Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotating member having a conductive layer and an exposed portion in which the conductive layer is partially exposed, and a roller including a metal core and an elastic portion, the roller forming a nip portion with the heating rotating member, the elastic portion being elastically deformed in a region where the nip portion is formed, wherein an annular conductive member provided in a longitudinal end portion of the metal core is in contact with the exposed portion of the heating rotating member while elastically deformed, and wherein in a state where the roller is not mounted to the fixing device, an outer diameter of the conductive member is smaller than an outer diameter of the elastic portion.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a heat generating element having a first area, a second area, and a third area, the first area being located on an end portion side in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording material and having a first heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction, the second area being located on an inner side than the first area in the orthogonal direction and having a second heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction, the third area being located on the inner side than the second area in the orthogonal direction and having a third heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction. The second heat generation amount is larger than the third heat generation amount, and the third heat generation amount is larger than the first heat generation amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member to light depending on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing portion configured to develop the latent image into a toner image with toner; and a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member onto a recording material. The image forming apparatus changes a surface movement speed of the photosensitive member at timing prior to predetermined timing, when a moving speed of a recording material at the transfer portion changes, by a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member to light depending on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing portion configured to develop the latent image into a toner image with toner; and a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member onto a recording material. The image forming apparatus changes a surface movement speed of the photosensitive member at timing prior to predetermined timing, when a moving speed of a recording material at the transfer portion changes, by a predetermined time.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a heat generating element having a first area, a second area, and a third area, the first area being located on an end portion side in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording material and having a first heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction, the second area being located on an inner side than the first area in the orthogonal direction and having a second heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction, the third area being located on the inner side than the second area in the orthogonal direction and having a third heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction. The second heat generation amount is larger than the third heat generation amount, and the third heat generation amount is larger than the first heat generation amount.

Abstract: A heater includes a substrate formed of metal into a plate shape in which a length in a longitudinal direction thereof is greater than a length in a short direction thereof when viewed in a thickness direction thereof, an insulating layer formed of insulating material on a first surface of the substrate on a first side in the thickness direction, a heating element arranged on the insulating layer and configured to generate heat by flowing electric current therethrough, and a cover layer arranged to cover the heating element. The heater is a warped shape when receiving no external force, such that a center portion of the heater in the longitudinal direction protrudes to the first side in the thickness direction compared to both end portions of the heater in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a heat generating element having a first area, a second area, and a third area, the first area being located on an end portion side in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording material and having a first heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction, the second area being located on an inner side than the first area in the orthogonal direction and having a second heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction, the third area being located on the inner side than the second area in the orthogonal direction and having a third heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction. The second heat generation amount is larger than the third heat generation amount, and the third heat generation amount is larger than the first heat generation amount.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a film with a tubular shape, a nip forming unit including a heater and configured to be in sliding contact with an inner surface of the film, the heater including a substrate made of metal, an insulating layer formed on the substrate, and a heating element arranged on the insulating layer and configured to generate heat when a first AC voltage is applied from an AC power supply connected thereto, a pressing member opposed to the nip forming unit with the film interposed therebetween and configured to form a nip portion with the film, and a voltage application circuit configured to apply a second AC voltage to the substrate with a waveform that takes a voltage value of an opposite polarity to the first AC voltage when the first AC voltage takes a peak value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member to light depending on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing portion configured to develop the latent image into a toner image with toner; and a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member onto a recording material. The image forming apparatus changes a surface movement speed of the photosensitive member at timing prior to predetermined timing, when a moving speed of a recording material at the transfer portion changes, by a predetermined time.

