Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image on a recording medium includes an endless fixing rotary member which is formed into a loop and comes into contact with the image on the recording medium, an opposed rotary member which is in contact with the fixing rotary member, a nip forming member provided inside the loop of the fixing rotary member to be in contact with the opposed rotary member via the fixing rotary member to form a nip portion to which the recording medium is fed in a feeding direction, a support member which supports the nip forming member, and a heating source which heats the fixing rotary member. The nip forming member includes a downstream portion extending downstream in the feeding direction from a center of the nip portion and an upstream portion extending upstream in the feeding direction from the center and longer than the downstream portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary endless fixing belt; a nip forming member disposed in an interior of the fixing belt; a rotary opposed member to contact the nip forming member via the fixing belt to form a nip together with the fixing belt; a heat source to directly heat the fixing belt at a portion other than the nip, including at lease one heat-generation part disposed outside lateral ends of a maximum area of the fixing belt where a recording medium passes through, wherein a recording medium carrying an unfixed image is conveyed to the nip and the fixing device fixes the unfixed image onto the recording medium; and a shielding member disposed between the fixing belt and the heat generation part of the heat source and configured to shield heat from the heat source at least at an area outside the maximum passing area of the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first heater and a second heater disposed inside a fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. The first heater generates an increased amount of heat and includes a first heat generator having a first heating span in a longitudinal direction of the first heater. The second heater generates a decreased amount of heat and includes a second heat generator having a second heating span in a longitudinal direction of the second heater. A partition is interposed between the first heater and the second heater to define a first compartment having an increased size and accommodating the first heater and a second compartment having a decreased size and accommodating the second heater.

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 fixing rotator, a heater to heat the fixing rotator, a pressure rotator disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, a pressure pad disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, a support to support the pressure pad, and a thermal conduction aid to conduct heat in an axial direction of the fixing rotator. The pressure pad presses against the pressure rotator via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The pressure pad includes a nip-side face disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The thermal conduction aid covers the nip-side face of the pressure pad. The nip-side face of the pressure pad includes at least one mouth therein defining a non-contact area in which the pressure pad does not contact the thermal conduction aid.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, an opposed rotator disposed opposite the fixing rotator, a pressure pad, a lateral end heater, and a thermal conduction aid. The pressure pad presses against the opposed rotator via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the opposed rotator. The lateral end heater is disposed on the pressure pad to heat a lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction of the fixing rotator. The thermal conduction aid is interposed between the pressure pad and the fixing rotator to decrease a temperature gradient of the fixing rotator in an axial direction of the fixing rotator. The pressure pad includes a nip-side face disposed opposite the thermal conduction aid. The lateral end heater includes a nip-side face being disposed opposite the thermal conduction aid and projecting beyond the nip-side face of the pressure pad.

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 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: A fixing device for fixing an image on a recording medium includes an endless fixing rotary member which is formed into a loop and comes into contact with the image on the recording medium, an opposed rotary member which is in contact with the fixing rotary member, a nip forming member provided inside the loop of the fixing rotary member to be in contact with the opposed rotary member via the fixing rotary member to form a nip portion to which the recording medium is fed in a feeding direction, a support member which supports the nip forming member, and a heating source which heats the fixing rotary member. The nip forming member includes a downstream portion extending downstream in the feeding direction from a center of the nip portion and an upstream portion extending upstream in the feeding direction from the center and longer than the downstream portion.

