An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a heater, an energization control unit configured to control energization to a first heat generation member of the heater depending on a temperature detected by a temperature detection element of the fixing unit, a resistance detecting unit configured to detect a resistance of a second heat generation member of the heater, and a temperature acquiring unit configured to acquire a temperature of the heater in the region in which the second heat generation member is formed based on the resistance detected by the resistance detecting unit. An image, formed on a recording material, is fixed to the recording material with heat form the heater.

An image heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film, and a heater having a substrate, and a heat generating element provided on the substrate. The heater has an elongated plate-like shape, and a first surface contacting the film, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a heater lateral surface facing outwardly in a widthwise direction of the heat generating element. A supporting member supports the heater, and includes a recess and a supporting lateral surface that is parallel to and opposes the heater lateral surface. The supporting lateral surface is provided in the recess, and is bonded to the heater lateral surface using an adhesive material. A high heat conduction member has a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the substrate, and contacts the second surface of the heater and is sandwiched between the heater and the supporting member.

A heating unit includes a circuit board, a plurality of heating parts, and a plurality of wiring parts. The heating parts are arranged in a first direction on a surface of the circuit board. The wiring parts are provided on the surface of the circuit board and electrically connect the heating parts and a power source to feed the heating parts. The wiring parts respectively include electrode terminal parts electrically connected to the power source outside the heating parts in the first direction. Sizes in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction of the heating parts are set to decrease gradually or stepwisely with separating in the first direction from the electrode terminal parts.

A direct resistance heating method includes placing a first electrode and a second electrode on a plate-shaped workpiece such that the first electrode and the second electrode extend across the workpiece in a direction substantially perpendicular to a center line of a heating target region of the workpiece, the center line connecting a middle portion of one side of the heating target region and a middle portion of the other side of the heating target region; and moving at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode along the center line while applying electric current between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Provided is a heater that is excellent in heat equalizing property even when being narrow in a sweep direction. Also provided are a fixing device, an image-forming device, and a heating device each including such a heater. A heater is configured to heat an object to be heated in such a manner that at least one of the object to be heated and the heater is swept with the heater disposed opposite the object to be heated. The heater includes a base having a rectangular shape and a plurality of heating cells each independently receiving power supply, the heating cells being disposed on the base and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the base. Each of the heating cells includes a plurality of lateral wires extending in substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the base and a plurality of oblique wires tilted relative to the lateral wires.

The image forming apparatus including a fixing unit fixing an image on a recording material to the recording material, the fixing unit including a heater including first and second heat generation members controllable independently of the first heat generation member and formed in a region different from a region in which the first heat generation member is formed in a direction orthogonal to a recording material conveyance direction, and a temperature detection element configured to detect a temperature of the region in which the first heat generation member is formed of the heater; and an energization control unit configured to control energization to the first heat generation member depending on the temperature detected by the temperature detection element, in which the image formed on the recording material is fixed to the recording material with heat from the heater.

An image heating device is provided with a tubular film, and a unit placed inside the film. The unit includes a heater in contact with an inner surface of the film, a supporting member supporting the heater, and a highly thermal conductive member. The highly thermal conductive member placed between the heater and the supporting member and in contact with the heater. The unit is configured such that when the unit is viewed from a side where a surface of the heater is in contact with the film, at least a portion of the highly thermal conductive member is visible without being hidden behind the heater.

In an image heating device having a plurality of heating blocks which are controllable independently in a longitudinal direction of a heater, an increase of the size of the heater can be suppressed, and temperatures of a plurality of heating block can be detected.

A heater has a first temperature sensor corresponding to a first heating block, a second temperature sensor corresponding to a second heating block, a first electric conductor electrically coupled to the first temperature sensor, a second electric conductor electrically coupled to the second temperature sensor, and a common electric conductor electrically coupled to the first and second temperature sensors.

A resistance heating element contains a heat-resistant resin and conductive stainless steel fiber coated with a film, and satisfies the following expression (1): 1(r1/r0)1.03, where r0 represents the initial resistance value of the resistance heating element, and r1 represents the resistance value of the resistance heating element after allowed to stand at 30 C. and a relative humidity of 80% for one week.

An aerosol-generating system includes a rotating heating clement having two or more heating surfaces in the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device receives a replaceable aerosol-generating article. The replaceable aerosol-generating article includes a tape having a solid aerosol-generating substrate on the tape. Methods of using the aerosol-generating system are also described.