Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable endless belt; a planar heat-generating section in which at least a downstream end portion in a movement direction of the belt is in pressure contact with a rotating body via a pressure contact portion and a cross-sectional shape of a downstream edge portion being in contact with an inner surface of the belt is formed in a curved shape having a curvature radius of 0.01 mm or more 0.2 mm or less or in a shape in which the edge portion is cut out over the dimension; and a holding section that is disposed inside the belt and holds the planar heat-generating section to be in pressure contact with the rotating body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first fixing member, a second fixing member, and a controller. The second fixing member includes a first nip forming member and a second nip forming member each configured to nip an endless belt in combination with the first fixing member to form a nip region. A first end face on a first-fixing-member side of the first nip forming member is located closer, than a second end face on a first-fixing-member side of the second nip forming member, to the first fixing member. The controller is capable of executing a first printing process performed in a nip region formed between each of the first nip forming member and the second nip forming member and the first fixing member, and a second printing process performed in a nip region formed between only the first fixing member and the first fixing member.

Abstract: A top case assembly for a portable computer is disclosed. The assembly may include an integral unified (e.g., homogenous) top case formed from a single part. The integral top case provides an enclosure, frame and cosmetic exterior of the portable computer. The integral top case also serves as the primary structure of the portable computer. The assembly may include a variety of subassemblies such as keyboards, touchpads, circuit boards, and drives that are carried by the underside of the integral top case. The integral top case may be formed from aluminum slab that has been machined to form walls, openings, attachment areas and cosmetic areas of the top case.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including: a first rotary member; a second rotary member; a nip forming member; and a heater. The nip forming member includes: a first projection portion inside a nip area; and a second projection portion located outside the nip area. The first and second projection portion abut against the inner circumferential surface of the first rotary member. In a direction orthogonal to a nip tangent, a distance between a tip of the second projection portion and the nip tangent is larger than a distance between a tip of the first projection portion and the nip tangent. The second projection portion extends toward the second rotary member without exceeding the nip tangent. A radius of curvature at a tip portion of the second projection portion is smaller than a radius of an inner circumferential circle of the first rotary member.

Abstract: A heating device includes a rotatable film, a heater including a substrate that extends along a first direction and having two surfaces opposite to each other, and a heater element on one of the surfaces of the substrate, and a heat conductor having first and second surfaces and including a first portion contacting the other surface of the substrate, and a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and does not contact the other surface of the substrate. A thickness of the first portion of the heat conductor from the first surface to the second surface is greater than a thickness of the second portion from the first surface to the second surface.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing film, a heater for heating the fixing film, a heater holder including a heater holding portion holding the heater, and a pressing roller forming a nip between itself and the fixing film to be heated by the heater. In the nip, a toner image carried on a recording material is fixed. The heater holder includes an opposing surface which is provided on a side upstream of the heater holding portion with respect to a recording material feeding direction and which opposes the pressing roller, a lubricant holding portion provided on the opposing surface, for supplying a lubricant to between the fixing film and the heater, and a projected portion provided on the side upstream of the heater holding portion with respect to the recording material feeding direction and projecting toward the pressing roller from the opposing surface.

Abstract: A fixation unit for use in a printing apparatus includes a substantially closed box for enclosing a heated space, the substantially closed box including an entry opening and an exit opening for enabling transport of a print substrate through the substantially closed box, a heating element arranged for heating the heated space enclosed by the substantially closed box, and a transport mechanism for engaging a sheet of the print substrate from the entry opening to the exit opening of the substantially closed box. The transport mechanism includes a nip of two belts that are pressed together and run concurrently and in the same direction, the belts being impermeable to any ink component. A printer includes such a fixation unit and a printing method uses such a fixation unit.

