Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, a slider, and a controller. The fixing rotator is heated by the heater. The pressure rotator presses at least a portion of the fixing rotator and forms a nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing rotator. The fixing rotator fixes an unfixed toner image on a recording material in the nip. The slider slides over a surface of the fixing rotator. The controller causes the slider to perform a first sliding operation for a predetermined time after a predetermined condition is satisfied. The controller causes the slider to perform a second sliding operation for a time equal to or less than the predetermined time at earlier timing than when the predetermined condition is satisfied, in addition to the first sliding operation.

Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a separator disposed to contact one face of a sheet conveyed through a nip between conveyors contacting each other. The separator configured to separate from surfaces of the conveyors the sheet conveyed through the nip. The separator includes a conveyance face and a slanted face. The conveyance face is configured to contact and convey the sheet conveyed through the nip. The slanted face is disposed closer to the nip than the conveyance face and inclined with respect to the conveyance face toward one conveyor of the conveyors at a same side as the one face of the sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a guide disposed downstream from a fixing nip formed between a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A pressure rotator side separator, disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction, includes an opposed tip disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the pressure rotator and a separation-conveyance face that separates the recording medium from the pressure rotator. The opposed tip and the separation-conveyance face define a hypothetical circle having a curvature not smaller than 1/20 that intersects a guide face of the guide at an intersection at which a hypothetical tangent is tangent to the hypothetical circle. The hypothetical tangent and the guide face define a downstream intersection angle that is downstream from the hypothetical tangent in the recording medium conveyance direction and is greater than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical heat roller; a plurality of heaters disposed inside the heat roller, extending along a longitudinal axis of the heat roller; and a heat adjuster, disposed among the plurality of heaters, to adjust heat from one to another of the plurality of heaters. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section to form an image on a recording medium; and the fixing device as described above, to fix the image onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical heat roller; a plurality of heaters disposed inside the heat roller, extending along a longitudinal axis of the heat roller; and a heat adjuster, disposed among the plurality of heaters, to adjust heat from one to another of the plurality of heaters. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section to form an image on a recording medium; and the fixing device as described above, to fix the image onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt stretched taut across a first roller and a second roller and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation. A pressure rotator is pressed against the first roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A separation aid, disposed downstream from the fixing nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to separate the recording medium from the fixing belt, includes a contact face contacting an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt and a bulge disposed at a center of the contact face in a longitudinal direction of the separation aid. The bulge projects toward the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt relative to each lateral end of the contact face in the longitudinal direction of the separation aid.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first roller contacting a fixing belt to generate a rotation friction force therebetween to rotate the fixing belt and a second roller contacting the fixing belt to exert a first inhibition force to the fixing belt in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the fixing belt. A separation aid is disposed downstream from a fixing nip formed between the fixing belt and a pressure rotator in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to decrease a curvature of the fixing belt and exert a second inhibition force to the fixing belt in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of the fixing belt. The second inhibition force is added to the first inhibition force to obtain a combined inhibition force that is smaller than the rotation friction force between the fixing belt and the first roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a guide disposed downstream from a fixing nip formed between a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A pressure rotator side separator, disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction, includes an opposed tip disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the pressure rotator and a separation-conveyance face that separates the recording medium from the pressure rotator. The opposed tip and the separation-conveyance face define a hypothetical circle having a curvature not smaller than 1/20 that intersects a guide face of the guide at an intersection at which a hypothetical tangent is tangent to the hypothetical circle. The hypothetical tangent and the guide face define a downstream intersection angle that is downstream from the hypothetical tangent in the recording medium conveyance direction and is greater than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt stretched taut across a fixing rotator and a support rotator. A pressure rotator is pressed against the fixing rotator via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. The pressure rotator includes a recess defining an outer diameter of each lateral end of the pressure rotator in an axial direction thereof that is greater than an outer diameter of a center of the pressure rotator in the axial direction thereof. A first separator is disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction and contacts an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt. The first separator is isolated from the pressure rotator and includes a projection disposed opposite the recess of the pressure rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an elastic rotator and a cooler disposed opposite the rotator to cool the rotator with cooling air. A mover contacts and moves the rotator to a first position where the rotator is disposed opposite the cooler with an increased first interval therebetween and a second position where the rotator is disposed opposite the cooler with a decreased second interval therebetween. A rectification plate is movably mounted on the cooler to contact the rotator constantly to guide the cooling air to the cooler.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary fixing member, a sensor, a grinder, and a controller. The rotary fixing member fixes an image on a recording medium. The sensor detects a surface state of the rotary fixing member. The grinder is disposed opposite the rotary fixing member to slide against a surface of the rotary fixing member and grind the surface of the rotary fixing member. The controller controls the grinder to contact or separate from the rotary fixing member, in accordance with a detection result of the surface state detected with the sensor in a recording medium edge passage area of the rotary fixing member over which an edge of a recording medium passes in a direction perpendicular to a feed direction of the recording medium fed with rotation of the rotary fixing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an elastic rotator and a cooler disposed opposite the rotator to cool the rotator with cooling air. A mover contacts and moves the rotator to a first position where the rotator is disposed opposite the cooler with an increased first interval therebetween and a second position where the rotator is disposed opposite the cooler with a decreased second interval therebetween. A rectification plate is movably mounted on the cooler to contact the rotator constantly to guide the cooling air to the cooler.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first roller contacting a fixing belt to generate a rotation friction force therebetween to rotate the fixing belt and a second roller contacting the fixing belt to exert a first inhibition force to the fixing belt in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the fixing belt. A separation aid is disposed downstream from a fixing nip formed between the fixing belt and a pressure rotator in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to decrease a curvature of the fixing belt and exert a second inhibition force to the fixing belt in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of the fixing belt. The second inhibition force is added to the first inhibition force to obtain a combined inhibition force that is smaller than the rotation friction force between the fixing belt and the first roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt stretched taut across a fixing rotator and a support rotator. A pressure rotator is pressed against the fixing rotator via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. The pressure rotator includes a recess defining an outer diameter of each lateral end of the pressure rotator in an axial direction thereof that is greater than an outer diameter of a center of the pressure rotator in the axial direction thereof A first separator is disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction and contacts an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt. The first separator is isolated from the pressure rotator and includes a projection disposed opposite the recess of the pressure rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary fixing member, a sensor, a grinder, and a controller. The rotary fixing member fixes an image on a recording medium. The sensor detects a surface state of the rotary fixing member. The grinder is disposed opposite the rotary fixing member to slide against a surface of the rotary fixing member and grind the surface of the rotary fixing member. The controller controls the grinder to contact or separate from the rotary fixing member, in accordance with a detection result of the surface state detected with the sensor in a recording medium edge passage area of the rotary fixing member over which an edge of a recording medium passes in a direction perpendicular to a feed direction of the recording medium fed with rotation of the rotary fixing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fuser member, a pressure member, a positioning mechanism, an operational thermometer, an environmental sensor, and a controller. The fuser member is subjected to heating. The pressure member is opposite the fuser member. The fuser member and the pressure member press against each other to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is passed. The positioning mechanism is coupled with the pressure member to move the pressure member into and away from contact with the fuser member. The operational thermometer adjoins the pressure member to detect an operational temperature at a surface of the pressure member. The environmental sensor is disposed in the image forming apparatus to detect an environmental condition. The controller is connected to the operational thermometer and the environmental sensor to control the positioning mechanism to adjust spacing between the fuser member and the pressure member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable first nip formation member, a rotatable second nip formation member, a first heater, a second heater, and a controller. The second nip formation member is provided under the first nip formation member to contact the first nip formation member to form a fixing nip portion between the first nip formation member and the second nip formation member. The first heater heats the first nip formation member. The second heater heats the second nip formation member. The controller supplies a portion of power to the second heater and the remainder of power to the first heater when a plurality of sheets having a sheet weight not greater than about 100 g/m2 passes through the fixing nip portion continuously.

Abstract: A fixing device including a rotatable fixing member to fix a toner image on a recording medium, a pressing member to press against the fixing member to form a nip portion therebetween, through which the recording medium passes, and a nip pressure applying mechanism that movably supports the pressing member. The nip pressure applying mechanism presses the pressing member against the fixing member at a predetermined nip pressure during a fixing operation, and draws the pressing member away from the fixing member for a predetermined distance before the fixing operation. The predetermined distance is set depending on a condition for the fixing operation.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable first nip formation member, a rotatable second nip formation member, and an oil applier. The second nip formation member is provided under the first nip formation member to contact the first nip formation member. The oil applier includes an oil pan, an oil receiver, and an oil filter. The oil pan is provided under the second nip formation member to contain oil in which the second nip formation member is dipped. The oil receiver holds the oil pan. The oil filter is provided between the oil pan and the oil receiver to filter oil overflowing the oil pan.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fuser member, a pressure member, a positioning mechanism, an operational thermometer, an environmental sensor, and a controller. The fuser member is subjected to heating. The pressure member is opposite the fuser member. Thee fuser member and the pressure member press against each other to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is passed. The positioning mechanism is coupled with the pressure member to move the pressure member into and away from contact with the fuser member. The operational thermometer adjoins the pressure member to detect an operational temperature at a surface of the pressure member. The environmental sensor is disposed in the image forming apparatus to detect an environmental condition. The controller is connected to the operational thermometer and the environmental sensor to control the positioning mechanism to adjust spacing between the fuser member and the pressure member.