Abstract: An image fixing assembly includes a heating unit having a heating element and a fusing member enclosing the heating element; a backup member; and a heat conducting member. The fusing member is configured to rotate around the heating element. Further, the fusing member is capable of being heated by the heating element. The backup member is abuttingly coupled to the fusing member for configuring a nip portion therebetween, and is capable of pressing media sheets against the fusing member, when the media sheets pass through the nip portion. The heat conducting member is capable of retractably coupling to one of the fusing member and the backup member for enabling flow of heat between the one of the fusing member and the backup member, and the heat conducting member, for reducing a thermal gradient. Further disclosed is a method for fixing images on the media sheets using the image fixing assembly.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes: an exciting coil provided in close vicinity of a heated body having a conductive layer; a capacitor connected serially or in parallel with the exciting coil; a switching element that generates a high frequency current by turning on/off a direct current and that supplies the high frequency current to the exciting coil and the capacitor; a specifying unit that specifies an electric value to be supplied to the exciting coil; an output unit that outputs, to the switching element, a driving signal to turn on the switching element for a period determined in correspondence with the specified electric value; a voltage detection unit that detects a flyback voltage value generated in a resonance circuit including the exciting coil and the capacitor; and an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in the heated body based on the detected flyback voltage value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes: an image forming unit; a fixing unit having a heating part; a rotary drive unit; a driving force transmission unit including a displacement part displaceable to a transmitting position where rotation of the rotary drive unit is transmitted to the fixing unit and a non-transmitting position where the rotation of the rotary drive unit is not transmitted to the fixing unit; a cover configured to cover the heating part; a lock unit configured to selectively lock the cover; and a link unit configured to link the lock unit with the displacement part so that the lock unit locks the cover when the displacement part is displaced to the transmitting position and unlocks the cover when the displacement part is displaced to the non-transmitting position.

Abstract: A heating device includes: a driving member configured to rotate; a driven member configured to rotate with the rotation of the driving member; a heater configured to heat a surface of one of the driving member and the driven member; a temperature detector configured to measure the temperature of the heated surface; and a controller operable to control heating of the heater based on the measurement result of the temperature detector. The controller includes: a calculator operable to calculate a change ratio of a slope of a temperature change of the heated surface with time, based on a first temperature detected by the temperature detector at a first time point and a second temperature detected by the temperature detector at a second time point a predetermined time interval after the first time point; and a determiner operable to determine that an abnormality occurs when the change ratio exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A fixing device shifts to the anomaly detection mode in arbitrary timing except during printing. In the anomaly detection mode, a first heat generation member and a second heat generation member are off and only a third heat generation member is turned on for a predetermined time. A quantity of temperature change in a fixing member during that time is detected by a first temperature detection member or a second temperature detection member. When the quantity of temperature change is within a predetermined range, it is determined that the third heat generation member is normal. In inspecting whether the third heat generation member is normal or not, when the temperature of the fixing member is in the area exceeding T1° C. where the temperature rise gradient of the fixing member is gentler, the inspection is skipped.

Abstract: A temperature detecting unit detects temperature of a fixing unit, and a control unit monitors temperatures detected by the temperature detecting unit. The control unit determines that the temperature detecting unit is abnormal when a first difference in temperatures in a first time period exceeds a first threshold.

Abstract: In a drive detection device for a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a non-paper passing area of a heat roller is formed by a surface where a metal conductive layer is exposed and a surface where a silicon rubber layer is exposed. The drive detection device has an infrared temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the non-paper passing area. When a detection result of the infrared temperature sensor is fluctuated a fixed amount or more in a predetermined time, the drive detection device determines that the heat roller is rotating. Otherwise, the drive detection device determines that the heat roller is not rotating.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus which uses a pressing roller and a fixing roller that are pressing and contacting each other to sandwich record medium and fixes toner image onto the record medium, in order to inhibit a temperature in non-paper passing area from extremely rising, a temperature detecting section detects a temperature of the fixing roller via a thermistor (2) 75 installed in the non-paper passing area of the record medium in the fixing roller; a temperature comparing section 44 compares the detection temperature detected by the temperature detecting section 62 with a predetermined standard temperature, a print controlling section 45 reduces heat amount provided to the fixing roller for a predetermined period when the detection temperature exceeds the standard temperature on the basis of a comparison result of the temperature comparing section 44.

