Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a heating device including a belt that contacts the sheet and a plurality of heating elements for heating the belt, a pressure roller configured to press the sheet against the belt, a voltage detection circuit configured to measure a voltage applied to the heating elements, and a controller configured to determine whether at least one of the heating elements is abnormal according to a voltage drop value that is based on voltages measured by the voltage detection unit before and after the plurality of heating elements is energized.

Abstract: A heater of the present invention includes jointed heat generating resistors having a positive temperature characteristic of resistance and provided between a first conductive element and a second conductive element on a substrate in a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and a plurality of heating blocks provided in the longitudinal direction, each of which is a set of the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the heat generating resistor, and power supplied to at least one of the plurality of heating blocks can be controlled independent of other heating blocks.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a tubular film, a pressure roller, and a heater including a heating element. The apparatus further includes a control unit configured to calculate an accumulated electrical energy supplied to a portion of the heating element. The portion of the heating element is located in an area corresponding to a second area of the nip portion. The second area is an area of the nip portion through which the recording material conveyed to the nip portion is not passed. The control unit is configured to determine an operation of heat leveling, which is performed for leveling a heat distribution in the nip portion after the recording material had passed the nip portion, based on the calculated accumulated electrical energy.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a tubular film, a pressure roller, a heater including a first heating element and a second heating element, a detector configured to detect a temperature of the heater, a switcher configured to switch which of the first heating element and the second heating element is supplied power from a power supply, and a controller configured to control the switcher. The controller is configured to execute a first control of determining a first electric energy and a second electric energy based on the temperature of the heater detected by the detector and a target temperature of the heater, and a second control of causing the switcher to switch between a state in which power is supplied to the first heating element by the first electric energy and a state in which power is supplied to the second heating element by the second electric energy.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator over which a recording medium bearing an image is conveyed. A first heater heats the fixing rotator and generates heat evenly in a maximum conveyance span where the recording medium having a maximum width in a width direction of the recording medium is conveyed. The maximum width is available for the fixing rotator. A second heater heats the fixing rotator and generates heat in the maximum conveyance span. The second heater includes a first portion that generates heat in a first heat generation amount and a second portion that generates heat in a second heat generation amount that is greater than the first heat generation amount of the first portion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a wiring structure includes a substrate, a first conductor, second conductors, a first trace, second traces, heat-generating elements, and a first protruding conductor. The second conductors are spaced apart from the first conductor in a second direction crossing a first direction and are mutually juxtaposed with spacing in the first direction. The heat-generating elements are mutually juxtaposed in the first direction and connected to the respective second conductors and the first conductor. The first protruding conductor protrudes from either of the first conductor and one of the second conductors and is connected to a first one of the heat-generating elements. The first protruding conductor is at least partly located, in the first direction, between a center of the first one of the heat-Generating elements and a center of a second one of the heat-generating elements adjacent to the first one.

Abstract: A heater of the present invention includes jointed heat generating resistors having a positive temperature characteristic of resistance and provided between a first conductive element and a second conductive element on a substrate in a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and a plurality of heating blocks provided in the longitudinal direction, each of which is a set of the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the heat generating resistor, and power supplied to at least one of the plurality of heating blocks can be controlled independent of other heating blocks.

Abstract: According to examples, an apparatus may include a fusing component and a heater disposed in the fusing component. The heater may include a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a first heating element having a first length attached to the first surface of the substrate, and a second heating element having a second length attached to the second surface of the substrate, the second length differing from the first length.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a rotary body; a pressure body; a frame supporting the rotary body; and a pressure varying mechanism for providing a nip pressure to a nip region formed between the rotary body and the pressure body. The pressure varying mechanism includes a first spring and a second spring for urging one of the rotary body and the pressure body. The first spring applies a first urging force, and the second spring applies a second urging force acting in an opposite direction from the first urging force. The pressure varying mechanism can vary the nip pressure between a first nip pressure and a second nip pressure smaller than the first nip pressure. The nip pressure becomes the first nip pressure while only the first urging force is applied, and becomes the second nip pressure while both of the first urging force and the second urging force are applied.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat source for radiating heat onto an intermediate printing material transfer element of a printing apparatus. The heat source can include a plurality of heat generating segments disposed along an axis, the plurality of heat generating segments including a first heat generating segment, a second heat generating segment and a third heat generating segment. The second heat generating segment is disposed between the first heat generating segment and the third heat generating segment. The second heat generating segment has a length shorter than a length of the first heat generating segment and shorter than a length of the third heat generating segment. Also disclosed is a printing system that includes the disclosed heat source. Also disclosed is a method of selecting a heat radiating pattern of a heat source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device having a heater that includes a first heating element, a second heating element having a length smaller than the first heating element length, and a third heating element having a length smaller than the second heating element length. The image forming apparatus further includes a first temperature detection unit, a control unit, second temperature detection units, first and second sheet-width detection units, and a determination unit. The control unit controls a heater temperature based on the first temperature detection unit detection result. The determination unit determines a width of the recording material based on a detection result of the first sheet-width detection units, a detection result of the second sheet-width detection units, and a detection result of the second temperature detection units.

