A heater of an embodiment includes a substrate, a resistance heating element, and a thermistor. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface located on the side opposite to the first surface. The resistance heating element is disposed on the first surface. The thermistor is disposed on the second surface and does not contain lead.

A fixing device includes a heating unit, a pressure unit, a moving unit, and a controller. The heating unit is configured to heat a toner on a recording medium. The pressure unit is configured to transport the recording medium while sandwiching the recording medium in a nip that the pressure unit and the heating unit form. The moving unit is configured to change a nip state of the pressure unit with respect to the heating unit by moving the heating unit or the pressure unit. The controller is configured to, when plural recording media are transported continuously, control the moving unit so that the moving unit moves the heating unit or the pressure unit in a separation direction so as to reduce a nip width at a recording medium interval between the recording media.

An image heating apparatus including a rotatable heating member, a first motor configured to rotationally drive the rotatable heating member, a belt unit, a position detecting portion, a tilting mechanism, including a second motor for tilting the belt unit, a jam detecting portion, and a controller. When the occurrence of the jam is detected by the jam detecting portion during a tilting operation of the belt unit, the controller stops drive of the first motor and drive of the second motor in response to detection of the occurrence of the jam by the jam detecting portion.

A heater of an embodiment includes a substrate, a resistance heating element, and a thermistor. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface located on the side opposite to the first surface. The resistance heating element is disposed on the first surface. The thermistor is disposed on the second surface and does not contain lead.

A heating apparatus includes a body and a holder removably placed inside the body. The holder removably holds a heating object. A receiver removably holds the holder. A heater heats the heating object held by the holder held by the receiver. A mover moves one of the receiver and the heater vertically relative to another one of the receiver and the heater to a non-contact heating position where the heating object is isolated from the heater.

A heating device includes a heater and an interrupting portion. The heater extends in a width direction of a rotary belt and configured to contact and heat the belt. The interrupting portion is configured to interrupt power supply at a longitudinal end portion of the heater.

A heater for being attached to a heating device includes a base layer, a heat generator mounted on the base layer, an electrode mounted on the base layer, and a feeder mounted on the base layer. The feeder is interposed between the electrode and the heat generator. The feeder is configured to electrically connect the electrode to the heat generator. A positioner is configured to engage a counterpart of the heating device. The positioner is configured to position the heater in a longitudinal direction of the heater when the heater is attached to the heating device.

A fixing device includes an endless belt; a pressing unit that is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the belt and that rotates the belt; a first unit that is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the belt and that retains the belt in contact with the pressing unit; a second unit provided on the inner peripheral surface of the belt and located downstream of the first unit in a rotation direction of the belt, the second unit applying tension to the belt and including a portion that is in contact with a central portion of the belt in a width direction of the belt and that is farther in a direction toward the outer peripheral surface of the belt than both ends of the belt in the width direction of the belt; and a third unit provided on the inner peripheral surface of the belt and located downstream of the second unit in the rotation direction of the belt, the third unit applying tension to the belt and including a portion that is in contact with the central portion of the belt in the width direction of the belt and that is farther in the direction toward the outer peripheral surface of the belt than both ends of the belt in the width direction of the belt.

A digitally produced heat transfer can be manufactured by digitally printing an image onto the protective coating that is receptive to ink and/or toner to form a printed area and an unprinted area of the protective coating, and digitally printing an attractant precisely onto the printed area and not onto the unprinted area. An adhesive powder can be applied onto the printed area and the unprinted area. The adhesive powder can then be removed from the unprinted area and the remaining adhesive powder can be bonded to the printed area. A digitally produced heat transfer can include a protective coating that is receptive to ink and/or toner, a digital image printed onto the protective coating to form a printed area and an unprinted area of the protective coating, an attractant digitally printed precisely onto the printed area, and an adhesive powder applied onto the attractant.

A heater includes an electrode, a heat generator, and a plurality of layers including a first layer and at least one additional layer disposed in an opposite side with respect to a surface on which the electrode is disposed. The at least one additional layer includes at least one of a plurality of portions, a gap at a location corresponding to the electrode, existing between the plurality of portions and a single portion, at least a part of the single portion corresponding to the electrode, being relatively thinner than a part of the single portion corresponding to the heat generator.