Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt and a pressure rotator that presses against a nip formation pad via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt. A first holder holds a first lateral end of the fixing belt in an axial direction thereof. A second holder holds a second lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof. The second holder, together with the first holder, defines a holder interval provided between the first holder and the second holder in the axial direction of the fixing belt. A lubricant supplying sheet impregnated with a lubricant is sandwiched between the nip formation pad and the fixing belt at the fixing nip. The lubricant supplying sheet has a sheet span in the axial direction of the fixing belt. The sheet span is within the holder interval.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heater that includes a heat generator configured to generate heat as the heat generator is supplied with power. A feeding member is configured to contact the heater and feed the power to the heat generator. The feeding member is made of a corson copper alloy.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heater including a heat generator that generates heat as the heat generator is supplied with power. A feeding member contacts the heater and feeds the power to the heat generator. An endless belt rotates and is heated by the heater. A driving roller contacts an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt. A driving force transmitter is disposed at one lateral end of the driving roller in an axial direction of the driving roller. The driving force transmitter transmits a driving force that drives and rotates the driving roller. The feeding member is made of a corson copper alloy and is disposed in a non-driving side defined by a center of the heat generator in a longitudinal direction of the heater. The non-driving side is opposite a driving side in the longitudinal direction of the heater, where the driving force transmitter is disposed.

Abstract: A heater for being attached to a heating device includes a base layer and a heat generator, an electrode, and a feeder that are mounted on the base layer. The feeder is interposed between the electrode and the heat generator. The feeder is configured to electrically connect the electrode to the heat generator. The base layer includes a heat generating portion mounting the heat generator and an electrode portion mounting the electrode. A decreased cross section portion is interposed between the heat generating portion and the electrode portion. The decreased cross section portion has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the heat generating portion. The decreased cross section portion includes a positioner configured to engage a counterpart of the heating device and position the heater in a longitudinal direction of the heater when the heater is attached to the heating device.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heater and an interrupting portion. The heater extends in a width direction of a rotary belt and configured to contact and heat the belt. The interrupting portion is configured to interrupt power supply at a longitudinal end portion of the heater.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heater, a holder, a connector, and a guide pair. The heater includes an electrode through which power is conducted. The holder is configured to hold the heater. The connector includes a conduction terminal and an engagement portion. The conduction terminal is configured to contact the electrode. The engagement portion is configured to be engaged with the holder. The connector is attachable to the holder to engage the engagement portion with the holder and contact the conduction terminal with the electrode. The guide pair includes a convex portion and a recess. The convex portion is disposed in one of the holder and the connector. The recess is disposed in another one of the holder and the connector. The guide pair is configured to guide the connector in an attaching direction of the connector to attach the connector to the holder.

Abstract: A belt heating device includes an endless belt and a heater that heats the endless belt and includes a heat generator. A driving roller contacts the endless belt. A driving force transmitter is disposed at a lateral end of the driving roller in an axial direction thereof. The driving force transmitter transmits a driving force that drives and rotates the driving roller. The driving force transmitter is disposed in a driving side defined by a center of the heat generator in a longitudinal direction of the heater. A counterpart is disposed opposite the heater. A positioner positions the heater with respect to the counterpart in the longitudinal direction of the heater. The positioner is disposed in a positioning side defined by the center of the heat generator in the longitudinal direction of the heater. The positioning side is opposite the driving side in the longitudinal direction of the heater.

Abstract: A heater for being attached to a heating device includes a base layer, a heat generator mounted on the base layer, an electrode mounted on the base layer, and a feeder mounted on the base layer. The feeder is interposed between the electrode and the heat generator. The feeder is configured to electrically connect the electrode to the heat generator. A positioner is configured to engage a counterpart of the heating device. The positioner is configured to position the heater in a longitudinal direction of the heater when the heater is attached to the heating device.