Abstract: In a fixing device of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, inner surfaces of upper and lower frames for respectively supporting a heat roller and a pressure roller are formed as a mirror surface. Between the heat roller and an infrared temperature sensor, an infrared transmission filter for cutting infrared rays beyond a wave length zone equivalent to a heatable area of the heat roller is installed. Detection results of a surface temperature of the heat roller by the infrared temperature sensor are prevented from exceeding the error tolerance due to infrared rays radiated from other than the heat roller. Temperature control for the heat roller is improved and a fixed image of high image quality is obtained.

Abstract: In a fixing apparatus that has a heating roller, and heats a sheet where an image by a developer has been transferred, to thereby fix the image on the sheet, the following are provided: a first sensor that detects the radiant heat from the heating roller; a second sensor that detects the ambient temperature of the first sensor; a computing circuit that computes a threshold value for determining whether the temperature of the heating roller is abnormal or not; and a controlling circuit that controls the operation condition of the heating roller based on output values of the first sensor and the second sensor and the threshold value computed by the computing circuit.

Abstract: A printer is provided that is capable of accurately detecting whether a recording medium is remaining even where a temperature changes rapidly. The printer has a fusing unit rotating to fuse a developer attached to a recording medium P onto the recording medium P with heat, a heater applying heat to the fusing unit, a temperature detection element detecting a temperature of the fusing unit heated by the heater, a timer measuring a time duration, a temperature gradient calculation unit calculating a temperature gradient of change in the temperature of the fusing unit based on a detection result of the temperature of the fusing unit detected by the temperature detection element, and a CPU determining whether the recording medium P is remaining on the fusing unit based on the temperature gradient calculated by the temperature gradient calculation unit and a time duration of the temperature gradient measured by the timer.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus including: an image heating member, which heats an image on a recording material in a nip portion; an air blower, which blows air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the image heating member; and a shutter, which opens and closes the air blowing port, in which the shutter is kept at a closed position when a temperature of the predetermined area of the image heating member is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, whereby a temperature rise in a non-sheet passing portion can be efficiently reduced by using the small air blower without lowering the productivity when small-size recording materials are continuously passed nor reducing the lifetime of the air blower.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to prevent overheating of a fuser. In the image forming apparatus, a first overheating prevention unit compares the voltage detected by a temperature sensor, which senses temperature of the fuser, with a reference voltage and turns off the fuser when it overheats. A controller receives the detected voltage through an A/D port and performs on/off control of the fuser to keep its temperature at a predetermined level. A second overheating prevention unit compares the detected voltage with the A/D port voltage and turns off the fuser when the detected voltage is different from the A/D port voltage. When the A/D port is damaged, the A/D port voltage increased by the damage activates the second overheating prevention unit to turn off the fuser. This prevents overheating of the fuser caused by malfunction of the A/D port, thereby preventing disconnection of the thermostat or scorch of the fuser.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a controlling method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing member having a heating source to heat a developer of a recording medium, a power supply unit to the heating source, first and second temperature sensors for respective first and second positions on the fixing member, a width sensor for the recording medium, and a control unit, when a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature is greater than a predetermined reference value, determining whether the first temperature is abnormal based on the width of the recording medium and, when the first temperature is abnormal, interrupting the power supply to the heating source. An error in the temperature sensor is determined when a temperature difference between the first and second position of the fixing member is greater than a predetermined degree and the recording medium passes through both temperature sensors.

Abstract: A fixing device usable with an image forming apparatus having a fixing roller to fix a toner on a recording medium, a heater to heat the fixing roller, and a power supplier to supply an electric power to the heater includes a relay interposed between the power supplier and the heater to supply and interrupt the electric power to the heater, an auxiliary power supplier to supply a driving power to the relay, and a thermoswitch interposed between the relay and the auxiliary power supplier and mounted adjacent to the fixing roller -to be electrically opened when the fixing roller reaches a predetermined overheating temperature. The fixing device is used in an image forming apparatus to reduce manufacturing costs and improve credibility and stability on an overheating prevention operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring nip width in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a signal to measure the nip width, the nip width being the distance of an arc length created by an intersection of the fuser roll and the pressure roll, positioning a nip width measuring device into the nip, measuring the nip width, determining if the measured nip width meets a required nip width, wherein if the measured nip width does not meet the required nip width, adjusting the nip width.

