Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: an endless fixing belt; a heating member heating the fixing belt; a support member maintaining the fixing belt substantially circular; a pressing member in contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip portion; a temperature sensor; a position detector; a storage storing temperatures and positions of the fixing belt detected by the temperature sensor and the position detector; and a control unit. The control unit is operable in a characteristic storing mode and in a fixing mode. In the characteristic storing mode, temperatures of the fixing belt associated with positions are detected, and the detected temperatures and positions are stored in the storage. In the fixing mode, temperatures of the fixing nip portion are predicted with reference to the temperatures and positions stored in the storage, and the heating member is controlled such that the predicted temperatures become a target temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a temperature measuring unit, configured to measure the temperature in regions that extend partially along the outer surface of a heating rotating body, which includes a resistance heating layer, in the circumferential direction and are aligned in the direction of the axis of rotation of the heat rotating body, and a control unit configured to sample temperatures, measured by the temperature measuring unit in each of the regions, over the entire outer surface of the heating rotating body in the circumferential direction by causing the heating rotating body to rotate while supplying a predetermined amount of power to the resistance heating layer, and to determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the resistance heating layer based on the difference between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature among the sampled temperatures in each region.

Abstract: A heater control device that performs phase control of AC power and supplies phase-controlled power to a heater, the heater control device including: a control unit configured to, in the phase control, gradually increase an on-duty ratio until a target power amount is supplied to the heater; and a judgment unit configured to judge whether or not the on-duty ratio is within a predetermined range of on-duty ratios including a 50% on-duty ratio. The control unit (i) increases the on-duty ratio by a first amount while the on-duty ratio is within the predetermined range, and (ii) increases the on-duty ratio by a second amount while the on-duty ratio is not within the predetermined range. The first amount is greater than the second amount.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device that can interrupt power supply to the resistive heat layer more reliably than the conventional technology, for example, at occurrence of abnormality. Electrodes 52a and 52b are provided on a circumferential surface of a fixing roller that includes a resistive heat layer that generates heat by receiving power supply, and power is supplied to the resistive heat layer when power supplying electrodes 54a and 54b that are electrically connected to an electric power source 55 are slidingly in contact with the electrodes 52a and 52b. An insulating tape 522a is attached on the electrode 52a, and the drive controller 59 rotates a motor 58 until the electrode 52a and the insulating tape 522a are in contact with each other, so that power supply to the resistive heat layer is interrupted.

Abstract: If image stabilization becomes necessary while an MFP is executing a print job received from a user, the MFP performs the image stabilization while emitting an operation sound if the user has not moved away from the MFP. Also, if the user has moved away from the MFP, the MFP stops the print job and logs the user out.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a temperature measuring unit, configured to measure the temperature in regions that extend partially along the outer surface of a heating rotating body, which includes a resistance heating layer, in the circumferential direction and are aligned in the direction of the axis of rotation of the heat rotating body, and a control unit configured to sample temperatures, measured by the temperature measuring unit in each of the regions, over the entire outer surface of the heating rotating body in the circumferential direction by causing the heating rotating body to rotate while supplying a predetermined amount of power to the resistance heating layer, and to determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the resistance heating layer based on the difference between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature among the sampled temperatures in each region.

Abstract: A main body of an image forming apparatus includes a switching circuit provided for switching between a normal current which should be applied at a time of normal operation and a contact-corrosion preventing current which is set larger than the normal current. Each of the currents is to be applied to an imaging unit through the contacts between the main body and the imaging unit. A control section controls the switching circuit so as to temporarily switch from the normal current to the contact-corrosion preventing current at specified timing.

Abstract: A variator (2) having a pair of semi-toroidally recessed races (11, 12) mounted to a housing (6) for rotation about a common variator axis. A roller (14) is mounted between the races to transfer drive between them at a variable drive ratio. A sun gear (25) is mounted between the races, as is a ring (gear 26). The ring gear is radially outboard of the sun gear. Mounted between the sun and ring and meshing with both is a carrier gear (33) upon which the roller is mounted in a manner which enables it to both spin about its own axis, when turned by the races, and also to tilt relative to the races to vary the drive ratio. A control pinion (27) is also arranged between the sun and ring gears meshing with both. The control pinion is able to rotate about its own axis freely, but the pinion axis is fixed with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording sheet by passing the recording sheet through a fixing nip and applying heat and pressure to the recording sheet, the fixing device comprising: a heater including a resistance heater part and a supporting member, the resistance heater part having a positive resistance-temperature characteristic in a temperature range above a predetermined level, and the supporting member being insulative and supporting the resistance heater part such that the resistance heater part applies heat to the recording sheet; a current detector detecting a current supplied to the resistance heater part; and an abnormality determiner determining whether the resistance heater part has an abnormality, based on an initial current detected by the current detector at a predetermined time after a beginning of power supply to the resistance heater part and before the temperature of the resistance heater part reaches the predetermined level.

