Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a control circuit which controls the electrifying to a first heater so that a temperature detected by a first temperature detection portion reaches a first target temperature and controls the electrifying to a second heater so that a temperature detected by a second temperature detection portion reaches a second target temperature, when warm-up is initiated, and, when the warm-up initiated, if an initial temperature of a rotary member is below a predetermined temperature, the control circuit sets the first target temperature to a temperature value greater than the first target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature and sets the second target temperature to a temperature value greater than the second target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A fusing system includes: a fusing unit which comprises a fusing belt which rotates around outer surfaces of at least two rollers which are distanced from each other, and a pressing roller which presses a printing medium together with the fusing belts and fuses an image which is transferred to the printing medium; a heat source which receives power to generate heat, and is mounted inside at least one of the two rollers; a driving source which drives at least one of the two rollers; a sensing unit which senses a surface temperature of the fusing belt; and a control unit which controls the heat source and the driving source so that the fusing belt can be driven when the temperature of the fusing unit increases if a printing order is applied.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an operation state, standby state or installation environment of an image forming apparatus is detected or determined, and details of heating control of the surface temperature of rollers of a fixing apparatus are changed in accordance with the detected or determined state or environment. For example, when the operation state is a state in which printing on a last sheet of recording paper in a print job is complete, or when the operation state is a state in which printing on recording paper is interrupted, and, in addition, when the installation environment is a low-temperature and low-humidity environment and the image forming apparatus enters the standby state, heating of the rollers is respectively controlled to prevent unexpected and inappropriate changes in the surface temperature of the rollers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for saving power in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include determining if the image production device has been inactive for a predetermined period of time, wherein if it is determined that the image production device has been inactive for a predetermined period of time, decreasing a fuser fan's output by a predetermined amount, decreasing a fuser lamp setting by a predetermined amount, the fuser system being heated to operate at a temperature that is at a first predetermined level, setting a timer, determining if the fuser system's temperature is at a second predetermined level, wherein if it is determined that the fuser system's temperature is not at the second predetermined level, determining if the timer expired, wherein if it is determined that the timer expired, decreasing a fuser lamp setting by the predetermined amount and resetting the timer.

Abstract: A heating device heats, by electromagnetic induction heating, a heating member disposed in a fixing device for use in an image forming apparatus. The fixing device heats and fixes an image on a recording material while nipping and transporting the recording material. The heating device includes an exciting coil that is disposed along the heating member and generates an alternating magnetic flux to heat the heating member by electromagnetic induction heating, a demagnetizing coil that encircles part of the alternating magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil and generates an electro motive force in a direction that cancels the alternating magnetic flux, and a demagnetizing regulator that is provided in a demagnetizing circuit including the demagnetizing coil and adjusts a current to be generated in the demagnetizing coil.

