Abstract: A fixing device includes at least one temperature detector and a device-side connector. The at least one temperature detector is configured to detect a temperature of the fixing device. The device-side connector is configured to transmit a temperature detection signal from the at least one temperature detector to an image forming apparatus body by mutual contact between a terminal of the device-side connector and a terminal of a body-side connector of the image forming apparatus body. A lead wire of the at least one temperature detector is branched into a plurality of wires connected to the device-side connector.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, at least one temperature detector, and a device-side drawer connector. The at least one temperature detector is configured to detect a temperature of the fixing member, the at least one temperature detector including a plurality of lead wires. The device-side drawer connector has a terminal portion configured to fit with a terminal portion of a body-side drawer connector of an image forming apparatus body to connect the plurality of lead wires of the at least one temperature detector to the image forming apparatus body. The device-side drawer connector is configured to branch a signal wire of the plurality of lead wires of the at least one temperature detector into a plurality of systems. A plurality of earth wires of the plurality of lead wires of the at least one temperature detector is short-circuited to each other.

Abstract: A fixing device includes at least one temperature detector and a device-side connector. The at least one temperature detector is configured to detect a temperature of the fixing device. The device-side connector is configured to transmit a temperature detection signal from the at least one temperature detector to an image forming apparatus body by mutual contact between a terminal of the device-side connector and a terminal of a body-side connector of the image forming apparatus body. A lead wire of the at least one temperature detector is branched into a plurality of wires connected to the device-side connector.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, at least one temperature detector, and a device-side drawer connector. The at least one temperature detector is configured to detect a temperature of the fixing member, the at least one temperature detector including a plurality of lead wires. The device-side drawer connector has a terminal portion configured to fit with a terminal portion of a body-side drawer connector of an image forming apparatus body to connect the plurality of lead wires of the at least one temperature detector to the image forming apparatus body. The device-side drawer connector is configured to branch a signal wire of the plurality of lead wires of the at least one temperature detector into a plurality of systems. A plurality of earth wires of the plurality of lead wires of the at least one temperature detector is short-circuited to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first heater disposed opposite and heating at least a center of a fixing belt in an axial direction thereof and a second heater disposed opposite and heating at least a lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof. A power supply supplies power to the first heater and the second heater. A controller that controls the power supply includes a calculator to calculate an elapsed time elapsed after at least one of the first heater and the second heater starts heating the fixing belt. The controller controls the power supply to supply power to the first heater and the second heater such that a power density of the second heater is greater than a power density of the first heater when the elapsed time calculated by the calculator is smaller than a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first heater disposed opposite and heating at least a center of a fixing belt in an axial direction thereof and a second heater disposed opposite and heating at least a lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof. A power supply supplies power to the first heater and the second heater. A controller that controls the power supply includes a calculator to calculate an elapsed time elapsed after at least one of the first heater and the second heater starts heating the fixing belt. The controller controls the power supply to supply power to the first heater and the second heater such that a power density of the second heater is greater than a power density of the first heater when the elapsed time calculated by the calculator is smaller than a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first heater disposed opposite and heating at least a center of a fixing belt in an axial direction thereof and a second heater disposed opposite and heating at least a lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof. A power supply supplies power to the first heater and the second heater. A controller that controls the power supply includes a calculator to calculate an elapsed time elapsed after at least one of the first heater and the second heater starts heating the fixing belt. The controller controls the power supply to supply power to the first heater and the second heater such that a power density of the second heater is greater than a power density of the first heater when the elapsed time calculated by the calculator is smaller than a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first heater disposed opposite and heating at least a center of a fixing belt in an axial direction thereof and a second heater disposed opposite and heating at least a lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof. A power supply supplies power to the first heater and the second heater. A controller that controls the power supply includes a calculator to calculate an elapsed time elapsed after at least one of the first heater and the second heater starts heating the fixing belt. The controller controls the power supply to supply power to the first heater and the second heater such that a power density of the second heater is greater than a power density of the first heater when the elapsed time calculated by the calculator is smaller than a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit, a fixing unit, a first thermometer, and a controller. The imaging unit forms a toner image on a recording medium conveyed along a media conveyance path. The fixing device is disposed downstream from the imaging unit along the media conveyance path to fix the toner image in place on the recording medium. The fixing device includes a fuser roller, a heat roller, an endless, fuser belt, and a pressure roller. The fuser roller has a cylindrical core of metal. The pressure roller presses against the fuser roller via the fuser belt to form a fixing nip therebetween. The first thermometer detects a first temperature at the cylindrical core of the fuser roller. The controller controls conveyance of the recording medium through the fixing nip according to the first temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating member that heats an unfixed toner image on a printing medium, a conveyance device that conveys the printing medium launched from the heating member after the heating member heats the unfixed toner image, and a heat temperature detection device that detects heat temperature of the heating member. An excessive temperature rise prevention device is provided to forcibly cut off power distribution to the heating member when the heat temperature reaches an abnormal level. A cooling device is provided to cool the excessive temperature rise prevention device. Further provided is a cooling device use control device that controls the cooling device to cool the excessive temperature rise prevention device when the conveyance device stops a conveyance operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier on which a toner image is formed, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium, a fixing device to fix the toner image on the recording medium, and a cooling device to cool a heating member of the fixing device. The fixing device includes a pressure member to apply pressure to the toner image on the recording medium, the heating member to heat the toner image on the recording medium, a heating device to heat the heating member, and a first power supply to supply power to the heating device. The cooling device is supplied with power by a second power supply separate from the first power supply.