Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, an air nozzle, and a pipe. The pipe includes a portion provided in a range overlapping with the first rotatable member and making one reciprocation or more in a case that when a direction crossing a feeding direction of a recording material fed in a nip is a widthwise direction of the first rotatable member, the pipe is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the widthwise direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, an air nozzle, and a pipe. The pipe includes a portion extending along a widthwise direction of the first rotatable member perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reception unit to receive a job, heating and pressing rotary members to form a nip portion, and a spraying member having a nozzle and a cylinder. The nozzle discharges air to the heating rotary member and a recording material. During a period after the reception unit receives the job and before a leading edge of a first sheet of the recording material reaches the nip portion, the spraying member performs a spraying operation of spraying air in an amount greater than or equal to a predetermined amount. The air that the spraying member sprays on the first sheet of the recording material during the job is higher in temperature than the air that the spraying member sprays during the period after the reception unit receives the job and before the leading edge of the first sheet of the recording material reaches the nip portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt, a heating roller that heats the fixing belt, a steering roller, and a pressurization rotating member. The steering roller is controlled to swing to move the fixing belt to a prescribed position. The pressurization rotating member pressurizes and forms a fixing nip portion with the fixing belt. When a recording material bearing unfixed toner is nipped and conveyed to the fixing nip portion, an unfixed toner image is fixed to the recording material. A single inclination operation that inclines the steering roller results in an inclination angle that is smaller when a recording material having a length greater than a predetermined length in a recording material conveying direction is conveyed to the fixing nip portion than when a recording material having a length less than or equal to the predetermined length in the conveying direction is conveyed to the fixing nip portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt, a heating roller that heats the fixing belt, a steering roller, and a pressurization rotating member. The steering roller is controlled to swing to move the fixing belt to a prescribed position. The pressurization rotating member pressurizes and forms a fixing nip portion with the fixing belt. When a recording material bearing unfixed toner is nipped and conveyed to the fixing nip portion, an unfixed toner image is fixed to the recording material. A single inclination operation that inclines the steering roller results in an inclination angle that is smaller when a recording material having a length greater than a predetermined length in a recording material conveying direction is conveyed to the fixing nip portion than when a recording material having a length less than or equal to the predetermined length in the conveying direction is conveyed to the fixing nip portion.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a belt, a rotary member, a pad member, and a slide member. A distance in the conveyance direction between a first position and a second position is 3.0 mm or less. The first position is a downstream edge of a tip of a projection positioned most downstream in a direction of rotation of the belt. The second position is an upstream edge, in the direction of rotation of the belt, of the guide portion that contacts with the inner circumference surface of the belt. A distance in the pressing direction between a third position and a fourth position is 0.4 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less. The third position is the tip of the projection positioned most downstream in the direction of rotation of the belt. The fourth position is the same position as the second position.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a belt, a steering roller, a slide member, and a pressing rotation member that forms a nip portion by pressing the belt and is disposed to face the slide member. The belt applies heat to a recording material and has an inner circumferential surface that receives a lubricant applied onto the inner circumferential surface. The pressing rotation member fixes a toner image onto the recording material by applying heat and pressure to an unfixed toner image in the nip portion, in cooperation with the belt. An end portion of the belt on one end side in a belt width direction takes a position outside an end portion of the slide member on the one end side and a position inside the end portion of the slide member on the one end side while the steering roller is in operation.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a belt, a pad member, a pressure member, a heating roller, a stretching roller, and, an outer stretching roller. The outer stretching roller disposed between the heating roller and the stretching roller and configured to press the heating roller from an outer surface of the belt and bring the belt into contact with the heating roller. In a cross section orthogonal to a rotation axis of the pressure member, a surface between the heating roller and the stretching roller of the belt in a state where the belt is pushed toward the heating roller by the outer stretching roller is located inside that of the belt in a state where the outer stretching roller is removed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes first and second rotatable members, a moving mechanism, a flag, a sensor, a movable guide, and a stationary guide. The moving mechanism is configured to move the first rotatable member away from the second rotatable member. The flag is provided downstream of the nip with respect to a recording material feeding direction and retractable by passing of the recording material. The sensor is configured to detect whether or not the flag is retracted by contact with the recording material. The movable guide is movable together with the first rotatable member away from the second rotatable member and from the flag by the moving mechanism. The stationary guide is fixed at a position opposing the flag, irrespective of a position of the movable guide member. The stationary guide does not move together with the movable guide.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt, a heating roller that heats the fixing belt, a steering roller, and a pressurization rotating member. The steering roller is controlled to swing to move the fixing belt to a prescribed position. The pressurization rotating member pressurizes and forms a fixing nip portion with the fixing belt. When a recording material bearing unfixed toner is nipped and conveyed to the fixing nip portion, an unfixed toner image is fixed to the recording material. A single inclination operation that inclines the steering roller results in an inclination angle that is smaller when a recording material having a length greater than a predetermined length in a recording material conveying direction is conveyed to the fixing nip portion than when a recording material having a length less than or equal to the predetermined length in the conveying direction is conveyed to the fixing nip portion.

