US Patent Application 18346957. IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS simplified abstract
Contents
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Kazuhiro Doda of Kanagawa (JP)
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18346957 titled 'IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
Simplified Explanation
The patent application describes an image forming apparatus that includes a fixing unit with a tubular film, pressure roller, and heater.
- The apparatus also includes a control unit that calculates the accumulated electrical energy supplied to a portion of the heating element.
- This portion of the heating element is located in an area of the nip portion where the recording material does not pass through.
- The control unit determines the operation of heat leveling, which levels the heat distribution in the nip portion after the recording material has passed through.
- The determination is based on the calculated accumulated electrical energy.
Original Abstract Submitted
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a tubular film, a pressure roller, and a heater including a heating element. The apparatus further includes a control unit configured to calculate an accumulated electrical energy supplied to a portion of the heating element. The portion of the heating element is located in an area corresponding to a second area of the nip portion. The second area is an area of the nip portion through which the recording material conveyed to the nip portion is not passed. The control unit is configured to determine an operation of heat leveling, which is performed for leveling a heat distribution in the nip portion after the recording material had passed the nip portion, based on the calculated accumulated electrical energy.
