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: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that includes a heater to heat a fixing rotator, an opposed rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, and at least one rotary body to convey a recording medium to the fixing nip. A controller rotates the fixing rotator in a forward direction to fix a toner image on the recording medium. The controller stops the heater and rotates the fixing rotator in a predetermined rotation direction when a failure occurs while the fixing device is activated. The controller determines that the predetermined rotation direction is the forward direction or a backward direction according to the at least one rotary body that sandwiches the recording medium, if the fixing nip and the at least one rotary body sandwich the recording medium simultaneously when the failure occurs while the fixing device is activated.

Abstract: A driving force distribution apparatus includes a basic distribution ratio calculator, a servo controller, and an adjuster. The basic distribution ratio calculator is configured to calculate a basic distribution ratio between a front driving force for front wheels and a rear driving force for rear wheels based on loads exerted on the front and rear wheels of a vehicle. The servo controller is configured to correct the basic distribution ratio so as to increase or decrease the basic distribution ratio based on a deviation between a target value of a rotation difference between the front and rear wheels and a measured value of the rotation difference between the front and rear wheels. The adjuster is configured to perform adjustment so that the rear driving force calculated based on the basic distribution ratio corrected by the servo controller does not exceed a total driving force.

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 a heat generator being disposed inside a loop formed by a rotator and including a heat generating portion to radiate radiant heat. A reflector is disposed inside the loop formed by the rotator and includes a reflection face to reflect the radiant heat radiated from the heat generator toward the rotator. A support supports the reflector. A holder holds each lateral end of the support in a longitudinal direction of the support, which is perpendicular to the rotation direction of the rotator. A fastener attaches the reflector to the support at an attachment position disposed at each lateral end of the reflector in a longitudinal direction of the reflector. The attachment position is disposed outboard from a lateral edge of the heat generating portion of the heat generator and disposed inboard from the holder in the longitudinal direction of the reflector.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation pad disposed inside the fixing rotator. A pressure rotator presses against the nip formation pad via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. A heat generator is disposed inside the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A reflector is interposed between the heat generator and the nip formation pad. The reflector includes a reflection face to reflect radiant heat radiated from the heat generator. The reflection face includes a reflection portion disposed opposite the heat generator at various angles. A support is provided separately from the nip formation pad and supports the reflector.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip former including a first face to form a fixing nip, a second face being disposed upstream from the first face in a rotation direction of a rotator and defining a predetermined angle relative to the first face, and a bent portion coupling the first face to the second face. An inner circumferential surface of the rotator slides over the first face. A lateral end accumulation portion and a center accumulation portion are defined by the second face and the bent portion of the nip former and the inner circumferential surface of the rotator. The lateral end accumulation portion is accumulated with a lubricant in a first amount. The center accumulation portion is disposed inboard from the lateral end accumulation portion in an axial direction of the rotator and accumulated with the lubricant in a second amount greater than the first amount.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt and a pressure rotator disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt. The pressure rotator has a first span in an axial direction of the endless belt. A nip formation pad, which is disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt, forms a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator. The nip formation pad includes a belt-side thee disposed opposite the endless belt A radiant heater, which is disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt, heats the endless belt. A thermal conduction aid, which contacts the belt-side face of the nip formation pad, conducts heat in the axial direction of the endless belt. The thermal conduction aid has a second span within which the first span of the pressure rotator is provided at the fixing nip.

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: A fixing device includes a primary heater disposed opposite a fixing rotator to heat a circumferential span of the fixing rotator other than a fixing nip formed between the fixing rotator and a pressure rotator and a secondary heater disposed outboard from the primary heater in an axial direction of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator at the fixing nip. The primary heater and the secondary heater heat a bi-heating span of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. The secondary heater heats a mono-heating span of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof and generates a decreased amount of heat to be conducted to the bi-heating span of the fixing rotator. The decreased amount of heat is smaller than an increased amount of heat to be conducted to the mono-heating span of the fixing rotator that is heated by the secondary heater only.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad which is disposed opposite an endless belt and forms a fixing nip between the endless belt and a pressure rotator. A contact heater is disposed at least at one lateral end of the nip formation pad in a longitudinal direction thereof and heats at least one lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof. A thermal conduction aid contacts a belt-side face of each of the nip formation pad and the contact heater and conducts heat in the axial direction of the endless belt. A cover is disposed outboard from the thermal conduction aid in a longitudinal direction thereof. The cover covers the belt-side face of the contact heater. The contact heater includes a power supply portion disposed outboard from the thermal conduction aid in the longitudinal direction thereof and covered by the cover.

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 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 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 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 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 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.