Abstract: A fixing device and an image forming apparatus having the same, and a method of operating the fixing device, the fixing device being provided with a power interruption unit to prevent overheating of the fixing device by physically separating a fuse element from a power line and/or approximating a thermostat to a fixing member of the fixing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that enables to continue an operation so that electric power consumption does not exceed a power supply capacity even if an electric current sensor breaks down. A temperature detection unit detects a temperature of a fixing unit that fixes a developed image transferred to sheet material. A failure detection unit detects whether an electric current detection unit that detects an electric current from a commercial power source breaks down. A control unit determines a fixing electric power supplied to the fixing unit based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit; and changes the determined fixing electric power so that the electric power consumption does not exceed a limit value and so as not to exceed a predetermined electric power without using an output of the electric current detection unit when the failure detection unit detects a failure of the electric current detection unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating member that heats an unfixed toner image on a printing medium, a conveyance device that conveys the printing medium launched from the heating member after the heating member heats the unfixed toner image, and a heat temperature detection device that detects heat temperature of the heating member. An excessive temperature rise prevention device is provided to forcibly cut off power distribution to the heating member when the heat temperature reaches an abnormal level. A cooling device is provided to cool the excessive temperature rise prevention device. Further provided is a cooling device use control device that controls the cooling device to cool the excessive temperature rise prevention device when the conveyance device stops a conveyance operation.

Abstract: A method and or a device for comprehensive temperature calibration of a full width array (FWA) image sensor may minimize loss of productivity and/or image quality. Multiple temperature sensors disposed along a width of the FWA image sensor may provide temperature points used to correct for temperature shifts in output of individual pixel sensors of the FWA image sensor. Under control of a microprocessor, a real-time correction may be calculated for each pixel of the FWA image sensor. The correction may be based upon a real-time temperature profile of the FWA image sensor and temperature dependent factors of at least one calibration equation. The factors may be predetermined, or be determined at factory test, at warm-up or at a specified time.

Abstract: A fixing device has a heating roller with a heat source therein. A power supply operates the heat source for heating a transfer material and fixing a toner image thereon. A pressure roller is spaced from the heating roller and a facing member faces the heating roller. An endless fixing belt is mounted on the facing member and the heating roller and contacts the pressure roller to form a nip. A temperature detector faces the outer surface of the fixing belt for detecting the surface temperature thereof. An excessive temperature preventer faces part of the outer surface of the heating roller where the fixing belt is not mounted for detecting the surface temperature of the heating roller and cutting off the power supply to the heat source when the surface temperature rises above a preset temperature.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus including: a heating rotary member, which heats an image on a recording material in a nip portion; an air blowing unit, which blows air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the heating rotary member; and a shutter, which opens and closes the air blowing port, wherein a cooling operation can be performed continuously with the shutter opened after image heating processing is completed, whereby a downtime required for making the temperature distribution over the entire heating area uniform after the continuous sheet supply of small-size recording materials is reduced remarkably.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a magnetic flux generating section having a coil which generates a magnetic flux when applying current, a fixing roller having a heat generating layer having a thickness of 100 ?m or less formed along an outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller for generating heat through electromagnetic induction by the magnetic flux, a capacitor connected in series to the coil to constitute a series resonant circuit, and high frequency power supply circuits for applying voltage having a certain drive frequency to the series resonant circuit so as to make the fixing roller generate heat through the magnetic flux generating section. An image is fixed onto a sheet, which is transported in a state of being in pressure-contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller, by heat from the heat generating layer of the fixing roller.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a coil for generating a magnetic flux; an endless belt having an electroconductive layer for generating heat by the magnetic flux of the coil wherein a recording material carrying image is heated by heat of the belt; a magnetic flux detecting means disposed opposed to the coil with the belt interposed therebetween and capable of detecting the magnetic flux from the coil, the magnetic flux detecting means including a detection portion capable of detecting such a part of the magnetic flux of the magnetic flux generated by the coil as is from a region corresponding to not less than one half of a heat generating region of the belt with respect to a widthwise direction of the recording material; and prohibition means for prohibiting electric power supply to the coil when an amount of the magnetic flux detected by the magnetic flux detecting means reaches a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A fixing unit controlling apparatus that includes a switching unit of a power supplier to supply power to a fixing unit according to a power supply controlling signal to control a temperature of the fixing unit, and a switching unit of a power shutter to shut off power supplied to the fixing unit when the fixing unit controlling apparatus operates abnormally, wherein the switching units of the power supplier and the power shutter are both connected to a snubber circuit of the power shutter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided having a fixing device which heats a fixing roller from the surface thereof by means of an external heating device, which image forming apparatus is capable of improving fixability immediately just after a start-up and enhancing a job efficiency. An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming section, a transfer section, a fixing device, and an interrupt control section. At least two levels are set as a job interrupt reference temperature, the interrupt control section individually selects, from among the at least two levels of job interrupt reference temperature, the level to be used for either or both of a job immediately after the start-up from a power-on and a job immediately after a return from a sleep mode, and the level(s) for other job(s), and carries out an interrupt control using the selected level of job interrupt reference temperature.

