Abstract: Provided is a heating device that heats a belt which transports a medium on which a non-fixed image to be fixed onto the medium through heating is formed, the heating device including a heating element, a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer that are arranged to nip the heating element, a first supporting layer that comes into contact with the first insulating layer and a second supporting layer that comes into contact with the second insulating layer, both of which are arranged to nip the first insulating layer, the heating element, and the second insulating layer, and a connection member that connects the first supporting layer and the second supporting layer in a normal direction of the first supporting layer and the second supporting layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material; an endless belt member; a pressure member that applies pressure to the belt member; a pressing member that presses the belt member from an inner side of the belt member towards the pressure member; and an adjusting section that adjusts a position of an end portion of a nip part at a downstream side in a movement direction of the recording material and a position of a curved portion of the belt member by moving or deforming the pressing member, the nip part being formed by the belt member and the pressure member, the curved portion of the belt member being formed by an end portion of the pressing member at a downstream side in the movement direction of the recording material.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressure rotating body, a nip member, a supporting member, a heating source, a heat conducting member and a reflecting member. The pressure rotating body is rotatably arranged outside the fixing belt to come into pressure contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip. The nip member is arranged inside the fixing belt to press the fixing belt toward the pressure rotating body. The supporting member supports the nip member. The heating source is arranged inside the fixing belt to emit radiant heat. The heat conducting member is supported by the supporting member in a cantilevered state to come into contact with an inner circumference face of the fixing belt and to absorb the radiant heat. The reflecting member reflects the radiant heat toward the heat conducting member and at least partially comes into contact with the heat conducting member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a flexible tubular member defining an axis extending in an axial direction; a first fixing member; a second fixing member configured to nip the tubular member in cooperation with the first fixing member; and a pair of restricting members disposed to interpose the tubular member therebetween in the axial direction. The tubular member has end faces in the axial direction and a circumference defining a circumferential direction. Each restricting member has a restricting surface abuttable with each end face of the tubular member to restrict the tubular member from moving in the axial direction, each restricting surface having a specific area continuously applied with a lubricant upon completion of assembly of the fixing device, the specific area having an arcuate shape extending in the circumferential direction and having a width at least equal to a thickness of the tubular member in the radial direction.

Abstract: A fixation device includes a pressing member, a drive roller, an auxiliary roller, and an endless fixation belt rotatably mounted, in a loop shape, on the drive roller and the auxiliary roller. The endless fixation belt is in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pressing member, thereby forming a nip between the fixation belt and the pressing member. The drive roller is configured to drive the fixation belt to rotate in the looped shape and thereby cause the auxiliary roller to rotate due to the frictional force from an inner peripheral surface of the rotating fixation belt. A friction coefficient of a contact surface of the auxiliary roller with the fixation belt is smaller than a friction coefficient of a contact surface of the drive roller with the fixation belt.

Abstract: A cooling section has a flow passage-forming section for forming a flow passage through which a cooling medium flows and cools a sheet via a first belt. A pressing roller is provided inside a second belt, faces the flow passage-forming section via the second belt and the first belt, and presses the second belt onto the cooling section.

Abstract: A fixing device employing resistance heating system includes: a fixing roller being loosely inserted into an endless fixing belt; a pressure member being in pressure-contact with the fixing belt to form fixing nip; meandering prevention members preventing the fixing belt from meandering; prevention member holders holding the meandering prevention members for rotation independently from the fixing roller. Each meandering prevention member has rotation center inside circle, where, when seen in rotation axis direction of the fixing roller, the circle has center coincident with midpoint between two focal points of ellipse approximating belt rotation path of the fixing belt, and has radius equal to distance from the center of the circle to straight line passing through rotation center of the fixing roller and center of the nip in rotational direction of the fixing roller.

Abstract: A heating member has a multi-layered structure of n layers in total to which layer numbers are assigned sequentially from one on a heat source side to a surface in contact with a recording medium. An n?th layer is heated by the heat source. The thermal permeability of the n?th layer is larger than the thermal permeability of a n?1?th layer and satisfies the following relationship: ?{square root over (?nt)}?dn where, ?n[m2/s] is the thermal diffusivity of the n?th layer, and dn[m] is the thickness of the n?th layer.

