Abstract: The disclosed fixing apparatus includes: a magnetic field generation apparatus for generating a magnetic field; a fixing belt for emitting heat generated due to the magnetic field; and first and second thermally sensitive magnetic alloys arranged inside the fixing belt. A first Curie point of the first thermally sensitive magnetic alloy and a second Curie point of the second thermally sensitive magnetic alloy are different from each other.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: an endless fusing belt; a heater; a nip member; and a backup member. The endless fusing belt has a width in a widthwise direction. The nip member is disposed spaced apart from the heater. The nip member has a contact surface. The contact surface has widthwise end portions in the widthwise direction. The backup member is configured to nip the fusing belt in cooperation with the nip member. The fusing belt is configured to move in a moving direction at a position where the fusing belt is nipped between the nip member and the backup member. The contact surface has at least two grooves one formed in corresponding one of the widthwise end portions and another formed in the other of the widthwise end portions and extending at an angle equal to or smaller than 10 degrees with respect to the moving direction.

Abstract: Arranged in the middle of an upper communication sleeve is a first shutter that is moved back and forth in a horizontal open-close direction to open and close a first communication path that makes the inside of a first bobbin chamber and the inside of a furnace body communicate with each other. Arranged in a middle of a lower communication sleeve is a second shutter that is moved back and forth in a horizontal open-close direction to open and close a second communication path that makes a second bobbin chamber and the inside of the furnace body communicate with each other.

Abstract: A fuser device is provided with a first endless belt, a heat application member that is enclosed by the first endless belt and heats the first endless belt, a fuser member enclosed by the first endless belt, a second endless belt of which rigidity is higher than that of the first endless belt, a pressure application member that is enclosed by the second endless belt and applies a pressure to developers on a carried recording medium in the contact part with the fuser member, and a support part forming part that forms a support part of the first endless belt and the second endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image, formed on a recording material, on the recording material, wherein the fixing portion includes a heater for generating heat by electric power supplied from a commercial power source; a power source portion for supplying the electric power to a load except the heater, wherein the power source and the heater are connected with the commercial power source in parallel; a suppliable electric power calculating portion for calculating suppliable electric power suppliable to the heater; and a temperature setting portion for setting, depending on the suppliable electric power calculated by the calculating portion, a control target temperature of the fixing portion in an operation in a stand-by mode in which the image forming apparatus awaits a print instruction.

Abstract: A fuser assembly comprising an endless fuser belt having positioned internally within a first metal roll having a heat pipe, a second metal roll having a first heating element, and a second heating element disposed between the first and the second metal rolls. The endless fuser belt is disposed proximate to a backup roll for forming a fusing nip therewith, wherein a rotation of the backup roll moves the fuser belt and rotates the first and the second metal rolls. The second metal roll is positioned upstream of the first metal roll relative to a media process direction. The first heating element has a rated heating power greater than the rated heating power of the second heating element.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating member that has a heat source, comes into contact with a surface of a continuous medium having an image transferred thereto and heats the surface; a pressure member that is provided so as to oppose the heating member with the medium therebetween and applies pressure to the medium; and a tensioning member that is provided on a downstream side of a fixing area, where the heating member and the pressure member oppose each other, in a medium-transport direction, applies tension to the medium by pressing the medium toward the pressure member, and wraps the medium around the pressure member.

Abstract: A fuser unit of this disclosure includes: an endless belt, a nip member; a belt guide; a first member, which has a contact surface configured to be in contact with the belt guide; and a second member, which includes a guide portion to guide the belt guide in a guide direction, wherein the belt guide comprises: a restraining part, which is arranged to be in contact with an end surface of the endless belt and which is spaced apart from the first member, an inner surface guide, which guides the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt, and a protrusion, which protrudes from the restraining part towards the contact surface of the first member and is arranged to be in contact with the contact surface of the first member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt member that moves circularly and has an inner peripheral surface to which an oil is applied, a pressure member that is disposed in such a manner as to be in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the belt member and that applies pressure to a recording material on which an image has been formed, a heating member that is disposed in such a manner as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt member and that heats the belt member, the heating member having an upstream side end portion that is located on an upstream side in a rotation direction of the belt member and separated from the inner peripheral surface.

