Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotatable member with a heater, a second rotatable member contacting the first rotatable member and forming a fixing nip, a pressing unit pressing the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member in a pressing direction, a pair of side boards disposed with a space in the widthwise direction, and first, second and third stays supporting the pair of side boards. The first stay is provided upstream of a center of the fixing nip in the pressing direction and upstream of the center in a feeding direction of a recording material. The second stay is provided upstream of the center in the pressing direction and downstream of the center in the feeding direction. The third stay is provided downstream of the center in the pressing direction and at least one of upstream and downstream of the center in the feeding direction.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus having a heating rotary member, a pressing rotary member, a flange, a fusing frame, a pressing member, and a plate. The heating rotary member heats a recording medium and includes a heater and a film that rotates. The pressing rotary member rotates to press an outer circumferential surface of the film and performs fusing of a toner image on the recording medium. The flange supports the heater. The fusing frame supports the pressing rotary member and has a positioning hole. The pressing member presses the flange. The plate includes a pressure receiving portion and an insertion portion. The pressure receiving portion is pressed by the pressing member and the insertion portion is inserted into a positioning hole and positioned in a first state. The insertion portion is removed from the positioning hole in a second state where the pressing member further contracts from the first state.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes an image forming unit, a drying device, a heating device to heat a recording medium, and a guide member having a downstream end portion. The image forming unit discharges ink to form an image on the recording medium. The drying device dries the recording medium on which the ink has been discharged. The heating device includes a heating rotary member and a pressing rotary member to form a nip portion to transmit heat and pressure at the nip portion to the recording medium being conveyed on a conveyance path. The guide member is located between the nip portion and the drying device on the conveyance path and the downstream end portion of the guide member is disposed on a heating rotary member side with respect to a tangent line of the pressing rotary member drawn from a center of the nip portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotatable member with a heater, a second rotatable member contacting the first rotatable member and forming a fixing nip, a pressing unit pressing the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member in a pressing direction, a pair of side boards disposed with a space in the widthwise direction, and first, second and third stays supporting the pair of side boards. The first stay is provided upstream of a center of the fixing nip in the pressing direction and upstream of the center in a feeding direction of a recording material. The second stay is provided upstream of the center in the pressing direction and downstream of the center in the feeding direction. The third stay is provided downstream of the center in the pressing direction and at least one of upstream and downstream of the center in the feeding direction.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus having a heating rotary member, a pressing rotary member, a flange, a fusing frame, a pressing member, and a plate. The heating rotary member heats a recording medium and includes a heater and a film that rotates. The pressing rotary member rotates to press an outer circumferential surface of the film and performs fusing of a toner image on the recording medium. The flange supports the heater. The fusing frame supports the pressing rotary member and has a positioning hole. The pressing member presses the flange. The plate includes a pressure receiving portion and an insertion portion. The pressure receiving portion is pressed by the pressing member and the insertion portion is inserted into a positioning hole and positioned in a first state. The insertion portion is removed from the positioning hole in a second state where the pressing member further contracts from the first state.

Abstract: A release sheet includes a support member including a positioning portion formed on a part, in a first direction along a longitudinal direction of the fixing belt, of the support member and configured to position the support member to a holding portion, that holds the fixing belt, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a release member fixed with the support member and including a front end portion that faces a surface of the fixing belt through a gap. One member among the support member and the release member includes an opening which is oblong in the second direction more than the first direction in order to adjust a distance between the front end portion and the positioning portion in the second direction.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, a heating member configured to heat the belt, a detection unit configured to detect temperature of the heating member, a signal line connected to the detection unit, a holding member configured to hold the temperature detecting member, and an urging member configured to urge the temperature detecting member toward the heating member. The holding member includes a through hole for leading out the signal line and a contact portion being in contact with the signal line at a position located, in a width direction of the belt, between the through hole and the temperature detecting member and located, in an urging direction of the urging member, at a same position with a connecting portion between the signal line and the temperature detecting member or at a position closer to the heating member than the connecting portion.