Abstract: Some fixing devices include a nip member, an endless belt, a rotating member and a stay. The stay, in some arrangements, has a first supporting face. Additionally, the first supporting face includes a first downstream edge. The first downstream edge includes a first portion, a third portion, and a second portion. According to various aspects, the second portion is positioned between the first portion and the third portion. The second supporting face includes a second downstream edge. The second downstream edge has a fourth portion, a sixth portion, and a fifth portion. According to further aspects, the second portion and the fifth portion define a first distance while the first portion and the fourth portion define a second distance, and the third portion and the sixth portion define a third distance. The second distance and the third distance is longer than the first distance in some examples.

Abstract: A pressing member includes a heat resistant material, highly heat conductive needle shaped fillers included in the heat resistant material, and hole portions included in the heat resistant material. The pressing member is provided in a fixing device including a fixing member, a heating member to heat the fixing member, and a pressure roller. The pressing member is arranged to press the fixing member and form a nip portion between the fixing member and the pressure roller through which a recording sheet passes.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes an endless belt unit accommodating a heat source, a pressure roller to rotate in contact with the fixing belt unit forming a pressure border therebetween, and a heat transfer member heated by the heat source to heat the fixing belt unit. The heat transfer member is secured inside an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt unit and supports the fixing belt unit. A fixed member is secured inside the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt unit and is pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt unit. The heat transfer member has at least one convex portion partially formed in an outer circumferential surface of the heat transfer member in a rotational direction of the fixing belt unit and a longitudinal direction of the heat transfer member to narrow a gap formed between the heat transfer member and the fixing belt unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt, a secured member, a support roller, a heating unit, and a pressure roller that is driven to rotate and has an elastic surface layer deformed when pressing the belt against the secured member so as to form a fixing portion. A recording medium that holds an unfixed image passes through the fixing portion. The secured member has a contact portion and an insertion portion having first and second curved surfaces respectively curved toward first and second sides opposite to each other. Conditions t(1/r1+1/r2)?0.130 and r1<r2 are satisfied where t denotes a thickness of the belt, r1 denotes a radius of curvature of the second curved surface in mm, and r2 denotes a radius of curvature of the first curved surface in mm.

Abstract: A replacement belt unit for use with an image heating apparatus which includes an endless belt for heating an image on a recording material at a nip, a rotatable member for forming the nip between itself and the endless belt and for rotating the endless belt by rotation thereof, and a holding member for holding the endless belt from an inside of the endless belt, includes: a replacement endless belt; a cylindrical member for supporting the replacement endless belt at an inner surface of the replacement endless belt; and an engaging portion provided in a longitudinal end side of the cylindrical member and engageable with the holding member so that the cylindrical member is maintained in a fixed state relative to the holding member when the replacement endless belt is fitted around the holding member.

Abstract: If the positional relationship between the rubbing roller and the contact angle of the belt-like fixing member is changed by inclination of the steering roller, it is always possible for the rubbing roller to abut on the range where the belt-like fixing member is wrapped. As a result, it is possible to maintain uniform surface roughness for the fixing member surface layer, allowing the recording material to maintain evenness in the gloss.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring rotation body, a cap member and an elastic member. The cap member includes a main body part covering an outside of an end part of the fixing belt and a flange part covering an external diameter side of the end part. The elastic member includes a belt insertion part into which the end part is inserted, a cap insertion part into which the flange part is inserted and a contact part coming into contact with an internal side face of the main body part. When the fixing belt is deformed to an internal diameter side, the elastic member is elastically deformed to make the belt insertion part moved to the internal diameter side, and then, a gap is formed in at least a part between the internal side face of the main body part and the contact part.

