US 12,147,177 B2
Image forming apparatus
Noriaki Sato, Shizuoka (JP); and Rikuo Kawakami, Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on May 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/326,101.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-091353 (JP), filed on Jun. 6, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0393504 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/205 (2013.01) [G03G 15/5004 (2013.01); G03G 15/5045 (2013.01); G03G 15/80 (2013.01); G03G 2215/00978 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an attachment portion to which any one of a first fixing apparatus and a second fixing apparatus is selectively attached; and
a power supply circuit including a plurality of power supply paths by which electric power is supplied to the first fixing apparatus or the second fixing apparatus attached to the attachment portion, the plurality of power supply paths being configured to control the electric power independently from each other,
wherein each of the plurality of power supply paths includes a power line configured to transmit electric power,
wherein the first fixing apparatus includes a plurality of first heating elements configured to generate heat when energized, the plurality of first heating elements is grouped into a plurality of groups configured to receive power supply independently from each other, and a number of the plurality of groups is equal to a number of the plurality of power supply paths,
wherein the second fixing apparatus includes at least one second heating element configured to generate heat when energized, and the at least one second heating element is grouped into at least one group whose number is smaller than the number of the power supply paths, and
wherein in a state where the second fixing apparatus is attached to the image forming apparatus, a power supply path of the plurality of power supply paths in which the power line has a largest allowable current value is electrically connected with the at least one second heating element.