Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an automatic document feeder, a fixing device, and circuitry The automatic document feeder conveys a document by one of multiple document conveyance speeds. The circuitry is configured to drive the automatic document feeder during warming up the fixing device and set a warm-up time of the fixing device based on the one of multiple document conveyance speeds of the automatic document feeder.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator and a second rotator that form a nip therebetween and fix an image on a recording medium that enters the nip. A heater heats at least one of the first rotator or the second rotator. A controller controls the heater to switch between a first heating and a second heating, to switch from the first heating to the second heating before the recording medium enters the nip, to start the second heating at a time prior to a nip entry time at which the recording medium enters the nip by a delay time period taken for the heater to conduct heat to the nip, and to continue the first heating before the second heating for at least one control cycle at a duty cycle of power supplied to the heater. The duty cycle is not greater than 40%.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing device, and circuitry. The image forming section forms an image on a recording medium. The fixing device includes a rotator including a flexible endless belt, a pressure rotator pressed against the rotator to form a nip between the rotator and the pressure rotator, a heater heating the rotator, and a movable shield. The movable shield is disposed between the heater and the rotator to shield the rotator from radiant heat generated from the heater and is movable according to a size of the recording medium. The circuitry is configured to control the image forming section to form the image on the recording medium based on an image forming condition and change at least one of an operating temperature of the movable shield or a shielding amount of the movable shield based on the image forming condition.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a rotation direction, a heat source to heat the fixing rotator, a pressure rotator contacting the fixing rotator, a nip formation pad to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, a slide sheet, and an adhesive part. The slide sheet between the fixing rotator and the nip formation pad contacts an inner circumferential face of the fixing rotator. The slide sheet has a center part and both end parts in an axial direction orthogonal to the rotation direction. The adhesive part bonds the slide sheet to the nip formation pad. The adhesive part includes a first adhesive part on the center part and a second adhesive part on one of the end parts. The first adhesive part has a first area, and the second adhesive part has a second area smaller than the first area.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator to fix an unfixed image on a recording medium, a pressure member disposed opposite the fixing rotator to press an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator; a heating source disposed inside an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator, and a composite member disposed inside the inner circumferential surface. The composite member includes a first member, a second member attached to the first member, and an inspection region for measurement of glossiness. The first member and the second member have a difference in glossiness. The inspection region allows identification of which one of the first member and the second member is present on a surface of the inspection region based on the glossiness of the inspection region, and determination of that the fixing device has a desired fixing configuration based on a result of the identification.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a toner, and a fixing device configured to fix an image formed with the toner on a recording medium. The fixing device includes a fixing belt that is an endless belt, and a planar member configured to heat the fixing belt. An environmental fluctuation rate X is 45% or greater but 85% or less, and the environmental fluctuation rate X is represented by: Environmental fluctuation rate X=(Q1?Q2)/{(Q1+Q2)/2} where Q1 is a quantity of electric charge of the toner in an environment having a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 15%, Q2 is a quantity of electric charge of the toner in an environment having a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 80%, and a unit for Q1 and Q2 is ?C/g.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and a drive transmission mechanism. The fixing device fixes an image on a sheet by application of heat and pressure. The drive transmission mechanism changes a conveying speed of the sheet in the fixing device between an image forming mode and a lamination mode. The conveying speed of the sheet in the fixing device in the lamination mode is lower than the conveying speed of the sheet in the fixing device in the image forming mode.

Abstract: A heating device includes a first heat member and a second heat member. The first heat member is configured to heat a sheet on a liquid applied face. The second heat member is configured to heat the sheet on an opposite face opposite the liquid applied face of the sheet. A temperature of the second heat member to heat the sheet is higher than a temperature of the first heat member to heat the sheet.

Abstract: A conveying device includes a pair of rotary bodies and a movable member. The pair or rotary bodies includes a first rotary body disposed in a first region, and a second rotary body disposed in a second region and facing the first rotary body across a sheet conveyance passage through which a sheet applied with liquid is conveyed. The movable member is disposed upstream from the first rotary body in a sheet conveyance direction. The movable member is configured to move between the first region and the second region with respect to the sheet conveyance passage. The movable member is configured to move to the second region in a middle of conveyance of the sheet between the first rotary body and the second rotary body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and a drive transmission mechanism. The fixing device fixes an image on a sheet by application of heat and pressure. The drive transmission mechanism changes a conveying speed of the sheet in the fixing device between an image forming mode and a lamination mode. The conveying speed of the sheet in the fixing device in the lamination mode is lower than the conveying speed of the sheet in the fixing device in the image forming mode.

Abstract: A novel heating device includes a heating member configured to heat a sheet on an opposite face opposite a liquid applied face. The heating member has a curved portion along which the sheet is conveyed and warped so that the liquid applied face has a concave shape.

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 heating device includes a pair of rotary bodies and a heat source. The pair of rotary bodies includes a first rotary body and a second rotary body in contact with each other to form a nip region. The pair of rotary bodies is configured to convey a sheet on which liquid is applied while nipping the sheet. The pressed amount of the second rotary body by the first rotary body increases from an upstream end of the nip region toward a downstream end of the nip region in a sheet conveyance direction. The heat source is configured to heat at least one of the first rotary body and the second rotary body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator that rotates in a rotation direction and a pressure rotator that presses against the fixing rotator to form a nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image formed with glitter toner is conveyed. A brush includes a loop that contacts a surface of the fixing rotator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device accommodating toner, the toner containing: a binder resin; and a coloring agent; and a fixing device configured to fix a toner image formed with the toner on a recording medium, the fixing device comprising: a tubular belt member; a heating member configured to heat the tubular belt member directly or indirectly in contact with the tubular belt member; and a pressing member in contact with the tubular belt member, wherein the toner under a load of 2 kg has a flow index Tf of from 70 to 121 degrees C., a flow index Te of from 83 to 120 degrees C., and a softening index Tw of from 65 to 80 degrees C.

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 conveying device includes a pair of rotary bodies and a movable member. The pair or rotary bodies includes a first rotary body disposed in a first region, and a second rotary body disposed in a second region and facing the first rotary body across a sheet conveyance passage through which a sheet applied with liquid is conveyed. The movable member is disposed upstream from the first rotary body in a sheet conveyance direction. The movable member is configured to move between the first region and the second region with respect to the sheet conveyance passage. The movable member is configured to move to the second region in a middle of conveyance of the sheet between the first rotary body and the second rotary body.

Abstract: A heating device includes a first heat member and a second heat member. The first heat member is configured to heat a sheet on a liquid applied face. The second heat member is configured to heat the sheet on an opposite face opposite the liquid applied face of the sheet. A temperature of the second heat member to heat the sheet is higher than a temperature of the first heat member to heat the sheet.

Abstract: A novel heating device includes a heating member configured to heat a sheet on an opposite face opposite a liquid applied face. The heating member has a curved portion along which the sheet is conveyed and warped so that the liquid applied face has a concave shape.

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.