Abstract: Optical measurement system and method for determining a wear level of printer components such as fuser rolls. Papers can be treated with optical brighteners, which act as distinct tag/trace molecules with fluorescent properties. A fluorescence pattern on the fuser roll can be changed in accordance with the edge density distribution in the print engine, when paper edges are accumulated on the fuser roll surface. A photo detector can capture a two-dimensional, digital image of the fluorescence pattern on the fuser roll surface to be measured, after illuminating the fuser roll, with intensity near ultraviolet range, by a light source. An image processor with a parameterized model can measure changes in the fluorescence pattern by analyzing the digital image of the fuser roll surface in order to determine the level of edge wear on the fuser rolls.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus containing a fusing device, a commercial power source providing power to the fusing device, a triac, a thermistor detecting a temperature of the fusing device, a fusion control unit controlling the fusing device based on a detection result of the thermistor, and a cathode terminal outputting a control current and an anode terminal receiving the control current to control the power supplied to the heating body from the commercial power source and the triac. The fusion control unit of the image forming apparatus contains a control current output terminal outputting the control current to the anode terminal, a control current input terminal receiving the control current from the cathode terminal, and a fusion temperature control unit controlling the control current received by the control current input terminal and the control current output by the control current output terminal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a heat member configured so that a longitudinal center becomes a conveyance center of the recording material, the apparatus also having a central portion temperature detection part for detecting a temperature of the heat member corresponding to the conveyance center or adjacent thereto, a one side end portion temperature detection part for detecting one end portion temperature at one side in a longitudinal direction of the heat member, and an other side end portion temperature detection part for detecting an other end portion temperature on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the heat member, and a control part for controlling the image forming apparatus based on heat member temperature information detected by the central portion temperature detection part, the one side end portion temperature detection part, and the other side end portion temperature detection part.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller, a pressure roller and a soaking roller. Temperature of the soaking roller, which contacts with the pressure roller, is measured by a temperature measurement section. This makes it possible to precisely estimate the temperature distribution of the fixing roller and the pressure roller including a non-paper feed area of paper sheets. Based on the temperature of the soaking roller, fixing operation is controlled by a fixing operation control section. Thereby, optimal control can be implemented to suppress the temperature rise in the non-paper feed area according to the estimated temperature distribution of the fixing roller and the pressure roller.

Abstract: In a fixer unit system and method to detect a fire in a fixer unit of an electrographic image generation device, at least one portion of a fixer region of the fixing unit is monitored with a photoelectric sensor arranged adjacent to a substrate material having a toner image to be fixed, at least one portion of radiation generated by at least one heat radiator of the fixer unit is not detected by the photoelectric sensor by not passing said at least one portion of the radiation generated by the at least one heat radiator through to the photoelectric sensor by use of an optical filter associated with the photoelectric sensor. An error signal is output when a fire in the fixer region is detected with the photoelectric sensor.

Abstract: An electronic device and an image forming apparatus capable of notifying that a voltage drop will occur during operation of the device due to an abnormality of a power source facility before actual operations. A load is configured to operate on electric power supplied from a commercial power source. A detection unit is configured to detect a source voltage input from the commercial power source. A storage unit is configured to store an operation guarantee voltage value that is required for operation of said load. A control unit is configured to control electric power applied to said load. A notification unit configured to perform notification.

