Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus in which a nip portion is formed by a heating unit, which includes a flexible sleeve and a heater, and a pressure roller. The position of the heating unit is appropriately maintained by pressing the heating unit against the pressure roller using a pressure member so that the heating unit can contact two or more portions of a downstream side rim of a groove arranged on a frame that holds the heating unit, even when the pressure roller is rotated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus in which a nip portion is formed by a heating unit, which includes a flexible sleeve and a heater, and a pressure roller. The position of the heating unit is appropriately maintained by pressing the heating unit against the pressure roller using a pressure member so that the heating unit can contact two or more portions of a downstream side rim of a groove arranged on a frame that holds the heating unit, even when the pressure roller is rotated.

Abstract: A fixing roller of an image fixing apparatus has an elastic layer on a core metal and has a thermal conductive fluororubber latex layer containing a mixture of fluororubber, fluororesin and thermal conductive fillers more outer side than the elastic. An intermediate layer made of silicone rubber having higher thermal conductivity than the thermal conductive fluororubber latex layer is provided between the thermal conductive fluororubber latex layer and the elastic layer, and the intermediate layer is configured so that an elastic parameter Y(=H×T) satisfies a relational expression: Y?4200 where H (degree) is Asker-C hardness of the silicone rubber having higher thermal conductivity (500 g load) and T (?m) is a thickness of the silicone rubber having higher thermal conductivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus in which a nip portion is formed by a heating unit, which includes a flexible sleeve and a heater, and a pressure roller. The position of the heating unit is appropriately maintained by pressing the heating unit against the pressure roller using a pressure member so that the heating unit can contact two or more portions of a downstream side rim of a groove arranged on a frame that holds the heating unit, even when the pressure roller is rotated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus in which a nip portion is formed by a heating unit, which includes a flexible sleeve and a heater, and a pressure roller. The position of the heating unit is appropriately maintained by pressing the heating unit against the pressure roller using a pressure member so that the heating unit can contact two or more portions of a downstream side rim of a groove arranged on a frame that holds the heating unit, even when the pressure roller is rotated.

Abstract: A roller for fixing and an image fixing apparatus using the roller for fixing that can prevent wrinkles from occurring on a roller surface. The roller for fixing includes at least an elastic layer on a core metal and includes a thermal conductive fluororubber latex layer containing a mixture of fluororubber, fluororesin and thermal conductive fillers more outer side than the elastic layer, wherein an intermediate layer made of silicone rubber having higher thermal conductivity than the thermal conductive fluororubber latex layer is provided between the thermal conductive fluororubber latex layer and the elastic layer, and the intermediate layer is configured so that an elastic parameter Y(=H×T) satisfies a relational expression: Y?4200 where H (degree) is Asker-C hardness of the silicone rubber having higher thermal conductivity (500 g load) and T (?m) is a thickness of the silicone rubber having higher thermal conductivity.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus which can suppress the excessive temperature rise of the non-sheet passing area of a heater. In an image heating apparatus having a heater generating heat by electrical energization, a flexible member moved while contacting with the heater, and a backup member cooperating with the heater with the flexible member interposed therebetween to form a nip portion, and for heating a recording material bearing an image thereon while nipping and conveying the recording material between the flexible member and the backup member, the heater is constructed by heat-treating a raw material containing an organic matter in an atmosphere wherein carbon is hardly oxidized to thereby carbonize the organic matter.

Abstract: A pressure roller has a metal core, an elastic layer of cured rubber composition at least containing a water-absorbing polymer containing water and a surface releasing layer laminated on an outer periphery of the metal core. A compression amount (y) of the elastic layer satisfies the following relationship: y?0.8 (mm).

