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.

Selecting one conveyance mode from a plurality of conveyance modes includes a first selection process of selecting the one conveyance mode based on a detection temperature of a temperature sensor from a first time point at which rotation of a fixing rotator is started to a second time point at which a particular period elapses from the first time point. The first selection process includes: determining whether an initial temperature is higher than or equal to a first temperature, the initial temperature being a detection temperature of the temperature sensor when a print instruction is received; in response to determining that the initial temperature is lower than the first temperature, setting the particular period to a first period; and in response to determining that the initial temperature is higher than or equal to the first temperature, setting the particular period to a second period longer than the first period.

A heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film and a pressing element that rotates with the cylindrical film and forms a nip with the cylindrical film. A medium is conveyed through the nip from an upstream side to a downstream side. The apparatus further includes a guide member arranged inside the cylindrical film and contacting the cylindrical film, and a substrate arranged inside the cylindrical film and on which a heating element is disposed. A downstream end of the substrate is located downstream of a downstream end of the nip.

A fixing member includes a slide layer having a cylindrical shape and a thickness of 8 micrometers (μm) or more and 20 μm or less, a base layer formed on an outer side of the slide layer, and a surface layer formed on an outer side of the base layer. The slide layer has Benard convection cell structure having an average diameter of 50 μm or more and 200 μm or less on a surface that is not in contact with the base layer, and the slide layer includes an additive having a median particle diameter D50 of 4.5 μm or less and an aspect ratio of 30 or more and less than 50.

Provided is an image heating apparatus comprising: a first rotating member; a second rotating member that forms a nip with the first rotating member so as to nip the recording material therebetween; a heater that heats the nip; a conductive sheet member that is disposed so as to overlap with a part of the heater; and a restricting member that restricts relative positions between the sheet member and the heater. The restricting member is configured so as to restrict a relative movement between the sheet member and the heater in a first direction, which is a direction where the sheet member overlaps with a part of the heater, and to allow the relative movement in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. A reinforcing land, that joins the heater and the sheet member, is disposed in a position that is electrically isolated.

A fixing device (50) includes a fixing belt (70), a pressure member (80), and a heating section (90). The heating section (90) faces an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt (70). The heating section (90) includes a heater (HT), a first heat sensitive body (SM11), and a second heat sensitive body (SM21). The second heat sensitive body (SM21) differs from the first heat sensitive body (SM11). The heater (HT) has a first heater portion (AE1). The first heater portion (AE1) is one end portion of a pair of end portions of the heater (HT) in a longitudinal direction thereof. The first heat sensitive body (SM11) and the second heat sensitive body (SM21) face the first heater portion (AE1) and are aligned in a conveyance direction (DC) of a sheet (S).

An example fuser includes a flexible fixing belt, a back-up to form a fixing nip with the fixing belt, a heater substrate having a first surface on which a heating element pattern is located and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the heater substrate to heat the fixing belt at the fixing nip, and a heat conduction member having a plurality of heat conduction segments contacting the first surface of the heater substrate.

An endless belt includes a metal substrate, and a heat-resistant resin layer that is disposed as an innermost layer on an inner peripheral surface of the metal substrate and that contains a resin and a thermally conductive filler having an aspect ratio of 20 or more. In the heat-resistant resin layer, an orientation ratio of the thermally conductive filler with respect to a circumferential direction of the endless belt is 20% or more.

A nip former that forms a nip between an endless belt and a pressure rotator includes a base that is made of aluminum and has a nip forming face disposed opposite the nip. An anodic oxidation coating is treated with sealing and coats at least the nip forming face. The anodic oxidation coating has a thickness that is not smaller than 22 μm and is not greater than 45 μm and a variation in thickness that is not greater than 20 percent. The base and the anodic oxidation coating define a nip forming portion that is disposed opposite the nip. The nip forming portion has a thickness that is not smaller than 0.40 mm and is not greater than 1.20 mm.