# US 2014/0153951 A1 · Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus having the fixing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153951 A1 - Document ID: US20140153951A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/096,426 - Filed: 2013-12-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha; Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha; Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Inventors: Shoko SHIMMURA; Hiroshi KATAKURA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153951A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/2039: {with means for controlling the fixing temperature} - G03G 15/6585: {by using non-standard toners, e.g. transparent toner, gloss adding devices} - G03G 2215/2032: the belt further entrained around additional rotating belt support members - G03G 2215/2041: the fixing nip being formed by tensioning the belt over a surface portion of a pressure member - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A fixing apparatus includes a heating unit configured to heat a sheet having a layer of decolorizable toner applied thereon, a pressing unit configured to press the sheet towards the heating unit, and a control unit. The heating unit includes a roll member, an elastic layer formed on an outer periphery of the roll member, and a heat generating unit. The control unit is 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fixing apparatus, comprising: 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; 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a nip is formed between the pressing unit and a portion of the heating unit pressed by the pressing unit, and the portion of the first surface and the portion of the second surface are located at an end of the nip in a sheet conveying direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic layer is a silicone rubber layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the elastic layer is equal to or greater than 100 μm and equal or smaller than 400 μm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing unit includes a belt pressing the sheet towards the heating unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The fixing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pressing unit further includes a heat generating unit, and the control unit is configured to control the heat generating unit of the pressing unit to generate heat. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing unit includes a roll member pressing the sheet towards the heating unit. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a nip is formed between the pressing unit and a portion of the heating unit pressed by the pressing unit, and the portion of the first surface and the portion of the second surface are located at an end of the nip in a sheet conveying direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the elastic layer is a silicone rubber layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a thickness of the elastic layer is equal to or greater than 100 μm and equal or smaller than 400 μm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pressing unit includes a belt pressing the sheet towards the heating unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the pressing unit further includes a heat generating unit, and the control unit is configured to control the heat generating unit of the pressing unit to generate heat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pressing unit includes a roll member pressing the sheet towards the heating unit. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein a nip is formed between the pressing unit and a portion of the heating unit pressed by the pressing unit, and the portion of the first surface and the portion of the second surface are located at an end of the nip in a sheet conveying direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the elastic layer is a silicone rubber layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein a thickness of the elastic layer is equal to or greater than 100 μm and equal or smaller than 400 μm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the pressing unit includes a belt pressing the sheet towards the heating unit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the pressing unit further includes a heat generating unit, and the method further comprising: controlling the heat generating unit of the pressing unit to generate heat.