Abstract: An image heating device has a paper-passing heating region in which a recording material passes through at least a part of a heating region and a non-paper-passing heating region in which the recording material does not pass through the heating region, and changes a heating amount applied to a fixing member in the non-paper-passing heating region in accordance with a longitudinal distance between a boundary position between the paper-passing heating region and the non-paper-passing heating region in the longitudinal direction and the boundary position side end portion of the recording material in the paper-passing heating region.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a fixing apparatus including a heater that includes at least two heat generation members, the fixing unit configured to fix an unfixed toner image formed on a sheet by an image forming unit, a heat generation member switching device configured to switch a power supply path so that electric power can be supplied to one of the heat generation members, a CPU configured to control switching the power supply path by the heat generation member switching device based on a number of shorter width sheets in a longitudinal direction continuously printed in a case where a plurality of mixed sheets including longer width sheets and the shorter width sheets.

Abstract: A heating device includes an endless belt that rotates in a rotation direction and a pressure rotator that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt to form a nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator. A heater sandwiches a lubricant together with the endless belt. The heater includes a heat generator that defines a conveyance span in a longitudinal direction of the heater, where a heating target having a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction of the heater is conveyed through the nip, and a non-conveyance span in the longitudinal direction of the heater, where the heating target is not conveyed. A non-conveyance span temperature detector is disposed opposite the endless belt in the non-conveyance span of the heat generator. The non-conveyance span temperature detector detects a temperature of the endless belt.

Abstract: In an image heating apparatus, a region of a recording material, on which an image can be formed, is divided into a boundary region and a non-boundary region so as to correspond to a plurality of heating elements. The boundary region includes a boundary between one heating element out of the plurality of heating elements and an adjacent heating element thereof, and overlap with the one heating element and the adjacent heating element overlap in a predetermined range in the orthogonal direction. The non-boundary region overlaps with the one heating element in a range other than the boundary region. A control target temperature of a heating region that is heated by the one heating element is set to a higher temperature of a first temperature based on information corresponding to the boundary region, and a second temperature based on information corresponding to the non-boundary region.

Abstract: A fuser device according to an embodiment includes a substrate, a first conductor, second conductors, a first wire, second wires, heating elements, and a roller. The first conductor extends in a first direction. The second conductors are apart from the first conductor in a second direction that is along a surface of the substrate and intersects the first direction, and are aligned with spacing in the first direction. At least one of the second conductors is provided with an opening. The first wire on the surface connected to the first conductor. The second wires on the surface are apart from the first wire and connected to the second conductors. The heating elements are apart from the second wires, apart from one another, and connected to the second conductors and the first conductor. The heating elements each generate heat by an applied current.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus has a heater to heat an image formed on a recording material. The heater has a plurality of heat generating elements. A control portion controls electrical power supplied to the plurality of heat generating elements. The control portion respectively sets a heating amount with respect to a region in which an image is formed and a heating amount with respect to a region in which an image is not formed in a single sheet of the recording material. The control portion is further configured to at least set the heating amount with respect to the region in which the image is not formed when the recording material is heavy paper to become less than the heating amount with respect to the region in which the image is not formed when the recording material is plain paper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device having a nip, in which an image is fixed on a recording material, and an air blowing unit configured to feed air. A first blow portion is provided, through which the air fed by the air blowing unit flows toward a first area, which is an end portion of the fixing device, in a longitudinal direction of the fixing device, so as to cool the first area by the air via an opening of the first blow portion. A blocking member changes a width of the opening of the first blow portion, and a second blow portion is provided, branched from the first blow portion so as to cross the first blow portion, through which the air blocked by the blocking member flows toward a second area, which is a region in which the recording material passes through the nip.

