Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt forming a loop, a roller supporting an inner face of the belt, a pad, a slider, and a pressure rotator. The pad is inside the loop of the belt to press the inner face of the belt outward the belt. The slider is disposed between the belt and the pad to reduce friction between the belt and the pad. The pressure rotator presses the pad via the belt and the slider to form a fixing nip in which the belt and a recording medium are nipped between the pressure rotator and the slider to convey the belt and a recording medium in a conveyance direction. The pad has a recessed portion upstream from the fixing nip in the conveyance direction and extends in a longitudinal direction of the pad orthogonal to the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a contact rotator, and circuitry. The fixing rotator has an outer circumferential surface having a first area and a second area. The first area contacts both a first sheet and a second sheet having a width narrower than the width of the first sheet. The second area contacts the first sheet but does not contact the second sheet. The first temperature sensor detects a first temperature of the first area. The second temperature sensor detects a second temperature of the second area. The contact rotator contacts both the first area and the second area and rotates at the one of at least two relative velocities with respect to the fixing rotator. The circuitry sets one of the at least two relative velocities based on the first temperature and the second temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a contact rotator, and circuitry. The fixing rotator has an outer circumferential surface having a first area and a second area. The first area contacts both a first sheet and a second sheet having a width narrower than the width of the first sheet. The second area contacts the first sheet but does not contact the second sheet. The first temperature sensor detects a first temperature of the first area. The second temperature sensor detects a second temperature of the second area. The contact rotator contacts both the first area and the second area and rotates at the one of at least two relative velocities with respect to the fixing rotator. The circuitry sets one of the at least two relative velocities based on the first temperature and the second temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and circuitry. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator, an electromagnetic induction heater configured to heat the fixing rotator, and a magnetic flux control member. The circuitry is configured to control the electromagnetic induction heater to lead a temperature of the fixing rotator to a target temperature and change an upper limit of power supplied to the electromagnetic induction heater based on the target temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and circuitry. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator, an electromagnetic induction heater configured to heat the fixing rotator, and a magnetic flux control member. The circuitry is configured to control the electromagnetic induction heater to lead a temperature of the fixing rotator to a target temperature and change an upper limit of power supplied to the electromagnetic induction heater based on the target temperature.

Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt, a plurality of support rotators configured to support the endless belt, and a support configured to support shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators. The support has an attaching and detaching path through which the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators pass in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of at least one of the plurality of support rotators when the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators are detached from the support.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device, which is included in a fixing device and an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet contacting body and a lateral relative position shifting body. The sheet contacting body is configured to contact a sheet to be conveyed. The lateral relative position shifting body is configured to shift a passing position of the sheet being conveyed toward the sheet contacting body, in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction and a relative position to the sheet contacting body, each time the sheet is conveyed by a number of sheets based on a setting. The setting of the number of sheets varies based on information of the sheet.

Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt, a plurality of support rotators configured to support the endless belt, and a support configured to support shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators. The support has an attaching and detaching path through which the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators pass in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of at least one of the plurality of support rotators when the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators are detached from the support.