Abstract: A heating device suppresses a bias force toward a center in a longitudinal direction (center in a rotation axis direction) of a fixing film serving as a rotation member, thereby preventing film overlapping and sheet wrinkles. The sliding friction resistance in the rotation axis direction of a fixing film between the fixing film and a protrusion is set so that at least the sliding friction resistance in an end part in the rotation axis direction is larger than the sliding friction resistance in a region closer to a central part in the rotation axis direction than the end part.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt member that rotates to fix a toner image to a recording material; a pressing unit that, along with the belt member, presses the recording material while the pressing unit rotates; a heating section that contacts an inner side of the belt member and heats the belt member; and a nip forming portion that is provided at the inner side of the belt member, and that forms a nip where the recording material is nipped between the belt member and the pressing unit. In the fixing device, the heating section is disposed at an outer side of a locus of the belt member where the heating section is not provided and that is nipped by the nip forming portion and the pressing unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a housing, a belt member, a pressure roller, a nip forming member, and a pressing member. The belt member is constituted of a flexible tubular shape. The nip forming member is located at an inner peripheral portion of the belt member. The nip forming member has an opposed surface along an outer peripheral surface of the pressure roller. The nip forming member presses the belt member to the pressure roller. An end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pressure roller is located inside with respect to an end portion of the belt member. The fixing device includes a pressing member located opposed to the pressure roller in the axial direction. The pressing member presses an outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the belt member in the axial direction to radially inward of the belt member.

Abstract: A nip formation assembly disposed opposite an opposed rotator via an endless belt includes a nip formation pad to press against the opposed rotator via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A fixing heater is disposed opposite at least a center span of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof where the recording medium is conveyed. The fixing heater heats the endless belt. A lateral end heater is mounted on the nip formation pad and disposed opposite a lateral end span of an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt in the axial direction thereof. The lateral end heater heats the endless belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and an opposed rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween. A primary heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator in a circumferential span of the fixing rotator other than the fixing nip in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A heat shield is interposed between the primary heater and the fixing rotator and disposed outboard from at least a decreased size recording medium conveyance span of the fixing rotator spanning in an axial direction of the fixing rotator where a recording medium having a decreased size in the axial direction of the fixing rotator is conveyed. The heat shield shields the fixing rotator from the primary heater. A secondary heater is mounted on the heat shield to heat the fixing rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater to generate heat and a fixing rotator to rotate while contacting the heater. A pressure rotator presses against the heater via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. The heater includes an insulative substrate and a resistive heat generation layer mounted on the substrate. The resistive heat generation layer is disposed upstream from a center of the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a nip member, a heater, a reflecting member, a load receiving member, and a protective member. The endless belt has end portions in the first direction and a middle portion defined between the end portions. The nip member is configured to contact an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The heater is disposed inside the endless belt. The reflecting member is entirely disposed on a nip-member side with respect to the heater and is configured to reflect radiant heat emitted from the heater toward the inner circumferential surface. The protective member is disposed between the middle portion of the endless belt and the heater and on a side opposite to the nip member with respect to the heater, and is configured to allow light to pass therethrough. The protective member is fastened to the load receiving member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing member that is rotatable and in an endless shape; a heat source that heats the fixing member; a nip forming member that is arranged inside the fixing member; and a pressurizing member that is pressurized to be in contact with the nip forming member through the fixing member, to form a fixing nip. The fixing device fixes an unfixed image on a recording medium by passing the recording medium that carries the unfixed image through the fixing nip. The nip forming member includes a base layer, and a high thermal-conductive layer that is arranged on a surface layer of the base layer on a fixing nip side, and that has higher thermal conductivity than the base layer, and in the high thermal-conductive layer, a low thermal-conductive portion is arranged near an end portion in an axial direction of the fixing member.