Abstract: A fuser apparatus includes fuser and pressure rolls rotatably mounted parallel to and in contact with each other to form a nip through which print media with a toner image thereon is passed to fuse the image to the print media. A heating lamp is positioned to heat the fuser roll. A mechanism is used that alters the interior of a fuser housing to harvest the excess heat emitted by the heating lamp and to reflect the excess heat back to the fuser roll at different patterns/angles dependent on the mode of the fusing and the size of print substrate being marked.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a heater, comprising an insulator substrate, a first member, a plurality of electrodes, and a second member. The first member is configured to generate heat on an upper surface of the insulator substrate across a first direction. The first member has a first end opposite a second end. The plurality of electrodes are formed on both the first end and the second end of the first member, respectively, and each electrode is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second member is configured to store heat. The second member comprises a latent heat material having latent heat in a target temperature zone. Furthermore, the latent heat material is fixed to a side surface or a bottom surface of the insulator substrate.

Abstract: A fuser includes a fuser roll and a pressure roll that forms a nip between the rolls through which a sheet is conveyed to permanently fuse an image onto the sheet. The fuser roll includes a heater element having a single resistive trace, a common trace tapped to a first side of the resistive trace continuous across the resistive trace, and first and second conductive traces tapped to ends of the resistive trace at a second side of the resistive trace opposite the first side. The first and second conductive traces are physically separated and conductively segmented by a conductive gap between the conductive traces. The resistive trace includes a separation gap extending through the resistive trace continuously from the second side of the resistive trace at the conductive gap towards the first side of the resistive trace to prevent current flow between the segmented conductive traces.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad to press against a fixing rotator. A primary heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator in a primary heating span spanning in an axial direction of the fixing rotator to heat the primary heating span of the fixing rotator from which heat is conducted to the nip formation pad with a primary conduction. A secondary heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator in a secondary heating span that is outboard from the primary heating span in the axial direction of the fixing rotator. The secondary heater is interposed between a first nip formation portion and a second nip formation portion of the nip formation pad to heat the secondary heating span of the fixing rotator through the nip formation pad from which heat is conducted to the fixing rotator with a secondary conduction greater than the primary conduction.

Abstract: A heater usable with an image heating apparatus includes contacts including at least one first contact provided on a substrate and connectable with a first terminal, and second contacts provided on the substrate and connectable with a second terminal; electrodes arranged in a longitudinal direction of the substrate with predetermined gaps; electroconductive lines connecting the electrodes with respective ones of the contacts such that the electrode connected with the first contact and the electrode connected with the second contacts are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the substrate; and heat generating portions, provided between adjacent electrodes, respectively, for generating heat by electric power supply between adjacent electrodes, wherein all of the first contacts are provided in one end portion of the substrate with respect to the longitudinal direction, and all of the second contacts are provided in the other end portion with respect to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A fuser assembly which includes a heating member; a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member; a heat transfer device selectively contacting the backup roll for transferring heat from the backup roll; and a positioning mechanism moving the heat transfer device between a first position in which the heat transfer device is engaged with the backup roll and a second position in which the heat transfer device is spaced apart from the backup roll. The positioning mechanism pivots the heat transfer device about a pivot axis when moving the heat transfer device and includes a pair of bell cranks to which the heat transfer device is coupled, a first coupling member coupled to one of the bell cranks and a second coupling member coupled to the first coupling member. Translation of the second coupling member causes the first coupling member to pivot which rotates the pair of bell cranks.

