In accordance with an embodiment, a fixing device comprises a fixing belt configured to heat a toner image on a sheet to which the toner image is attached to fix the toner image to the sheet using heat; a heating roller, arranged to internally contact the fixing belt to carry the fixing belt, configured to heat the fixing belt; and a plurality of support rollers each configured to abut against a portion that does not abut against the fixing belt at an end in a longitudinal direction of the heating roller to support the heating roller, and have an outer diameter smaller than that of the portion that does not abut against the fixing belt.

In accordance with an embodiment, a fixing device comprises a fixing belt configured to heat a toner image on a sheet to which the toner image is attached to fix the toner image to the sheet using heat; a heating roller, arranged to internally contact the fixing belt to carry the fixing belt, configured to heat the fixing belt; and a plurality of support rollers each configured to abut against a portion that does not abut against the fixing belt at an end in a longitudinal direction of the heating roller to support the heating roller, and have an outer diameter smaller than that of the portion that does not abut against the fixing belt.

A fixing device includes: a belt; a heating element that heats the belt; and a pressure member that faces the belt and forms a nip portion between the pressure member and the belt. A dielectric relaxation rate of the belt 10 seconds after applying a corona discharge at 7000V to the belt is greater than or equal to 9.5% and less than or equal to 28.9%.

Provided is a fixing member for a heat fixing apparatus which can further improve utilization efficiency of heat for heat fixing of an unfixed toner. A fixing member having an endless belt shape includes a substrate and an elastic layer on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer includes silicone rubber and a filler dispersed in the silicone rubber, and when a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a thickness direction is defined as nd, a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a circumferential direction is defined as td, and a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a width direction is defined as md, nd is 1.30 W/(m.Math.K) or more, and nd, td, and md satisfy a relationship as shown below nd>md>td.

A fixing device includes: a belt; a heating element that heats the belt; and a pressure member that faces the belt and forms a nip portion between the pressure member and the belt. A dielectric relaxation rate of the belt 10 seconds after applying a corona discharge at 7000 V to the belt is greater than or equal to 9.5% and less than or equal to 28.9%.

A fixing device includes a stationary member, a roller, an endless belt, a pressure rotator, and a lubricant applicator. The endless belt is stretched over the stationary member and the roller. The pressure rotator is disposed opposite the stationary member via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the endless belt on the stationary member. The lubricant applicator contacts the roller over an entire length of the roller in an axial direction of the roller. The lubricant applicator contacts an inner surface of the endless belt and has an axial length equal to or greater than an axial length of the stationary member.

An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a charging unit that charges the surface of the image holding member, an electrostatic charge image forming unit that forms an electrostatic charge image on the charged surface of the image holding member, a developing unit that includes a developer containing toner particles containing a release agent having a melting temperature ranging from 60 C. to 100 C. and that develops the electrostatic charge image on the surface of the image holding member with the developer to form a toner image, a transferring unit that transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the image holding member to the surface of a recording medium, and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium, wherein the fixing unit includes an endless member to be heated, the endless member contacts with the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium; a pressure member that presses the endless member to form a nipping region between the pressure member and the endless member; a first heater that is in contact with the inner surface of the endless member in the nipping region to heat the endless member; a second heater that is disposed in contact with the endless member and downstream of the first heater in the operational direction of the endless member to heat the endless member; and a collection member that is disposed in the vicinity of the second heater so as to face the outer surface of the endless member and that collects particles.

An image forming apparatus includes a heating rotary member that heats toner born on a recording material, and a pressure rotary member that pressurizes the heating rotary member. These rotary members form a fixing nip portion and fix a toner image to the recording material at the fixing nip portion while nipping and conveying the recording material. The apparatus further includes a web that collects toner adhering to a surface of the heating rotary member, a winding roller that winds the web, a motor that rotates the winding roller, a contact member that makes contact with an outer surface of the wound web and moves based on a position of the outer surface, a variable resistor that is connected to change a resistance value depending on a position of the contact member, and a control unit that controls a rotation amount of the motor based on the resistance value.

A fixing device includes a rotator, a pressure member, a conductor, and a heater. The pressing member presses the rotator to form a nip between the rotator and the pressing member. The conductor is grounded and includes a contact portion having a limiting shape to limit a contact area in which the contact portion is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the rotator. The heater is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the rotator to heat the rotator.

Provided is a fixing member for a heat fixing apparatus which can further improve utilization efficiency of heat for heat fixing of an unfixed toner. A fixing member having an endless belt shape includes a substrate and an elastic layer on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer includes silicone rubber and a filler dispersed in the silicone rubber, and when a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a thickness direction is defined as nd, a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a circumferential direction is defined as td, and a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a width direction is defined as md, nd is 1.30 W/(m.Math.K) or more, and nd, td, and md satisfy a relationship as shown below nd >md >td.