Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a film-shaped cylindrical body, a heating body unit, a first member, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The cylindrical body has a sheet-passing region coming into contact with the sheet to fix the image to the sheet moving in a first direction. The cylindrical body is broader than the sheet-passing region in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The heating body unit includes a heating body and comes into contact with a first surface inside the cylindrical body. The first member is disposed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the heating body. The first member has an outer end disposed outside an outer end of the sheet-passing region in the second direction. The control unit allows the heating body to generate heat inside the outer end of the sheet-passing region in the second region.

Abstract: A fixing unit or device that can be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first heater element that is formed of a material that increases in electrical resistance with increases in temperature. A controller of the fixing unit is configured to vary a duty ratio of electric power applied to the first heater element during a start-up operation in which the temperature of the first heater element is raised to a target operating temperature. By varying the duty ratio during the start-up operation, changes in the resistance of the first heater element with the heating can be compensated. For example, the duty ratio can be increased during the course of the start-up to achieve the target operating temperature faster.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes a tubular body and a heater unit inside the tubular body. The heater unit has a longitudinal direction parallel to an axial direction of the tubular body. A first surface side of the heater unit contacts the tubular body. A heat equalizing member is on a second surface side of the heater unit. The heater unit is between the heat equalizing member and the tubular body. The heat equalizing member includes a heat transfer sheet and a protective member. A support member is configured to hold the heat equalizing member and the heater unit. The heat equalizing member is between the support member and the second surface side of the heater unit.

Abstract: A device configured to fix toner to a sheet including a tubular body, a heater, and a heat conduction section. The tubular body is configured to be in contact with a sheet moving in a first direction. The heater includes a heat generator. The heater includes a first surface and a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface. The first surface of the heater is in contact with the inner surface of the tubular body. The heat conduction section is in contact with the second surface of the heater. The heat conduction section includes a first heat transfer section and a second heat transfer section. The first heat transfer section is in contact with the second surface of the heater. The second heat transfer section is in contact with the surface opposite to the heater with respect to the first heat transfer section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a film-shaped cylindrical body, a heating body unit, a first member, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The cylindrical body has a sheet-passing region coming into contact with the sheet to fix the image to the sheet moving in a first direction. The cylindrical body is broader than the sheet-passing region in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The heating body unit includes a heating body and comes into contact with a first surface inside the cylindrical body. The first member is disposed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the heating body. The first member has an outer end disposed outside an outer end of the sheet-passing region in the second direction. The control unit allows the heating body to generate heat inside the outer end of the sheet-passing region in the second region.

Abstract: A fixing unit or device that can be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first heater element that is formed of a material that increases in electrical resistance with increases in temperature. A controller of the fixing unit is configured to vary a duty ratio of electric power applied to the first heater element during a start-up operation in which the temperature of the first heater element is raised to a target operating temperature. By varying the duty ratio during the start-up operation, changes in the resistance of the first heater element with the heating can be compensated. For example, the duty ratio can be increased during the course of the start-up to achieve the target operating temperature faster.

Abstract: A heating unit includes a rotating cylinder rotating about an axis parallel to a first direction. A first and second temperature sensor are provided contacting the inner surface of the rotating cylinder. A heater has a length in the first direction and a width in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the second direction aligned with a rotational direction of the rotating cylinder. A support member holds the heater in a fixed position relative to the rotating cylinder. The heating unit may include, in some examples, a stay supporting the support member and the temperature sensors.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a belt, and a heater configured to heat the belt and including a substrate and a heating layer that is formed on the substrate, and a controller configured to shut off the heater if no current flows through the belt.

Abstract: A device configured to fix toner to a sheet including a tubular body, a heater, and a heat conduction section. The tubular body is configured to be in contact with a sheet moving in a first direction. The heater includes a heat generator. The heater includes a first surface and a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface. The first surface of the heater is in contact with the inner surface of the tubular body. The heat conduction section is in contact with the second surface of the heater. The heat conduction section includes a first heat transfer section and a second heat transfer section. The first heat transfer section is in contact with the second surface of the heater. The second heat transfer section is in contact with the surface opposite to the heater with respect to the first heat transfer section.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a fixing belt, and a heater configured to heat the fixing belt and including a substrate and a heating layer that is formed on the substrate, and a controller configured to, upon detecting an absence of a current flowing through the fixing belt, control the heater to not generate heat.

Abstract: A heating unit includes a rotating cylinder rotating about an axis parallel to a first direction. A heater having a width in a second direction is on the inner surface of the cylinder. A support member holds the heater fixed relative to the cylinder and includes an upstream member adjacent to the heater in the second direction and a downstream member adjacent to the heater in the second direction. The heating unit may include, in some examples, a stay supporting the support member, a guide member on the stay, and a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of an inner surface of the cylinder. In some examples, the support member may comprise a plurality of ribs.

