Abstract: A fixing device includes: a rotatable endless belt type fixing member; a pressurizing member that is opposed to the fixing member and rotates; and a nip forming member that is arranged inside the fixing member, and forms a nip part by contact with the pressurizing member through the fixing member. The nip forming member includes: a heat-uniformizing member having bent portions opposed to each other; a heat-insulating member arranged inside the heat-uniformizing member; a heat-absorbing member arranged on an upper surface of the heat-insulating member; and a sliding sheet that covers a nip side of the heat-uniformizing member, and is held between the bent portions of the heat-uniformizing member and the heat-insulating member. The heat-uniformizing member and the heat-insulating member are fastened to each other by fitting a fitting part formed on the heat-uniformizing member to a fitted part formed on the heat-insulating member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a pressing rotary body pressed against the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater is disposed inside the fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body. A reflector, disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body via the heater, reflects light emitted from the heater onto the fixing rotary body. The reflector includes a movable portion movable relative to the heater to direct the light emitted from the heater onto a variable heating span of the fixing rotary body spanning in an axial direction thereof. The variable heating span varies depending on a width of the recording medium in the axial direction of the fixing rotary body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat source; a fixing member looped into a generally cylindrical shape to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof and partially heated by the heat source and to heat a surface of a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image thereon in a fixing process; a rotary pressing member disposed facing the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is transported in a transport direction; and a rotation driver to rotate one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In a case in which the fixing member is halted for a reason other than the fixing process while power of the fixing device is on, electric power is not supplied to the heat source and the fixing member is rotated by a predetermined amount or more after the fixing member is halted.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a rotatable fixing member formed as an endless belt; a heat source to heat the fixing member; a nip-forming member being not rotatable and arranged inside the fixing member; and a pressure member arranged outside the fixing member and forming a nip between the pressure member and the fixing member. The nip-forming member is formed of a first heat transmission unit and a sliding sheet. The first heat transmission unit includes an abutting part abutting the fixing member with the sliding sheet therebetween, and a bent part or bent parts extending inside the fixing member at upstream or upstream and downstream of the nip in a transport direction of a recording medium. A retaining part to catch and retain the sliding sheet is provided at a tip of at least the bent part at upstream of the nip in the transport direction.

Abstract: A fixing device that fixes an image on a recording medium includes a rotatable endless belt, deployed in a loop supported by rollers, a nip forming member provided inside the loop formed by the belt, a support member that supports the nip forming member, a counter rotation body disposed outside the loop formed by the belt and configured to form a nip with the belt by being in contact with the nip forming member through the belt, and a heat source configured to heat the belt directly by a radiant heat except at the nip. The support member includes a base portion that contacts the nip forming member and two arms extending from the base portion in a direction away from the nip forming member to partially surround a part of heat generating portion of the heat source.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a rotatable endless belt type fixing member; a pressurizing member that is opposed to the fixing member and rotates; and a nip forming member that is arranged inside the fixing member, and forms a nip part by contact with the pressurizing member through the fixing member. The nip forming member includes: a heat-uniformizing member having bent portions opposed to each other; a heat-insulating member arranged inside the heat-uniformizing member; a heat-absorbing member arranged on an upper surface of the heat-insulating member; and a sliding sheet that covers a nip side of the heat-uniformizing member, and is held between the bent portions of the heat-uniformizing member and the heat-insulating member. The heat-uniformizing member and the heat-insulating member are fastened to each other by fitting a fitting part formed on the heat-uniformizing member to a fitted part formed on the heat-insulating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device. The fixing device includes a rotatable endless fixing member, a nip forming member arranged inside the fixing member, a pressing member in contact with the nip forming member via the fixing member, and a heating source configured to heat the fixing member. When an abnormality occurs in at least one of the fixing device and other devices included in the image forming apparatus, a rotation of the fixing member is stopped prior to stopping a rotation driving of a discharging unit and, after stopping, the fixing member is controlled to rotate.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing member; an opposing member that provides a fixing nip with the fixing member; a heating unit that heats the fixing member; a heating area changing member that moves to change a heating area of the fixing member heated by the heating unit; and a position detection sensor that detects a position of the heating area changing member. The fixing device controls a stop position of the heating area changing member based on detection by the position detection sensor. The single position detection sensor detects the position of the heating area changing member both when the heating area changing member is moving from a preset reference position to an arbitrary position and when the heating area changing member is moving back from an arbitrary position to the reference position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. An overheating suppressor is interposed between the heater and the heat shield to shield the heat shield from the heater. The heat shield includes an intermediate portion spanning in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and movable between a shield position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater directly and a retracted position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater via the overheating suppressor.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat source; a fixing member looped into a generally cylindrical shape to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof and partially heated by the heat source and to heat a surface of a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image thereon in a fixing process; a rotary pressing member disposed facing the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is transported in a transport direction; and a rotation driver to rotate one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In a case in which the fixing member is halted for a reason other than the fixing process while power of the fixing device is on, electric power is not supplied to the heat source and the fixing member is rotated by a predetermined amount or more after the fixing member is halted.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt: a fixing belt holding member; a pressure member that makes a contact with the circumference of the fixing belt; a nip forming member that is disposed inside the fixing belt and forms a nip between the nip forming member and the pressure member; a nip supporting member that is made of a sheet metal; a side plate that supports the fixing belt holding member and the nip supporting member; and a pressure mechanism that presses the pressure member against the nip forming member with the fixing belt between the pressure member and the nip forming member. Both end surfaces of the nip supporting member are shear surfaces and one of the shear surfaces makes a contact with the nip forming member and the other shear surface is supported by the side plate.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt, fixing-belt holding members which hold the fixing belt at opposite ends, a pressure member to be brought into contact with the fixing belt, a nip forming member arranged inside the fixing belt to form a nip area by contacting the pressure member with the fixing belt, a nip supporting member, side plates where the fixing-belt holding members and the nip supporting member are fixed, and a pressing mechanism which presses the pressure member against the nip forming member. The nip forming member includes at least three layers including a heat absorbing layer contacting the nip supporting member. With no load applied, the nip supporting member assumes a shape protruding at longitudinal center toward the pressure member and is in contact with the nip forming member while having the shape protruding at the center portion.

