A power control apparatus includes a power detection circuit to detect DC power converted from AC power supplied from a power supply and to be supplied to a control board of an image forming apparatus. The power control apparatus includes circuitry configured to, in response to a first printing operation performed by the image forming apparatus, calculate fluctuations in the DC power in each preset control period from a start of the first printing operation until stabilization of the DC power. The power control apparatus includes, in response to a printing operation subsequent to the first printing operation performed by the image forming apparatus, determine allocation of the AC power to a fixing device of the image forming apparatus in a next preset control period based on power obtained by adding, to the DC power, an average of the fluctuations in a plurality of preset control periods.

An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material that is not thermally decolorizable; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material that is thermally decolorizable; a fixing device which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a controller which controls the fixing device so that a temperature of the fixing device is lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material when the second recording medium reaches the fixing device.

A heating device includes a rotator, a heating source, a rotator holder, and a liquid or semi-solid substance. The rotator is rotatably held. The heating source heats the rotator. The rotator holder holds a longitudinal end portion of the rotator. The rotator holder includes a reflector disposed at least at a portion to be irradiated with radiant heat emitted from the heating source to reflect the radiant heat. The reflector has a reflectance of not less than 60%. The liquid or semi-solid substance has lubricity and adheres to the rotator holder.

An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material that is not thermally decolorizable; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material that is thermally decolorizable; a fixing device which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a controller which controls the fixing device so that a temperature of the fixing device is lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material when the second recording medium reaches the fixing device.

A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A rotation load applicator is coupled to one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator to apply a rotation load to the one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The rotation load is in a range of from 0.1 Nm to 0.6 Nm.

A fixing apparatus includes first and second rotating members, a heater having a heating element and a substrate, and first and second contact members. A direction of a longer side on a surface of the substrate where the heating element is disposed is a longitudinal direction. A direction intersecting the longitudinal direction is a widthwise direction. The first contact member is disposed in a region outside a region where a maximum size recording material conveyed to a nip portion passes through the nip portion on one end side in the longitudinal direction on an outer circumferential surface of the first rotating member, and the second contact member is disposed in the region outside the region where the maximum size recording material conveyed to the nip portion passes through the nip portion on an other end side in the longitudinal direction on an outer circumferential surface of the second rotating member.

A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A rotation load applicator is coupled to one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator to apply a rotation load to the one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The rotation load is in a range of from 0.1 Nm to 0.6 Nm.

A fixing apparatus includes first and second rotating members, a heater having a heating element and a substrate, and first and second contact members. A direction of a longer side on a surface of the substrate where the heating element is disposed is a longitudinal direction. A direction intersecting the longitudinal direction is a widthwise direction. The first contact member is disposed in a region outside a region where a maximum size recording material conveyed to a nip portion passes through the nip portion on one end side in the longitudinal direction on an outer circumferential surface of the first rotating member, and the second contact member is disposed in the region outside the region where the maximum size recording material conveyed to the nip portion passes through the nip portion on an other end side in the longitudinal direction on an outer circumferential surface of the second rotating member.

A power control apparatus includes a power detection circuit to detect DC power converted from AC power supplied from a power supply and to be supplied to a control board of an image forming apparatus. The power control apparatus includes circuitry configured to, in response to a first printing operation performed by the image forming apparatus, calculate fluctuations in the DC power in each preset control period from a start of the first printing operation until stabilization of the DC power. The power control apparatus includes, in response to a printing operation subsequent to the first printing operation performed by the image forming apparatus, determine allocation of the AC power to a fixing device of the image forming apparatus in a next preset control period based on power obtained by adding, to the DC power, an average of the fluctuations in a plurality of preset control periods.

A fixing device includes a heating roller and a pressure unit configured to nip a sheet therebetween to thermally fix a toner image onto the sheet. The pressure unit includes: an endless belt; an elastic plate; and a holder having an upstream supporting surface and a downstream supporting surface. The elastic plate has: a nip-forming surface having at least a portion for nipping the endless belt in cooperation with the heating roller to form a nipping region between the nip-forming surface and the heating roller; an upstream supported surface in contact with and supported by the upstream supporting surface; a downstream supported surface in contact with and supported by the downstream supporting surface; an upstream connecting surface connecting the nip-forming surface and the upstream supported surface to each other; and a downstream connecting surface connecting the nip-forming surface and the downstream supported surface to each other.