Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cooler and a heater. The heater includes a heat generation unit, which includes resistive heat generators arranged in a longitudinal direction of the heater, a first electrode, a second electrode, a first conductor that connects the resistive heat generators in parallel with each other to the first electrode, and a second conductor that connects the resistive heat generators in parallel with each other to the second electrode. The first and second conductors are connected to at least one of the resistive heat generators on a first longitudinal end side of the heater from a center of the resistive heat generator in the longitudinal direction of the heater. A cooling ability of the cooler to a second longitudinal end side of the heater opposite the first longitudinal end side of the heater is greater than that to the first longitudinal end side of the heater.

Abstract: A heating device includes a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor that detect a temperature of at least one of a first rotator, a second rotator, and a heater that heats at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator. The first temperature sensor is disposed outboard from an increased conveyance span where an increased size sheet having an increased width in a longitudinal direction of the heater is conveyed. The second temperature sensor is disposed outboard from a decreased conveyance span where a decreased size sheet having a decreased width in the longitudinal direction of the heater is conveyed. The decreased conveyance span is smaller than the increased conveyance span. The second temperature sensor is disposed within the increased conveyance span and disposed opposite the first temperature sensor via a center of the increased conveyance span in the longitudinal direction of the heater.

Abstract: A nip forming device includes an endless belt that is flexible and rotates and a nip former that is disposed opposite an inner circumferential face of the endless belt. A pressure rotator presses against the nip former via the endless belt to form a nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator, through which a conveyed object is conveyed. A separator is disposed downstream from the nip in a conveyance direction of the conveyed object. The separator separates the conveyed object from the endless belt. The separator includes a non-contact portion separated from the endless belt and a contact portion that contacts the endless belt. The contact portion retains a gap having a predetermined size between the non-contact portion and the endless belt.

Abstract: A planar heater includes a base, a resister pattern, a conductor pattern, a power supply electrode, and a base pattern. The base includes a surface portion made of an insulative material. The resistor pattern is on the base. The conductor pattern is on the base and electrically coupled to the resistor pattern. The power supply electrode is electrically coupled to the conductor pattern. The base pattern is on the base and made of a material different from a material of the surface portion of the base to print visible identification information.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotator, a secured member, a pressure rotator, and lubricant. The rotator has flexibility and a sleeve form. The rotator includes an inner portion having a sliding surface. The inner portion has an elastic power of 55% or more. The secured member is disposed inside a loop of the rotator and has a slide surface on which the sliding surface of the rotator is to slide. The slide surface has a smaller surface roughness in a sliding direction of the rotator than a surface roughness of the sliding surface in the sliding direction of the rotator. The pressure rotator presses the rotator against the secured member and forms a nip between the rotator and the pressure rotator. The lubricant is provided between the rotator and the secured member.

Abstract: A rotator driver includes an endless rotator having an end face in a longitudinal direction thereof. A slide aid contacts an inner circumferential face of the endless rotator. A lubricant is applied between the slide aid and the inner circumferential face of the endless rotator. An end face contact member contacts the end face of the endless rotator and has an end face opposed face contacting the end face of the endless rotator and an opposite face being opposite to the end face opposed face. A helical gear is mounted on the opposite face of the end face contact member. The helical gear has teeth being oriented to generate a force that moves the end face contact member toward the end face of the endless rotator as the helical gear rotates. The helical gear has an outer diameter being not greater than an outer diameter of the endless rotator.

Abstract: A belt device includes a heater and a belt. The heater includes a substrate and a heat generator on the substrate. The heater has a first heater surface and a second heater surface opposite the first heater surface. The first heater surface is adjacent to the heat generator. The belt is rotatable, has an endless shape, and slides on the second heater surface. The belt includes an inner portion having an inner circumferential surface to slide on the second heater surface. The inner portion has an elastic power of 52% or more.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, an opposing rotator, a temperature detector, and a support. The fixing rotator has a hollow and heats an image to fix the image onto a recording medium. The opposing rotator forms a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the opposing rotator. The temperature detector includes an exposed conductive portion. The support has conductivity and is disposed in the hollow of the fixing rotator to support the fixing rotator at the fixing nip. The support has at least one of a recessed portion or an opening at a position facing the exposed conductive portion of the temperature detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heating device including a heater, a developing device, and an airflow generation device. The heater includes a base, a heat generator, an electrode portion, and conductive portions. The conductive portions are disposed on one side and another side in a longitudinal direction in a heat generation region and spaced apart in a lateral direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. A maximum total value among total values of squares of current flowing in the conductive portions at longitudinal positions on the one side is larger than that on said another side. The developing device includes a rotating member and sliding portions. A sliding portion having highest temperature in operation is disposed on one side of the developing device being same as the one side of the heater in the longitudinal direction. The airflow generation device generates an airflow toward the one side of the developing device.