Abstract: A heat sensing device includes a heat sensing element that contacts an inner surface of a surface heater extending in an arc shape, the inner surface having the arc shape, and that senses that a temperature of the surface heater exceeds a predetermined temperature; a spring member one end of which is fixed to the heat sensing element and that presses the heat sensing element against the inner surface of the surface heater; and a supporting body that supports the other end of the spring member, the other end being away from the heat sensing element, in such a way that the other end is movable in a direction in which the surface heater extends in the arc shape.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, an exciting coil and a belt guide. The pressuring member comes into pressure contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip. The exciting coil is provided at an outer diameter side of the fixing belt and configured to generate a magnetic flux to inductively heat the fixing belt. The belt guide supports the fixing belt from an inner diameter side. The belt guide includes a contact part which is in contact with an inner circumferential face of the fixing belt and a non-contact part which is not in contact with the inner circumferential face of the fixing belt. A magnetic flux blocking member configured to block the magnetic flux that passes through the fixing belt is provided between the fixing belt and the non-contact part.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt member that performs a circular motion by rotating in a predetermined belt rotation direction; a pressure-applying member that is pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the belt member and applies a pressure to a recording medium on which an image is formed; and a pressing member that extends in a belt width direction, which is a direction that crosses the belt rotation direction, inside the belt member and that is arranged so as to be deformed such that a central portion thereof in the belt width direction is convex toward an upstream side in the belt rotation direction, the pressing member pressing the pressure-applying member with the belt member interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad to form a fixing nip between a first fixing rotator and a second fixing rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. The nip formation pad includes a first planar face, a second planar face disposed downstream from the first planar face in a recording medium conveyance direction and being parallel to the first planar face, and a joint face bridging the first planar face and the second planar face. The joint face includes a first curved portion adjoining the first planar face and having a first curvature in a first direction in which a circumferential face of the second fixing rotator is curved and a second curved portion adjoining the second planar face and having a second curvature in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: In a fixing device including a pressure roller brought into press-contact with a fixing belt, a cylindrical part arranged to cover an outer peripheral surface of an end portion of the fixing belt in a rotation shaft direction, a rotation transfer member formed in an approximately annular shape by allowing two facing end edges of a rectangular sheet material to be brought close to each other, and held between an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part and an outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt, a bonding material for bonding the rotation transfer member to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part, and a rotation detection unit that detects rotation of the cylindrical part, the cylindrical part is formed at the inner peripheral surface thereof with a storage recessed portion that stores an end edge of the rotation transfer member, positioned at a downstream side.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt formed into a loop rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure roller disposed opposite the fixing belt. The pressure roller includes a shaft fixedly positioned and a deformable elastic layer. A fixing pad is disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt and separably pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A biasing member biases the fixing pad and the fixing belt against the pressure roller. A stopper restricts motion of the fixing pad biased by the biasing member. The stopper contacts the fixing pad while the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip.

