Patent ID: 8995860
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image fixing apparatus comprising: a fixing unit configured to heat and fix, onto a recording material, an unfixed image formed on the recording material; a first temperature detection element configured to detect a temperature of one end region in the fixing unit where a standard recording material does not pass that has a smallest width and is available for the apparatus; a second temperature detection element configured to detect a temperature of another end region in the fixing unit; a first fan configured to cool the one end region by starting to be driven when the temperature detected by the first temperature detection element reaches a cooling starting temperature; a second fan configured to cool the other end region by starting to be driven when the temperature detected by the second temperature detection element reaches a cooling starting temperature; a first shutter configured to change a width to be cooled by the first fan; and a second shutter configured to change a width to be cooled by the second fan, the second shutter moves in conjunction with the first shutter, wherein the apparatus is configured to drive the first and second shutters according to a size of the recording material to change the widths to be cooled by the first and second fans; and wherein, if the temperature of the one end region is different from that of the another end region during fixing processing, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection element corresponding to one of the first and second fans corresponding to one end region where the temperature is higher reaches the cooling starting temperature, the one fan starts to be driven at a first rotation speed, and, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection element corresponding to another fan within a temperature range lower than the cooling starting temperature while the one fan is being driven at the first rotation speed, the other fan starts to be driven at a second rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed.