Heating device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus

A heating device comprising:

• a pressure rotator;
• a heating rotator:
• having a loop;
• and
• forming a nip between the pressure rotator and the heating rotator, the nip through which a sheet passes in a conveyance direction;
• and
• a heater:
• inside the loop of the heating rotator;
• and
• extending in a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction,
• wherein the heater includes:
• an electrode;
• a resistive strip extending in the longitudinal direction,
• the resistive strip has:
• a central region in the longitudinal direction,
• the central region having a constant width in a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and parallel to the conveyance direction;
• and
• an end region adjacent to the central region in the longitudinal direction,
• the end region having:
• a decreasing part having a width decreasing in the transverse direction toward an end of the heater in the longitudinal direction;
• and
• an edge along the decreasing part of the end region;
• and
• an electric conductor disposed between the resistive strip and the electrode in the longitudinal direction,
• the electric conductor:
• contacting the edge of the resistive strip from one end to another end of the edge in the longitudinal direction;
• and
• connecting the resistive strip and the electrode.