Abstract: A replaceable unit monitor assembly includes a substrate member, multiple thermal insulating stand-off members, and a monitor device mounted on the substrate member. The stand-off members mount the substrate member to an end hub of a fuser roll of a printing machine while limiting conductive heat transfer to the monitor device.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a fixing apparatus that causes a recording material to pass through a nip portion formed by a rotating heat roller and a rotating pressure roller being in contact so as to perform a fixing operation is configured including a pressing mechanism that can switch between a pressure applied state in which the pressure roller presses against the heat roller using a bias and a pressure cancelled state in which the pressure is cancelled, a pressure state detection unit, and a control unit that performs a pressure cancelation operation and a pressure application operation.

Abstract: A fixing device including a heating element and a pressure element, for fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet is provided. The pressure element is configured to be positioned selectively in two or more pressing positions defined relative to the heating element. The pressure element in any one of the pressing positions is configured to be pressed against the heating element. A plurality of interrupter elements are provided opposite to the heating element. Each of the interrupter elements is configured to sense a temperature of the heating element and to interrupt a flow of electrical current to a heat source for heating the heating element when the temperature is not lower than a predetermined threshold value. The interrupter elements are arranged in positions corresponding to the pressing positions.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a rotating hot roller, a rotating pressure roller, a heating belt that contacts the hot roller and conducts heat, a first support roller and a second support roller that are heated by a heat source, support the heating belt suspended therebetween, and conduct heat to the heating belt, a first temperature detection means that detects a first temperature of an area of the first support roller where it contacts the heating belt or an area of the heating belt where it contacts the first support roller, a second temperature detection means that detects a second temperature of an area of the second support roller where it contacts the heating belt or an area of the heating belt where it contacts the second support roller, and a means for detecting rotation stoppage of one of the support rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for image formation comprises a fixing member, a pressing member, a heating member, a sensor, and a controller. The heating member heats at least one of the fixing and pressing members during a heating operation. The sensor senses the surface temperature of at least one of the fixing and pressing members. If the surface temperature sensed by the sensor exceeds a threshold temperature, the controller stops the heating operation of the heating member. If the sensed temperature drops below the threshold temperature, the controller starts the heating operation of the heating member. The controller includes a period measuring unit for measuring the switching period at which the controller switches the starting and stopping of the heating operation of the heating member. The controller restrains the heating of the fixing and pressing members if the switching period exceeds a reference time.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus is provided with a fixing roller that fixes a toner image that has been transferred onto a paper, a cleaning member that cleans a circumferential surface of the fixing roller using a metal roller that is idly rotated by contacting the circumferential surface of the fixing roller, a drive control means that, at a predetermined timing, sets a rotation velocity of the fixing roller to high-speed rotation that is faster by a predetermined velocity than a rotation velocity during print processing, a load torque detection means that detects a load torque of a drive source of the fixing roller, and a determination means that determines an extent of smearing of the cleaning member based on a load torque detected by the load torque detection means during high-speed rotation by the drive control means.

Abstract: The fixing device includes a pair of rotating bodies which conveys a recording medium between a nip; a heating unit which heats at least one of the rotating bodies; and a temperature detection unit which detects a temperature of at least one of the rotating bodies. The temperature detection unit detects a temperature change until an image forming apparatus is normally operated since the heating unit starts the heating, and the temperature change is stored. It is judged that the image forming apparatus is in an abnormal state when the temperature detection unit detects a temperature change different from the temperature change in the normal operation. A temperature control unit stops passage of current through the heating unit when it is judged that the image forming apparatus is in the abnormal state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing apparatus including: a pair of rotating bodies that transports a recording medium on which an image is formed by using an image forming material, by sandwiching the recording medium; a heating section that heats at least one of the pair of rotating bodies; a moving section that moves the pair of rotating bodies between a position at which they mutually contact and a position at which they are mutually separated; a temperature detecting section that detects a surface temperature of at least one of the pair of rotating bodies without contacting the rotating bodies; and a twine generation determining section that determines whether the recording medium has twined around either one of the pair of rotating bodies based on a rate of temperature increase after a temperature decrease of the surface temperature detected by the temperature detecting section.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a heating roller having a heating unit and a press roller that is in contact with the heating roller. The fixing apparatus fixes an image of developer onto a sheet holding the image by heating and supporting the sheet. The fixing apparatus comprises a first sensor for detecting radiant heat from the heating roller, a second sensor for detecting the ambient temperature of the first sensor, a determination unit for determining whether the temperature of the heating roller is abnormal or not based on an output value of the first sensor and an output value of the second sensor, and a control unit for controlling an operating state of the heating unit based on the determination result.