Abstract: A device configured to fix toner to a sheet including a tubular body, a heater, and a heat conduction section. The tubular body is configured to be in contact with a sheet moving in a first direction. The heater includes a heat generator. The heater includes a first surface and a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface. The first surface of the heater is in contact with the inner surface of the tubular body. The heat conduction section is in contact with the second surface of the heater. The heat conduction section includes a first heat transfer section and a second heat transfer section. The first heat transfer section is in contact with the second surface of the heater. The second heat transfer section is in contact with the surface opposite to the heater with respect to the first heat transfer section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet. A fixing device heats the sheet and includes a tubular body that presses against the sheet and rotates, and a heat generator contacts an inside surface of the tubular body. The length dimension of the heat generator is aligned with the axial direction of the tubular body. The heat generator has a first row of first heating elements with a first gap between each adjacent pair of first heating elements and a second row of second heating elements. The first and second rows are offset from one another in a width direction corresponding to the sheet conveyance direction. A second gap is between each adjacent pair of second heating elements in the longitudinal direction. The positions of the first gaps are different from positions of the second gaps.

Abstract: A heating device includes a rotatable film, a heater disposed inside the film and including a substrate that extends along a first direction and having two surfaces opposite to each other, and a heater element on one of the surfaces of the substrate, and a heat conductor including a first portion contacting the other surface of the substrate, and a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and does not contact the other surface of the substrate. A width of the second portion is wider than the heater element in the second direction.

Abstract: A heating device includes a rotatable film, a heater including a substrate that extends along a first direction and having two surfaces opposite to each other, and a heater element on one of the surfaces of the substrate, and a heat conductor having first and second surfaces and including a first portion contacting the other surface of the substrate, and a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and does not contact the other surface of the substrate. A thickness of the first portion of the heat conductor from the first surface to the second surface is greater than a thickness of the second portion from the first surface to the second surface.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylinder, a heater, a contact body, and a soaking member. The heater has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The heater includes a heating element extending along a longitudinal direction of the heater. The first surface engages with an inner surface of the cylinder. The contact body is configured to engage with the inner surface of the cylinder. The contact body is configured to be heated at a first position along the longitudinal direction at a first temperature increase rate and at a second position along the longitudinal direction at a second temperature increase rate that is lower than the first temperature increase rate. The soaking member is positioned to engage with the opposing second surface of the heater. The soaking member has a second thermal capacity lower than a first thermal capacity at the respective second and first positions.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylinder, a heater, a contact body, and a soaking member. The heater has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The heater includes a heating element extending along a longitudinal direction of the heater. The first surface engages with an inner surface of the cylinder. The contact body is configured to engage with the inner surface of the cylinder. The contact body is configured to be heated at a first position along the longitudinal direction at a first temperature increase rate and at a second position along the longitudinal direction at a second temperature increase rate that is lower than the first temperature increase rate. The soaking member is positioned to engage with the opposing second surface of the heater. The soaking member has a second thermal capacity lower than a first thermal capacity at the respective second and first positions.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylinder, a heater, a contact body, and a soaking member. The heater has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The heater includes a heating element extending along a longitudinal direction of the heater. The first surface engages with an inner surface of the cylinder. The contact body is configured to engage with the inner surface of the cylinder. The contact body is configured to be heated at a first position along the longitudinal direction at a first temperature increase rate and at a second position along the longitudinal direction at a second temperature increase rate that is lower than the first temperature increase rate. The soaking member is positioned to engage with the opposing second surface of the heater. The soaking member has a second thermal capacity lower than a first thermal capacity at the respective second and first positions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet. A fixing device heats the sheet and includes a tubular body that presses against the sheet and rotates, and a heat generator contacts an inside surface of the tubular body. The length dimension of the heat generator is aligned with the axial direction of the tubular body. The heat generator has a first row of first heating elements with a first gap between each adjacent pair of first heating elements and a second row of second heating elements. The first and second rows are offset from one another in a width direction corresponding to the sheet conveyance direction. A second gap is between each adjacent pair of second heating elements in the longitudinal direction. The positions of the first gaps are different from positions of the second gaps.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a film-shaped cylindrical body, a heating body unit, a first member, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The cylindrical body has a sheet-passing region coming into contact with the sheet to fix the image to the sheet moving in a first direction. The cylindrical body is broader than the sheet-passing region in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The heating body unit includes a heating body and comes into contact with a first surface inside the cylindrical body. The first member is disposed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the heating body. The first member has an outer end disposed outside an outer end of the sheet-passing region in the second direction. The control unit allows the heating body to generate heat inside the outer end of the sheet-passing region in the second region.