Abstract: A fixing device may include a nip member, an endless belt, a rotating body, and a stay. The endless belt may be in sliding contact with the nip member. The rotating body may nip the endless belt to constitute a nip region. The stay may be disposed opposite to the nip region, and may receive a pressure from the nip member. A pressure direction may be defined as a first direction. The rotating body may define an axial direction as a second direction. The stay may have a first wall. The first wall may include a center portion, a first end portion, a second end portion and a supporting portion. The first end portion may include a first low rigidity portion. The second end portion may include a second low rigidity portion. The supporting portion may provide a convex shape protruding toward the nip member upon receiving the pressure.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt for heating an image on a sheet in a nip; a supporting roller for rotatably supporting the endless belt; a displacing mechanism for displacing the supporting roller so as to maintain the endless belt in a predetermined zone in a widthwise direction; an electrical discharging member for electrically discharging the endless belt; and a holding member for holding the electrical discharging member so as to displace together with the supporting roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing belt and a first fixing roller contacting an inner surface of the fixing belt. A second fixing roller contacts an outer surface of the fixing belt to hold the fixing belt against the first fixing roller to define a fixing nip region. An end restriction member supports ends of the fixing belt to restrict its rotation position. A support member is disposed at a position in the end restriction member to pivotally support the first fixing roller. The position is shifted with respect to a center position of the end restriction member corresponding to a rotation center of the fixing belt. The rotation center of the fixing belt is shifted toward a recording-paper conveyance direction of the fixing nip region with respect to a straight line connecting rotation centers of the first and second fixing rollers in a direction orthogonal to their rotation axes.

Abstract: A process includes adding a particulate toner additive to toner particles to form a slurry, filtering the slurry to form a filter cake, the particulate toner additive functioning as a filtration aid, and washing the filter cake, after the washing step the toner particles have a portion of the particulate toner additive adhered thereto, and de-agglomerating/drying the toner particles with the additive, after the drying step the toner particles have a portion of the particulate toner additive adhered thereto.

Abstract: A fixation apparatus for fixing a developer image to a recording medium includes: a fixation belt; a heater member configured to generate heat by a resistance heating element and heat the fixation belt; and a pressurization member provided at a position opposed to the fixation belt with the heater member interposed in between and configured to press the heater member against the fixation belt while being in contact with the heater member. The pressurization member includes a temperature adjustment part provided near an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the pressurization member and designed to control an amount of heat transmitted from the heater member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a tubular member; a heater; a nip member including a base portion, a connecting portion, and a flange portion; a backup member; and a guide member. The tubular member is circularly movable in a circularly-moving direction. The guide member has a part positioned upstream of the nip member in the circularly-moving direction and configured to guide the tubular member. The part has an end portion containing a most downstream end at which the tubular member is directed to a position between the nip member and the backup member. The nip member and the guide member define a first imaginary plane containing a line connecting a first curved portion provided by a boundary region between the connecting portion and the base portion, and the most downstream end. The first imaginary plane is positioned opposite to the heater relative to a first end of the flange portion.

Abstract: A fusion device includes a heating member that includes a heating part and a heat transmission member that faces the heating member. The heat transmission member includes a first member that is configured to transmit heat from the heating part by facing the heating part and a second member that is configured to regulate a position of the heating member. And the second member includes an opening part.

Abstract: A glossing apparatus for glossing at least part of a toner image on a recording material includes a film, a supply roller on which the film is wound, a wind-up roller configured to wind-up the film, and a driving device configured to drive the wind-up roller to rotate. In addition, a heating device heats at least part of the toner image on the recording material through the film at a heating position between the supply roller and the wind-up roller in a heating operation, a reversing device reverses the film to the supply roller to use an unused area of the film not having been contacted to the recording material during the heating operation, and a conveying device conveys the recording material toward the heating position so that the toner image on the recording material is heated using the unused area of the film.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a heating source and a fixing roller. The fixing belt has a sheet passing part and a non-sheet passing part. The fixing roller includes an elastic layer including first and second elastic parts. The first elastic part is provided on an inner diameter side of the sheet passing part. The second elastic part is provided on an inner diameter side of the non-sheet passing part. A gap is formed between a part of the elastic layer and the fixing belt in a state where the fixing belt is not heated. The part of the elastic layer is in close contact with the fixing belt in a state where the fixing belt is heated. The first elastic part includes a small-diameter part having a smaller external diameter than a part with a maximum external diameter of the second elastic part.