Abstract: A mechanism for shutting off drive so that drive of pressing release is not rotated even when a pressing roller is rotated as a driving source is provided, and a torque when drive of a shutting-off portion is connected is set at a torque value to which a one-way idling torque is added. Therefore, during jam clearance, connection of pressing release drive by pressing roller rotation can be carried out.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a belt, a pad member, a pressure member, a heating roller, a stretching roller, and, an outer stretching roller. The outer stretching roller disposed between the heating roller and the stretching roller and configured to press the heating roller from an outer surface of the belt and bring the belt into contact with the heating roller. In a cross section orthogonal to a rotation axis of the pressure member, a surface between the heating roller and the stretching roller of the belt in a state where the belt is pushed toward the heating roller by the outer stretching roller is located inside that of the belt in a state where the outer stretching roller is removed.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a belt, a pad member, a pressure member, a heating roller, a stretching roller, and, an outer stretching roller. The outer stretching roller disposed between the heating roller and the stretching roller and configured to press the heating roller from an outer surface of the belt and bring the belt into contact with the heating roller. In a cross section orthogonal to a rotation axis of the pressure member, a surface between the heating roller and the stretching roller of the belt in a state where the belt is pushed toward the heating roller by the outer stretching roller is located inside that of the belt in a state where the outer stretching roller is removed.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a belt, a pad member, a pressure member, a heating roller, a stretching roller, and, an outer stretching roller. The outer stretching roller disposed between the heating roller and the stretching roller and configured to press the heating roller from an outer surface of the belt and bring the belt into contact with the heating roller. In a cross section orthogonal to a rotation axis of the pressure member, a surface between the heating roller and the stretching roller of the belt in a state where the belt is pushed toward the heating roller by the outer stretching roller is located inside that of the belt in a state where the outer stretching roller is removed.

Abstract: A pressing device includes a cam member 120, a bearing 120a, a cam portion 120b, a cam engaging portion 120c of snap fit fashion. The bearing 102a is rotatably supported by a fixation frame 115. The cam portion 120b is provided on one side of the bearing 120a and contacts a pressing lever. The cam engaging portion 120c is provided on the other side of the bearing 120a and engages with a hole 123a formed on an outer surface of a cam shaft 123. The cam engaging portion 120c engages with the hole 123a at a position away from a maximum load portion of the cam portion 120b by not less than 90 degrees phase different.

Abstract: A pressing device includes a cam member 120, a bearing 120a, a cam portion 120b, a cam engaging portion 120c of snap fit fashion. The bearing is rotatably supported by a fixing frame 115. The cam portion 120b is provided on one side of the bearing 120a and contacts a pressing lever. The cam engaging portion 120c is provided on the other side of the bearing 120a and engage with a hole 123a formed on the outer surface of a cam shaft 123. The cam engaging portion 120c engages with the hole 123a at a position away from maximum load portion of the cam portion 120b by not less than 90 degrees phase different.

Abstract: A fixing device includes first and second rotatable members; a movable member; a first supporting side plate including an opening; a second supporting side plate; a detecting portion; a supporting plate; a holding portion; a slit portion; a first projected portion; a second projected portion; and a hole. When the position of the holding portion with respect to the height direction is regulated by the second projected portion in contact with the supporting plate, in a projection plane in which the outside of the first supporting side plate is viewed in the longitudinal direction of the first rotatable member, the flag portion is accommodated inside the opening and is in a non-overlapping position with the detecting portion. When the projected portion is engaged in the hole, in the projection plane, the flag portion is in an overlapping position with the detecting portion.

Abstract: A mechanism for shutting off drive so that drive of pressing release is not rotated even when a pressing roller is rotated as a driving source is provided, and a torque when drive of a shutting-off portion is connected is set at a torque value to which a one-way idling torque is added. Therefore, during jam clearance, connection of pressing release drive by pressing roller rotation can be carried out.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first unit including a first rotatable member, a second unit including a second rotatable member forming a nip with the first rotatable member, for fixing a toner image on a recording material, and a frame supporting the second unit. A guiding member is movable between a guiding position for guiding the recording material toward the nip, and a retracted position in which the guiding member is retracted from a space permitting demounting of the second unit from the frame. A cover member is openable to an open position for exposing the space, and is configured to move to a closed position, and an interrelating mechanism is configured to restore the guiding member, in the retracted position when the cover member is in the open position, to the guiding position in interrelation with movement of the cover member from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a pressure removal mechanism including a camshaft, first and second cam portions being capable of placing a pressing mechanism at a first position, in which first and second rotatable members form the nip, and a second position, in which the pressing mechanism is moved against an urging force provided by a pressing spring at the first position, a first bearing portion, a second bearing portion, a first supporting portion supporting the first bearing portion, a second supporting portion supporting the first bearing portion, a driving mechanism configured to rotate the camshaft, and a regulating portion configured to regulate flexure of the camshaft by contacting the camshaft at a position between the first bearing portion and the second bearing portion with respect to the longitudinal direction of the camshaft, when the pressing mechanism is in the second position.