Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member including a heat generating layer that generates heat by induction, the fixing member fixing images onto plural recording media that are successively supplied thereto with heat generated from the heat generating layer; a pressure member that contacts the fixing member and forms a nip between the pressure member and the fixing member, the nip allowing the recording media to pass therethrough; an induction heating unit that inductively heats the heat generating layer of the fixing member; and a controller that controls a manner in which the induction heating unit heats the heat generating layer when the plural recording media successively pass through the nip in accordance with a total of times during which the recording media are not present in the nip, the total of times being measured from when the recording media started passing through the nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a motor, and a control device. The fixing device includes a heating member, a drive roller in contact with the heating member at a nip portion therebetween, and a memory configured to store an outer diameter of the drive roller. The motor is configured to drive the drive roller. The control device is configured to read the outer diameter from the memory, adjust a rotation speed of the motor such that the rotation speed of the motor becomes smaller as the outer diameter read from the memory becomes larger, and drive the motor at an adjusted rotation speed.

Abstract: An electric power control unit alternately repeats a first electric power control period and a second electric power control period when a low electric power mode is set by a mode setting unit. When a sleep mode is set by the mode setting unit, a second electric power control is executed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing portion, an ordinary printing controller, and an energy-saving printing controller. The ordinary printing controller causes the printing portion to perform ordinary printing at a first fixing temperature. The energy-saving printing controller causes the printing portion to perform energy-saving printing at a second fixing temperature lower than the first fixing temperature. The energy-saving printing controller selectively performs first energy-saving printing of performing the energy-saving printing by setting the sheet conveying speed to a first speed and setting the sheet interval to a first interval, and second energy-saving printing of performing the energy-saving printing by setting the sheet conveying speed to a second speed faster than the first speed and setting the sheet interval to a second interval larger than the first interval.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a heat source, a fixing rotating body, a pressurizing rotating body, a feeding section for feeding a medium, a temperature adjusting section for controlling an amount of heat generated by the heat source, and a control section. The control section switches between a first mode in which the fixing rotating body and the pressurizing rotating body rotate at a first circumferential speed and the medium is fed to the image forming section at a first distance interval, and a second mode in which the fixing rotating body and the pressurizing rotating body rotate at a second circumferential speed higher than the first circumferential speed and the medium is fed to the image forming section at a second distance interval longer than the first distance interval.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a heating member which heats a toner image on a recording medium using a decolorizable toner containing a coloring agent containing a color developable compound and a color developing agent and having a capsule structure covered with an outer shell; a pressing member which is in press contact with the heating member to form a nip portion and nips and conveys the recording medium in cooperation with the heating member; a temperature control section which controls the temperature of the heating member to a temperature not higher than the density maintaining threshold temperature and not lower than the melting threshold temperature; and a conveyance control section which controls the conveying speed of the recording medium such that a time required for the recording medium to pass through the nip portion is 100 msec or more.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member that heats a surface of a recording medium on which an unfixed image is carried, a rotatable pressing member that makes pressure-contact with the fixing member to form a nip portion therebetween, a heat source that heats the fixing member, a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the fixing member, and a temperature control unit that controls turning-on/off the heat source in accordance with a predetermined duty for a predetermined control cycle in a turning-on/off cycle, based on input temperature information. The temperature control unit, during execution of a continuous image-forming job for continuously forming images on a plurality of recording media, sets the control cycle and a space between the recording media to be conveyed to the nip so that a number of turn-ons of the heat source is the same for all the recording media.