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: According to an embodiment, a heating device includes a cylindrical belt, a heater, a press roller, and a holder. The heater is disposed on an inner surface of the belt. The press roller rotates and is configured to contact an outer surface of the belt at a position opposite the heater to form a nip. The end portions of the press roller project by a first amount in a radial direction more than the central portion of the press roller. A holder has a first surface supporting the heater to face the cylindrical belt. The holder has a second surface that is opposite of the first surface with a center portion projecting in a direction orthogonal to the first surface more than the end portions of the second surface by a second projection amount that is greater than the first projection amount.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heating unit that heats a member to be heated, which is transported, as a result of a contact portion of the heating unit being in contact with the member to be heated, a heat pipe that is disposed on a portion of the heating unit different from the contact portion in such a manner as to extend in a widthwise direction crossing a transport direction of the member to be heated and that includes a crimped portion formed at a first end of the heat pipe, a rotating body that rotates in such a manner as to press the member to be heated against the contact portion of the heating unit, and a power input unit that is disposed on a second end side of the heat pipe and that inputs a rotational force at least to the rotating body.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film and a pressing element that rotates with the cylindrical film and forms a nip with the cylindrical film. A medium is conveyed through the nip from an upstream side to a downstream side. The apparatus further includes a guide member arranged inside the cylindrical film and contacting the cylindrical film, and a substrate arranged inside the cylindrical film and on which a heating element is disposed. A downstream end of the substrate is located downstream of a downstream end of the nip.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular body in a tubular shape that forms a nip with a pressurizing member. The heater, disposed inside the tubular body, faces a part of the tubular body in a circumferential direction. The heat equalizing member is disposed on an opposite side of a side where the heater faces the tubular body. The heat equalizing member transfers heat from a place having a high temperature to a place having a low temperature in a second direction along an axial direction of the tubular body. The heat conductive member, disposed between the heater and the heat equalizing member, can conduct the heat in each of the second direction and a first direction in which the heater and the heat equalizing member face each other. A side portion of the heat conductive member in the second direction is divided into three or more portions.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to receive radiant heat from the heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member includes a main-body portion that contains aluminum or aluminum alloy and a protective layer that includes an oxide film formed on a surface of the main-body portion. The main-body portion contains a heat receiving surface that faces the heating element and receives radiant heat from the heating element, and a rubbed surface that is rubbed against the inner circumferential surface of the first rotary member. The protective layer contains coloring agent that causes an emissivity of the heat receiving surface and the rubbed surface to be higher than an emissivity of a natural color oxide film.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylinder, a heater, a contact body, and a soaking member. The heater has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The heater includes a heating element extending along a longitudinal direction of the heater. The first surface engages with an inner surface of the cylinder. The contact body is configured to engage with the inner surface of the cylinder. The contact body is configured to be heated at a first position along the longitudinal direction at a first temperature increase rate and at a second position along the longitudinal direction at a second temperature increase rate that is lower than the first temperature increase rate. The soaking member is positioned to engage with the opposing second surface of the heater. The soaking member has a second thermal capacity lower than a first thermal capacity at the respective second and first positions.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes a belt, a heater, and a holder. The holder has a plurality of support portions that contact an end of the first heating region and an end of the second heating region along the direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and a plurality of non-contacting portions that do not contact the end of the first heating region and the end of the second heating region between the plurality of support portions, the end of the second heating region contacts one of the plurality of support portions at a side in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and the end of the second heating region faces to one of the plurality of non-contacting portions at the other side in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a heating device includes a cylindrical belt, a heat generating member, and a support member. The heat generating member is disposed in an interior region surrounded by the belt and in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt. The support member is provided in the interior region surrounded by the belt and contacts and supports the heat generating member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, and a heat equalizing member. In a case that a region including a center of the heat equalizing member with respect to a longitudinal direction is a first region, a region closer to an end of the heat equalizing member than the first region is with respect to the longitudinal direction is a second region, and a region closer to the end of the heat equalizing member than the second region is with respect to the longitudinal direction is a third region. When the heat equalizing member has thermal capacities per unit length in the first region, the second region, and the third region are C?, C? and C?, respectively, C?, C? and C? satisfy the following relationship: C?>C?, and C?>C?.

