Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator contacting the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which recording media of a plurality of sizes are conveyed. The recording media create a plurality of non-conveyance spans on a lateral end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof where the recording media are not conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A multi-view thermopile array is disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof and angled relative to the fixing rotator to detect a temperature of the fixing rotator. The thermopile array includes an inboard temperature detection element directed to a conveyance span on the fixing rotator where the recording medium of a decreased size is conveyed.

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 a first support and a second support to rotatably support a fixing rotator at a first lateral end and a second lateral end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof. A first stopper is mounted on the first support. A second stopper is mounted on the second support. A first skew restraint projects from an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator radially at the first lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. A second skew restraint projects from the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator radially at the second lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. The second skew restraint comes into contact with the second stopper as the fixing rotator moves in the axial direction thereof toward the first support.

Abstract: A fixing device to fix a toner image on a sheet includes a first rotary member that rotates in a predetermined direction and a second rotary member that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the first rotary member. A stationary member is fixed inside the first rotary member to press the first and second rotary members together to form a nip portion between the rotary members. A reinforcement member is fixedly provided inside the first rotary member and pressed against the stationary member. The fixing device includes heat source to heat the first rotary member and a reflector to reflect heater light emitted from the heat source toward the first rotary member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a pressure rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A first heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator with a first interval therebetween to heat the fixing rotator. A reflector reflects light emitted by the first heater to the fixing rotator. The reflector is disposed opposite the first heater with a second interval therebetween that is greater than the first interval.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and an abutment rotator contacting the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A thermopile array is disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to detect a temperature of the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The thermopile array is tilted with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to cause a bisector dividing a view angle of the thermopile array in an axial direction of the fixing rotator into two equal parts and a rotation axis of the fixing rotator to define an outboard angle and an inboard angle disposed inboard from the outboard angle in the axial direction of the fixing rotator and different from the outboard angle.

Abstract: 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: When calculating an actual turn-on duty based on a required duty according to a feedback control, the actual turn-on duty is corrected using a correction table or a correction conversion formula such that a required turn-on duty and the actual turn-on duty coincide with each other. A fixing heater is controlled according to the corrected actual turn-on duty.

Abstract: A fixing device to fix a toner image on a sheet includes a first rotary member that rotates in a predetermined direction and a second rotary member that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the first rotary member. A stationary member is fixed inside the first rotary member to press the first and second rotary members together to form a nip portion between the rotary members. A reinforcement member is fixedly provided inside the first rotary member and pressed against the stationary member. The fixing device includes heat source to heat the first rotary member and a reflector to reflect heater light emitted from the heat source toward the first rotary member.

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.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The pressure member presses against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which multiple recording media, each spaced apart from each other by an interval distance in a conveyance direction, are sequentially conveyed at a conveyance speed. The heater is disposed adjacent to the fuser member to heat the fuser member. The controller is operatively connected to the heater to control power supply to the heater through a series of on-off switching control cycles, each including an on-time during which the heater power supply is on, and an off-time during which the heater power supply is off, in synchronization with conveyance of the recording medium.

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 a 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 rotary body, an opposed member, a heater, and a heating controller. The opposed member opposes the fixing rotary body to form a nipping portion therebetween. The heater includes heat generators arranged in a width direction of a recording medium. When the recording medium fed to the nipping portion has an image area and a non-image area, the heating controller controls the outputs of the heat generators based on image information so that a first heat generator of the heat generators corresponding to the image area is higher in temperature and a second heat generator of the heat generators corresponding to the non-image area is lower in temperature. Based on information other than the image information, the heating controller temporarily shifts an area of the fixing rotary body corresponding to the non-image area to a temperature differing from a normal temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator contacting the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which recording media of a plurality of sizes are conveyed. The recording media create a plurality of non-conveyance spans on a lateral end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof where the recording media are not conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A multi-view thermopile array is disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof and angled relative to the fixing rotator to detect a temperature of the fixing rotator. The thermopile array includes an inboard temperature detection element directed to a conveyance span on the fixing rotator where the recording medium of a decreased size is conveyed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and including a heated face and a heater including a contact face contacting the heated face of the fixing rotator. The contact face has a Vickers hardness not greater than about 600 Hv.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater to generate heat based on soft-start control. The heater is supplied with power using different power-turn-on-duty control patterns in accordance with power requirements and an operation mode of the fixing device.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator formed into a loop and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator disposed outside the loop formed by the fixing rotator and pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A stay is disposed opposite the pressure rotator via the fixing rotator. A heater is disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A pressurization member is pressed against the heater via the fixing rotator. A housing is interposed between the stay and the heater. A temperature detector is mounted on the housing to detect a temperature of the heater.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes: a fixing belt; a pressurizing roller; a supporting member; a heating unit; a nip forming member; and a deform preventing unit. The fixing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the fixing apparatus prevent a supporting member from deforming due to sliding of a fixing member, improving energy conservation and durability of parts and obtaining a good image.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first support and a second support to rotatably support a fixing rotator at a first lateral end and a second lateral end of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof. A first stopper is mounted on the first support. A second stopper is mounted on the second support. A first skew restraint projects from an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator radially at the first lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. A second skew restraint projects from the outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator radially at the second lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. The second skew restraint comes into contact with the second stopper as the fixing rotator moves in the axial direction thereof toward the first support.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable, endless fixing belt; a rotatable contact member configured to contact a circumferential surface of the fixing belt to form a nip in association with the fixing belt; and a heating member disposed at an interior surface of the fixing belt, configured to heat the fixing belt. The heating member includes a multiple heat sources arranged along the width of a sheet of recording media in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction. A controller changes an area to be heated by each heat source based on image data and corresponding to an unfixed image on the sheet. The fixing belt is heated by the heating member so that the unfixed image on the sheet that has been conveyed to the nip is fixed onto the sheet at least with heat. The heating member is disposed at a portion other than the fixing nip.