Abstract: A loop of a transferring material is formed at a position between a secondary transfer nip portion and a fixing nip portion such that a loop amount of the loop of the transferring material, which is formed at the position between the secondary transfer nip portion and the fixing nip portion when a mono-color mode is executed, is larger than a loop amount of the loop of the transferring material, which is formed at the position between the secondary transfer nip portion and the fixing nip portion when a full-color mode is executed. In the mono-color mode, image formation is executed such that primary transfer rollers are separated from an intermediate transfer belt. In the full-color mode, image formation is executed by photosensitive drums.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit with a nip, two rollers, a guide member, a detection unit and an urging unit. The detection unit is disposed substantially parallel to the guide member opposite to the guide member across a recording medium conveyed between the nip and the two rollers. The detection unit detects jamming of the recording medium on the basis of a pressure greater than a predetermined value applied by the recording medium between the nip and the two rollers. The distance between the guide member and the detection unit is greater than the distance between the guide member and the recording medium passing between the nip and the two rollers while being urged by the urging unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium; a conveyance stopping unit configured to stop conveyance of the recording medium; a heating unit having a heating plane and configured to heat a part of the recording medium, which part is laid over the heating plane; and a cooling unit configured to cool the part of the recording medium, whose conveyance has been stopped, by applying cooling air to the part of the recording medium from above.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit fixing toner images to paper sheets, a timing adjusting unit adjusting the timing of supplying paper sheets to the fixing unit, a temperature detecting unit detecting the temperature of a predetermined section of a heating rotating body included in the fixing unit, and a timing control unit selecting a first mode or a second mode immediately after start-up of the image forming apparatus in accordance with whether the number of paper sheets to be printed exceeds a predetermined number, wherein in the first mode, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit exceeds a first temperature, the first paper sheet is supplied to the fixing unit and, in the second mode, when the detected temperature exceeds a second temperature different from the first temperature, the first paper sheet is supplied to the fixing unit.

Abstract: A sheet which entered between a first sheet conveying unit and a second sheet conveying unit is detected by a sheet detecting unit. A loop of the sheet formed with a difference of sheet conveying speeds between the first and second sheet conveying units is detected by a loop detecting sensor. After the sheet detecting unit detected the sheet, if the loop detecting sensor does not detect the loop, a control unit which controls the sheet conveying speed of at least one of the first and second sheet conveying units controls the sheet conveying speed of at least one of the first and second sheet conveying units, thereby reducing an amount of the formed loop.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a fixation section having a heating mechanism and a roller arranged to face the heating mechanism; a temperature detector for detecting temperature of the fixation section; and a controller for performing a first heating-control in a first heating mode to raise the temperature of the fixation section at a first changing rate, and a second heating-control in a second heating mode to change the temperature of the fixation section at a second changing rate lower than the first changing rate upon rotating the roller when the temperature of the fixation section has reached an intermediate target temperature. The controller performs the first and second heating-controls, respectively, at the time of startup of the fixation section at least once until the temperature of the fixation section reaches a final target temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device in an image forming apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a recording medium at a fixing nip where an image carried on the recording medium is fixed onto it; a plurality of temperature detectors to detect temperature of the conveyance member, the detectors being disposed at both end portions of the conveyance member outside an area where a maximum-sided recording medium passes through; a guide member to guide the recording medium toward the fixing nip; and a guide plate displacing unit to displace a part of the guide member in a direction orthogonal to a conveyed surface of the recording medium to be conveyed at the fixing nip, based on temperature difference detected by the plurality of temperature detectors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing on which the first housing is mounted, a first roller, a second roller, a nipping pressure adjusting mechanism, an induction heating unit and a retaining mechanism. A first rotary shaft of the first roller is rotatably supported by the first housing in a state of being positionally immovable. A second rotary shaft of the second roller is rotatably supported by the first housing in a state of being positionally movable. The nipping pressure adjusting mechanism changes the posture of the second roller between a first posture that the second roller is pressingly contacted with the first roller with a first pressure, and a second posture that the second roller is pressingly contacted with the first roller with a second pressure lower than the first pressure. The relative positions between the second roller and the induction heating unit are retained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a metallic toner image on a recording medium using a metallic toner containing flakes of metallic pigment; and a heating portion that heats and melts the metallic toner on the recording medium. A first shearing force is applied to the molten metallic toner in a transportation direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a heating unit that heats the belt, a rotating body that rotates while applying pressure to a recording medium interposed between the rotating body and the belt, a pressing member that forms a first area in which the recording medium is to be nipped between the belt and the rotating body by pressing the belt against the rotating body from an inside of the belt, and a driving member that drives the rotating body so that the rotating body rotates at a speed determined such that a time obtained by dividing a length of the first area in a direction in which the rotating body is rotating by the speed is approximately 20 milliseconds or less.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a fixing condition such as a target control temperature of a heater is changed depending on whether a first resistance heating element and a second resistance heating element of the heater are connected in series or in parallel such that a similar fixing performance is achieved regardless of whether the first resistance heating element and the second resistance heating element are connected in series or in parallel.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a first paper feeding unit; a second paper feeding unit; a fixing unit configured to fix a developer image transferred onto a sheet; a conveying path configured to convey sheets; a receiving unit configured to receive an execution instruction for duplex printing for continuously printing an image on one surface and on the other surface of a sheet; an acquiring unit configured to acquire, in the printing on one surface, information concerning presence or absence of an image on the other surface; and a processor configured to change, in the printing on one surface, if a result of the acquisition concerning the sheet fed from the first paper feeding unit indicates that an image is present, a paper feeding unit from the first paper feeding unit to the second paper feeding unit and performs control for re-executing the duplex printing.