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has an image bearing member for transferring an image from the image bearing member to a recording material, a fixing device for fixing an image onto the recording material, the fixing device having a heating member and back-up roller for forming a nip in cooperation with the heating member. In the image forming apparatus, a normal mode for a case in which the recording material is paper and a resin sheet mode for a case in which the recording material is resin, and wherein when the resin sheet mode is selected a voltage applied to said transfer member is lower than that of the case in which the normal mode is selected so that an absolute value of a front surface potential of the resin sheet becomes small.

Abstract: A pressure roller capable of stably transporting a paper and a film without deteriorating inherent rubber elasticity while achieving low heat conductivity and formation of finely foamed cell is developed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating apparatus employing the improved pressure roller and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer employing the heating apparatus as an image fixing device. The pressure roller includes a core metal, an elastic layer of cured rubber composition at least containing a water-absorbing polymer containing water and a surface releasing layer laminated on an outer periphery of the core metal. A compression amount (y) of the elastic layer satisfies the following relationship: y≦0.8 (mm).

Abstract: A heater, or an image heating apparatus including the heater includes a substrate, heat generating resistors formed at least in a cycle path on the substrate, and current supply electrodes provided at electrical ends of the heat generating resistors, wherein plural heat generating resistors are connected in parallel to at least one of the current supply electrodes. Thus there can be obtained a heater having excellent heat generating characteristics even in a compact dimension and an image heating apparatus utilizing such heater.

Abstract: A heater, or an image heating apparatus including the heater includes a substrate, heat generating resistors formed at least in a cycle path on the substrate, and current supply electrodes provided at electrical ends of the heat generating resistors, wherein plural heat generating resistors are connected in parallel to at least one of the current supply electrodes. Thus there can be obtained a heater having excellent heat generating characteristics even in a compact dimension and an image heating apparatus utilizing such heater.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has an image bearing member, a transfer member for transferring an image from the image bearing member to a recording material, a fixing device for fixing an image onto the recording material, the fixing device having a heating member and back-up roller for forming a nip in cooperation with the heating member. In the image forming apparatus, the back-up roller has a conductive material containing layer, and a voltage applied to the transfer member when the recording material is a resin sheet is lower than a voltage applied thereto when the recording material is paper.

Abstract: A heating assembly having a press roller which has an elastic layer incorporated dispersedly with voids formed by resin microballoons. The press roller has a low thermal conductivity, hence heat from a heating means can effectively be utilized. It has also a low hardness, so that a pressure contact nip formed between it and the heating means can be made wider.

Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus having sheet supply device, image forming device for forming an image on a sheet supplied by the sheet supply device, fixing device for fixing the image formed on the sheet, a sheet guide for guiding the movement of the sheet, and a control board bearing an element for controlling the image forming device, wherein the sheet guide positioned between the sheet supply device and the fixing device is provided substantially linearly in such a manner that the sheet moves in an inclined upward direction, and the control board is provided in a space under the sheet guide and at the bottom face of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus has a heating member, a back-up roller cooperating with the heating member to form a nip therebetween for pinching and conveying a recording material bearing an image thereon, and a controlling device for controlling a temperature of the nip. The controlling device heats the nip after a fixing process is finished and after a rotation of the back-up roller is stopped.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fixing apparatus having a pair of rotary members for pinching and conveying a supporting material bearing a non-fixed toner image thereon, thereby fixing the non-fixed toner image on the supporting material and wherein a rectifier element is connected to at least one of the rotary members in a predetermined orientation, whereby the present invention prevent a toner offset that the toner on the supporting material is adhered to the rotary members.

Abstract: A cleaning sheet for a fixating rotational member has a tacky layer provided on at least one surface of the cleaning sheet and having tackiness to toner at least when the cleaning sheet is conveyed to the fixating rotational member.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises an image data generator and a characteristic converter for converting a characteristic of the image data generated by the image data generator. The characteristic converter includes a table for converting the image data in a first mode and a second table for converting in a second mode. The first and second tables are selectively used in recording one image. Data generator for generating data to be stored in the first and second conversion tables has a reference characteristic conversion table to be used as a base in generating the data.