Abstract: A printing device is provided comprising multiple marking engines including at least one marking engine and at least another marking engine that during operation place marks on output media. A power supply is further provided that selectively supplies selected levels of power from the at least one marking engine to the at least another marking engine for selected times so as to rotate readiness from the at least one marking engine to the at least another marking engine for operation to and from a dormant state. Power from the power supply is selectively distributed to the multiple marking engines so that the at least one marking engine is readied for operation while the at least another marking engine is removed from readiness.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which can communicate with a printing apparatus that operates in the first electric power state in which electric power necessary for a status response to an external request is supplied and the second electric power state in which no necessary electric power is supplied includes an acquisition unit which acquires a shift notice from the first electric power state to the second electric power state that is transmitted from the printing apparatus, and a control unit which hastens access to the printing apparatus on the basis of the shift notice acquired by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: In a case where a process is carried out with respect to an envelope in a fixing process mode, at least either (i) a set temperature of a fixing roller 60 in a fixing process or (ii) a set temperature of an endless belt 83 in the fixing process which endless belt 83 is provided in an external heating device 80 is changed in accordance with a time period between an end of a warm-up mode and a start of the fixing process mode. This makes it possible to prevent both a wrinkle and inadequate fixing in a fixing process of an envelope carried out by a fixing device of an external heating method.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member and a belt cooperative with the heating rotatable member to form a nip in which an image on a recording material is heated. The apparatus further comprises control means that rotates the heating rotatable member and the belt when changing means changes the relative position of the heating rotatable member and the belt from a spacing position to a contact position at a lower speed than in a period after the relative position changes from the spacing position to the contacting position and which is before the recording material enters the nip.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heat applying member heated by a heat source, a pressure applying member pressure contacting the heat applying member with a prescribed pressure, and a temperature detection device that detects temperature of the heat applying member. A timing device is provided to count time elapsing from when the heat source starts heating the heat-applying member. A control device is provided to determine that heat application as a start up operation to the heating member is completed when the temperature detected by the temperature detection device reaches a prescribed threshold and the elapsing time counted by the timing device reaches a prescribed threshold.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having (1) a main power supply unit (PSU), which converts an AC power source into an AC power and a first DC power, provides the AC power to a fusing unit, and provides the first DC power to a plurality of DC-powered units in the image forming apparatus, (2) a supplemental power supply unit, which accumulates the AC power source and provides a second DC power to the plurality of DC-powered units for a predetermined period, and (3) a controller, which increases or decreases the AC power to be provided to the fusing unit and selects the DC power source from the main PSU and the supplemental PSU by detecting that the supplemental PSU can provide the DC power to the plurality of DC-powered units or not. When the supplemental power supply unit can provide DC power to the Plurality of DC-powered units, the controller increases the AC power from the main power supply unit to the fusing unit and shortens the recovery time.

Abstract: An image-forming system includes an image-forming apparatus, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the image-forming apparatus. The terminal device comprises a signal-transmitting unit. The image-forming apparatus comprises an image-forming unit; a signal-receiving unit; a first storage unit for storing a starting condition of a preparing action for image formation in the image-forming unit; a first determining unit for determining whether the starting condition is satisfied at the time the signal-receiving unit receives the signal from the terminal device; and an instruction unit for providing an instruction to start the preparing action in the image-forming unit when the first determining unit determines that the starting condition is satisfied.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article, system and method for thermally conditioning an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus may incorporate a heating device and a component that includes a lubricant. The component including the lubricant may be preheated before movement and then rotated at reduced speeds prior to a printing operation. This may occur during an image forming apparatus cold start or power saver mode.

Abstract: A fixing device using a belt fixing method includes a fixing belt which satisfies 42.2?ER?0.1044×D×??0.5174, where: D represents an inner diameter of the fixing belt; A represents a second inner diameter of the fixing belt, the second inner diameter being a distance between respective axial centers of a supporting member and a spindle in a state where the fixing belt is held with a tensile load of 0.383 gf/mm by (i) suspending the fixing belt from the supporting member inserted in a loop of the fixing belt, and (ii) further inserting the spindle in the loop of the fixing belt, the supporting member and the spindle having a shape of a roller with a diameter of 0.26×D; ER represents an elongation rate of the fixing belt and is formulated as ER=(A?D)/D×100; and ? represents a coefficient of kinetic friction between the fixing belt and the fixing roller.

Abstract: The non-sheet-feeding portion temperature rise is reduced during warm-up operation of an image heating apparatus, the time needed for the warm-up operation is reduced, and the accuracy of the image fixing operation is improved. When a CPU determines that a temperature detected by an end portion thermistor is higher than a temperature detected by a center portion thermistor, the CPU controls the temperature of a fixing heater based on a detection result of the end portion thermistor. When the CPU determines that the temperature detected by the end portion thermistor is equal to or less than the temperature detected by the center portion thermistor, the CPU controls the temperature of the fixing heater based on a detection result of the center portion thermistor.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming part, a fixing part including a heater and a temperature detection element; and a power-control part that controls power to be supplied to the heater according to the detection temperature of the temperature detection element, wherein during the power to be supplied to the heater is controlled so as to keep the detection temperature at a control target temperature, if the on-duty ratio selected so to keep the detection temperature at the control target temperature is a specific on-duty ratio and the specific on-duty ratio continues for a predetermined number of cycles, the power-control part switches to another control cycle different in the number of consecutive half-waves of the AC waveform from the control cycle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member driving part that drives a photosensitive member, a counting part that carries out an adding operation when the photosensitive member driving part drives the photosensitive member, and carries out a subtracting operation when the photosensitive member driving part stops the photosensitive member; and a control part that interrupts, when a count value of the counting part becomes equal to or more than a first predetermined value, a printing operation of driving the photosensitive member, forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, and fixing a toner adhering to the photosensitive member onto a recording sheet, and causes the counting part to start the subtracting operation.

