Patent ID: 7409172
Filing Date: 2008-08-05
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer portion which transfers a unfixed image borne by an image bearing member onto a recording material; a fixing device which fixes the unfixed image transfeffed at the transfer portion onto a recording material; a controlling device which controls a recording material conveyance speed of the fixing device so as to form a loop of the recording material between the transfer portion and the fixing device in a first mode which keep the loop of the recording material within a first range and in a second mode which keep the loop within a second range, a level of the loop within the second range is smaller than a level of the loop within the first range; wherein after a leading end of the recording material reaches the fixing device, the controlling device controls the recording material conveyance speed of the fixing device in the first mode, and before a rear end of the recording material reaches the transfer portion, the controlling device switches the recording material conveyance speed of the fixing device from the first mode to the second mode wherein the controlling device controls the recording material conveyance speed of the fixing device in the first mode and the second mode sequentially in the case where a rigidity of the recording material is smaller than a predetermined rigidity, and the controlling device controls the recording material conveyance speed of the fixing device in the second mode in the case where the rigidity of the recording material is greater than the predetermined rigidity.