Abstract: A fuser includes a fixing belt that is endless and includes a heat generating layer and circulates, an end restraining member that supports an end of the fixing belt, a heat generating source that is disposed around the fixing belt and heats the heat generating layer, an opposite part that contacts an outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt, a pressure part that is disposed inside the fixing belt and located at a position opposite to the opposite part, and presses the fixing belt to the opposite part side to form a nip between the fixing belt and the opposite part, and a rotation part that contacts an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt at a position opposite to the heat generating source.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat conductor disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of an endless belt to heat the endless belt. A nip formation pad is disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and presses the endless belt against a pressing rotary body to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A support is disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the heat conductor and contacts an abutment face of the nip formation pad to support the nip formation pad against pressure from the pressing rotary body. A heat insulator is interposed between the heater and the nip formation pad and the support to shield the nip formation pad and the support from the heater.

Abstract: A fixing device configured to thermally fix a developing agent image to a recording sheet includes a fixing belt having a tubular shape defining an inner space, a heat generating member, a nip member, and a stay which are disposed in the inner space of the fixing belt, and a rotating member disposed outside the inner space of the fixing belt. The fixing belt is nipped between the nip plate and the rotating member. The stay comprises a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion which are positioned upstream and downstream of the heat generating member, respectively, in a conveying direction of the recording sheet and are configured to receive a force exerted from the rotating member to the nip member. The heat insulator is disposed between the nip member and one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion of the stay.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless flexible belt, an elongated stationary pad, a rotary pressure member, and a low-friction sheet. The endless flexible belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration extending in an axial direction thereof for rotation in a rotational, circumferential direction thereof. The elongated stationary pad is stationarily disposed inside the loop of the belt. The rotary pressure member is disposed parallel to the belt. The rotary pressure member presses against the stationary pad via the belt to form a nip therebetween, through which a recording medium is conveyed in a conveyance direction. The low-friction sheet of lubricant-impregnated material covers the stationary pad to supply a lubricant between the stationary pad and the belt across the nip. The low-friction sheet has one or more flow channels defined therein.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt, a heating unit, a supporting member, and a pressure roller. The pressure roller sandwiches the fixing belt to form a fixing nip portion between the pressure roller and the fixing belt. The fixing device is configured to insert a recording medium into the fixing nip portion to fix an unfixed toner image carried on the recording medium. The fixing belt includes a heating layer and a sliding layer. The heating layer is configured to generate heat using the heating unit. The sliding layer is laminated onto an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt and sliding on the supporting member. The plurality of holes are formed in the sliding layer such that the sliding layer has a mesh pattern in plan view.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of an endless belt and pressing the endless belt against a pressing rotary body to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing rotary body. A recording medium is conveyed through the fixing nip. The endless belt slides over a friction reducer sandwiched between the endless belt and the nip formation pad. The friction reducer includes a body and at least one tab projecting from the body in a direction opposite a recording medium conveyance direction. A friction reducer fastener is attached to the tab of the friction reducer and placed inside the nip formation pad to mount the friction reducer on the nip formation pad.

Abstract: A fusing device according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept includes a pressing unit, a heating fusing belt contacts an outer surface of the pressing unit and rotates, a nib forming unit contacts an inner surface of the heating fusing belt and forms a nib at a contact portion between the pressing unit and the heating fusing belt, a first guide unit disposed at both end portions of the heating fusing belt so as to guide the movement of the heating fusing belt, and a second guide unit disposed between the first guide units and having a plurality of ribs which are arranged spaced apart from each other along a rotational direction of the heating fusing belt, so as to guide the movement of a central portion of the heating fusing belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: image bearing member; latent image forming unit; developing unit; transfer unit; fixing unit, wherein toner in the developing unit contains amorphous polymer, crystalline resin and releasing agent, when the toner is measured for G? at 40° C. to 210° C. with rheometer at 1 Hz and 1 deg, G?(100) is ?20,000 and G?(150) is ?500 Pa, and straight line drawn by connecting points of the G?(100) and G?(110) on curve of the G? has gradient of ?0.035, the gradient being “a” expressed by: a=|log10G?(100)?log10G?(110)|/10, and the fixing unit includes: heating member containing flexible endless belt; heat source fixed within the flexible endless belt; and press member in contact with the belt to form nip portion, and the fixing unit is configured to heat/press the medium passing through the nip portion to fix the image on the medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring rotator, a pressing member, a holding member, and an end cap. The fixing belt is rotatably provided. The pressuring rotator is rotatably provided, and comes into pressure contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressuring rotator. The pressing member presses the fixing belt from inside toward the pressuring rotator. The holding member holds the pressing member. The end cap is mounted to an end part in a direction of a rotation axis of the fixing belt, and is movable in a radial direction of the fixing belt with respect to the holding member.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a rotatable belt extended by a plurality of extending members that transfers a sheet in contact with the surface of the belt, and a plurality of cooling members to cool the sheet via the belt. A cooling surface of the cooling members contacts an internal surface of the transport belt. The cooling members are detachable. The cooling device also includes an adjuster to adjust a contact condition between the cooling surface and the internal surface according to the number of cooling members installed.