Abstract: A heater includes an electrode, a heat generator, and a plurality of layers including a first layer and at least one additional layer disposed in an opposite side with respect to a surface on which the electrode is disposed. The at least one additional layer includes at least one of a plurality of portions, a gap at a location corresponding to the electrode, existing between the plurality of portions and a single portion, at least a part of the single portion corresponding to the electrode, being relatively thinner than a part of the single portion corresponding to the heat generator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator disposed opposite the first rotator to form a nip with the first rotator, a heater including a base and a heat generator, and a non-contact temperature detector to detect a temperature of the heater. The heater contacts an inner circumferential surface of the first rotator. The non-contact temperature detector is disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the first rotator via the base and disposed at a predetermined distance from the heater.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a resistive heat generator, a temperature detector, and a power controller that detects a temperature-resistance property of the resistive heat generator before the resistive heat generator is used when the resistive heat generator is removably installed. The power controller obtains power supplied to the resistive heat generator and a change in a temperature of the resistive heat generator, that is detected by the temperature detector, while the power controller supplies the power at a predetermined power duty cycle for adjustment to the resistive heat generator. The power controller calculates the temperature-resistance property of the resistive heat generator based on the power and the change in the temperature that are obtained. The power controller adjusts a power duty cycle at which the power is supplied to the resistive heat generator in use of the resistive heat generator, based on the temperature-resistance property.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heating device including a heat generator and a resistance value identifier, a body, a resistance value acquisition unit, a detector to detect detachment and attachment of the heating device from and to the body, and an electric power controller. The resistance value identifier corresponds to a resistance value of the heat generator. The resistance value acquisition unit acquires the resistance value from the resistance value identifier. The electric power controller causes the resistance value acquisition unit to acquire the resistance value when the detector detects detachment and attachment of the heating device. The electric power controller changes a lighting duty of the heat generator when the acquired resistance value of the heat generator is different from the resistance value before the detector detects detachment and attachment of the heating device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a power controller that starts an examination mode by an external operation. The examination mode detects a temperature-resistance property of a resistive heat generator. The power controller supplies power at a predetermined power duty cycle to the resistive heat generator, The power controller obtains the power supplied to the resistive heat generator and a change in a temperature of the resistive heat generator, that is detected by a temperature detector, while the power controller supplies the power at the predetermined power duty cycle to the resistive heat generator. The power controller calculates the temperature-resistance property of the resistive heat generator based on the power and the change in the temperature that are obtained. The power controller adjusts a power duty cycle at which the power is supplied to the resistive heat generator based on the temperature-resistance property.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heater and a holder. The heater includes a plate, an electrode disposed on one surface of the plate, and a heat generator. The heater does not include another electrode on the other surface of the plate opposite the one surface on which the electrode is disposed, and in a portion on the plate corresponding to the electrode. The holder includes a contact portion to contact the plate in a thickness direction of the plate, and at least one of a plurality of portions, a gap at a location corresponding to the electrode, existing between the plurality of portions and a single portion, at least a part of the single portion corresponding to the electrode, being relatively thinner than a part of the single portion corresponding to the heat generator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a power controller that starts an examination mode by an external operation. The examination mode detects a temperature-resistance property of a resistive heat generator. The power controller supplies power at a predetermined power duty cycle to the resistive heat generator. The power controller obtains the power supplied to the resistive heat generator and a change in a temperature of the resistive heat generator, that is detected by a temperature detector, while the power controller supplies the power at the predetermined power duty cycle to the resistive heat generator. The power controller calculates the temperature-resistance property of the resistive heat generator based on the power and the change in the temperature that are obtained. The power controller adjusts a power duty cycle at which the power is supplied to the resistive heat generator based on the temperature-resistance property.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heater that heats an object to be heated. A holder supports the heater and includes an engaged portion. The heater includes a contact face that contacts the object to be heated. The heater further includes a separation restrictor that engages the engaged portion of the holder to restrict motion of the heater in a separating direction in which the heater separates from the holder. The separating direction is perpendicular to the contact face.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a resistive heat generator and a power control device that controls power supplied to the resistive heat generator. The power control device supplies the power at a predetermined power duty cycle for adjustment to the resistive heat generator. The power control device adjusts a power duty cycle when the resistive heat generator is used.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater including a heat generator that is divided into a plurality of heat generating portions in an axial direction of the endless belt. The heat generator defines a dividing region between adjacent ones of the plurality of heat generating portions and a non-dividing region other than the dividing region. A primary guide contacts and guides the endless belt. The primary guide is disposed opposite the dividing region of the heat generator and has a first thermal capacity. A secondary guide contacts and guides the endless belt. The secondary guide is disposed opposite the non-dividing region of the heat generator and has a second thermal capacity that is greater than the first thermal capacity.

Abstract: A heating device includes a belt that rotates in a rotation direction and has a temperature decrease span in an axial direction of the belt, where the belt is susceptible to temperature decrease. A resistive heat generator is disposed opposite the belt. The resistive heat generator heats the belt and extends in the axial direction of the belt. The resistive heat generator includes a primary heat generating portion that generates heat in a first heat generation amount and a secondary heat generating portion that is disposed outside the primary heat generating portion and disposed opposite the temperature decrease span of the belt. The secondary heat generating portion generates heat in a second heat generation amount that is greater than the first heat generation amount of the primary heat generating portion.

Abstract: A heater includes a plurality of resistive heat generators electrically connected to each other in parallel. A power supply supplies power to the resistive heat generators. An electric current detector detects an electric current that flows through the resistive heat generators. A voltage detector detects a voltage applied to the resistive heat generators. An electric current controller controls the electric current that flows through the resistive heat generators based on the electric current detected by the electric current detector and the voltage detected by the voltage detector. The electric current detector detects the electric current in a state in which, after the power supply starts supplying the power to the resistive heat generators, an identical waveform of an alternating current supplied to the resistive heat generators continues for a predetermined time period or longer taken for the electric current detector to detect the electric current.