Abstract: A heater includes a substrate formed of metal into a plate shape in which a length in a longitudinal direction thereof is greater than a length in a short direction thereof when viewed in a thickness direction thereof, an insulating layer formed of insulating material on a first surface of the substrate on a first side in the thickness direction, a heating element arranged on the insulating layer and configured to generate heat by flowing electric current therethrough, and a cover layer arranged to cover the heating element. The heater is a warped shape when receiving no external force, such that a center portion of the heater in the longitudinal direction protrudes to the first side in the thickness direction compared to both end portions of the heater in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a film with a tubular shape, a nip forming unit including a heater and configured to be in sliding contact with an inner surface of the film, the heater including a substrate made of metal, an insulating layer formed on the substrate, and a heating element arranged on the insulating layer and configured to generate heat when applied first AC voltage from an AC power supply connected thereto, a pressing member opposed to the nip forming unit with the film interposed therebetween and configured to form a nip portion with the film, and a voltage application circuit configured to apply second AC voltage to the substrate with a waveform that takes a voltage value of an opposite polarity as the first AC voltage when the first AC voltage takes a peak value.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a heat generating element having a first area, a second area, and a third area, the first area being located on an end portion side in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording material and having a first heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction, the second area being located on an inner side than the first area in the orthogonal direction and having a second heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction, the third area being located on the inner side than the second area in the orthogonal direction and having a third heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction. The second heat generation amount is larger than the third heat generation amount, and the third heat generation amount is larger than the first heat generation amount.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotating member having a conductive layer and an exposed portion in which the conductive layer is partially exposed, and a roller including a metal core and an elastic portion, the roller forming a nip portion with the heating rotating member, the elastic portion being elastically deformed in a region where the nip portion is formed, wherein an annular conductive member provided in a longitudinal end portion of the metal core is in contact with the exposed portion of the heating rotating member while elastically deformed, and wherein in a state where the roller is not mounted to the fixing device, an outer diameter of the conductive member is smaller than an outer diameter of the elastic portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotating member having a conductive layer and an exposed portion in which the conductive layer is partially exposed, and a roller including a metal core and an elastic portion, the roller forming a nip portion with the heating rotating member, the elastic portion being elastically deformed in a region where the nip portion is formed, wherein an annular conductive member provided in a longitudinal end portion of the metal core is in contact with the exposed portion of the heating rotating member while elastically deformed, and wherein in a state where the roller is not mounted to the fixing device, an outer diameter of the conductive member is smaller than an outer diameter of the elastic portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member to light depending on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing portion configured to develop the latent image into a toner image with toner; and a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member onto a recording material. The image forming apparatus changes a surface movement speed of the photosensitive member at timing prior to predetermined timing, when a moving speed of a recording material at the transfer portion changes, by a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member to light depending on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing portion configured to develop the latent image into a toner image with toner; and a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member onto a recording material. The image forming apparatus changes a surface movement speed of the photosensitive member at timing prior to predetermined timing, when a moving speed of a recording material at the transfer portion changes, by a predetermined time.

Abstract: Provided is a pressure roller for an image heating device that forms a nip part together with a heating member, the pressure roller including at least a mandrel, a first elastic layer, and a second elastic layer provided between the mandrel and the first elastic layer, wherein the first elastic layer has open-cell voids, is made of rubber, and has a thickness of at least 50 ?m and less than 500 ?m, and the second elastic layer is made of solid rubber.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt, a heater, and a pressing member for forming a nip through the belt in cooperation with the heater. The nip includes a region at which a width of the nip with respect to a feeding direction of a recording material gradually increases from a longitudinal central portion toward a longitudinal end portion, and a pressure of the nip gradually increases from the longitudinal central portion toward the longitudinal end portion. A heat-conductive member includes a regulating portion for regulating movement thereof relative to a supporting member in a longitudinal direction of the heater. The regulating portion is provided in a region of the heat-conductive member corresponding to a position of the nip closer to the longitudinal end portion than to the longitudinal central portion, and a bias member is provided outside of the region of the heat-conductive member corresponding to the position of the nip.

Abstract: In a fixing apparatus, a width of a first portion of a first heat generating resistor is narrower than a width of a second portion, at least a portion of an outline of the first portion on the near side with respect to a power shut-off member is provided at a position closer to the power shut-off member than an outline of the second portion on the near side with respect to the power shut-off member, and at least a portion of an outline of the first portion on the far side with respect to the power shut-off member is provided at a position closer to the power shut-off member than an outline of the second portion on the far side with respect to the power shut-off member.

Abstract: A roller usable in an image fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a first elastic layer; a second elastic layer provided closer to a center of the roller than the first elastic layer, the second elastic layer having a thermal conductivity in a thickness direction higher than that of the first elastic layer; a third elastic layer provided between the first elastic layer and the second elastic layer, wherein an indentation elastic modulus EIT1 of the first elastic layer, an indentation elastic modulus EIT2 of the second elastic layer, and an indentation elastic modulus of the third elastic layer satisfy E1T1<E1T3<E1T2.