Abstract: A heater is to face a pressure element via a belt and is to heat the belt. The pressure element sandwiches and conveys a sheet together with the belt. The heater includes a substrate, a heat generating element, and a protective layer. The heat generating element is on the substrate. The protective layer covers the heat generating element and the substrate and whose surface is concave with respect to the pressure element. In the protective layer, a curvature of a top surface of an upstream end in a conveyance direction of the sheet is smaller than a curvature of a top surface of a downstream end in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotator, a heat source to heat the rotator, a first thermal equalization plate, a second thermal equalization plate, and an overheating preventer. The first thermal equalization plate and the second equalization plate are in contact with the heat source. The overheating preventer is in contact with one end of the second thermal equalization plate in an axial direction of the rotator. The first thermal equalization plate is in contact with a portion of the heat source, and the portion of the heat source is farther from a center of the rotator than the one end of the second thermal equalization plate in the axial direction of the rotator. The first thermal equalization plate is spaced apart from the one end of the second thermal equalization plate.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt capable of rotational movement, a pressure member that presses from the outside of the fixing belt, a nip forming member arranged on the inner circumference surface side of the fixing belt and forms a fixing nip region between the fixing belt and the pressure member, and a support member supporting the nip forming member from the side opposite to the fixing belt. The support member includes a first support portion and a second support portion. The first support portion supports the nip forming member. The second support portion stands from the surface of the first support portion opposite to the nip forming member so that the center portion in the conveying direction of the recording medium is located at the downstream side of the center portion of the fixing nip region in the conveying direction and within the fixing nip region.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt, a roller, a heater, and a reflector. The belt is rotatable in a rotational direction. The roller is positioned to be in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the belt so as to form a nip between the roller and the belt. The heater is disposed within an inner circumference of the belt. The reflector is configured to reflect heat generated by the heater toward an inner surface of the belt. The reflector includes a first portion that is in contact with the belt at a first region downstream with respect to the nip in the rotational direction. The first portion causes a curvature of the belt at the first region to be greater than the curvature of the belt at regions of the belt adjacent to the first region.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a heater, a pressure rotator, a stay, a biasing member fixed to the stay, and a nip formation pad. The nip formation pad is supported by the stay, disposed inside the fixing rotator, and forms a nip. The nip formation pad includes at least one engaged portion at a position other than both ends of the nip formation pad or engaged portions at both ends of the nip formation pad. The at least one engaged portion engages an engaging portion in the stay to generate a first rotational moment. The engaged portions at both ends engage engaging portions in the stay to generate a second rotational moment. Each rotational moment is smaller than a rotational moment generated by engagement between an engaging portion in the stay and an engaged portion at only one end of the nip formation pad.

Abstract: A heating device includes a cylindrical film a heater disposed inside the cylindrical film on an inner surface of the cylindrical film. The heater has a plurality of heating elements on a first surface that are spaced from each other at intervals along an axial direction. A heat transfer member contacts a second surface of the heater. The heat transfer member is arranged such that, in a first region of the heater that includes just a single one of the heating elements, contact between the heater and heat transfer member is greater than in a second region of the heater that includes an interval between a pair of adjacent heating elements.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating and fixing rotator, a pressing rotator, a blower, a guide, an opening and closing device, and a driving device. The heating and fixing rotator is rotatable and heats an unfixed image on a recording medium to fix the unfixed image on the recording medium. The pressing rotator is rotatable, faces the heating and fixing rotator, and is pressed against the recording medium. The guide has an air blowing port and guides air sent from the blower to at least one of the heating and fixing rotator and the pressing rotator. The opening and closing device moves to open and close the air blowing port. The driving device includes a driver to move the opening and closing device and at least one member other than the opening and closing device and separately drives the opening and closing device and the at least one member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a rotatable belt, a rotatable pressurizing member, a steering roller, a contact portion, a detected portion, a sensor, and a guiding portion. The contact portion comes into contact with an end portion, in the width direction, of the belt. A position of the detected portion is changed on a basis of a position of the contact portion. The sensor detects the position of the detected portion. An inclination of the steering roller is controlled on a basis of a detection result of the sensor. The guiding portion is provided by connecting with the contact portion. The lubricant is guided from the contact portion to the guiding portion. The guiding portion is provided in a region below the contact portion in a vertical direction, inside of the belt, and overlapped with the belt in the width direction.