Abstract: A fixing device controller includes a plurality of voltage detectors to detect voltages of a plurality of power sources for supplying power to a plurality of heaters to heat a fixing member of a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording medium and a heater controller to execute duty control to turn on the plurality of heaters. The heater controller corrects a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters based on the voltages detected by the plurality of voltage detectors and rated output values of the plurality of heaters.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, and a pressure assembly that forms a fixing nip therebetween and includes a first adjuster and a second adjuster. The first adjuster includes a pressure cam, a first biasing device, a first pressure lever that holds the pressure rotator, and a second pressure lever that moves with the pressure cam and presses against the first pressure lever via the first biasing device. The first adjuster adjusts a load of the first biasing device to adjust a pressure force from the pressure rotator to the fixing rotator. The second adjuster includes an adjustment screw is driven into the second pressure lever, and a retainer that retains an adjusted state between the adjustment screw and the first pressure lever. The second adjuster adjusts a holding position of the first pressure lever to hold the pressure rotator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing belt stretched across a first roller and a second roller including an elastic layer. A pressure rotator presses against the second roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt. A recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip. A clearance detector detects a clearance between the first roller and the second roller. A mover moves the pressure rotator with respect to the second roller in a pressing direction in which the pressure rotator presses against the second roller via the fixing belt and a separation direction in which the pressure rotator separates from the second roller. A controller controls an amount of movement of the pressure rotator moved by the mover toward the second roller based on the clearance detected by the clearance detector.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, and a pressure assembly that forms a fixing nip therebetween and includes a first adjuster and a second adjuster. The first adjuster includes a pressure cam, a first biasing device, a first pressure lever that holds the pressure rotator, and a second pressure lever that moves with the pressure cam and presses against the first pressure lever via the first biasing device. The first adjuster adjusts a load of the first biasing device to adjust a pressure force from the pressure rotator to the fixing rotator. The second adjuster includes an adjustment screw is driven into the second pressure lever, and a retainer that retains an adjusted state between the adjustment screw and the first pressure lever. The second adjuster adjusts a holding position of the first pressure lever to hold the pressure rotator.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device, which is included in a fixing device and an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet contacting body and a lateral relative position shifting body. The sheet contacting body is configured to contact a sheet to be conveyed. The lateral relative position shifting body is configured to shift a passing position of the sheet being conveyed toward the sheet contacting body, in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction and a relative position to the sheet contacting body, each time the sheet is conveyed by a number of sheets based on a setting. The setting of the number of sheets varies based on information of the sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device controller includes a plurality of voltage detectors to detect voltages of a plurality of power sources for supplying power to a plurality of heaters to heat a fixing member of a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording medium and a heater controller to execute duty control to turn on the plurality of heaters. The heater controller corrects a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters based on the voltages detected by the plurality of voltage detectors and rated output values of the plurality of heaters.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing belt stretched across a first roller and a second roller including an elastic layer. A pressure rotator presses against the second roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt. A recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip. A clearance detector detects a clearance between the first roller and the second roller. A mover moves the pressure rotator with respect to the second roller in a pressing direction in which the pressure rotator presses against the second roller via the fixing belt and a separation direction in which the pressure rotator separates from the second roller. A controller controls an amount of movement of the pressure rotator moved by the mover toward the second roller based on the clearance detected by the clearance detector.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A rotation load applicator is coupled to one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator to apply a rotation load to the one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The rotation load is in a range of from 0.1 Nm to 0.6 Nm.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A rotation load applicator is coupled to one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator to apply a rotation load to the one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The rotation load is in a range of from 0.1 Nm to 0.6 Nm.

Abstract: A gloss applier includes a heating roller disposed inside a loop formed by an endless belt to heat the endless belt; a pressing rotary body pressed against the heating roller via the endless belt; a cooler disposed inside the loop formed by the endless belt and downstream from the heating roller in a direction of rotation of the endless belt, the cooler to cool the endless belt as a recording medium in contact with the endless belt is conveyed by the endless belt; a separation roller disposed inside the loop formed by the endless belt and downstream from the cooler in the direction of rotation of the endless belt, the separation roller to separate the recording medium from the endless belt; and a cooler shifter contacting the cooler to move the cooler bidirectionally to cause the cooler to contact and separate from the endless belt.

Abstract: A glossing device for imparting gloss to a toner image formed on a recording medium includes a plurality of rollers, a looped, endless belt, a pressure member, a belt cooler, and a belt retention mechanism. The plurality of rollers is disposed generally parallel to each other, and includes a heat roller subjected to heating. The looped, endless belt is entrained around the plurality of rollers for conveying the recording medium in a longitudinal, conveyance direction thereof. The pressure member is disposed opposite the heat roller to press against the heat roller via the belt to form a glossing nip therebetween, through which the recording medium passes. The belt cooler is disposed inside the loop of the belt to cool the belt during movement between the glossing nip and the separation position.

Abstract: A gloss applicator includes a belt to feed a recording material, including a substrate and a surface layer contacting a surface of the recording material an image is formed on; a heater to heat the belt; and a cooler to cool the belt. The surface layer is not an elastomer, the recording material is fed while the belt contacts the surface thereof, the belt heated by the heater heats the recording material, the belt cooled by the cooler cools the recording material, and the recording material is released from the belt.