Abstract: A fixing device included in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing rotary body, a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body, an opposed body contacting an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body, a reflector disposed opposite the heater, and a heat shield disposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and includes a shield portion to shield heat radiated from the heater to the fixing rotary body. Heat reflectance of at least a surface of the shield portion where the heat shield faces the heater is set to a value smaller than heat reflectance on a surface of the reflector opposite and facing the heater. Also, heat absorptance of at least a surface of the shield portion where the heat shield faces the heater is set to a value greater than heat absorptance on a surface of the reflector opposite and facing the heater.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a cooling member to cool a recording material. The cooling member includes a cooling surface member, a heat exchanging member, and a fastening member. The cooling surface member has a cooling surface to directly or indirectly contact the recording material and absorb heat of the recording material to cool the recording material. The heat exchanging member is directly or indirectly joined to the cooling surface member to radiate heat absorbed by the cooling surface member directly or indirectly via a radiation member. The fastening member fastens the cooling surface member and the heat exchanging member to retain a joined state in which the cooling surface member and the heat exchanging member are directly or indirectly joined to each other. The cooling surface member and the heat exchanging member are separable from the joined state to a separated state without damaging the fastening member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt formed into a loop and rotatable in a given direction of rotation. An opposed rotary body contacts the endless belt to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater is disposed in proximity to an irradiation span spanning on an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt in a circumferential direction thereof to emit light that irradiates and heats the irradiation span of the endless belt. A shield is interposed between the heater and the irradiation span of the endless belt in a diametrical direction thereof to shield the irradiation span of the endless belt from heated air surrounding the heater.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: first and second rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating of a toner image on a sheet; a first unit configured to rotatably hold the first rotatable member; a second unit configured to rotatably hold the second rotatable member; and a pressing mechanism configured to press the first unit toward the second unit. The pressing mechanism includes: an abutting member capable of abutting against the first unit; an arm member, including a supporting portion configured to be rotatably supported by the abutting member, capable of abutting against the abutting member; and a spring member which is fixed to the second unit at one end portion thereof and which is mounted, at another and portion thereof, to the arm member at a position closer to a free end of the arm member than the supporting portion of the arm member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt configured to heat an image on a sheet at a nip potion, a heat generation device configured to cause the belt to generate heat, a nip forming member configured to form the nip portion between the nip forming member and the belt, and a pressing roller configured to press an inner surface of the belt toward the nip forming member, the pressing roller including an elastic porous layer containing a plurality of filler particles, wherein a thermal conductivity of the elastic porous layer in an axial direction of the pressing roller is in a range of 6 times to 900 times a thermal conductivity of the elastic porous layer in a radial direction of the pressing roller.

