A heating device includes a cylindrical film a heater disposed inside the cylindrical film on an inner surface of the cylindrical film. The heater has a plurality of heating elements that are spaced from each other at intervals along an axial direction. A heat transfer member contacts the heater. The heat transfer member is arranged such that, in a first region of the heater that includes just a single one of the heating elements, contact between the heater and heat transfer member is greater than in a second region of the heater that includes an interval between a pair of adjacent heating elements.

A fusing device thermally fuses a toner image formed on a sheet. The fusing device includes a sliding sheet having a sliding contact surface. The inner circumferential surface of a fusing belt comes into contact with and slides on the sliding contact surface. The sliding sheet has a fabric structure containing fluororesin fibers. The fluoroplastic fibers that are flattened by thermal pressure are disposed on the sliding contact surface, Thus, the sliding sheet has heat resistance.

A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt capable of rotational movement, a pressure roller that presses from the outside of the fixing belt, a nip forming member that is arranged on an inner circumference surface side of the fixing belt and forms a fixing nip region between the fixing belt and the pressure roller, a support member that supports the nip forming member from an opposite side to the fixing nip region, and a slide sheet provided between the fixing belt and the nip forming member. The support member includes two support portions. The slide sheet is fixed between the two support portions.

The heating apparatus including a plurality of heat generation members including first, second and third generation members, the second heat generation member and the third heat generation member having lengths in a longitudinal direction shorter than a length of the first heat generation member, the heating apparatus including first, second, third, and fourth contacts, and a first switching unit configured to bring an electric path between the second contact and the fourth contact into one of a connecting state and an open state.

A heater holding member circulatably guides a fixing belt and holds a heater that heats the fixing belt. A stay sheet metal reinforces the heater holding member. The heater holding member has a base plate and side walls. The stay sheet metal is placed on the base plate. A side wall is erected on either side of the base plate in a short direction thereof. A pocket which keeps the stay sheet metal is formed in each side wall. The stay sheet metal has a top plate and side plates. A side plate bends and extends from either edge of the top plate in a short direction thereof. A slit is formed in each side plate such that the side plates are kept in the pockets of the heater holding member.

A heating device includes a heater and a feeding member. The heater includes a base and an electrode mounted on an electrode mounting face of the base. The feeding member includes a connector terminal and a restrictor. The connector terminal contacts the electrode. The restrictor engages the heater and restricts displacement of the feeding member relative to the heater.

A heating device includes a belt, an opposed rotator, a heater, a nip formation pad inside the belt, a holder holding the nip formation pad, a stay supporting the holder. The nip formation pad or the holder includes pad positioning portions and a holder positioning portion. The pad positioning portions includes a first and second pad positioning portions at both ends of the nip formation pad or the holder with respect to a center of the heater, and a third pad positioning portion near the center. The holder positioning portion is nearer to the center than the first or the second pad positioning portion.

Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an annular transfer belt having an outer surface on which an image is transferred; a transferring unit including a transfer cylinder having a transfer area that sandwiches a recording medium with the outer surface of the transfer belt to transfer the image from the outer surface of the transfer belt to the recording medium, and a pair of first rotating bodies disposed on both axial end sides of the transfer cylinder; a pair of circulating members each being wound around the first rotating body and being circulated by rotation of the first rotating bodies; and a holding unit attached to the circulating members, the holding unit configured to hold the recording medium, transport the recording medium with circulation of the circulating members, and pass the recording medium through the transfer area.

Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an annular transfer belt having an outer surface on which an image is transferred; a transferring unit including a transfer cylinder having a transfer area that sandwiches a recording medium with the outer surface of the transfer belt to transfer the image from the outer surface of the transfer belt to the recording medium, and a pair of first rotating bodies disposed on both axial end sides of the transfer cylinder; a pair of circulating members each being wound around the first rotating body and being circulated by rotation of the first rotating bodies; and a holding unit attached to the circulating members, the holding unit configured to hold the recording medium, transport the recording medium with circulation of the circulating members, and pass the recording medium through the transfer area.

In some examples, a system is disclosed that includes a roller assembly for a printer. The roller assembly includes a pressure roller, a belt coupled, a drive assembly to rotate the pressure roller and to urge the pressure roller into the belt, a heater to apply heat to the belt, and a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the belt. In addition, the roller assembly includes a controller to increase a pressure applied to the pressure roller from a first to a second pressure in pressure in response to a temperature of the belt being greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold. Also, the controller is to initiate an advance of a print media to contact the belt in response to the temperature of the belt being greater than or equal to a second, higher temperature threshold.