Abstract: Upon completing a preparation operation including different processes, an image formation apparatus shifts to ready state in which image formation is executable, the processes including at least one process executed using a corresponding motor. The image formation apparatus comprises: an obtainer for obtaining, for each process, an estimated time period between start and completion thereof; and a controller for starting execution of, out of the processes, (i) one process whose estimated time period is the longest, then (ii) any other process so that any other process is executed in parallel with said one process. When said one process is included in the at least one process, the controller initiates the motor by high-speed initiation by applying thereto first voltage that is higher than second voltage. When any other process is included in the at least one process, the controller initiates the motor by normal initiation by applying thereto first voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a heater to which electric power is fed from a commercial power supply and a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heater, an auxiliary power supply that is charged by the commercial power supply and discharges electricity to a specific load, and a control unit that controls ON and OFF of the heater and ON and OFF of charging of the auxiliary power supply. The control unit turns on the heater when a detected temperature of the sensor is lower than a first set temperature and turns off when the detected temperature is higher than the first set temperature, while the control unit turns on the charging of the auxiliary power supply when the detected temperature is higher than a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature and turns off the charging when the detected temperature is lower than the second set temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to printers and media fixing mechanisms such as fusers and management of fuser performance. An article, device, method, and system are provided in which the time to the fuser nip of a sheet of media may be calculated and may be compared to the fuser ramp time. When the fuser ramp time exceeds the time for the sheet of media to reach the fuser nip, the fuser may be turned on.

Abstract: The heating apparatus has a heating member and a pressure member which are mutually pressure-welded to hold and convey and heat a heated member to be heated by a nip portion formed between the heating member and the pressure member, includes a temperature detector, power control means, and a curl reduction mode for setting a paper conveyance interval temperature which is the target temperature of the heating member set in a paper conveyance interval which is a period from end of heating the M-th member to be heated up to start of heating the M+1-th member to be heated in continuous heating of N members to be heated or in a certain period in the paper conveyance interval to a temperature higher than the heating temperature of a member to be heated which is the target temperature of the heating member when heating the M+1-th member to be heated.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing part and a controller controlling power to be supplied to the heating unit so as to keep the temperature of the heating unit at a control target temperature, wherein when the fixing process is ended, in the standby-mode, the supply of power to the heating unit is started to keep the temperature of the heating unit at the control target temperature, and a start timing of the supply of power to the heating unit is set to a timing when the temperature of the heating unit is lowered to a predetermined temperature lower than the control target temperature. By the virtue of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the image forming apparatus in the standby-mode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a predetermined period different from a fixing process period in which fixing of toner to recording paper is carried out is set as a toner removal period, and during the toner removal period a hot roller and a pressure roller are intermittently rotated, and separation claws in contact with the rollers are caused to vibrate by the intermittent rotation of the rollers such that toner adhered to the separation claws is caused to drop due to this and is removed. Also, faces of the separation claws that oppose the surfaces of the hot roller and the pressure roller are set in a convex shape.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided. A fixing device includes a heating section that has a heat source comprised of a ceramic heat generating element that generates heat by electric power supply and has a positive temperature coefficient property. Then, in the heating section, an applied voltage value by a voltage variable power source to the ceramic heat generating element is variably controlled by a control unit such that an input power value in the ceramic heat generating element is approximately constant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a fuser in a marking device is disclosed. The method may include determining a total power available for warm-up of fuser elements in a fuser, determining power constraints of the fuser elements, selecting a power allocation to be applied to the fuser elements, calculating a fuser warm-up time based on the determined total power available, the determined power constraints, and the selected power allocation, determining whether the fuser warm-up time is reduced, wherein if the fuser warm-up time is reduced, applying the selected power allocation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a power switch for turning on and off a power source. An electric power saving mode designation acceptor can accept a designation to set a power saving mode to suppress power consumption. The apparatus further has an image former for forming a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device for thermally fixing the toner image; a heater for heating the fixing device; and an electric power saving controller for shifting to the power saving mode if the power saving mode designation is accepted by the power saving mode designation acceptor, and for controlling the heating section to heat the fixing device to a predetermined fixing temperature necessary for fixing the toner image on the sheet if the power saving mode designation is not accepted by the electric power saving mode designation acceptor, in response to shifting of the power switch from off to on.