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: In some examples, a system is disclosed that includes a roller assembly for a printer. The roller assembly includes a pressure roller, a belt coupled, a drive assembly to rotate the pressure roller and to urge the pressure roller into the belt, a heater to apply heat to the belt, and a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the belt. In addition, the roller assembly includes a controller to increase a pressure applied to the pressure roller from a first to a second pressure in pressure in response to a temperature of the belt being greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold. Also, the controller is to initiate an advance of a print media to contact the belt in response to the temperature of the belt being greater than or equal to a second, higher temperature threshold.

Abstract: A one-way clutch including: a driving force input member; a driving force output member; and a driving force transmitting member, wherein, when the driving force input member performs forward rotation, the second engaging part performs forward rotation in a state of being engaged with the first engaging part, so as to connect the first ratchet engaging part and the second ratchet engaging part, in order to make the driving force output member perform forward rotation, wherein, when the driving force input member performs reverse rotation, the second engaging part performs reverse rotation in a state of being engaged with the first engaging part, so as to make the driving force transmitting member and the first ratchet engaging part perform reverse rotation so that the first ratchet engaging part is separated from the second ratchet engaging part, in order not to make the driving force output member perform reverse rotation.

Abstract: An endless belt includes a metal substrate, and a heat-resistant resin layer that is disposed as an innermost layer on an inner peripheral surface of the metal substrate and that contains a resin and a thermally conductive filler having an aspect ratio of 20 or more. In the heat-resistant resin layer, an orientation ratio of the thermally conductive filler with respect to a circumferential direction of the endless belt is 20% or more.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressure applying member, and a heater holding member. The fixing belt fixes toner to a sheet. The pressure applying member forms a nip portion together with an outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt and causes the fixing belt to peripherally rotate while applying pressure to the fixing belt at the nip portion. The heater holding member holds a heater that applies heat to the fixing belt. The heater holding member includes: a side portion that extends from the nip portion along an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt and guides the fixing belt; and a plurality of inclined ribs that are disposed on the side portion to face the inner peripheral surface and formed such that an interval between them is gradually narrowed as they proceed in a direction in which the fixing belt peripherally rotates.

Abstract: A fixing device for an image forming apparatus has a tubular fixing member that has a lubricant-coated inner surface. A rotating member contacts an outer surface of the fixing member. A heater is on an inner surface side of the fixing member at a first position. A pressing member presses against the inner surface of the fixing member at a second position. The pressing member extends beyond the outer edges of the fixing member and includes first grooves in an outward facing surface that contacts the inner surface of fixing member. At least one first groove has end portion that extends beyond an outer edge of the fixing member, an inner portion inside the outer edges of the fixing member, and connecting portion connecting the two other portions. The connector portion is angled inward toward a center of the fixing member and crosses the outer edge of the fixing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a drawer, an operation panel, and a sensor. The housing includes a first side wall having a first opening, and a second side wall having a vent and extending in a direction crossing the first side wall. The drawer supports a cartridge. The drawer is movable through the first opening between an inner position at which the drawer is accommodated in the housing and an outer position at which a part of the drawer is exposed to outside the housing. At least part of the operation panel protrudes from an outer surface of the second side wall. The sensor is arranged in the housing between the drawer and the second side wall. The sensor is configured to detect at least temperature or humidity of ambient air taken in through the vent.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming device including: a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium while rotating, in a state of being in contact with a back surface of the recording medium having a front surface on which a toner image is transferred; a main heating unit configured to heat the conveyed recording medium to fix the toner image on the recording medium; and a preheating unit disposed upstream of the main heating unit in a conveying direction of the recording medium and configured to heat, in a non-contact state, the recording medium being conveyed by the conveying unit, a portion of the conveying unit that is in contact with the recording medium being formed of a material that makes a maximum temperature of the portion be equal to or lower than a temperature of the recording medium when the recording medium is heated by the preheating unit.