Abstract: A printer is provided including a substrate transport apparatus; a pick mechanism; a fuser assembly having a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater, a backup member for engaging the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt, and a temperature sensor associated with the backup member for sensing the temperature of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the substrate transport apparatus, the pick mechanism, the heater and the temperature sensor. The controller causes the pick mechanism to remove substrates from the storage tray at a first pick rate when the backup member is at a temperature within a first backup member index temperature range and at different pick rate less than the first pick rate when the backup member is at a temperature greater than the first backup member index temperature range.

Abstract: When the temperature of a fixing section has not reached a fixable temperature and the condition of an image forming apparatus is an abnormal temperature rising condition, a print controller causes a toner image conveying section to move a toner image on an intermediate transfer member to a predetermined toner image standby position upstream of a secondary transfer section and to put the toner image on standby at the toner image standby position, and causes a recording medium conveying section to put a recording medium on standby at a predetermined sheet standby position upstream of the secondary transfer section. Thereafter, when the temperature of the fixing section reaches the fixable temperature, the print controller causes the secondary transfer section to transfer the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat roller, a heater, a fuser roller, an endless, fuser belt, a pressure roller, a first thermometer, and a controller. The heat roller has a surface thereof subjected to heating. The heater is disposed in the heat roller to heat the circumference of the heat roller to an adjustable, heating temperature. The fuser roller is disposed parallel to the heat roller and has a surface thereof formed of elastic material deposited upon a cylindrical core of metal. The fuser belt is looped for rotation around the fuser roller and the heat roller. The pressure roller is disposed opposite the fuser roller with the fuser belt interposed between the pressure roller and the fuser roller. The first thermometer detects a first temperature at the cylindrical core of the fuser roller. The controller adjusts the heating temperature according to the first temperature being detected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transporting section including a transport path for transporting a recording medium; an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium that is transported at the transporting section; a fixing device that fixes the image formed on the recording medium at the image forming unit while heating the image; and a controller that performs control so that Pw<Pw1+Pw2 is set and so that a forced transporting operation of the transporting section is performed before starting or after ending a preparation operation of the fixing device, where Pw1 is electric power for the preparation operation including increasing a temperature of the fixing device, Pw2 is electric power for the forced transporting operation of forcedly transporting the recording medium jammed in the transporting section, and Pw is a specified value of electric power consumption.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and method for processing data in the printing apparatus includes estimating a printing time by adding an intermediate data generation time and a rendering time, determining whether the estimated printing time of each page keeps up with a timing at which an image needs to be formed on a conveyed sheet for each page. If it is determined that the estimated printing time does not keep up with the timing at which the image needs to be formed, further determining whether an idle time is present by comparing the intermediate data generation time and the rendering time. If it is discriminated that the idle time is present, the changing an optimization level for determining whether to perform processing on a particular object in the document image data during rendering, or to perform the processing during intermediate data generation.

Abstract: When an unfixed toner image is formed on a recording material, a maximum toner amount per unit area satisfies A<(??L)/30?3, where a specific gravity of a toner is ? (g/cm3), a weight-average particle size is L (?m), and the toner amount per unit area of the unfixed toner image on the recording material is A (mg/cm2), in formation of the unfixed toner image with each color toner, and the unfixed toner image is fixed so that a region where colors of chromatic toners of respective colors in the above-described images are seen in an overlaid state is 84% or more.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an image carrier; a transfer device which transfers a toner image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium; a resistance measuring device which causes a current to flow through the recording medium before transferring the toner image and measures the resistance of the recording medium; and a setting unit which sets a condition of the transfer on the basis of the measurement result of the resistance of the recording medium. The resistance measuring device includes an electric shock prevention member which prevents the current from flowing to a user through the recording medium during the measurement of the resistance of the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately curing curl which is apt to be generated at a fixing-completed sheet. An intersection angle ?2 between respective axis lines 81c, 82c of an upper conveying roller 81 and a lower conveying roller 82 in a conveying apparatus 80 is set to be in the opposite direction to an intersection angle ?1 between respective axis lines 50c and 51c of a fixing roller 50 and a pressure roller 51 in the fixing apparatus 40. Accordingly, curl generated at a sheet S at the time of pressure fixing at the fixing apparatus 40 can be returned into a state before fixing as being appropriately corrected in the opposite direction by the upper conveying roller 81 and the lower conveying roller 82.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image carrying member, a rotatable transfer member cooperative with the image carrying member, and a fixing unit having a fixing nip for nipping and feeding the recording material discharged from the transfer nip while fixing the toner image. In addition, a bowing amount measuring unit measures a bowing amount of the recording material, a storing portion stores a target bowing amount, and a speed controller controls a feeding speed of the recording material. The storing portion stores a plurality of target bowing amounts, which are selectable depending on kinds of the recording material, and the speed controller controls the feeding speed in the fixing nip, and then controls the feeding speed so that the bowing amount is substantially zero at the time when a trailing edge of the recording material leaves the transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that sets a second conveyance speed, at which a recording material is conveyed at a heating nip portion, higher than a first conveyance speed, at which the recording material is conveyed at a transfer nip portion, conveys an envelope by the transfer and heating nip portions without transferring a toner image at the transfer nip portion. After that, the image forming apparatus which sets the second conveyance speed equal to or lower than the first conveyance speed transfers the toner image formed on a photosensitive drum acting as an image bearing member onto the envelope conveyed again to the transfer nip portion by a reversing conveyance mechanism acting as a re-conveyance unit to fix the toner image on the envelop at the heating nip portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit, a fixing unit, a first thermometer, and a controller. The imaging unit forms a toner image on a recording medium conveyed along a media conveyance path. The fixing device is disposed downstream from the imaging unit along the media conveyance path to fix the toner image in place on the recording medium. The fixing device includes a fuser roller, a heat roller, an endless, fuser belt, and a pressure roller. The fuser roller has a cylindrical core of metal. The pressure roller presses against the fuser roller via the fuser belt to form a fixing nip therebetween. The first thermometer detects a first temperature at the cylindrical core of the fuser roller. The controller controls conveyance of the recording medium through the fixing nip according to the first temperature.

Abstract: In a fixing device for electrophotography, a fixing sheet carrying thereon a toner image is passed under application of heat and pressure between a toner heating member and a press roller to fix the toner image onto the a fixing sheet. The fixing device is so controlled that a temperature of the toner heating member is set higher and a temperature of the press roller is set lower in a ready-display state during warm-up for starting the fixing device or returning from a power save mode, respectively compared with corresponding set temperatures of the toner heating member and the press roller in a normal ready state. As a result, consumption of fixing energy is suppressed and the time until the ready state is reduced by a relatively simple control.