Abstract: A fuser assembly for an imaging device which transfers heat from overheated portions of the fuser assembly to portions having lesser temperatures. The fuser assembly includes a heating member; a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member for forming a fuser nip; a heat transfer device in contact with the backup roll such that rotation of the backup roll rotates the heat transfer device for transferring heat from one location to another location on the backup roll; and a positioning mechanism for moving the heat transfer device between a first position in which the heat transfer device is engaged with and contacts the backup roll, and a second position in which the heat transfer device is disengaged and spaced apart from the backup roll, the positioning mechanism pivots the heat transfer device about a pivot axis when moving between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing member; a moving section that moves the fixing member in a sheet width direction; a temperature detection section disposed at a position corresponding to an end portion of the fixing member, the temperature detection section moving together with the fixing member to detect a temperature of the end portion; and a control section that performs a first movement control and a second movement control on the basis of a result of a detection by the temperature detection section, the first movement control being intended to move the fixing member in the sheet width direction in a reciprocating manner with a predetermined cycle, the second movement control being intended to move the fixing member in the sheet width direction so that the temperature of the fixing member falls within a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: A fixing device includes at least one heater disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of an endless rotary body to heat the endless rotary body and a shield interposed between the endless rotary body and the at least one heater to shield the endless rotary body from heat radiated from the at least one heater. A first size recording medium passes over a first passage region of the endless rotary body and a second size recording medium passes over a second passage region of the endless rotary body. The shield includes a notch disposed opposite a lateral end of the second passage region of the endless rotary body in an axial direction thereof. The lateral end of the second passage region overlaps a non-passage region of the endless rotary body in the axial direction thereof where the first size recording medium does not pass.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator heated by a heater and a pressing rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween. A heating span adjuster, interposed between the heater and the fixing rotator, is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotator. The heating span adjuster moves to a retracted position where the heating span adjuster allows the heater to heat the fixing rotator in an increased axial heating span of the fixing rotator after the heater starts heating the fixing rotator until the fixing rotator and the pressing rotator start conveying a recording medium through the fixing nip. The heating span adjuster at the retracted position is outboard from a circumferential, direct heating span of the fixing rotator where the heater heats the fixing rotator directly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image fixing apparatus including a fan for cooling one end region of the image fixing apparatus and a fan for cooling another end region thereof. When a temperature of the one end region reaches a cooling starting temperature, a fan corresponding to the one end portion is driven at a first rotation speed, and another fan is driven at a second rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed even if the temperature of the other end region is lower than the cooling starting temperature so as to protect the fans from thermal damages.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first rotating member configured to heat a toner image on a sheet at a nip portion, a second rotating member configured to form the nip portion cooperatively with the first rotating member, a heat conduction member configured to conduct a heat of the second rotating member in a width direction of the second rotating member in an operating position in which the heat conduction member is in contact with the second rotating member, and a fan configured to blow an air toward a predetermined region of the heat conduction member which is in the operating position.

Abstract: A fuser assembly for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a rotatable fusing member forming a fusing nip with a backup member. A heating lamp is positioned to heat the fusing member. A first reflector is positioned around a circumferential portion of the fusing member and positioned to direct light from the heating lamp onto the fusing member. The first reflector covers a first section of an axial length of the fusing member and does not cover a second section of the axial length of the fusing member. A second reflector is movable between a first position covering at least a portion of the second section of the axial length of the fusing member and a second position uncovering at least a portion of the second section of the axial length of the fusing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an induction heater constructed of an exciting coil, a first pair of degaussing coils, and a second pair of degaussing coils. A controller turns off the exciting coil while the controller turns on one of the first pair of degaussing coils and the second pair of degaussing coils and at the same time turns off the other one of the first pair of degaussing coils and the second pair of degaussing coils, and then turns on the exciting coil for an extra time period corresponding to reserved power not supplied to the exciting coil while the exciting coil is turned off.

Abstract: An image heating rotatable member for heating an image on a recording material, comprising a base layer; a heat generation layer, provided on the base layer, for generating heat by being supplied with electric power; an electrode layer, provided outside of the heat generation layer with respect to a widthwise direction and having an electric resistance which is smaller than that of the heat generation layer, for supplying the electric power to heat generation layer; an elastic layer provided on the electrode layer and having a length longer than that of the electrode layer measured in the widthwise direction; and a parting layer provided on the elastic layer and having a length which is substantially equal to the length of the electrode layer measured in the widthwise direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotation body heating and fixing an unfixed image onto a recording medium; a pressing rotation body pressing the recording medium to the fixing rotation body; a first temperature detection unit detecting a temperature of the fixing rotation body; and plural second temperature detection units detecting a temperature of the pressing rotation body. Further the fixing device selects a predetermined second temperature detection unit from the plural second temperature detection units depending on an operation mode of the fixing device, and the fixing device detects the temperature of the pressing rotation body by using the predetermined second temperature detection unit selected by the fixing device.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member including a heating unit, and a pressure member, the heating unit includes a sub-heater having a heat generating portion in a region smaller than a minimum paper width, a main heater having a heat generating portion at outside of the sub-heater, a first temperature detector to detect a temperature of the fixing member at the heat generating portion of the main heater, and a second temperature detector to detect the temperature at the heat generating portion of the sub-heater. The main heater and the sub-heater can be switched selectively, and the initial duty ratio at the start of PID temperature control by the sub-heater is determined in accordance with a difference between temperatures detected by the respective temperature detectors at the start of PID temperature control and a target temperature so that the temperature is not overshooting and dropped.