Abstract: In some examples, a media conditioner includes a conveying component to convey a sheet of printable media, a heating element to heat the conveying component, a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the conveying component, a media sensor to detect the sheet of printable media, and a controller to provide a power level to the heating element. A temperature set-point is set to a pre-established value. Based on data from the temperature sensor, the controller is to maintain the temperature of the conveying component at the temperature set-point by varying the power level. The controller is to apply a boost to the power level based on a signal from the media sensor while the temperature set-point remains at the pre-established value.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator that rotates and a heat source that heats the fixing rotator. A pressure rotator contacts an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. A nip former is disposed opposite the pressure rotator via the fixing rotator to form a nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. A support supports the nip former and includes a metal member. The nip former includes a resin nip forming member made of resin and a metal nip forming member made of metal and interposed between the resin nip forming member and the fixing rotator. The metal nip forming member includes a contact face disposed in at least a part of a lateral end span of the nip former in a longitudinal direction of the nip former. The contact face contacts the metal member of the support.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an endless belt to convey a medium, a heating member to heat the endless belt, a pressure member to press the endless belt against the heating member, and a cooling device. The cooling device is in contact with the endless belt at a non-linear portion of the endless belt and includes an interior space.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and a control unit. The fixing device includes a heating resistor formed of a positive temperature coefficient material. The control unit energizes the heating resistor with a first energization amount if a temperature of the heating resistor is lower than a predetermined temperature, and energizes the heating resistor with a second energization amount that is higher than the first energization amount if the temperature of the heating resistor is higher than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A roller used in a fixing device includes a rubber layer including a plurality of void portions, pore passage portions connecting the void portions, and a filler, wherein an aspect ratio RA of the filler is 2.5?RA?215, and a linear expansion coefficient of the rubber layer is less than or equal to 400×10?6/K.

Abstract: A rotatable endless fixing belt configured to fix a toner image borne on a recording material includes a base body and a polyimide layer. The polyimide layer is formed on an inner-circumferential-surface of the base body and configured to slide on a backup member in contact with the backup member. The polyimide layer includes filler having shape anisotropy. An orientation ratio of the filler inclined with respect to a generating line of the fixing belt by a predetermined angle or less is smaller in a first area than in a second area in a cross section of the fixing belt taken along the generating line of the fixing belt, the first area being an area formed in an inner-circumferential-surface side of the polyimide layer in a thickness direction, the second area being an area formed in a base-body side of the polyimide layer in the thickness direction.

Abstract: An infrared irradiating portion is turned on in accordance with power-on of an image forming apparatus 10, and an air sucking operation of an air sucking portion 300 is started after a temperature of an infrared radiation member 305 of an IR irradiating portion 13 reaches a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to be rubbed against the first rotary member via lubricant, and being configured to receive radiant heat from a heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member involves a nip forming portion configured to be in contact with the first rotary member, and an extending portion formed continuously with a downstream edge portion of the nip forming portion. The extending portion involves a holding portion configured to hold the lubricant. The holding portion is longer than the second rotary member and shorter than the first rotary member, and when viewed in a sheet conveyance direction, both end portions of the holding portion are position outside of end portions of the second rotary member and inside of end portions of the first rotary member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing film, a heater for heating the fixing film, a heater holder including a heater holding portion holding the heater, and a pressing roller forming a nip between itself and the fixing film to be heated by the heater. In the nip, a toner image carried on a recording material is fixed. The heater holder includes an opposing surface which is provided on a side upstream of the heater holding portion with respect to a recording material feeding direction and which opposes the pressing roller, a lubricant holding portion provided on the opposing surface, for supplying a lubricant to between the fixing film and the heater, and a projected portion provided on the side upstream of the heater holding portion with respect to the recording material feeding direction and projecting toward the pressing roller from the opposing surface.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus according includes: a heater that includes a substrate, a heating element provided on the substrate, and an electrode provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the heating element; and a power supply member that includes a first member bonded or coupled to the electrode to supply power to the heating element and a second member bonded or coupled to an opposite surface of the first member to a surface, which is bonded or coupled to the electrode, of the first member, wherein the heater generates heat by power supplied via the power supply member, and an image formed on a recording material is heated by heat of the heater; and a liner expansion coefficient of the first member is different from a liner expansion coefficient of the second member.

