Image forming apparatus that changes nip pressure based on sheet characteristics

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a feeding unit configured to feed a recording material placed on a plate;
• an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording material;
• a conveying unit including a first rotating member and a second rotating member, wherein the conveying unit is configured to convey the recording material and to apply a nip pressure from a nip portion formed by the first rotating member and the second rotating member;
• a switching unit configured to switch the nip pressure between at least three levels;
• a detecting unit provided between the feeding unit and the conveying unit and configured to detect property information regarding the recording material;
• and
• a control unit configured to, in response to an instruction to form the image on the recording material, control the switching unit to switch the nip pressure to a first state based on information regarding image forming on the recording material before detection of property information regarding the recording material by the detecting unit is completed, and determine a second state of the nip pressure based on information regarding image forming on the recording material and the property information detected by the detecting unit after detection of property information regarding the recording material by the detecting unit is completed,
• wherein, in a case where the first state and the second state are identical, the control unit controls the switching unit not to switch the nip pressure from the first state, and
• wherein, in a case where the first state and the second state are different, the control unit controls the switching unit to switch the nip pressure to the second state.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a feeding unit configured to feed a recording material placed on a plate;
• an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording material;
• a fixing unit configured to fix an image formed by the image forming unit to the recording material;
• a conveying unit including a first rotating member and a second rotating member,
• wherein the conveying unit is configured to convey the recording material and to apply a nip pressure from a nip portion formed by the first rotating member and the second rotating member, and wherein the conveying unit is a curl correction mechanism configured to correct a curl formed by the fixing unit on the recording material;
• a switching unit configured to switch the nip pressure between at least three levels;
• a detecting unit provided between the feeding unit and the conveying unit and configured to detect property information regarding the recording material;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the switching unit,
• wherein, in response to an instruction to form the image on the recording material and before detection of property information regarding the recording material by the detecting unit is completed, the control unit is configured to control the switching unit to switch the nip pressure, and
• wherein, in response to the instruction to form the image on the recording material and after detection of the property information regarding the recording material by the detecting unit is completed, the control unit is configured to control the switching unit to switch the nip pressure.