Abstract: A data outputting apparatus, includes a box capable of storing data in a sorted manner, an outputting portion for outputting the data stored in the box, a data number setting portion for setting the number of data to be stored in the box, and a controller for making the outputting portion output the data stored in the box when the number of data stored in the box has reached the set number of data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device that can interrupt power supply to the resistive heat layer more reliably than the conventional technology, for example, at occurrence of abnormality. Electrodes 52a and 52b are provided on a circumferential surface of a fixing roller that includes a resistive heat layer that generates heat by receiving power supply, and power is supplied to the resistive heat layer when power supplying electrodes 54a and 54b that are electrically connected to an electric power source 55 are slidingly in contact with the electrodes 52a and 52b. An insulating tape 522a is attached on the electrode 52a, and the drive controller 59 rotates a motor 58 until the electrode 52a and the insulating tape 522a are in contact with each other, so that power supply to the resistive heat layer is interrupted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device for fixing an unfixed image onto a recording sheet by applying heat and pressure to the unfixed image while the recording sheet having the unfixed image formed thereon is passing through a fixing nip, the fixing nip being formed by pressing a pressurizing roller against a heat generation belt, wherein the heat generation belt rotates around a rotational axis and includes a resistive heat layer extending in a rotational axis direction thereof, the resistive heat layer configured to generate heat when electricity is supplied thereto and having a plurality of holes provided therein, and the holes are distributed unevenly in the resistive heat layer such that electrical resistivity of the resistive heat layer varies in the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: A main body of an image forming apparatus includes a switching circuit provided for switching between a normal current which should be applied at a time of normal operation and a contact-corrosion preventing current which is set larger than the normal current. Each of the currents is to be applied to an imaging unit through the contacts between the main body and the imaging unit. A control section controls the switching circuit so as to temporarily switch from the normal current to the contact-corrosion preventing current at specified timing.

Abstract: Provided is an image data transmitter in which, in the event of transmission of the same image data to multiple recipients, the image data with added supplementary information different for each of the multiple recipients can be transmitted through easy operation. Further provided is an image data communication system using the image data transmitter. An image of a document is read out, and a destination of the image is set. Multiple destinations can be set. Then, selection is performed whether or not to input supplementary information. When performing input processing, a destination to which the supplementary information is to be transmitted is selected from the multiple destinations. Subsequently, the supplementary information for the destination is input, and the supplementary information is correlated with the destination. Additionally, the image data and the supplementary information are combined. Then, composite data for the destination is transmitted to the destination.

Abstract: If image stabilization becomes necessary while an MFP is executing a print job received from a user, the MFP performs the image stabilization while emitting an operation sound if the user has not moved away from the MFP. Also, if the user has moved away from the MFP, the MFP stops the print job and logs the user out.

Abstract: A data outputting apparatus, includes a box capable of storing data in a sorted manner, an outputting portion for outputting the data stored in the box, a data number setting portion for setting the number of data to be stored in the box, and a controller for making the outputting portion output the data stored in the box when the number of data stored in the box has reached the set number of data.

Abstract: Input data that is inputted in an image data output device includes information (file name, transmission origin, transmitter, file type, date of update, size and the like) indicating the attributes of this data. A setting file for setting the characteristics for data sorting in each of data sorting boxes is attached to each of these boxes. Data sorting is carried out on the basis of the setting file. A setting file for setting the characteristics of the reordering of the data in each of data reordering boxes is attached to each of these boxes. Data reordering is carried out on the basis of the setting file. The data that has been reordered is outputted (for example, printed) in the reordered order.

Abstract: Provided is an image data transmitter in which, in the event of transmission of the same image data to multiple recipients, the image data with added supplementary information different for each of the multiple recipients can be transmitted through easy operation. Further provided is an image data communication system using the image data transmitter. An image of a document is read out, and a destination of the image is set. Multiple destinations can be set. Then, selection is performed whether or not to input supplementary information. When performing input processing, a destination to which the supplementary information is to be transmitted is selected from the multiple destinations. Subsequently, the supplementary information for the destination is input, and the supplementary information is correlated with the destination. Additionally, the image data and the supplementary information are combined. Then, composite data for the destination is transmitted to the destination.