IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,078,298
Granted Patent B2
US 10,078,298 · App. 15/648,304 · Granted Sep 18, 2018

Image forming apparatus and fixing apparatus

Inventor: Tomonori Sato (Kakegawa, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G15/2017G03G15/04072G03G15/2039G03G15/80
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,078,298
App. No.
15/648,304
Granted
Sep 18, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a heating member, a temperature detection member detecting a temperature of the heating member, a control unit controlling power to be supplied to a heater, and an acquisition unit that acquires toner density information of the toner image to be formed on the recording material, wherein the acquisition unit acquires first toner density information in a predetermined area which is a portion of a maximum image formation area of the recording material and second toner density information in the maximum image formation area, and the predetermined area is an area including an area of the recording material corresponding to a detected area of the heating member detected by the temperature detection member, wherein the control unit sets the target temperature based on the first toner density information and the second toner density information.

Claims (26)

1. An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording material comprising:

an image forming unit that forms the toner image on the recording material;

a fixing unit that fixes the toner image, formed on the recording material by the image forming unit, on the recording material, wherein the fixing unit includes a heating unit and an opposed member forming a nip portion together with the heating unit, and the recording material on which the toner image has been formed by the nip portion is heated and conveyed;

a temperature detection member that detects a temperature of the heating unit;

a control unit that controls power to be supplied to the heating unit so that a detected temperature by the temperature detection member becomes a target temperature; and

an acquisition unit that acquires toner density information of the toner image to be formed on the recording material, wherein the acquisition unit acquires first toner density information and second toner density information, the first toner density information being the toner density information of the toner image to be formed on a predetermined area of the recording material which is a portion of a maximum image formation area of the recording material and which includes an area of the recording material corresponding to a detected area of the heating unit detected by the temperature detection member, the second toner density information being the toner density information of the toner image to be formed on the maximum image formation area of the recording material,

wherein the control unit sets the target temperature based on the first toner density information and the second toner density information.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the target temperature is a temperature obtained by correcting a reference temperature to become higher as toner density according to the second toner density information is higher, so as to become lower when toner density according to the first toner density information is higher than a predetermined density, than when the toner density according to the first toner density information is lower than the predetermined density.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heating unit includes a sleeve, and a heater in contact with an inner surface of the sleeve.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the heater forms the nip portion together with the opposed member across the sleeve.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the temperature detection member detects a temperature of the heater.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first toner density information is an average amount of toner of the toner image to be formed on the predetermined area of the recording material, and the second toner density information is an average amount of toner of the toner image to be formed on the maximum image formation area of the recording material.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined area of the recording material does not include a center of the recording material in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording material.

8. An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording material comprising:

an image forming unit that forms the toner image on the recording material;

a fixing unit that fixes the toner image, formed on the recording material by the image forming unit, on the recording material, wherein the fixing unit includes a heating unit and an opposed member forming a nip portion together with the heating unit, and the recording material on which the toner image has been formed by the nip portion is heated and conveyed;

a temperature detection member that detects a temperature of the heating unit;

a control unit that controls power to be supplied to the heating unit so that a detected temperature by the temperature detection member becomes a target temperature; and

an acquisition unit that acquires toner density information of the toner image to be formed on the recording material,

wherein the acquisition unit acquires the toner density information of the toner image to be formed on a predetermined area of the recording material which is a portion of a maximum image formation area of the recording material and which includes an area of the recording material corresponding to a detected area of the heating unit detected by the temperature detection member,

wherein the control unit controls the target temperature to become lower as toner density according to the toner density information is higher.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the heating unit includes a sleeve, and a heater in contact with an inner surface of the sleeve.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the heater forms the nip portion together with the opposed member across the sleeve.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the temperature detection member detects a temperature of the heater.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the toner density information is an average amount of toner of the toner image to be formed on the predetermined area of the recording material.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the predetermined area of the recording material does not include a center of the recording material in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording material.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2017
From: SATO, TOMONORI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 044127/0430 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-143009 · Jul 21, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180024476A1 · Jan 25, 2018