Abstract: In an image heating apparatus including heat generating members arranged along a longitudinal direction of a belt, when an image heating operation is performed on a recording material having a width which is smaller than a maximum width of the recording material usable in the image heating apparatus, the heat generating member positioned within an area corresponding to a non passing portion of the recording material is actuated together with the heat generating member positioned within an area corresponding to a non passing portion of the recording material.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller, a single heating member that heats the fixing roller, a pressure roller, a first temperature detecting element that detects the temperature of the contact region, of the fixing roller, that comes into contact with the recording paper transported, and a second temperature detecting element that detects the temperature of the noncontact region of the fixing roller. The fixing device carries out energization control of the heating member based on the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting element and stops energization control of the heating member when the temperature detected by the second temperature detecting element reaches a prescribed temperature.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device comprising: a fixing rotating body; a magnetizing coil; a pressing member forming a fixing nip through which a recording sheet passes; a demagnetizing coil unit set including a pile of demagnetizing coil units each including demagnetizing coils of different sizes, and canceling out part of magnetic flux generated by the magnetizing coil in a non-sheet-passing region; a sheet information acquisition unit acquiring sheet information including information relating to a width of the recording sheet; and an operation control unit controlling each demagnetizing coil according to the width, wherein in each demagnetizing coil unit, the demagnetizing coils are arranged such that a smaller demagnetizing coil is surrounded by a larger demagnetizing coil and the demagnetizing coils are in a same plane extending along a surface of the magnetizing coil, and a combination of sizes of the demagnetizing coils differs among the demagnetizing coil units.

Abstract: A fuser assembly for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a rotatable fusing member forming a fusing nip with a backup member. A heating lamp is positioned to heat the fusing member. A first reflector is positioned around a circumferential portion of the fusing member and positioned to direct light from the heating lamp onto the fusing member. The first reflector covers a first section of an axial length of the fusing member and does not cover a second section of the axial length of the fusing member. A second reflector is movable between a first position covering at least a portion of the second section of the axial length of the fusing member and a second position uncovering at least a portion of the second section of the axial length of the fusing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotational member configured to convey and heat a sheet-shaped recording medium, the rotational member including a first heating member and a second heating member provided in parallel to a rotational axis of the rotational member in an interior thereof, the first heating member including a first heat generation part, the second heating member including a second heat generation part and an auxiliary heat generation part adjacent to the second heat generation part, a common temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the first heating member and a temperature of the second heating member, and a control part configured to control a ratio of a rate of lighting of the first heating member and a rate of lighting of the second heating member based on the temperature of the first heating member and the temperature of the second heating member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes: two rotatable members, for forming a nip, including a region where an outer diameter is increased from a longitudinal central portion toward a longitudinal end portion; a heater; and a controller for controlling a heat generation distribution of the heater. The controller is capable of controlling the heater so that the heat generation distribution of the heater is such that a heat generation amount at the longitudinal end portion is larger than that at the longitudinal central portion in a period from start of the heater until the recording material reaches the nip. A ratio of the heat generation amount at the longitudinal end portion to that at the longitudinal central portion is larger when a cumulative amount of use of the fixing apparatus is larger than a predetermined amount than when the cumulative amount of use is smaller than the predetermined amount.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit that is disposed in a direction intersecting a transport direction in which a recording medium on which an image is formed using an image forming material is transported and that fixes the image forming material onto the recording medium in a noncontact manner with the recording medium, a varying unit that varies a length of the fixing unit in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and a controller that controls the fixing unit at an amount of power according to the length of the fixing unit.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided that can limit a temperature rise in paper non-contact edge portions with a relatively simple configuration and can make uniform a temperature distribution across a paper feed region. A heating roller includes lamps that respectively heat a center region and a large edge region and a small edge region, a temperature sensor for a heat generating region of the center lamp, a temperature sensor for a heat generating region of the edge-side lamps, and a temperature sensor for a paper non-contact edge portion. The heating roller selects any one of the edge-side lamps based on a detection result from the temperature sensor for the paper non-contact edge portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a thermal conductor disposed inside a flexible endless fixing belt formed into a loop and configured to conduct heat from a heater to the fixing belt. The thermal conductor includes a center heating portion heated by the heater and disposed at a center of the thermal conductor in a longitudinal direction thereof orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording medium conveyed to the fixing belt and lateral end non-heating portions disposed at lateral ends of the thermal conductor in the longitudinal direction thereof and contiguous to the center heating portion. The center heating portion having a first diameter conducts heat from the heater to the fixing belt. The lateral end non-heating portions having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter of the center heating portion minimize conduction of heat from the heater to the fixing belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a glossiness imparting unit that imparts glossiness to the image formed on the recording medium, and a glossiness reducing unit that reduces the glossiness of at least a part of the image to which the glossiness has been imparted by the glossiness imparting unit.