Abstract: A belt device includes a belt, a secured member, a pressure rotator, and lubricant. The belt is rotatable and has an endless shape. The belt includes an inner portion having an inner circumferential surface. The inner portion has an elastic power of 55% or more. The inner circumferential surface of the belt slides on the secured member. The pressure rotator includes a porous elastic body and presses the secured member via the belt to form a nip between the belt and the pressure rotator. The lubricant is interposed between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the secured member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotator, a secured member, a pressure rotator, and lubricant. The rotator has flexibility and a sleeve form. The rotator includes an inner portion having a sliding surface. The inner portion has an elastic power of 55% or more. The secured member is disposed inside a loop of the rotator and has a slide surface on which the sliding surface of the rotator slides. The slide surface has a larger hardness than a hardness of the sliding surface of the rotator. The pressure rotator presses the rotator against the secured member and forms a nip between the rotator and the pressure rotator. The lubricant is provided between the rotator and the secured member.

Abstract: A heating device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, a heater, and a first, second and third temperature sensors. The second rotator contacts an outer circumferential surface of the first rotator to form a nip through which a recording medium passes. The heater heats the first rotator. The first temperature sensor is disposed outside a space extending from a first region through which a minimum recording medium passes and detects the temperature of the first rotator. The second temperature sensor is disposed outside the space extending from the first region and detects the temperature of the heater. The third temperature sensor is disposed outside the space extending from the first region and detects the temperature of the second rotator. At least one of the second temperature sensor or the third temperature sensor is disposed outside a space extending from a second region through which a maximum sheet passes.

Abstract: A heating device (9) includes a heater (22), a holder (23), a device frame (40), a primary positioner (A), a secondary positioner (B), and a tertiary positioner (C). The heater includes a heat generator (60). 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 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: An image forming apparatus includes a heating device including a heater, a developing device, and an airflow generation device. The heater includes a base, a heat generator, an electrode portion, and conductive portions. The conductive portions are disposed on one side and another side in a longitudinal direction in a heat generation region and spaced apart in a lateral direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. A maximum total value among total values of squares of current flowing in the conductive portions at longitudinal positions on the one side is larger than that on said another side. The developing device includes a rotating member and sliding portions. A sliding portion having highest temperature in operation is disposed on one side of the developing device being same as the one side of the heater in the longitudinal direction. The airflow generation device generates an airflow toward the one side of the developing device.

Abstract: A belt device includes a secured member, a belt, a pressure rotator, and lubricant. The belt has an endless shape and slides on a slide surface of the secured member. The belt has an inner portion having an elastic power of 55% or more and a sliding surface sliding on the slide surface of the secured member. The sliding surface has a surface roughness smaller than a surface roughness of the slide surface of the secured member. The pressure rotator presses the secured member via the belt to form a nip between the belt and the pressure rotator. The lubricant is interposed between the sliding surface of the belt and the slide surface of the secured member.

Abstract: A heating device includes a planar heater, a rotator, a pressure rotator, a heating device frame, a resistor, and a discharger. The pressure rotator has a conductive outer surface and presses the rotator. The heating device frame holds the pressure rotator. The discharger is in contact with the conductive outer surface of the pressure rotator and grounded via the resistor and the heating device frame.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heater and a feeding member. The heater includes a base and an electrode mounted on an electrode mounting face of the base. The feeding member includes a connector terminal and a restrictor. The connector terminal contacts the electrode. The restrictor engages the heater and restricts displacement of the feeding member relative to the heater.

Abstract: A heating device includes a belt, an opposed rotator, a heater, a nip formation pad inside the belt, a holder holding the nip formation pad, a stay supporting the holder. The nip formation pad or the holder includes pad positioning portions and a holder positioning portion. The pad positioning portions includes a first and second pad positioning portions at both ends of the nip formation pad or the holder with respect to a center of the heater, and a third pad positioning portion near the center. The holder positioning portion is nearer to the center than the first or the second pad positioning portion.

Abstract: A heater includes a first heat generator and a second heat generator each of which has a hypothetical center line that divides each of the first heat generator and the second heat generator into a first section and a second section. A first conductor connects a first electrode to the first heat generator and the second heat generator. A second conductor connects a second electrode to the first heat generator and the second heat generator. A first primary connector connects the first conductor to the first section of the first heat generator. A second primary connector connects the first conductor to the second section of the second heat generator. A first secondary connector connects the second conductor to the first heat generator. A second secondary connector connects the second conductor to the second heat generator.