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 rotary endless fixing belt; a nip forming member disposed in an interior of the fixing belt; a rotary opposed member to contact the nip forming member via the fixing belt to form a nip together with the fixing belt; a heat source to directly heat the fixing belt at a portion other than the nip, including at lease one heat-generation part disposed outside lateral ends of a maximum area of the fixing belt where a recording medium passes through, wherein a recording medium carrying an unfixed image is conveyed to the nip and the fixing device fixes the unfixed image onto the recording medium; and a shielding member disposed between the fixing belt and the heat generation part of the heat source and configured to shield heat from the heat source at least at an area outside the maximum passing area of the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and at least one heater, disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, to heat the fixing rotator. The at least one heater includes a heat generator to generate heat. A lateral end heater is disposed at least at one lateral end of a nip formation pad in a longitudinal direction of the nip formation pad. The lateral end heater heats at least one lateral end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction of the fixing rotator. The lateral end heater includes a base, a resistor, mounted on the base, to generate heat, and an electrode coupled to the resistor to supply power to the resistor. The electrode is disposed outboard from the heat generator of the at least one heater in the axial direction of the fixing rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt being applied with a lubricant on an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. A pressure rotator presses against a nip formation pad via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator. A radiant heater heats the endless belt. At least one contact heater heats at least one lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction of the endless belt. At least one temperature detector detects a temperature of the endless belt. A controller controls the at least one contact heater to generate heat, controls the endless belt to rotate, and controls the radiant heater to generate heat sequentially based on the temperature of the endless belt that is detected by the at least one temperature detector.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a first radiant heater including a first heat generator to heat the endless belt, and a second radiant heater including a second heat generator, disposed outboard from the first heat generator in an axial direction of the endless belt, to heat the endless belt. A nip formation pad includes a nip-side face disposed opposite the endless belt. A contact heater heats at least one lateral end of the endless belt in the axial direction of the endless belt. The contact heater includes a nip-side face disposed opposite the endless belt. A thermal conduction aid covers the nip-side face of the nip formation pad and the nip-side face of the contact heater and conducts heat applied to the endless belt in the axial direction of the endless belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a nip formation pad disposed inside a loop formed by the endless belt, and a radiant heater to heat the endless belt. A contact heater is disposed at least at one lateral end of the nip formation pad in a longitudinal direction of the nip formation pad. The contact heater includes a heat generator to heat at least one lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction of the endless belt. A thermal conduction aid, covering a nip-side face of the nip formation pad and a nip-side face of the contact heater, conducts heat applied to the endless belt in the axial direction of the endless belt. The thermal conduction aid includes a heater-side face being disposed opposite the contact heater and covering at least the heat generator of the contact heater.

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 flexible endless belt formed into a loop and having an inner circumferential surface, a heater to heat the endless belt, and a nip formation assembly disposed inside the loop formed by the endless belt. The nip formation assembly includes a pressure pad made of heat-resistant resin including a hollow filler, and a supplementary thermal conductor having a belt sliding-contact face over which the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt slides. The supplementary thermal conductor is interposed between the endless belt and the pressure pad to conduct heat from the heater in an axial direction of the endless belt. The fixing device further includes a pressure rotator to press against the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt formed into a loop, a heater to heat the endless belt, a nip formation assembly disposed inside the loop, and a pressure rotator to press against the nip formation assembly to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator. The nip formation assembly includes a pressure pad and a supplementary thermal conductor to conduct heat from the heater in an axial direction of the endless belt. The supplementary thermal conductor has an edge portion dimensioned to distance the supplementary thermal conductor from the endless belt at an end portion of a face over which the endless belt slides in a longitudinal direction of the supplementary thermal conductor. A distance between the edge portion of the supplementary thermal conductor and the endless belt increases toward an end portion of the endless belt in the axial direction thereof.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a primary heater, a secondary heater, and a tertiary heater to heat a primary heating span, a secondary heating span, and a tertiary heating span of a fixing rotator, respectively. A primary temperature detector and a secondary temperature detector detect a temperature of the fixing rotator. A tertiary temperature detector detects a temperature of a pressure rotator. A controller selectively performs a primary control mode to de-energize the tertiary heater and a secondary control mode to connect the secondary heater and the tertiary heater in series to energize the primary heater, the secondary heater, and the tertiary heater. The controller energizes the secondary heater and the tertiary heater in the secondary control mode based on the temperature of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator detected by the secondary temperature detector and the tertiary temperature detector, respectively.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a heater disposed inside the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator with radiant heat. A pressure rotator presses against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. A reflector is disposed opposite the heater to reflect the radiant heat radiated from the heater to the fixing rotator. The reflector includes a first parallel plane, a second parallel plane, and a third tilt plane. The second parallel plane is parallel to the first parallel plane and stepped with respect to the first parallel plane. The second parallel plane is disposed closer to the fixing nip and the heater than the first parallel plane. The third tilt plane bridges the first parallel plane and the second parallel plane and is disposed opposite the heater.