Abstract: A heating device includes a magnetic-field generating unit that generates an alternating-current magnetic field, an endless belt, and a heat transfer unit that includes a heat storage layer, a thermosensitive layer, and a diffusion layer. The thermosensitive layer extends so as to separate the magnetic-field generating unit and the heat storage layer from each other, and forms a magnetic path that allows a magnetic flux of the alternating-current magnetic field to pass therethrough in a direction in which the thermosensitive layer extends at a temperature below a Curie temperature and a magnetic path that allows the magnetic flux to extend therethrough and reach the heat storage layer at a temperature higher than or equal to the Curie temperature. The diffusion layer has a higher thermal conductivity than thermal conductivities of the thermosensitive layer and the heat storage layer, and diffusing heat of the belt.

Abstract: A fixing device, corresponding to a plurality of sheet passing widths, includes a rotating member configured to convey a recording medium, rise in temperature, and fix toner; temperature sensors configured to detect the surface temperature of the rotating member; heating members including at least one heat generating unit, provided inside the rotating member; and a control unit configured to control a heating state obtained by the heating members. The heat generating units are provided not to overlap each other in the direction of the sheet passing width orthogonal to the recording medium conveying direction. The temperature sensors are only placed at positions corresponding to the heat generating units used when printing on the recording medium having a minimum width. The control unit controls the heating state in accordance with the surface temperature, a sheet passing width, and an operational state of the rotating member that changes with time.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member to rotate while contacting an unfixed image; a pressure member to form a fixing nip with the fixing member; a heating member having a plurality of heating elements divided in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a sheet; a heat performance sensor to detect heating performance of each heating element of the heating member, and an controller to control the heating member. The controller controls each heating element independently such that a temperature of a portion of the fixing member corresponding to a blank area becomes lower than the temperature of a portion of the fixing member corresponding to an image area; and controls the temperature to be maintained at each heating element based on the detection result of the heating performance of each heating element detected by the heat performance sensor.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a heating unit, multiple sub-heaters disposed in the heating unit, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the heating unit, and a heating control unit. The heating control unit controls the heating unit by controlling the multiple sub-heaters individually to heat the respective heating areas, such that a temperature at a portion of the fixing member corresponding to a blank area of the recording medium is lower than a temperature of a portion of the fixing member corresponding to an imaged area of the recording medium. The heating control unit further changes a size of a preliminary heating area to preliminarily heat the respective heating areas before the imaged area enters the fixing nip according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body, an opposed member opposing the fixing rotary body to form a nipping portion, and a heater to heat the fixing rotary body. The heater includes heat generators arranged in a width direction of a recording medium and separately supplied with power. When an unfixed image on the medium has an image area and a non-image area, power supplied to each of the heat generators is controlled so that, of the heat generators, a first heat generator corresponding to the image area becomes a higher temperature and second heat generators corresponding to the non-image area becomes a lower temperature. When the second heat generators are adjacent to each other, power supplied to one of the second heat generators closer to the image area is set to be greater than power supplied to another of the second heat generators farther from the image area.