Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a heater including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a fixing belt having a surface to which a lubricant is applied and contacting the first surface through the lubricant, a heat conductor contacting the second surface, and a pressing roller capable of pressing and rotating the fixing belt, a power supply configured to supply electric power to the heater, a first thermometer configured to measure temperature of the heat conductor, and a controller configured to determine a first amount of electric power to be supplied to the heater based on the temperature of the heat conductor, and control the power supply to supply the determined first amount of electric power to the heater, before controlling the pressing roller to start rotation.

Abstract: A fixing unit or device that can be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first heater element that is formed of a material that increases in electrical resistance with increases in temperature. A controller of the fixing unit is configured to vary a duty ratio of electric power applied to the first heater element during a start-up operation in which the temperature of the first heater element is raised to a target operating temperature. By varying the duty ratio during the start-up operation, changes in the resistance of the first heater element with the heating can be compensated. For example, the duty ratio can be increased during the course of the start-up to achieve the target operating temperature faster.

Abstract: A heater is to face a pressure element via a belt and is to heat the belt. The pressure element sandwiches and conveys a sheet together with the belt. The heater includes a heat generating element, a couple of electrodes, and a protective layer. there are the electrodes on both sides of the heat generating element in a conveyance direction of the sheet. Both sides of the heat generating element in the conveyance direction are connected to adjacent electrodes.

Abstract: A fixing unit or device that can be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first heater element that is formed of a material that increases in electrical resistance with increases in temperature. A controller of the fixing unit is configured to vary a duty ratio of electric power applied to the first heater element during a start-up operation in which the temperature of the first heater element is raised to a target operating temperature. By varying the duty ratio during the start-up operation, changes in the resistance of the first heater element with the heating can be compensated. For example, the duty ratio can be increased during the course of the start-up to achieve the target operating temperature faster.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film and a pressing element that rotates with the cylindrical film and forms a nip with the cylindrical film. A medium is conveyed along a conveyance path from an upstream side to a downstream side through the nip. The heating apparatus includes a heater inside the cylindrical film and a guide member inside the cylindrical film and including a first guide portion including a first end portion that is located closer to the pressing element than the heater in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance path, and a second guide portion located downstream of a downstream end of the heater. The nip is formed along the conveyance path between a first position corresponding to the first end portion and a second position corresponding to the downstream end of the heater.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a belt, and a heater configured to heat the belt and including a substrate and a heating layer that is formed on the substrate, and a controller configured to shut off the heater if no current flows through the belt.

Abstract: A heating device includes a substrate, one or more heating elements arranged along the substrate, a heat conductor contacting the substrate, a plurality of thermometers each configured to measure a temperature of the heat conductor, and a plurality of thermostats each configured to measure a temperature of the heat conductor and interrupt electrical power supplied to the heating elements. The thermometers and the thermostats are alternately arranged in a longitudinal direction of the substrate.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film and a pressing element that rotates with the cylindrical film and forms a nip with the cylindrical film. A medium is conveyed through the nip from an upstream side to a downstream side. The heating apparatus further includes a heater arranged inside the cylindrical film and on which a heating element is disposed. An upstream end of the heater is located downstream of an upstream end of the nip, and a downstream end of the heater is located downstream of a downstream end of the nip.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a fixing belt, and a heater configured to heat the fixing belt and including a substrate and a heating layer that is formed on the substrate, and a controller configured to, upon detecting an absence of a current flowing through the fixing belt, control the heater to not generate heat.

Abstract: A heating device according to an embodiment generally includes substrate, blocks, and temperature sensors. The blocks are arranged on the substrate with a gap therebetween in a first direction. The temperature sensors are provided for each of the blocks and detect the temperature of the blocks. The block includes a plurality of first blocks on at least one side in the first direction, and the first block is adjacent to two blocks in the first direction, and the temperature sensor detects temperature of a temperature detection region on the first block, which is closer to the one of the adjacent two blocks being longer in the first direction of the two blocks.

