Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image heating apparatus having a flexible sleeve of an excellent durability. To this end, an image heating apparatus according to the present invention includes: a flexible sleeve; a driving roller contacting an external periphery surface of the sleeve and serving to rotate the sleeve; a sliding member contacting an internal periphery surface of the sleeve to form a nip portion in cooperation with the driving roller; and a restricting member for restricting a movement of the sleeve in a generatrix direction of the sleeve, wherein, within an edge face of the sleeve in a mounted state on the apparatus, equally bisected by an imaginary plane substantially parallel to a nip plane of the nip portion into a first area closer to the nip portion and a second area farther from the nip portion, the restricting member executes a restricting action only on the second area.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image heating apparatus having a flexible sleeve of an excellent durability. To this end, an image heating apparatus according to the present invention includes: a flexible sleeve; a driving roller contacting an external periphery surface of the sleeve and serving to rotate the sleeve; a sliding member contacting an internal periphery surface of the sleeve to form a nip portion in cooperation with the driving roller; and a restricting member for restricting a movement of the sleeve in a generatrix direction of the sleeve, wherein, within an edge face of the sleeve in a mounted state on the apparatus, equally bisected by an imaginary plane substantially parallel to a nip plane of the nip portion into a first area closer to the nip portion and a second area farther from the nip portion, the restricting member executes a restricting action only on the second area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having means for separating a transfer medium bearing member from an image bearing member, which can change fixing speed according to the kinds of the transfer medium employed. As the transfer medium is borne and conveyed to a fixing device by the transfer medium baring member which is separated from the image bearing member, the unfixed toner images are not disturbed by or re-transferred onto the image bearing member and a long conveyed belt is not needed. When the same drive source rotates the transfer medium bearing member and the image bearing member, the apparatus can be further miniaturized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a cartridge includes an image forming device acting on an image bearing member and a driving force transmitting device which is adapted to transmit a driving force from an apparatus side to a cartyridge side and which is separable from the image forming device. The apparatus also includes a drive source. The image forming device and the driving force transmitting device are integrally mountable to the apparatus.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a plurality of developing devices for supplying a developer to the image bearing member, the developing devices each having a first electric contact; a second electric contact for establishing electric connection with the apparatus when the cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus; and a selector for selecting one of the first electric contacts, the selector being effective to electrically connecting the selected first electric contact and the second contact.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having means for separating a transfer medium bearing member from an image bearing member, which can change fixing speed according to the kinds of the transfer medium employed. As the transfer medium is borne and conveyed to a fixing device by the transfer medium baring member which is separated from the image bearing member, the unfixed toner images are not disturbed by or re-transferred onto the image bearing member and a long conveyed belt is not needed. When the same drive source rotates the transfer medium bearing member and the image bearing member, the apparatus can be further miniaturized.

Abstract: The present invention provides the image forming system in which, when an image bearing member or a process cartridge including an image bearing member therein is mounted within an image forming system having a shiftable image forming device, the image bearing member can receive a driving force from the image forming device. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the number of positioning locations between the image forming system and the image bearing member.

Abstract: A process cartridge integrally supports an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a plurality of developing units and removable with respect to an image forming apparatus. The driving force from the image forming apparatus can be selectively transmitted to any one of the developing units and the transmission of the driving force to all of the developing units is blocked during the non-image forming process. Thus, the operability of dismounting of the cartridge from the image forming apparatus is improved.