An imaging device having a fuser and print engine architecture that enables complete interchangeability between fuser types with a common print engine. The imaging device has a frame configured to separately receive a first fuser assembly of a first fuser type and a second fuser assembly of a second fuser type different from the first fuser type. The first fuser assembly includes a first fuser frame having a first datum tab. The second fuser assembly includes a second fuser frame having a second datum tab. The frame of the imaging device has a datum aperture that is sized to receive the first datum tab that when inserted into the datum aperture, causes the first fuser assembly to be positioned at a first operative position, and the second datum tab that when inserted into the datum aperture, causes the second fuser assembly to be positioned at a second operative position.

A fixing device includes a first unit including a first belt movable in a first direction; a first pressing member pressing the first belt; a first pressing member support supporting the first pressing member variably in attitude relative to the first pressing member support; a first rotating member in contact with the first belt and rotatable in a first rotation direction; and a first rotating member support that supports the first rotating member variably in position relative to the moving member; a second unit facing the first unit in a second direction and including a moving member movable in the first direction to come into contact with the first belt; and a third unit facing the second unit with the first unit in between in the second direction and supported by the second and third units movably in the second direction between the second unit and the third unit.

A fixing device includes a roller member that rotates and a belt member including an endless belt that moves circularly while being in contact with the roller member, a pressing member that is disposed in a space enclosed by the endless belt and that presses the endless belt against the roller member on both a downstream side and an upstream side relative to a direction of rotation of the roller member, and a rotation hindering member that is disposed in the space enclosed by the endless belt and that hinders the pressing member from rotating as a result of receiving a reaction force. The roller member and the endless belt nip a sheet that has been transported while holding a toner image on the sheet and cause the sheet to pass between the roller member and the endless belt, so that the toner image is fixed onto the sheet.

A fixing device includes: a casing; a heating portion; a pressure portion; a connector; a harness; and a harness holder. The heating portion extends in a first direction. The pressure portion is configured to form a nipping region between the pressure portion and the heating portion. The connector is detachably attached to the heating portion. The harness is connected to the connector for supplying electric power to the heating portion through the connector. The harness holder is fixed to the casing and positioned upstream relative to the connector in an attachment direction of the connector to the heating portion. The attachment direction crosses the first direction. The harness holder holds the harness between the harness holder and the casing. The harness holder is configured to restrict movement of the connector by making contact with the connector in a case where the connector moves upstream in the attachment direction.

A fixing device includes an endless belt, a pressure rotator that contacts the endless belt, a nip formation pad in the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator, a heater in the endless belt to heat the endless belt, a stay to support the nip formation pad, a contact-separation mechanism that presses the nip formation pad against the pressure rotator in a releasable manner, a holder movable between a nip formation position and a release position to support the stay, and an adjustment mechanism. The holder is provided with a slot to support the heater, and the adjustment mechanism makes a distance between the heater and the nip formation pad when the holder is at the nip formation position larger than a distance between the heater and the nip formation pad when the holder is at the release position.

A fixing device includes a heat generating member extending in a longitudinal direction and having a first region and a second region, an endless belt, an opposing member opposing the endless belt, a heat conductive member extending in the longitudinal direction within the first region in which a surface of the heat conductive member contacts the heat generating member, a positioning portion extending from an end portion of the surface, an electric power shut-off member provided at a position corresponding to the second region, and a supporting member provided with an opening at a position corresponding to the second region and configured to support the heat generating member through the heat conductive member. The opening is configured to permit insertion of the positioning portion to prevent movement of the heat conductive member.

There is provided a fuser including: a cylindrical member; an endless belt; a pressing member; a pressing roller; and a lateral guide contacting a lateral end of the endless belt. A part of an outer circumferential surface of the pressing roller is located on a downstream of the second nip area in a first direction. A guide surface of the lateral guide has: a first guide surface located on an opposite side to the pressing roller with respect to a virtual plane including the center of a first nip area and the center of rotation of the cylindrical member, and a second guide surface located on a side of the pressing roller with respect to the virtual plane, located on the downstream side of the rotation axis of the pressing roller in the first direction, and arranged on a same plane as the first guide surface.

A fixing device includes a first pressure structure, a second pressure structure, a fixing member, a first arm, a second arm, and an elastic member. The fixing member is disposed between the first and second pressure structures. The first arm is pivotable about a first shaft and includes a first pressing portion and a first connection portion. The second arm is pivotable about a second shaft and includes a second pressing portion and a second connection portion. The elastic member biases the first and second pressing portions toward each other. A first leverage ratio of a distance between the first shaft and the first connection portion to a distance between the first shaft and the first pressing portion is different from a second leverage ratio of a distance between the second shaft and the second connection portion to a distance between the second shaft and the second pressing portion.

A resin belt contains a resin, a low-melting-point alloy having a melting point of 370? C. or lower, and a fibrous filler.

A fixing device includes a film forming a cylinder, a heater, a thermometer, and a series of contact portions. The heater extends within the cylinder and includes a heating element that extends in a longitudinal direction along the cylinder. The thermometer detects a temperature of the cylinder. The plurality of contact portions contact an inner surface of the cylinder and are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. The contact portions include a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The first contact portion is longitudinally offset from the thermometer and has a first contact area with the cylinder. The second contact portion is longitudinally collocated with the thermometer and has a second contact area with the cylinder. The second contact area is smaller than the first contact area.