Abstract: A device for fusing a predetermined toner image on a paper and which electrically insulates a heating body of a fusing unit from a power supply unit by heating the heating body using an induced current generated by a transformer. The fusing device includes an insulation unit for generating an induced current in response to an alternating current, a heating body heated by the generated induced current, a toner fusing unit which fuses the toner image on the paper using the heat received from the heating body, and a tube-expansion adhesion portion closely adhering the heating body to the toner fusing unit using a predetermined tube-expansion pressure.

Abstract: A fixing device which can prevent deterioration and breakage of each member, and an image forming apparatus having the fixing device are provided. A separation/contact mechanism carries out separation/contact operation of an external heating section with respect to a fixing roller by turning the whole external heating section using a central axis of a rotation supporting roller out of a pair of rotation supporting rollers, as a rotation axis. This constitution can decrease impact force generated at the time of pressure-contact, and can prevent deterioration and breakage of the external heating belt and the fixing roller. Furthermore, when a heater lamp is provided in only the rotation supporting roller, positional deviation and damage of the heater lamp can be prevented.

Abstract: An image data processing apparatus shifting to a power saving mode depending on whether a particular process is in progress on an image processing apparatus. A controller examines processes of host computers through a network, and controls a state of supplying power to blocks functioning for an image forming process, the blocks including a rasterizer, a memory, a printer engine, and a compressor/expander.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a temperature of a heating member heated by a heat source to fix a developer image on a recording sheet is detected by a temperature sensor disposed apart from the heating member. A controller controls the heat source based upon a temperature determined mathematically by application of a specific function to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. In the controller, the specific function is switched among a plurality of functions according to a control mode which is switchable among a plurality of modes and in which operation of the heat source is regulated.

Abstract: A fixing device thermally fixes an image developed on a recording sheet. The fixing device includes: a heating roller heated by a heat source and having a first end side and a second end side with respect to an axial direction; a power supply member for supplying the heat source with power for use in heating the heating roller; a first bearing formed of a conductive material, attached to the first end side of the heating roller and connected to a ground; and an second bearing formed of an insulating material and attached to the second end side of the heating roller. The power supply member is disposed at the second end side of the heating roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a connection unit, a display unit, a detector unit detecting the connection of the vendor to the connection unit and detecting the receipt of at least either one of card insertion and coin insertion by the vendor, a fixing unit, a power supply unit distributing power to the display unit and the fixing unit, and a control unit causing the power supply unit to distribute power to the fixing unit so that the fixing unit maintains a second standby temperature lower than a first standby temperature being lower than a toner image heating temperature while causing the power supply unit to maintain the power distribution to the display unit when the detector unit does not detect the receipt of at least either one of the card insertion and the coin insertion by the vendor while detecting the connection of the vendor to the connection unit.

