Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus having the fixing apparatus

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a developing unit configured to develop an toner image by supplying decolorizable toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoconductor;
• a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image of the decolorizable toner on the photoconductor to a sheet;
• and
• a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image onto the sheet and including:
• a heating unit configured to heat a sheet having a layer of the decolorizable toner applied thereon and including:
• a roll member,
• an elastic layer formed on an outer periphery of the roll member, and
• a heat generating unit,
• a pressing unit configured to press the sheet towards the heating unit;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the heat generating unit, such that a first temperature at a portion of a first surface of the decolorizable toner layer contacting the heating unit is lower than a first predetermined temperature at which the decolorizable toner is decolorized, and a second temperature at a portion of the second surface of the decolorizable toner layer opposite to the first surface is higher than a second predetermined temperature at which the decolorizable toner is fixed onto the sheet.

A method for operating a fixing apparatus including:

• a heating unit configured to heat a sheet having a layer of decolorizable toner applied thereon and including:
• a roll member,
• an elastic layer formed on an outer periphery of the roll member, and
• a heat generating unit, and
• a pressing unit configured to press the sheet towards the heating unit,
• the method comprising:
• controlling the heat generating unit, such that a first temperature at a portion of a first surface of the decolorizable toner layer contacting the heating unit is lower than a first predetermined temperature at which the decolorizable toner is decolorized, and a second temperature at a portion of the second surface of the decolorizable toner layer opposite to the first surface is higher than a second predetermined temperature at which the decolorizable toner is fixed onto the sheet.