Abstract: A fixing device according to this invention includes a heating roller, a heater driver, a thermistor, and a CPU. The heating roller has a heater and heats a recording sheet. The heater driver drives the heater. The thermistor detects a surface temperature of the heating roller. The CPU stops an operation of the heater driver when the surface temperature of the heating roller becomes higher than a predetermined temperature and, thereafter, causes the thermistor to perform detection of the surface temperature of the heating roller for a predetermined time period and issues an alarm about occurrence of a first abnormality when the surface temperature of the heating roller fails to drop in the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A smoke detecting device including: a light-emitting portion that emits light; a light-receiving portion that receives scattered light resulting from the light which the light-emitting portion emits being scattered by smoke generated from a recording medium on which flash-light is irradiated from a flash fusing device; and a judging section that acquires a light amount signal of the received light, from the light-receiving portion, and that judges, on the basis of the light amount signal, whether or not smoke has been generated from the recording medium on which flash-light is irradiated from the flash fusing device, the light that the light-emitting portion emits passing through a space between the flash fusing device and the recording medium, is provided.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus including: a heating rotary member, which heats an image on a recording material in a nip portion; an air blowing unit, which blows air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the heating rotary member; and a shutter, which opens and closes the air blowing port, wherein a cooling operation can be performed continuously with the shutter opened after image heating processing is completed, whereby a downtime required for making the temperature distribution over the entire heating area uniform after the continuous sheet supply of small-size recording materials is reduced remarkably.

Abstract: In a cooling device of an image forming apparatus, a space is formed between a flat surface of a sheet metal attached on a circuit board attached part and a power source circuit board. A duct is formed by a shielding member formed in a U shape surrounding the space, and on the lower part of the flat surface of the sheet metal, a tubular part as an air outlet is formed so as to be elongated to the side of a main body. On the upper part of the sheet metal arranged in a vertical direction, a fan motor is mounted, which sends cooled air into the power source circuit board and the duct. The cooled air cools the power source circuit board and also cools a power source unit in the main body via the tubular member.

Abstract: Disclosed are an electrophotographic apparatus for forming images on sheets, and corresponding methods. The electrophotographic apparatus includes an endless fuser belt for fusing toner particles to the sheets to form the images, a sensor for detecting a defect position of at least one defect in the endless fuser belt, and a controller that receives the defect position of the at least one defect on the endless fuser belt from the sensor, wherein the controller positions the endless fuser belt relative to the sheets to avoid the at least one defect from coming into contact with the toner on the sheets during fusing of the toner particles to the sheets.

Abstract: An image forming system has an image forming device for forming an image on a recording material in accordance with a set width of the recording material, and an image heating member. A first detecting member which detects a temperature of a first region of the image heating member, the first region corresponding to an outside region of a contact area, the contact area being contactable with a recording material having the set width, a second detecting member which detects a temperature of a second region of the image heating member, the second region corresponding to an inside region of the contact area, a cooling portion cools the first region of the image heating member in accordance with an output of the first detecting member, and a notification portion notifies that the set width of the recording material is wrong in accordance with an output of the first detecting member and an output of the second detecting member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a plurality of heater element groups each having a plurality of heater elements. The heater elements are arranged along a direction intersecting an advancing direction of a recording material, and generate heat upon energization to heat a toner image on the recording material. A detecting mechanism is provided for detecting an abnormal state of the heater groups.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an imaging device that forms a toner image based on image data and transfers the toner image to a recording medium; a fixing device including a pair of rotatable members that defines a contact pressing portion that allows the recording medium with the toner image to pass through, and heats and presses the recording medium with the toner image; a surface potential measuring device that measures a surface potential of at least one of the pair of rotatable members; and a controller that performs control to give an alert notification that at least one of the pair of rotatable members which contacts with the toner image to be fixed should be replaced, when a result of the surface potential measured by the surface potential measuring device has exceeded a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus including: an image heating member, which heats an image on a recording material in a nip portion; an air blower, which blows air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the image heating member; and a shutter, which opens and closes the air blowing port, in which the shutter is kept at a closed position when a temperature of the predetermined area of the image heating member is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, whereby a temperature rise in a non-sheet passing portion can be efficiently reduced by using the small air blower without lowering the productivity when small-size recording materials are continuously passed nor reducing the lifetime of the air blower.