Abstract: A heating device includes a heater, a holder, a device frame, a primary positioner, a secondary positioner, and a tertiary positioner. The heater includes a heat generator. The holder holds the heater. The device frame is configured to support the holder. The primary positioner is configured to position the heater and the holder in a longitudinal direction of the heater. The secondary positioner is configured to position the holder and the device frame in the longitudinal direction of the heater. The tertiary positioner is configured to position the device frame and a body of an image forming apparatus in the longitudinal direction of the heater. The primary positioner and one of the secondary positioner and the tertiary positioner are disposed on an identical side defined by a center of the heat generator in the longitudinal direction of the heater.

Abstract: A heating device includes a planar heater, a heating rotator, a pressure rotator, and one or more charge eliminators. The planar heater includes a base and a resistive heat generator. The heating rotator contacts the heater and includes a conductive layer. The pressure rotator presses the heating rotator and has an outer surface including a conductive material. The one or more charge eliminators contact the conductive layer and the outer surface of the pressure rotator.

Abstract: A nip forming device includes an endless film and a pressure rotator that presses against a heater via the endless film. A driver drives and rotates the pressure rotator to cause the pressure rotator to drive and rotate the endless film. A controller controls the driver to drive and rotate the pressure rotator, based on a temperature of the pressure rotator, that is detected by a detector, in a forward direction to convey a conveyed object and to interrupt forward rotation of the pressure rotator. In response to a determination that the temperature of the pressure rotator is higher than a predetermined temperature when a job of the nip forming device is finished, the controller controls the driver to drive and rotate the pressure rotator for a predetermined time in a backward direction opposite to the forward direction and to interrupt backward rotation of the pressure rotator.

Abstract: A control apparatus executes configuration processing that includes applying filters for blocking input and output of a test packet to ports associated with the packet forwarding devices, except for one or more ports on an assumed forwarding route in a section targeted for a forwarding status determination and configuring the packet forwarding device located at an end port of the section so that the test packet that arrives at the end port is forwarded to the control apparatus, executes communication processing that includes transmitting the test packet from the communication circuit to a start port of the section, and executes determination processing that includes determining that packet forwarding is performed normally in the section, upon receipt of the test packet via the communication circuit after the transmission of the test packet.