An image heating device includes a heater having a plurality of heating elements that heat a plurality of heating regions and a control portion that controls the supply of electric power to the plurality of heating elements. The power supply is controlled so that a first average temperature, which is an average value of control target temperatures of heating regions included in a first region located closer to one end side than a central heating region in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of a recording material, and a second average temperature, which is an average value of control target temperatures of heating regions included in a second region located closer to the other end side than the central heating region, are within a predetermined temperature range.

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.

An example fuser includes a flexible fixing belt, a backup member to form a fixing nip with the fixing belt, a heater substrate for heating the fixing belt at the fixing nip and having a first surface comprising a heating element pattern, a common terminal and a driving power supply terminal for supplying power to the heating element pattern, and a second surface in contact with the fixing belt, and a temperature sensor sheet comprising a temperature sensor, a sensing terminal and an electric wire connecting the temperature sensor to the sensing terminal, wherein the temperature sensor sheet is in contact with the first surface of the heater substrate such that the sensing terminal and the electrical wire do not overlap the common terminal and the driving power supply terminal.

A heating device includes a housing, a heating member, a pressure member, a pair of openings, and a thermal insulator. The heating member and the pressure member extend along a longitudinal direction and press each other to form a nip portion in the housing. The heating member transfers heat to a recording medium passing through the nip portion. The pair of openings is disposed in the housing and opens facing both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the heating member so that air passes through the pair of openings. The thermal insulator is disposed inside the housing between the pair of openings and faces an outer peripheral surface of the heating member.

Disclosed herein is a release fluid, a fuser member and an image forming apparatus. The release fluid includes an amino functional silicone fluid, a non-functional silicone fluid; and vitamin E.

According to one embodiment, a heating device includes a fixing belt configured to be rotated and a pressure roller configured to abut against the fixing belt and be driven to cause the fixing belt to rotate. A heater is configured to heat the fixing belt. A motor is configured to drive the pressure roller to rotate. A current sensor is configured to measure a driving current of the motor. A controller is configured to stop the heater based on the measured driving current.

A fixing member for electrophotography having an endless shape has a base layer having an endless shape, and an elastic layer on the outer circumferential surface of the base layer. The elastic layer includes a silicone rubber and a filler dispersed in the silicone rubber. The total amount of the filler compounded in the elastic layer is 30 vol % or less based on the total volume of the elastic layer. The elastic layer satisfies the relation of λtd>λmd>λnd. λtd is a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in the circumferential direction, λnd is a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in the thickness direction, and λmd, is a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in the longitudinal direction. λtd is 2.0 W/(m.Math.K) or more, and λnd is 1.3 W/(m.Math.K) or more.

A fixing apparatus includes a first rotary member, a nip forming unit including a heater and a holder member, a second rotary member, and a support member. The holder member includes a first surface configured to support the heater and provided on the nip portion side of the holder member in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to both of a longitudinal direction and a short direction, a second surface provided on a side of the holder member opposite to the first surface in the orthogonal direction and configured to abut a first abutting portion of the support member and abut a second abutting portion of the support member, and a rib portion provided to project from the second surface and extend in the short direction throughout at least a range in the short direction where the first surface is provided.

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that includes an endless belt to convey a print medium, a heating roller to heat the endless belt, a pressing roller that presses the endless belt against the heating roller along a nip region of the endless belt, and a conveyance switching device to move the endless belt between a first position that directs the print medium away from the endless belt when the print medium exits the nip region, and a second position that conveys the print medium to remain in contact with the endless belt when the print medium exits the nip region.

A holder holds a heater. A connector includes a connection terminal. The connector is configured to be attached to the holder by sandwiching a part of the holder and a part of the heater. The connection terminal is configured to be connected to a power supply terminal in a state where the connector is attached to the holder. The connector includes a body part and a claw. The body part sandwiches the part of the holder and the part of the heater in a state where the connector is attached to the holder. The claw protrudes in a direction away from the body part. The holder includes an engagement part. The engagement part is configured to engage with the claw from an upstream side in an attaching direction. The attaching direction is a direction in which the connector is attached to the holder.