Abstract: A method for stepped energy savings for a printing device is described. A temperature of a fuser of a printing device is reduced to a first reduced temperature after a first idle interval has passed in which there is no printing activity at the printing device. The first reduced temperature is calculated to be a temperature from which the fuser can be raised to an operating temperature in a first specified percentage of the full power up time. The full power up time being the time required to change the fuser from an ambient temperature to the operating temperature. If there is no printing activity during the first idle interval and a second idle interval, the fuser of the printing device is reduced to a second reduced temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes: a reading unit; an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a fixing unit; a mode selecting unit that selects a first mode from plural modes, in the first mode of which a document is read by the reading unit and the image is formed by the image forming unit; a temperature controlling unit that controls a temperature of the fixing unit to be one of a fixing state a standby state and a sleep state; a sleep transferring unit that transfers to the sleep state; and a switching unit that switches the fixing unit to the standby state on selecting the first mode. The temperature is controlled to transfer to the standby state on switching to transfer to the standby state, and otherwise, controlled to be in the sleep state is until receiving an instruction to the first mode.

Abstract: Fusers for fusing toner on media, printing apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in printing apparatuses are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the fusers comprises a fuser roll comprising a fusing imaging surface; at least one heating element for heating the fuser roll; a pressure roll including an outer surface, the outer surface and the fusing imaging surface defining a nip; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature on the fusing imaging surface; a time delay calculator connected to the temperature sensor; a feedback controller connected to the temperature sensor and the heating element, the feedback controller receives a signal from the temperature sensor indicating the temperature on the fusing imaging surface and controls the heating element based on the temperature; and an open-loop controller connected to the heating element and the time delay calculator.

Abstract: A fixing unit adapted to fix a developing agent onto an image forming medium by way of a heat roller containing a heater and a press roller conducts a warming up operation for the optimum warming up time as determined based on the temperature and the humidity of ambient air detected by a temperature/humidity sensor.

Abstract: An electric power supply part supplies electric power to a heat-generating member and a power requiring part. A control part controls electric power supplied to the heat-generating member and the power requiring part. A first mode is to supply electric power to the heat-generating member from only a main electric power supply device and to the power requiring part from both the main electric power supply device and an auxiliary electric power requiring part. A second mode is to supply electric power to the heat-generating member and the power requiring part from only the main electric power supply device and causing electric power supplied to the heat-generating member to be smaller than a rated electric power of the heat-generating member. The electric power supplied to the heat-generating member in the first mode is caused to be larger than the electric power supplied to the heat-generating member in the second mode.

Abstract: A fixing control device includes a power distribution controller that adjusts a power distribution time period when the power is distributed to plural heater elements per control cycle, a turn on time determining member that determines a time when each of the plural heater elements is turned on based on a duty ratio between the power distribution time period and the control cycle, and a soft operation controller that either gradually starts or stops heating each of the plural heater elements during a soft start or stop period, respectively. One of the soft start and stop periods for one of the plural heater elements is decreased not to overlap with another one of the plural heater elements.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus an aspect of the present invention includes, a heating object which generates the heat by a magnetic flux produced from a coil which generates a predetermined magnetic flux by electromagnetic induction in accordance with a frequency of an input current, and a pressurization mechanism which can provide a predetermined pressure to the heating object, and a coil of the heating object is formed of a litz wire obtained by twisting the number of conductors having a small cross section which are not affected by the skin effect caused due to the frequency of the input current, the number of which allows passage of a quantity of current to be inputted.

Abstract: A fixing device which can reduce an overshoot of the surface temperature of a main heating section without lengthening a warming-up period of time, an image forming apparatus equipped therewith, and a recording medium on which is recorded the temperature control program are provided. In a standby mode, control is performed to stop an operation of a halogen lamp which is an internal heat source, when a surface temperature of a heating roller reaches a certain temperature lower than a target temperature, or when the operating period of time of the halogen lamp reaches a certain period of time. By so doing, as the heating roller ceases to be heated at a point at which it reaches a temperature lower than the target temperature, it is possible to reduce the overshoot of the surface temperature of the heating roller.