Abstract: A device includes a rotator, a belt facing the rotator and having an outer peripheral surface which contacts the rotator to form a nip therebetween, a first pad configured to press the belt toward the rotator to form one part of the nip, a second pad configured to press the belt toward the rotator, to form another part of the nip, a holder holding the first pad and the second pad, a stay supporting the holder, and an urging member urging the stay toward the rotator in an urging direction. The second pad is located upstream of the first pad in a conveyance direction in the nip orthogonal to the urging direction. At least a portion of a contact area between the stay and the holder is located downstream of a center of the nip and upstream of a front edge of the first pad in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing roller, a fixing belt disposed to be rotated by the pressing roller around a rotation axis of the fixing belt, a pressing member disposed within the fixing belt and to press a portion of the fixing belt toward the pressing roller, a pair of rotation ring members to support corresponding ends of the fixing belt respectively and being rotated by the fixing belt, and a pair of flange members to rotatably support the pair of the rotation ring members respectively, in which a rotation ring member of the pair of rotation ring members is an inclined state towards the fixing belt on a corresponding flange member, in which, with respect to the rotational axis of the fixing belt, an area of the rotation ring member opposite to a contacting area of the rotation member contacting with the pressed portion of the fixing belt protrudes more toward the fixing belt than the contacting area.

Abstract: A device includes a rotator having a rotation axis, a belt, a belt support surrounded by the belt, and a sliding sheet configured to be pinched at the nip between an inner peripheral surface of the belt and the belt support. The belt support is configured to form a nip with the rotator. One of the belt support and the sliding sheet includes a hook engaging portion. The hook engaging portion includes an aperture. The other of the belt support and the sliding sheet includes a hook engaged to the aperture.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fluororesin film or fluororesin laminate excellent in heat resistance and excellent in interlayer adhesion to an object to be laminated, such as a prepreg, a method for producing a hot pressed laminate using said film or laminate, and a method for producing a printed circuit board. The fluororesin film contains a fluororesin having a melting point of from 260 to 380° C., and has an arithmetic average roughness Ra of at least 3.0 nm when inside of 1 ?m2 of at least one surface thereof in the thickness direction is measured by an atomic force microscope. The laminate 1 has a layer A10 containing said fluororesin and a layer B12 made of another substrate, wherein the layer A10 has an arithmetic average roughness Ra of at least 3.0 nm when inside of 1 ?m2 of a second surface 10b thereof is measured by an atomic force microscope.

Abstract: A heater includes a substrate formed of metal into a plate shape in which a length in a longitudinal direction thereof is greater than a length in a short direction thereof when viewed in a thickness direction thereof, an insulating layer formed of insulating material on a first surface of the substrate on a first side in the thickness direction, a heating element arranged on the insulating layer and configured to generate heat by flowing electric current therethrough, and a cover layer arranged to cover the heating element. The heater is a warped shape when receiving no external force, such that a center portion of the heater in the longitudinal direction protrudes to the first side in the thickness direction compared to both end portions of the heater in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a belt, a pad member, a pressure member, a heating roller, a stretching roller, and, an outer stretching roller. The outer stretching roller disposed between the heating roller and the stretching roller and configured to press the heating roller from an outer surface of the belt and bring the belt into contact with the heating roller. In a cross section orthogonal to a rotation axis of the pressure member, a surface between the heating roller and the stretching roller of the belt in a state where the belt is pushed toward the heating roller by the outer stretching roller is located inside that of the belt in a state where the outer stretching roller is removed.

Abstract: A fixing device that fixes a toner image to a medium, includes: a heating body rotatably supported; an auxiliary heating member disposed along an inner surface of the heating rotation body; a temperature sensor facing the inner surface via the auxiliary heating member; a first elastic body configured to press, via a first force, the temperature sensor against the inner surface; and a second elastic body configured to press, via a second force, a sliding member against the inner surface. A product of a distance from a center of the auxiliary heating member to the first elastic body and the first elastic force is equal to a product of a distance from the center to the second elastic body and the second elastic force.