Patent ID: 7130555
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing unit to thermally fix a toner on a recording medium, comprising: a fixing member having a plurality of internal heaters, and an outer peripheral surface configured to fix the toner on the recording medium; and a temperature sensor configured to detect a surface temperature of the fixing member at a temperature detecting position, said plurality of heaters receiving power based on the surface temperature detected by the temperature sensor so that the surface temperature becomes a predetermined temperature, at least one first heater, of the plurality of heaters, having a state which generates no heat in response to power supplied from a first power supply even during an operation of the fixing unit, remaining second heaters, of the plurality of heaters, being capable of constantly generating heat in response to power supplied from a second power supply during the operation of the fixing unit, one of the second heaters closest to the temperature detecting position is the same distance from the temperature detecting position as or is closer to the temperature detecting position than a first heater which is closest to the temperature detecting position.