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a fixing device that fixes the image formed on the recording medium at the image forming unit while nipping and transporting the image formed on the recording medium at the image forming unit; a transporting section provided downstream from the fixing device in a direction of transportation of the recording medium, the transporting section nipping and transporting the recording medium; and a controller that performs control for changing a transporting velocity of the fixing device and a transporting velocity of the transporting section on the basis of information used for triggering a change in the transporting velocity of the fixing device when the recording medium is held by the fixing device and the transporting section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit; a fixing unit that heats a recording medium and fixes the image on the recording medium; a pressure member that is rotatable and has an outer peripheral surface, the pressure member moving from a position separated from the fixing unit to a position in contact with the fixing unit, the pressure member pressing the recording medium when the recording medium enters a contact section between the fixing unit and the outer peripheral surface; and a controller that controls transportation of the recording medium and a time at which a region of the outer peripheral surface reaches the contact section, the region contacting the fixing unit when the fixing unit contacts the outer peripheral surface and repeatedly reaching the contact section, so that the recording medium enters the contact section when the region reaches the contact section as the pressure member rotates.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a control unit that executes a long grain feed mode of conveying a long grain recording sheet whose grain direction is in parallel with a conveying direction of the recording sheet and a short grain feed mode of conveying a short grain recording sheet whose grain direction is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording sheet, the control unit changing, in accordance to the long grain feed mode and the short grain feed mode, temperature of a first rotating body set by the heating unit and setting of at least either one changeable setting among settings of a pressure-contact mechanism and a driving mechanism configured such that the setting of at least one of them is changeable.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a printing unit, a fixing device, a conveying roller, and a control unit. The printing unit is configured to form an image by transferring toner onto a sheet. The fixing device is configured to heat and fix the toner onto the sheet. The fixing device is disposed on the downstream side of the printing unit. The conveying roller is configured to convey the sheet from the fixing device. The conveying roller is disposed on the downstream side of the fixing device. The control unit is configured to control the sheet heated by the fixing device to pass through the conveying roller a plurality of times before the image is formed on the sheet by the printing unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing roll that is rotatable; a belt member that is stretched over the fixing roll; a pressurizing roll that pressurizes the fixing roll via the belt member; a belt pressing member that presses an outer surface of the belt member to the pressurizing roll from inside of the belt member on a downstream side at a pressure-contact position between the fixing roll and the pressurizing roll; and a controller that decrease a time difference between a passage time per unit area of a tip region of a recording medium and a passage time per unit area of a succeeding region of the recording medium to pass a pressure-contact portion between the fixing roll and belt pressing member and the pressurizing roll.

Abstract: An image formation device includes a receiving section, a formation section, a fixing section, a switching section, and a controller. The receiving section receives image formation data including image data, and sheet data which includes designations of a sheet and a corresponding fixing pressure. The formation section forms a toner image on the sheet. The fixing section fixes the toner image on the sheet. The switching section switches the fixing pressure between a first or second fixing pressure. When the fixing pressure is switched to the second fixing pressure and the fixing pressure designated by the sheet data is the first fixing pressure, the controller performs a mandatory image formation that includes a low-speed control that conveys the sheet at a speed lower than that for the first fixing pressure, and/or a toner suppression control that performs image formation with a smaller amount of toner than in normal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part which picks up a recording medium at a predetermined pickup timing and forms an image at a predetermined printing speed; and a controller which accelerates the timing for picking up the recording medium in advance of the predetermined pickup timing, and which lowers the printing speed so as to allow the printing operation to take place at a lower fusing temperature during warming up from a cold start in order to shorten the first print output time (FPOT).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on an image bearing member according to printing information; a transfer unit configured to transfer an unfixed toner image formed by the image forming unit onto a printing sheet; a fixing unit configured to heat the unfixed toner image carried on the printing sheet and fix the unfixed toner image on the printing sheet; a temperature measuring unit configured to measure the temperature of the fixing unit; and a quick-print processing unit configured to cause, when printing is started, even if the temperature of the fixing unit measured by the temperature measuring unit does not reach a ready temperature, the image forming unit to perform an image forming operation on the basis of a low process speed for enabling the fixing in the fixing unit, which is lower than a normal process speed corresponding to the ready temperature.