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit, a fixing unit, a first thermometer, and a controller. The imaging unit forms a toner image on a recording medium conveyed along a media conveyance path. The fixing device is disposed downstream from the imaging unit along the media conveyance path to fix the toner image in place on the recording medium. The fixing device includes a fuser roller, a heat roller, an endless, fuser belt, and a pressure roller. The fuser roller has a cylindrical core of metal. The pressure roller presses against the fuser roller via the fuser belt to form a fixing nip therebetween. The first thermometer detects a first temperature at the cylindrical core of the fuser roller. The controller controls conveyance of the recording medium through the fixing nip according to the first temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit and a fixing process managing system. The fixing process managing system, including a mode switchover unit, controls a time mode and a temperature mode for heating a fixing member. In the time mode, the fixing unit is determined to be ready for a fixing process when a given time elapses after activation of the image forming apparatus. In the temperature mode, the fixing unit is determined to be ready for a fixing process when a temperature of the fixing member attains a given reference temperature after activation of the image forming apparatus. The mode switchover unit selects between the temperature mode and the time mode. The fixing process managing system selects the temperature mode instead of the time mode when a supply amount of electrical power to the fixing unit is determined to be below a required electrical power supply level.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part, a fixer including a heating member and a pressure member, a reverse transport part to forward a recording medium transported from the fixer to the image forming part, a toner image sensor to detect presence of a toner image on the recording medium, and a controller. When a glossy image formation mode is selected and no toner image is detected on the recording medium, the image forming part does not form a toner image on the recording medium, the fixer performs a first heating and pressing process and transports the recording medium to the reverse transport part, the reverse transport part transports the recording medium to the image forming part, the image forming part forms a toner image on the recording medium transported from the reverse transport part, and the fixer performs a second heating and pressing process and fixes the toner image thereon.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes an image on a recording medium by applying heat and pressure. In the fixing device, a belt is looped over a heating roller and a first roller provided inside a loop formed by the belt. A belt tensioner is provided outside the loop formed by the belt to apply tension to the belt. A second roller presses the first roller via the belt to form a nip between the first roller and the second roller via the belt. A holder holds the first roller and the second roller to maintain a distance between the first roller and the second roller. A detector detects a position of the belt tensioner. A controller changes a control parameter for fixing the image on the recording medium at the nip when the recording medium passes through the nip according to a detection result provided by the detector.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating member that heats an unfixed toner image on a printing medium, a conveyance device that conveys the printing medium launched from the heating member after the heating member heats the unfixed toner image, and a heat temperature detection device that detects heat temperature of the heating member. An excessive temperature rise prevention device is provided to forcibly cut off power distribution to the heating member when the heat temperature reaches an abnormal level. A cooling device is provided to cool the excessive temperature rise prevention device. Further provided is a cooling device use control device that controls the cooling device to cool the excessive temperature rise prevention device when the conveyance device stops a conveyance operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism to form a toner image on a recording medium according to image data and a fixing mechanism to fix the toner image on the recording medium. The fixing mechanism includes a fixing member configured to apply heat to the toner image on the recording medium and a cleaning mechanism to clean a surface of the fixing member. The cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning member and a controller. The cleaning member removes contaminants from the surface of the fixing member. The controller controls the cleaning member to cause friction with the fixing member for a time period when a job starts to remove the contaminants from the surface of the fixing member and controls the cleaning member so as not to cause friction with the fixing member after the time period elapses.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier on which a toner image is formed, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium, a fixing device to fix the toner image on the recording medium, and a cooling device to cool a heating member of the fixing device. The fixing device includes a pressure member to apply pressure to the toner image on the recording medium, the heating member to heat the toner image on the recording medium, a heating device to heat the heating member, and a first power supply to supply power to the heating device. The cooling device is supplied with power by a second power supply separate from the first power supply.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit and a fixing process managing system. The fixing process managing system, including a mode switchover unit, controls a time mode and a temperature mode for heating a fixing member. In the time mode, the fixing unit is determined to be ready for a fixing process when a given time elapses after activation of the image forming apparatus. In the temperature mode, the fixing unit is determined to be ready for a fixing process when a temperature of the fixing member attains a given reference temperature after activation of the image forming apparatus. The mode switchover unit selects between the temperature mode and the time mode. The fixing process managing system selects the temperature mode instead of the time mode when a supply amount of electrical power to the fixing unit is determined to be below a required electrical power supply level.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes an image on a recording medium by applying heat and pressure. In the fixing device, a belt is looped over a heating roller and a first roller provided inside a loop formed by the belt. A belt tensioner is provided outside the loop formed by the belt to apply tension to the belt. A second roller presses the first roller via the belt to form a nip between the first roller and the second roller via the belt. A holder holds the first roller and the second roller to maintain a distance between the first roller and the second roller. A detector detects a position of the belt tensioner. A controller changes a control parameter for fixing the image on the recording medium at the nip when the recording medium passes through the nip according to a detection result provided by the detector.