Abstract: A fixing device may include an endless fixing member; a heating unit that is provided inside an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member; and a nip forming unit that comes into press-contact with a rotationally driven pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween to form a nip. The nip forming unit has a shape in which a center of a contact surface protrudes toward the pressing member compared to both ends. The nip forming unit has a protruding amount at a center toward the pressing member compared to both ends of the nip forming unit in no-load state is set to be less than a bent amount of the nip forming unit when the nip forming unit comes into press-contact with the pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit including an endless belt and a heating plate, a fixing roller to form a nip portion, a frame including a first sidewall and a second sidewall, a first shaft that the fixing roller has, a second shaft disposed upstream of the nip portion, and a third shaft disposed downstream of the nip portion. One end portion of the first shaft, one end portion of the second shaft and one end portion of the third shaft are supported by the first sidewall. The other end portion of the first shaft, the other end portion of the second shaft and the other end portion of the third shaft are supported by the second sidewall. When viewed from the longitudinal direction, the nip portion is positioned in a triangle defined by imaginary lines connecting the first, second and third shafts to each other.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit, an endless belt body that follows rotation of the heating unit, and a pressing unit that faces the heating unit with the endless belt body interposed therebetween. The pressing unit includes a retaining body that rotatably retains the endless belt body, a pressing-area-forming portion that is a part of the retaining body, and a pressing member provided on an upstream side of the retaining body with respect to the pressing-area-forming portion in a direction of rotation of the endless belt body, the pressing member being a metal plate that is bent along a line extending in a longitudinal direction thereof. The pressing unit is movable relative to the heating unit between a position where a pressing area is formed by the pressing-area-forming portion and the pressing member and a position where the pressing area is formed by the pressing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a heater, a nip plate, a pressure roller, a stay, a cover, and a spring. The fixing belt has an inner surface. The heater is configured to heat the fixing belt. The nip plate is configured to contact the inner surface. The pressure roller is configured to press the fixing belt in cooperation with the nip plate. The stay is provided at a position opposite to the pressure roller with respect to the nip plate. The stay is configured to receive a force applied to the nip plate from the pressure roller. The cover is configured to cover the stay. The spring includes a first portion configured to urge the stay to the cover, and a second portion configured to urge the cover to the stay.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a nip formation pad disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, and a pressure rotator pressed against the nip formation pad via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A support is disposed opposite the pressure rotator via the nip formation pad to support the nip formation pad against pressure from the pressure rotator. The nip formation pad conducts heat in a thickness direction thereof perpendicular to an axial direction of the fixing rotator and a recording medium conveyance direction. The nip formation pad includes a multi-conductivity layer having a thermal conductivity varying in the axial direction of the fixing rotator and a support side layer contacting the support and having a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the support.

Abstract: A heating device includes a belt member that is rotated, plural heating elements that are arranged in a width direction of the belt member and generate heat so as to heat the belt member, plural resistance elements that have positive temperature coefficients and are connected to the plural heating elements such that each of the plural resistance elements is connected in series with a corresponding one of the plural heating elements, and a base material that includes a heat-conductive metal layer and a pair of heat-resistant metal layers between which the heat-conductive metal layer is interposed and has a surface on which the plural heating elements and the plural resistance elements are disposed. A temperature of the belt member is reduced by an increase in resistances of the plural resistance elements caused by an increase in temperatures of the plural resistance elements.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus having a tubular shape, a heater, a heat conduction member that contacts a surface of the heater, a support member configured to support the heater via the heat conduction member, a roller that forms a nip portion with the heater via the film, and a connector arranged in any one of end portions of the heater, wherein the heat conduction member includes a restriction portion configured to restrict a movement of the heat conduction member, and wherein the restriction portion is arranged only in a region that is closer to the connector than a position, of the nip portion, to which the maximum pressure is applied.