Abstract: A release sheet includes a support member including a positioning portion formed on a part, in a first direction along a longitudinal direction of the fixing belt, of the support member and configured to position the support member to a holding portion, that holds the fixing belt, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a release member fixed with the support member and including a front end portion that faces a surface of the fixing belt through a gap. One member among the support member and the release member includes an opening which is oblong in the second direction more than the first direction in order to adjust a distance between the front end portion and the positioning portion in the second direction.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, a heating member configured to heat the belt, a detection unit configured to detect temperature of the heating member, a signal line connected to the detection unit, a holding member configured to hold the temperature detecting member, and an urging member configured to urge the temperature detecting member toward the heating member. The holding member includes a through hole for leading out the signal line and a contact portion being in contact with the signal line at a position located, in a width direction of the belt, between the through hole and the temperature detecting member and located, in an urging direction of the urging member, at a same position with a connecting portion between the signal line and the temperature detecting member or at a position closer to the heating member than the connecting portion.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member cooperative with the first rotatable member to form a heating nip, a first supporting plate supporting the second rotatable member, a second supporting plate rotatably supporting the second rotatable member, a heater unit including the second rotatable member, a heater configured to heat the second rotatable member, a connector mounted to the heater by movement relative to the heater in a first direction, a stopper portion configured to stop the relative movement of the connector relative to the heater in the first direction, and a blocking portion fixed on the first supporting plate. The blocking portion permits mounting of the heater unit with the connector being in the first position relative to the heater. The blocking portion prevents mounting of the heater unit with the connector being in the second position.

Abstract: A pressing mechanism is provided, which is configured to cause the relative position of an endless belt including a layer containing metal to a rotary member to be at a first position or a second position at which a nip portion N is formed. When an error is informed in response to detection of a crack of an end portion of the endless belt by a detecting portion and jam causing a recording medium to remain at the nip portion N occurs, if a power source switch is switched to an OFF state, a power supply to an image forming device is stopped with the relative position being at the second position.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus a first rotatable member; a second rotatable member cooperative with the first rotatable member to form a heating nip; a first supporting plate supporting the second rotatable member; a second supporting plate rotatably supporting the second rotatable member; a heater unit including the second rotatable member, a heater configured to the heat the second rotatable member, a connector mounted to the heater by movement relative to the heater in a first direction, a stopper portion configured to stop the relative movement of the connector relative to the heater in the first direction, a blocking portion fixed on the first supporting plate. The blocking portion permits mounting of the heater unit with the connector being in the first position relative to the heater. The blocking portion prevents mounting of the heater unit with the connector being in the second position.

Abstract: A pressing mechanism is provided, which is configured to cause the relative position of an endless belt including a layer containing metal to a rotary member to be at a first position or a second position at which a nip portion N is formed. When an error is informed in response to detection of a crack of an end portion of the endless belt by a detecting portion and jam causing a recording medium to remain at the nip portion N occurs, if a power source switch is switched to an OFF state, a power supply to an image forming device is stopped with the relative position being at the second position.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt, a temperature raising portion, a first detecting portion configured to detect the temperature of the endless belt at a widthwise central portion, a controller configured to control energization to the temperature raising portion depending on an output of the first detecting portion, a second detecting portion configured to detect the temperature of the endless belt at a widthwise one end portion, an air blowing portion configured to blow air depending on an output of the second detecting portion to cool the widthwise one end portion of the endless belt, and a discriminating portion configured to discriminate whether or not the endless belt is broken on the basis of the output of the second detecting portion when the air blowing portion is operated while effecting the energization to the temperature raising portion.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt, a temperature raising portion, a first detecting portion configured to detect the temperature of the endless belt at a widthwise central portion, a controller configured to control energization to the temperature raising portion depending on an output of the first detecting portion, a second detecting portion configured to detect the temperature of the endless belt at a widthwise one end portion, an air blowing portion configured to blow air depending on an output of the second detecting portion to cool the widthwise one end portion of the endless belt, and a discriminating portion configured to discriminate whether or not the endless belt is broken on the basis of the output of the second detecting portion when the air blowing portion is operated while effecting the energization to the temperature raising portion.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus to which a lubricant application container is dismountably mountable, the image heating apparatus including: an endless belt configured to heat, in a nip, a toner image on a sheet; a rotatable member cooperative with the belt to form the nip; an urging member extending in a widthwise direction of the belt and configured and positioned to urge the belt toward the rotatable member; and a guide portion configured and positioned to guide a sliding movement of the lubricant application container while substantially preventing dismounting of the lubricant application container during the sliding movement. The lubricant application container applies a lubricant to a sliding surface of the urging member relative to the belt along a longitudinal direction, when the belt is dismounted from the image heating apparatus.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus to which a lubricant application container is dismountably mountable, the image heating apparatus includes an endless belt configured to heat, in a nip, a toner image on a sheet; a rotatable member cooperative with the belt to form the nip; an urging member extending in a widthwise direction of the belt and configured and positioned to urge the belt toward the rotatable member; and a guide portion configured and positioned to guide a sliding movement of the lubricant application container while substantially preventing dismounting of the lubricant application container during the sliding movement, wherein the lubricant application container applies a lubricant to a sliding surface of the urging member relative to the belt along a longitudinal direction, when the belt is dismounted from the image heating apparatus.