Abstract: An aspect is a medium detection device to detect a slack of a medium to be introduced into a fixation device in an image formation apparatus. The fixation device is detachable from a part of the image formation apparatus other than the fixation device. The medium detection device includes a lever support provided at the fixation device, a lever supported by the lever support such that the lever moves or displaces when the lever comes in contact with slack medium, a sensor support provided at the part of the image formation apparatus other than the fixation device, and a sensor supported by the sensor support and configured to detect the movement or the displacement of the lever.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including an upstream conveying portion, a downstream conveying portion, and a loop detector, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a driving portion which moves the contact portion to a projecting position where the sheet conveying path is in contact with a conveyed sheet and to a retracted position where the sheet conveying path is not in contact with the conveyed sheet, and a controlling portion which controls the driving portion such that the contact portion is moved from the projecting position to the retracted position before a tip end of a sheet which enters the sheet conveying path from the upstream conveying portion reaches the contact portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a fixing device that nips the recording medium and that rotates at a first peripheral velocity, to transport the recording medium, and to fix the image to the recording medium; a transport path; a first transporting section that rotates at a second peripheral velocity, and nips and transports the recording medium to which the image is fixed; a second transporting section that rotates at a third peripheral velocity, and nips and transports the recording medium to which the image is fixed; a detecting unit that detects a move-out timing; and a controller that controls a peripheral velocity of the second transporting section so as to be greater than the third peripheral velocity and less than the second peripheral velocity in accordance with the timing detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a fixing unit configured to fix the image formed by the image forming unit on the sheet, a cooling unit configured to cool the sheet having the image fixed thereon by the fixing unit, a curl amount changing unit configured to change an amount of curl of the sheet by bending the sheet having the image fixed thereon, and a path configured to guide the sheet having the image fixed thereon to the image forming unit, after the sheet is conveyed through the curl amount changing unit and the curl amount changing unit. The curl amount changing unit changes an amount of bending the sheet according to whether the sheet is stopped at the cooling unit or not.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, and a driving unit. The fixing member and the pressing member define a nip portion where a toner image is fixed on a recording material. The driving unit is provided to the fixing member and the pressing member to individually control linear velocities of outer circumferential surfaces of the fixing member and the pressing member. In feed mode in which the outer circumferential surfaces sandwich the recording material to fix the image on the recording material, the driving unit drives the fixing member and the pressing member such that the outer circumferential surfaces move at individual linear velocities to reduce a feed speed difference between front and rear surfaces of the recording material. In non-feed mode, the driving unit drives either one of the fixing member and the pressing member such that another member is driven by the one member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit and an apparatus main body. The fixing unit includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member and a fixing nip forming mechanism. The first rotating member is heated by a heating source. The second rotating member faces to the first rotating member. The fixing nip forming mechanism makes the second rotating member pressed to the first rotating member and forms a fixing nip between the first rotating member and second rotating member. To the apparatus main body, the fixing unit is attachably/detachably installed. The apparatus main body includes a nip pressure changing mechanism. The nip pressure changing mechanism presses the fixing nip forming mechanism and changes a pressure of the fixing nip.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device including: a heating member that, while rotating, heats and fixes a developer image onto a recording medium; a pressing member that nips and presses the recording medium between itself and the heating member; an external heating member configured to make contact with an outer surface of the heating member and to move away from the outer surface of the heating member, the external heating member making contact with the outer surface of the heating member and heating the heating member; and a moving section that computes a contact position of a leading edge of the recording medium and the outer surface of the heating member, and moves the external heating member such that the external heating member contacts the outer surface of the heating member based on the computed position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a shearing unit, a detection unit, and a controller. The fixing unit fixes a toner image in place on a printed surface of a recording medium. The shearing unit is disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path to at least partially shear toner from the fixed toner image, so as to create a shorn image area that exhibits a different image density than that of an intact, unshorn image area on the printed surface of the recording medium. The detection unit is disposed at least partially downstream from the shearing unit along the media conveyance path to measure the image densities of the shorn and unshorn image areas. The controller is operatively connected to the fixing unit and the detection unit to adjust one or more operational parameters according to a difference between the measured image densities.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a heater for heating an image formed on first and second recording materials, the second recording material being thicker than the first recording material; a pressing member for forming a nip, between itself and the heater, for nipping and conveying each recording material; and an executing portion for heating the images formed on the first and second recording materials under first and second heating conditions, respectively, in first and second operation modes, respectively. When the images are formed in the first mode and subsequently the image is formed in the second mode, a switching operation is carried out in which the first recording material is heated under a third image heating condition different from the first image heating condition. The switching operation is started before finishing the operation in the first mode.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The pressure member presses against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which multiple recording media, each spaced apart from each other by an interval distance in a conveyance direction, are sequentially conveyed at a conveyance speed. The heater is disposed adjacent to the fuser member to heat the fuser member. The controller is operatively connected to the heater to control power supply to the heater through a series of on-off switching control cycles, each including an on-time during which the heater power supply is on, and an off-time during which the heater power supply is off, in synchronization with conveyance of the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The pressure member presses against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which multiple recording media, each spaced apart from each other by an interval distance in a conveyance direction, are sequentially conveyed at a conveyance speed. The heater is disposed adjacent to the fuser member to heat the fuser member. The controller is operatively connected to the heater to control power supply to the heater through a series of on-off switching control cycles, each including an on-time during which the heater power supply is on, and an off-time during which the heater power supply is off, in synchronization with conveyance of the recording medium.