Abstract: A heater includes a substrate, a first electrical contact, second electrical contacts, first electrode portions and second electrode portions, heat generating portions, a first electroconductive line portion, and a second electroconductive line portion. The heat generating portions are disposed so as to be offset from a center line of the substrate with respect to a widthwise direction of the substrate.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation pad disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. A slide sheet is sandwiched between the nip formation pad and the endless belt and is a twill fabric containing a lubricant. The slide sheet includes a first sheet contacting the nip formation pad and including a first gutter defined by a first twill line in a first direction angled relative to the direction of rotation of the endless belt and a second sheet layered on the first sheet and contacting the endless belt. The second sheet includes a second gutter defined by a second twill line in a second direction angled relative to the direction of rotation of the endless belt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device including a flexible cylindrical rotary member and an inner-surface opposing portion that opposes an inner surface of the rotary member at an end portion of the rotary member in a generatrix direction. The inner-surface opposing portion moves upstream in a recording material conveying direction in accordance with lateral shift of the rotary member in the generatrix direction. This restricts the lateral shift of the rotary member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to make contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate, and a heat conduction member configured to make contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof being in contact with the film, the heat conduction member having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate, and being divided into parts in a generatrix direction of the film. The toner image formed on the recording material is fixed on the recording material by using heat of the film, and one of the parts of the heat conduction member is configured to make contact with the heater continuously from a center to an end of a heat generation region of the heater in the generatrix direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad pressing against a pressure rotator via a fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The nip formation pad includes a base and a first thermal conductor sandwiched between the base and the fixing rotator at the fixing nip and having a first thermal conductivity greater than a basic thermal conductivity of the base. A first heater and a second heater are disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A rotatable light shield moves to a shield position where the light shield is interposed between the second heater and the fixing rotator to shield the fixing rotator from the second heater. The second heater is disposed at a location where the light shield screens the second heater more readily than the first heater.

Abstract: A device includes a fixing belt, a holder that holds the fixing belt, a pressing member that comes in contact with the fixing belt, a nip-forming-member arranged inside the fixing belt, that forms a nip by coming in contact with the pressing member, a supporting member that supports the nip-forming-member, a side plate to which the nip-forming-member and the supporting member are fixed, and a pressing mechanism that presses a pressing roller to the nip-forming-member via the fixing belt. The supporting member includes at least two plates. The two plates are separated from each other near a contact portion where the plates come in contact with the nip-forming-member. At least a part of each of the plates is a flat surface parallel to a direction of a load applied by the pressing mechanism. Portions of the two plates on a side distant from the contact portion are joined together.

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 and a nip plate which are disposed in the inner space, and a rotating member disposed outside the inner space. The nip plate includes a plate-shaped portion holding the fixing belt against the rotating member, and a bent portion located downstream of the plate-shaped portion in a conveying direction of the recording sheet and bent to define a recess facing away from the rotating member. The bent portion protrudes farther away from the heat generating member than the plate-shaped portion. A temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the nip plate is fitted in the recess of the bent portion so as not to be displaced in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: an endless fusing belt; a heater; a nip member; and a backup member. The endless fusing belt is configured to circularly move in a moving direction. The endless fusing belt has widthwise ends in a widthwise direction. The backup member is configured to nip the endless fusing belt in cooperation with the nip member. The nip member includes: a base portion having a contact surface; and protruding portions respectively provided at positions outside the widthwise ends of the endless fusing belt in the widthwise direction and protruding toward the backup member relative to the contact surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heat unit, a pressure roller, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The heat unit includes a heater and a heated member configured to be heated by the heater. The pressure roller is configured to rotate at a rotational speed while being in contact with the heated member upon receiving a driving force. The temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the heat unit. The controller is configured to control the rotational speed of the pressure roller on a basis of: the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and a parameter that causes temperature of the pressure roller to change.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a cylindrical film; a nip forming member; and a back-up member for forming a nip. The nip forming member includes a projected portion. The projection amount of the projected portion is smaller in an end portion region positioned at an end portion of the projected portion with respect to a generatrix direction of the film than in a central region positioned at a central portion of the projected portion with respect to the generatrix direction, at least a part of the end portion region being inside a feeding region of a maximum-sized recording material usable in the fixing device. With respect to the recording material feeding direction, the width of the part of the projected portion inside the nip is broader in the end portion region than in the central region.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for polymer-based fixing members that have a textured surface with reduced surface energy and increased surface hydrophobicity.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing an image on a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to heat the film, the heater contacting an inner surface of the film, a heat transfer member configured to contact a surface opposite to a surface of the heater that contacts the inner surface of the film, and a support member configured to support the heater. A heat capacity per unit length of a first portion that is a portion of the heat transfer member corresponding to a region near an end of the recording material in a width direction among non-sheet passing region is larger than that of a second portion that is a portion of the heat transfer member corresponding to a center of the recording material in the width direction.