Abstract: A device includes a fixing belt, a holder that holds the fixing belt, a pressing member that comes in contact with the fixing belt, a nip-forming-member arranged inside the fixing belt, that forms a nip by coming in contact with the pressing member, a supporting member that supports the nip-forming-member, a side plate to which the nip-forming-member and the supporting member are fixed, and a pressing mechanism that presses a pressing roller to the nip-forming-member via the fixing belt. The supporting member includes at least two plates. The two plates are separated from each other near a contact portion where the plates come in contact with the nip-forming-member. At least a part of each of the plates is a flat surface parallel to a direction of a load applied by the pressing mechanism. Portions of the two plates on a side distant from the contact portion are joined together.

Abstract: A fixing device comprises a rotatable fixing member to apply heat to a recording medium bearing an unfixed image thereon, a heat source to heat the fixing member, and a rotatable pressing member pressing against the fixing member forming a nip therebetween. A driving source rotates and drives the fixing member and the pressing member. An overheat safety device has a relay to open and close a power supply path connected to the heat source. A temperature detector is connected to both the relay and the control unit to detect temperature of the fixing member. The overheat safety device turns off the relay and cuts off power supply to the heat source when the fixing member is overheated. The fixing member is allowed to radiate heat and cool down when the temperature detected by the temperature detector is more than a prescribed level.

Abstract: According to an embodiments, a fixing device includes: an endless fixing member; a heating unit that is provided inside an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member; and a nip forming unit that comes into press-contact with a rotationally driven pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween to form a nip. The nip forming unit has a shape in which a center of a contact surface protrudes toward the pressing member compared to both ends. The nip forming unit has a protruding amount at a center toward the pressing member compared to both ends of the nip forming unit in no-load state is set to be less than a bent amount of the nip forming unit when the nip forming unit comes into press-contact with the pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a heater disposed opposite the endless belt to heat the endless belt, and a pressing rotary body contacting an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt. A nip formation pad presses against the pressing rotary body via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing rotary body, through which a recording medium is conveyed. The nip formation pad includes a nip face disposed opposite the endless belt. The nip face includes a first region having an increased thermal conductivity and a second region having a decreased thermal conductivity and being adjacent to the first region in an axial direction of the endless belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation assembly disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. An opposed rotary body is pressed against the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A belt holder contacts and supports each lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof. The belt holder is isolated from the opposed rotary body with a first interval interposed therebetween in the axial direction of the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device. The fixing device includes a rotatable endless fixing member, a nip forming member arranged inside the fixing member, a pressing member in contact with the nip forming member via the fixing member, and a heating source configured to heat the fixing member. When an abnormality occurs in at least one of the fixing device and other devices included in the image forming apparatus, a rotation of the fixing member is stopped prior to stopping a rotation driving of a discharging unit and, after stopping, the fixing member is controlled to rotate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance passage unit, a fixing device, an optical sensor, a fixing condition adjuster, and a regulator. A recording medium passes through the conveyance passage unit. The fixing device fixes a toner image onto the recording medium. The optical sensor includes a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device to detect smoothness of the recording medium according to strength of light received. The fixing condition adjuster adjusts fixing conditions according to the smoothness detected. The regulator is disposed in the conveyance passage unit to regulate conveyance of the recording medium, such that at least a part of the recording medium passes through an irradiated area including an intersection that is determined by an emission angle of a first optical axis of light emitted by the light-emitting device and a reflection angle of a second optical axis of light received by the light-receiving device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on each of recording media includes an optical sensor to irradiate each of the recording media with light to detect smoothness of each of the recording media according to a strength of specularly reflected light of the light with which each of the recording media is irradiated, and a processor to compare the smoothness of the recording media to determine whether a normal image can be formed on one of the recording media having a smoothness detected last.