Abstract: A fixing device configured to fix a toner image on a recording material by heating while conveying the recording material that bears the toner image by a nip portion, the fixing device includes a fixing roller having a rubber layer, a rotating member configured to form a contact portion between the rotating member and the fixing roller, and a pressure member configured to form the nip portion cooperatively with the fixing roller. In the fixing device, heat of the rotating member transfers to the fixing roller from the rotating member via the contact portion, and the contact portion includes a region where the pressure is increased after being decreased on a downstream side further than a center of the contact portion in the rotational direction of the rotating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a charger; an irradiator; a development device having an accommodation unit to accommodate toner to obtain a visible image; a transfer device; and a fixing device to fix the visible image transferred onto a recording medium. The fixing device having a fixing rotation member; and a pressure rotation member to form a nipping portion by contacting the fixing rotation member, wherein the surface pressure of the nipping portion is 1.5 kgf/cm2 or less, wherein the fixing rotation member has a Martens hardness of 1.0 N/mm2 or less at 23° C., wherein the ratio of the projected area of a single particle of the toner onto the recording medium at 120° C. to the projected area of a single particle of the toner onto the recording medium at 23° C. is 1.60 or less.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heating member; an exciting coil; a magnetic core including a first engaging portion in the neighborhood of an end thereof and a second engaging portion in the neighborhood of another end thereof; a holder including a first recess into which the first engaging portion is inserted and a second recess into which the second engaging portion is inserted; and an elastic member fixed on the holder so as to be located between the magnetic core and the holder. The elastic member urges the first engaging portion, inserted into the first recess, in a direction perpendicular to an inserting direction so that a position of the second engaging portion is determined by the second recess.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary endless fixing belt; a nip forming member disposed in an interior of the fixing belt; a rotary opposed member to contact the nip forming member via the fixing belt to form a nip together with the fixing belt; a heat source to directly heat the fixing belt at a portion other than the nip, including at lease one heat-generation part disposed outside lateral ends of a maximum area of the fixing belt where a recording medium passes through, wherein a recording medium carrying an unfixed image is conveyed to the nip and the fixing device fixes the unfixed image onto the recording medium; and a shielding member disposed between the fixing belt and the heat generation part of the heat source and configured to shield heat from the heat source at least at an area outside the maximum passing area of the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt that supplies heat to a medium, a heat diffusion member that stretches the endless belt, a heating body that heats the heat diffusion member, an overtemperature protector that is positioned to face the heating body; and a pressure application support member that is positioned between the heating body and the overtemperature protector.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a heater for heating and fixing a toner image formed on a recording material; a thermosensitive element for sensing heat from the heater; and a tension spring for urging thermosensitive element toward the heater.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a heater; a supporting member for supporting the heater; a high heat-conductive sheet sandwiched between a part of the heater and the supporting member. A recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from the heater. The supporting member includes a bearing surface contacting the sheet so as to apply pressure between the heater and the sheet and includes an opposing portion opposing a part of the heater not sandwiching the sheet. In a state in which the pressure is applied between the heater and the sheet, a thickness of the sheet is not less than a height of the stepped portion between the bearing portion and the opposing portion.

Abstract: A belt device includes a plurality of support members including an opposed support member and a non-opposed support member; a belt rotatably supported by the plurality of support members; a drive roller disposed opposite any one of the plurality of support members with the belt sandwiched in between, a rotary drive force is transmitted to one end in an axial direction thereof; a drive roller retainer to retain an end in the axial direction of the drive roller and maintain a constant between the drive roller and the opposed support member; an opposed support member retainer to allow the opposed support member to advance toward and retreat from the opposed support member and the drive roller; and a bias applier to bias the opposed support member toward the drive roller.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a heater including a substrate and a heat generating element; a supporting member; a high heat-conductive member. The recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from the heater. The supporting member has a bottom region, where the supporting member supports the heater, including a first region where the supporting member contacts the high heat-conductive member so as to apply pressure between the heater and the high heat-conductive member and including a second region where the supporting member is recessed from the high heat-conductive member relative to the first region. At least a part of the first region overlaps, with respect to a movement direction of the recording material, with a region where the heat generating element is provided.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus configured to heat a recording material having a toner image formed thereon and fix the toner image fixing on the recording material comprising: a film; a heater configured to contact the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate; a thermal conduction member configured to contact a surface of the heater opposite to a surface of the heater that contacts the film, the thermal conduction member having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the substrate; and a pressurizing roller configured to form a pressing portion with the heater via the film, wherein the thermal conduction member contacts the heater so as not to overlap with an end region of the heat generation resistor in a longitudinal direction of the heat generation member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing member; a moving section that moves the fixing member in a sheet width direction; a temperature detection section disposed at a position corresponding to an end portion of the fixing member, the temperature detection section moving together with the fixing member to detect a temperature of the end portion; and a control section that performs a first movement control and a second movement control on the basis of a result of a detection by the temperature detection section, the first movement control being intended to move the fixing member in the sheet width direction in a reciprocating manner with a predetermined cycle, the second movement control being intended to move the fixing member in the sheet width direction so that the temperature of the fixing member falls within a predetermined temperature range.