Abstract: A fixing device including a lubricant supply unit is provided. The lubricant supply unit supplies a lubricant between a fixing belt and a nip forming member and includes a lubricant storage member and an impregnation member. The lubricant storage member stores the lubricant, and the impregnation member impregnates the lubricant discharged from the lubricant storage member and supplies the lubricant to an inner surface of the fixing belt. The lubricant stored in the lubricant storage member includes base oil and a thickener, and a weight of the thickener is equal to or less than 20% with respect to a weight of the lubricant.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that fixes a toner image to a recording medium, a pressure member that forms, together with the fixing member, a pressure portion through which the recording medium carrying the toner image yet to be fixed passes, and a heating member including a heating layer that generates heat when energized and an insulating layer that encloses the heating layer so as to electrically insulate the heating layer. The heating member has a curved shape along an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member, in a state in which no external force is applied, and is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing member.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a first unit configured to be brought into contact with a surface of a fixing roller so as to heat the fixing roller, a second unit configured to form a fixing nip portion together with the fixing roller, a first regulation part configured to regulate a decrease in distance between a shaft of the fixing roller and the first unit, and a second regulation part configured to regulate a decrease in distance between the shaft of the fixing roller and the second unit. Thus, a heating nip width and a fixing nip width are maintained stably for a long period of time.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a heat source and a reflecting member. The fixing belt is arranged rotatably around a rotation axis. The reflecting member reflects the radiant heat radiated from the heat source. The fixing belt has a passing region and a non-passing region. Through the passing region, a recording medium passes. The non-passing region is arranged outside the passing region in a direction of the rotation axis. The reflecting member has a first reflecting part and a second reflecting part. The first reflecting part is arranged at an inner circumferential side of the passing region. The second reflecting part is arranged at an inner circumferential side of the non-passing region. Roughness of a face at the heat source side of the second reflecting part is larger than roughness of a face at the heat source side of the first reflecting part.

Abstract: A temperature detection device includes a supporting body that includes end portions and a middle portion and that is elastically deformed by being pressed by an object to be detected, both of the end portions being supported at positions separated from the object to be detected, the supporting body having an initial shape such that the middle portion bulges in an arc shape to a position beyond the object to be detected when the supporting body does not receive an external force from the object to be detected; and a temperature detection element that is supported by a contact portion of the supporting body that contacts the object to be detected.

Abstract: To provide a heater that can reduce fixing failure in a paper passing area while suppressing a temperature rise in a sheet non-passing area, and a fixing apparatus including the heater. Resistors are connected in parallel between two conductive patterns that are provided on a heater substrate along the longitudinal direction of the substrate, and resistors are arranged so that the shortest current path of each of the resistors can overlap the shortest current path of an adjacent resistor in the longitudinal direction of the substrate.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a reflection member; a stay; and a backup member. The fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and is circularly movable. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The reflection member reflects a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member. The reflection member includes a reflection portion and an extending portion. The stay covers the reflection portion and supports the nip member. The extending portion extends outside of the stay. The backup member provides a nip region in cooperation with the nip member upon nipping the tubular flexible fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The extending portion extends between the nip member and the stay. The extending portion is positioned exclusively downstream of the reflection portion in a sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: An application amount of developer on a printing medium on which a page that is to be processed has been formed is obtained based on image data that includes a plurality of pages, and based on the image data, a coverage ratio of the developer on a printing medium on which a predetermined page has been formed is obtained. Then, setting temperatures of the heater that respectively correspond to the application amount and the coverage ratio are obtained, and the temperature of the heater is controlled based on the measured actual temperature of the heater and the obtained setting temperatures of the heater, thereby performing control to subject the printing medium on which the page that is to be processed has been formed to fixing.