Abstract: A fixing device, including a fixing rotary body including a first heat source, a pressing rotary body including a second heat source, and a control device configured to cause, at a time of warm-up of the fixing device, the fixing rotary body to rotate while causing at least one of the first heat source and the second heat source to generate heat, and to allow, after a surface temperature of the fixing rotary body has risen to a preselected warm-up temperature, a sheet pass or a printing to be executed and cause, if a sheet pass is not executed, the fixing rotary body to rotate for a preselected period of time.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus and an image forming apparatus of the present invention are arranged so that a fixing control section causes a fixing roller to additionally rotate so that the additional rotation corresponds to a driving delay time also after turning OFF an external heating roller heater when shifting from a temperature raising step in which surface temperature of the fixing roller is raised so as to be equal to a preset fixing temperature to a standby mode and when turning OFF the external heating roller heater and stopping the fixing roller. As a result, it is possible to provide a fixing apparatus and an image forming apparatus in which a surface of a fixing roller is free from deterioration or breakage caused by local heating carried out by an external heating roller.

Abstract: A fusing roller in an image forming apparatus heats and fuses a developed image transferred to a recording medium. A heat generator is controlled to maintain a detected temperature of the fusing roller at a reference fusing temperature until a predetermined time period is elapsed from when a trigger signal for starting preheating provided prior to entry of a print command is entered, and is stopped when the predetermined time period elapses. The fusing roller is rotated while being heated until the detected temperature once reaches the reference fusing temperature, and thereafter the detected temperature is maintained at the reference fusing temperature until the predetermined time period elapses by heating but not rotating the fusing roller.

Abstract: A fixing device of this invention enables variable control of power to be supplied to a heat roller side or a press roller side in accordance with the temperature of the heat roller and the press roller while each mode is carried out. In a copy mode, the temperature of the heat roller and the press roller is finely controlled. In a copy standby mode, only the power required for maintaining a set temperature is supplied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling a fusing unit thereof are provided. The method includes: detecting a present mode of the image forming apparatus; selecting a waveform number control to control an electric power source which is supplied to the fusing unit when the present mode is a standby mode; and supplying the electric power source to one of a plurality of heat generating members depending on the waveform number control to prevent the plurality of heat generating members from being simultaneously supplied with the electric power.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for image fixing are disclosed. A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a heater, and a pressure controller. The fixing member and the pressure member face with each other to form a nip. The heater heats a surface of the fixing member when the fixing member rotates. The pressure controller changes a pressure generated at the nip, according to an operation of the fixing device.

Abstract: A method for setting a heater element of a fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition to achieve consistency in heating power measurement is provided. The heater element is heated to a first predefined temperature when the temperature of the heater element is less than the first predefined temperature. The temperature of the heater element is maintained within a predefined range for a predefined period of time. This sets the temperature of the heater element in the fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition. Thereafter, the heating power estimation measurement is made and heating power supplied to the fuser assembly is estimated. This controls the heating power delivered to the fuser assembly in a consistent manner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form a developer image on a medium, a heating body to heat the developer image formed on the medium, a heat source provided in the heating body to heat the heating body, and a pressing body arranged opposite to the heating body to permit the medium to pass between the pressing body and the heating body, thereby pressurizing the developer image. The image forming apparatus further includes a controller to drive the heat source, even if the heating body is heated from the room temperature state, and the temperature of the heating body rises higher than the fixing temperature, and then the temperature of the heating body is higher than the fixing temperature.

Abstract: A system and a method in which the engine dynamically decides which process speed to warm up to based on the number & size of pages currently submitted to the engine, and thus deliver the best job time dynamically.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming device for forming a toner image on a recording material; a plurality of image heating devices for sequentially heating an image on the recording material in one of plural modes; a selecting device for selecting the mode and thus the number of the image heating devices to be used for heating the image; and a manual setting device for manually setting an operating condition of at least one of the image heating devices.