power supply to a heater so that a temperature detected by the second temperature detector is maintained at a heater target temperature, and a second heater control operation, when a sheet having a width such that the sheet passes through the position of the first temperature detector, but does not pass through the position of the second temperature detector, is heated in the nip, for controlling the power supply to the heater, so that the temperature detected by the first temperature detector, irrespective of the temperature detected by the second temperature detector, is maintained at a film target temperature.

Abstract: In a warm-up period of a fixing apparatus of the present disclosure, a control unit supplies first electric power to a heater and thereafter supplies second electric power larger than the first electric power to the heater. The timing of starting to supply the second electric power is determined according to the degree of an increase in temperature sensed by a temperature sensing member after a driving signal is transmitted to a driving source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a position deviation detection unit configured to detect a position deviation of a recording medium in a width direction of the recording medium in a current job on a basis of (a) an amount of change over time in a difference between temperature detected by a first temperature detection element and temperature detected by a second temperature detection element and (b) information on temperature distribution on a fixing unit that occurred before the current job.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film, a heater, a roller forming a nip with the film, a first temperature sensor in a first area of the film passed by a minimum width sheet that is capable of being fed by the apparatus, a second temperature sensor in a second area of the heater which is outside an area to be passed by a minimum width sheet and which is passed by a maximum width sheet, a third temperature sensor in a third area of the heater outside the second area, and a controller. When a large width sheet is heated, the controller executes a first heater control responsive to the temperatures detected by the first temperature sensor and by the second temperature sensor. When a small width sheet is heated, the controller executes a second heater responsive to the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor only.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image on a recording material. A controller executes a first heater control so that a temperature detected by a second temperature detecting element is maintained at a target temperature of the heater. The controller executes a second heater control for controlling the heater so that a temperature detected by a first temperature detecting element is maintained at a target temperature. When the first heater control is executed, the controller corrects the target temperature of the heater in accordance with the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting element, and when the second heater control is executed, a feeding speed of a recording material in a nip is less than that when the first heater control is executed.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a tubular rotary member including a conductive layer, a magnetic core inserted into a hollow portion of the rotary member, a coil helically wound around an outer side of the magnetic core in the hollow portion, and a control unit configured to control a frequency of an alternating current flowing through the coil, in which the conductive layer generates heat by an electromagnetic induction in an alternating magnetic field formed when the alternating current flows through the coil, and the control unit controls the frequency in accordance with a size of the recording material.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes cylindrical film; a heater; a roller forming a nip with the film; a first temperature sensor in a first area of the film passed by a minimum width sheet that is capable of being fed by the apparatus; a second temperature sensor in a second area of the heater which is outside a area to be passed by a minimum width sheet and which is passed by a maximum width sheet; a third temperature sensor in a third area of the heater outside the second area; and a controller. When a large width sheet is heated, the controller executes a first heater control responsive to the temperatures detected by the first temperature sensor and by the second temperature sensor. When a small width sheet is heated, the controller executes a second heater responsive to the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor only.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes: a cylindrical rotatable member including a base layer and an electroconductive layer; a core inserted into the rotatable member; and a coil wound helically around the core inside the rotatable member, wherein an AC magnetic field is formed by passing an AC current through the coil to generate heat in the electroconductive layer through electromagnetic induction heating. The base layer has a volume resistivity higher than a volume resistivity of the base layer. The electroconductive layer generates heat through a full circumference thereof by a current flowing in a circumferential direction of the rotatable member independently of rotation of the rotatable member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a tubular rotary member including a conductive layer, a magnetic core inserted into a hollow portion of the rotary member, a coil helically wound around an outer side of the magnetic core in the hollow portion, and a control unit configured to control a frequency of an alternating current flowing through the coil, in which the conductive layer generates heat by an electromagnetic induction in an alternating magnetic field formed when the alternating current flows through the coil, and the control unit controls the frequency in accordance with a size of the recording material.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes an image on a sheet, and includes a rotatable member having an electroconductive layer; a helical coil provided inside the rotatable member and having a helix axis extending in a generatrix direction of the rotatable member; a magnetic member provided inside a helical configuration portion formed by the coil, the magnetic member not forming a loop outside the rotatable member; and a controller for controlling electric power supplied to the coil. The electroconductive layer generates heat by electromagnetic induction caused by the magnetic flux produced by an alternating current through the coil to fix the image on the sheet by the heat from the rotatable member. The controller limits the maximum electric power supplied to the coil, in accordance with the temperature of the magnetic member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a rotatable member including an electroconductive layer; a helical coil having a helical axis direction along a generatrix direction of the rotatable member; a magnetic member not forming a loop outside the electroconductive layer; a frequency setting portion for setting a frequency of an AC current caused to flow through the coil; and a temperature detecting portion for detecting a temperature of the rotatable member, including a first temperature detecting member and a second temperature detecting member. The electroconductive layer generates heat through electromagnetic induction heating by magnetic flux resulting from the AC current, and an image is fixed on a recording material by heat of the rotatable member. The frequency setting portion sets the frequency depending on a value of a difference between a detection temperature of the first temperature detecting member and a detection temperature of the second temperature detecting member.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a laminated film comprising at least two resin films bonded together, which is capable of increasing the adhesiveness of the bonding surface and forming a laminated film with high reliability. The method for producing a laminated film according to the invention comprising at least two resin films laminated together, which comprises: a fluorination treatment step comprising bringing a fluorine and oxygen atoms-containing treatment gas into contact with at least a partial region of the surface of at least one of the two resin films to increase the adhesiveness of the region; and a bonding step comprising bonding the two resin films together using, as a bonding surface, the surface that has been brought into contact with the treatment gas.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a carbon material dispersion, including: a fluorinated carbon material having a fluorinated surface formed by bringing a treatment gas with a fluorine concentration of 0.01 to 100 vol % into contact with a carbon material under conditions at 150 to 600° C.; and a dispersion medium in which the fluorinated carbon material is dispersed.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a sleeve, a nip portion forming member that contacts an inner surface of the sleeve, a pressure member, and a regulation member for regulating movement of the sleeve. The regulation member includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface on an upstream side of the nip portion in a conveyance direction of the recording material includes a region in which the distance between the inner surface of the sleeve and the first surface in a radial direction of the sleeve increases toward a center portion of the sleeve in the generatrix direction, and in which the end surface of the sleeve contacts the region when the sleeve moves in the generatrix direction.