Abstract: A heating device includes a rotatable film, a heater disposed inside the film and including a substrate that extends along a first direction and having two surfaces opposite to each other, and a heater element on one of the surfaces of the substrate, and a heat conductor including a first portion contacting the other surface of the substrate, and a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and does not contact the other surface of the substrate. A width of the second portion is wider than the heater element in the second direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit for transferring a toner image onto a sheet, a fixing device for fixing the image, the fixing device including a heating member including a heat generating element and electrodes on both sides of the heat generating element in a sheet conveyance direction and connected to the heat generating element, and a pressure element for pressing against the heating member, and a controller for controlling an adjustment mechanism so that a distance between the heating member and the pressure element becomes a first distance during a fixing process and a second distance larger than the first distance during temperature raising of the heating member, which is conducted before the fixing process.

Abstract: A heating device includes a substrate, one or more heating elements arranged along the substrate, a heat conductor contacting the substrate, a plurality of thermometers each configured to measure a temperature of the heat conductor, and a plurality of thermostats each configured to measure a temperature of the heat conductor and interrupt electrical power supplied to the heating elements. The thermometers and the thermostats are alternately arranged in a longitudinal direction of the substrate.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a heater unit includes a substrate. A first heating element is on a first side of the substrate. A second heating element is on a second side of the substrate. A first wiring is on the first side of the substrate and connected to the first heating element. A first electrode is on the first side of the substrate and connected to the first heating element. A second wiring is on the second side of the substrate and connected to the second heating element. A second electrode is on the second side of the substrate and connected to the second heating element via the second wiring. A portion of the second heating element overlaps a first portion of the first heating element.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film and a pressing element that rotates with the cylindrical film and forms a nip with the cylindrical film. A medium is conveyed through the nip from an upstream side to a downstream side. The heating apparatus further includes a heater arranged inside the cylindrical film and on which a heating element is disposed. An upstream end of the heater is located downstream of an upstream end of the nip, and a downstream end of the heater is located downstream of a downstream end of the nip.

Abstract: A transmission method is performed by a transmitter including antenna elements.

Abstract: A heating device according to an embodiment generally includes heat generating parts and temperature sensors. The heat generating parts are divided into a plurality of blocks, so that the plurality of heat generating parts are arranged with a gap therebetween on a substrate in each block. With a temperature detection region provided in each block, the temperature sensors are provided corresponding to the heat generating parts with the gaps being avoided. The temperatures of the heat generating parts are detected by the temperature sensors that are less in number than the plurality of heat generating parts.

Abstract: A heating device includes a rotatable film, a heater including a substrate that extends along a first direction and having two surfaces opposite to each other, and a heater element on one of the surfaces of the substrate, and a heat conductor having first and second surfaces and including a first portion contacting the other surface of the substrate, and a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and does not contact the other surface of the substrate. A thickness of the first portion of the heat conductor from the first surface to the second surface is greater than a thickness of the second portion from the first surface to the second surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a fixing belt having a surface to which a lubricant is applied, a heater contacting the surface and including heating elements arranged along a width direction of the belt and including first end second end heating elements and a central heating element, and a pressing roller capable of pressing and rotating the belt, a power supply configured to supply power to the heating elements, and a controller configured to determine a first amount of power to be supplied to the central heating element and a second amount of power to be supplied to each end heating element such that the first amount is greater than the second amount, and control the power supply to supply the first and second amounts to the central heating element and each end heating element before controlling the pressing roller to rotate.

Abstract: A heater is to face a pressure element via a belt and is to heat the belt. The pressure element sandwiches and conveys a sheet together with the belt. The heater includes a heat generating element, a couple of electrodes, and a protective layer. there are the electrodes on both sides of the heat generating element in a conveyance direction of the sheet. Both sides of the heat generating element in the conveyance direction are connected to adjacent electrodes.