Abstract: A fixing apparatus is used that has: a first rotation member; an elongated heater disposed in an internal space of the first rotation member, and having a heat generating member and a substrate on which the heat generating member is provided; a temperature sensing unit that detects a temperature of the heater; a heater holder that holds the heater; a second rotation member that forms a nip portion with the heater, across the first rotation member; a reservoir unit that stores grease that is supplied between the first rotation member and the heater; and an elastic member that encloses the temperature sensing unit, such that a toner image formed on a recording material is heated and fixed at the nip portion.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a tubular film, an elongate plate-like heater including a first surface in contact with an inner surface of the film and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the heater being in contact with the inner surface of the film with the second surface, a heat conducting member that is long along the length of the heater and is in contact with the second surface of the heater, and a support member capable of rotating the film while supporting the heater, with the heat conducting member therebetween. The heat conducting member includes an extending portion extending, outside an upstream end of the heater in a rotational direction of the film, in a direction from the second surface of the heater toward the first surface. The extending portion includes a contact portion protruding from the first surface of the heater toward the film into contact therewith.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a tubular film, an elongate plate-like heater including a first surface in contact with an inner surface of the film and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the heater being in contact with the inner surface of the film with the second surface, a heat conducting member that is long along the length of the heater and is in contact with the second surface of the heater, and a support member capable of rotating the film while supporting the heater, with the heat conducting member therebetween. The heat conducting member includes an extending portion extending, outside an upstream end of the heater in a rotational direction of the film, in a direction from the second surface of the heater toward the first surface. The extending portion includes a contact portion protruding from the first surface of the heater toward the film into contact therewith.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a charging member configured to charge a photosensitive member at a charging portion by a charging voltage in which an alternate-current voltage is superimposed on a direct-current voltage; a transfer member configured to transfer a toner image formed on the photosensitive member to a recording material at a transfer portion; and a controller configured to control the charging voltage, a predetermined area of the photosensitive member passing through the transfer portion during a trailing edge of the recording material passing through the transfer portion, wherein the controller controls a value of a peak-to-peak voltage of the alternate-current voltage when the predetermined area passes through the charging portion to be larger than a value of a peak-to-peak voltage when an area that becomes the image area other than the predetermined area passes through the charging portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a charging member configured to charge a photosensitive member at a charging portion by a charging voltage in which an alternate-current voltage is superimposed on a direct-current voltage; a transfer member configured to transfer a toner image formed on the photosensitive member to a recording material at a transfer portion; and a controller configured to control the charging voltage, a predetermined area of the photosensitive member passing through the transfer portion during a trailing edge of the recording material passing through the transfer portion, wherein the controller controls a value of a peak-to-peak voltage of the alternate-current voltage when the predetermined area passes through the charging portion to be larger than a value of a peak-to-peak voltage when an area that becomes the image area other than the predetermined area passes through the charging portion.

Abstract: Image heating apparatus capable of preventing an excessive temperature increase in a sheet non-passing area and heater for use in the image heating apparatus including: a substrate, a heat generating resistor formed on the substrate, and first and second electrodes for supplying an electric power to the heat generating resistor. Each of the first and second electrodes has a first area to contact a power supplying connector and a second area provided at an end portion electrically opposite to the first area along a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and the heat generating resistor is provided to electrically connect the second area of the first and second electrode so that when the heater is at a set temperature for an image heating operation a resistance value Rc of the second area, and a resistance value Rt between a portion within the second area of the first and second electrode and electrically closest to the first area satisfy a relation Rc/Rt<=1/30.

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: The image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a heater, a supporting member for supporting the heater, a flexible rotatable member rotated while contacting with the heater, and a backup member contacting with the rotatable member. The recording material passes between the rotatable member and the backup member, and upstream of the heater of the supporting member with respect to the direction of movement of the recording material, there are provided a protruding portion protruding more toward the backup member side than the surface of contact between the heater and the rotatable member, and a groove portion provided between the protruding portion and the heater and depressed more than the surface of contact of the heater with the rotatable member, and a lubricant is contained in the groove portion. Thereby, the driving torque of the rotatable member can be suppressed.

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 invention is to provide an image heating apparatus capable of preventing an excessive temperature increase in a sheet non-passing area and a heater for use in such apparatus, and the heater for use in the image heating apparatus of the invention is constructed by including: a substrate; a heat generating resistor formed on the substrate; and first and second electrodes for supplying an electric power to the heat generating resistor; wherein each of the first and second electrodes has a first area to be contacted with a power supplying connector and a second area provided at an end portion electrically opposite to the first area, the second areas are provided along a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and the heat generating resistor is so provided as to electrically connect the second area of the first electrode and the second area of the second electrode; wherein, within the second area of the first electrode, a portion electrically closest to the first area of the first electrode is provided in th

Abstract: An image heating apparatus has a non-rotatable heater with a metallic substrate together with a film that moves in contact with the heater and is accompanied by a backup roller which defines a nip with the heater via the film. The metallic substrate has a cylindrical shape and the heater has a first insulating layer on an outer peripheral surface of the metallic substrate, a heat generating resistor on the first insulating layer and a second insulating layer on the heat generating resistor.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a heater, a supporting member for supporting the heater, a flexible rotatable member rotated while contacting with the heater, and a backup member contacting with the rotatable member. The recording material passes between the rotatable member and the backup member, and upstream of the heater of the supporting member with respect to the direction of movement of the recording material, there are provided a protruding portion protruding more toward the backup member side than the surface of contact between the heater and the rotatable member, and a groove portion provided between the protruding portion and the heater and depressed more than the surface of contact of the heater with the rotatable member, and a lubricant is contained in the groove portion. Thereby, the driving torque of the rotatable member can be suppressed.

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 heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, comprising a sliding member and a supporting member for holding the sliding member and a pressure member which forms a nip part, wherein a portion of said supporting member which forms the nip part projects from a surface of the sliding member on the nip part side. The image heating apparatus can suppress a decrease in durability of a flexible rotary body.

Abstract: A distribution server made up of an image forming apparatus manager and a host computer is provided to be capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus via a network. The distribution server comprises a receiving unit for receiving identifying information of a consumable unit, which is detachably loaded in the image forming apparatus, and a software distributing unit for transmitting image formation control software to the image forming apparatus depending on the received identifying information of the consumable unit.

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 image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material has a heater, a film moving in contact with the heater, and a back-up roller for defining a nip with the heater via the film. In the image heating apparatus, the heater includes a metallic substrate, and the metallic substrate has a convex surface on a side of the nip and a concave surface on an opposite surface.

Abstract: An agitating member for agitating a developer includes a metal shaft, a plate member joined to the metal shaft, and a sheet member joined to the plate member, the sheet member being free to curve. A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member bearing a developer thereon, a developer container containing the developer therein, and the above-described agitating member provided in the developer container for agitating the developer and supplying it to the developer bearing member. A process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body of an image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and the above-described developing apparatus.