# US 10,481,536 B2 · Mounted fixing apparatus for fixing an image formed on a recording medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,536 B2 - Document ID: US10481536B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/260,673 - Filed: 2019-01-29 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-19 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Keisuke Fujita; Naoki Hayashi; Masaaki Takeuchi; Koji Fujinaka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481536B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/2053: {Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating} - G03G 15/2039: {with means for controlling the fixing temperature} - G03G 15/55: {Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display} - G03G 2215/2035: the fixing nip having a stationary belt support member opposing a pressure member - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract The present invention relates to a fixing apparatus including a tubular film, a heater provided at an inside of the film, a protection element provided at the inside of the film, and at least one conductive member provided at the inside of the film. The protection element includes two terminals and a switch that turns off to shut off power to the heater when the heater abnormally generates heat. A first end of the conductive member is electrically connected to one of the terminals of the protection element. The conductive member is not coated with an insulator, and a second end of the conductive member projects out of the film so that the cost of the fixing apparatus is reduced. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fixing apparatus comprising: a tubular film; a heater provided at an inside of the film, the heater including an electrode; a holder provided at the inside of the film, the holder being configured to hold the heater; and a power feeding connector configured to feed power to the heater; wherein an unfixed image formed on a recording medium is fixed on the recording medium by the heat of the heater via the film, wherein the power feeding connector comprises a contact-side connector and a backup-side connector, the contact-side connector including a spring contact in contact with the electrode of the heater, the backup-side connector being disposed on a side of a surface of the holder that holds the heater opposite to a side of a surface on which the contact-side connector is disposed, wherein the contact-side connector and the backup-side connector are joined together to form the power feeding connector, wherein the contact-side connector is a conductive component and the backup-side connector is a component made of material different from the contact-side connector, wherein the contact-side connector and the backup-side connector are joined together at a position opposite to a position at which the power feeding connector and a power feed cable are connected in a lateral direction of the heater, and wherein the backup-side connector includes an elastically deformed portion between the position of joining and the power feed cable in the lateral direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both of the contact-side connector and the backup-side connector are conductive components. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fixing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the contact-side connector and the backup-side connector are conductive components made of different materials. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the backup-side connector is made of a material with lower thermal conductivity than a thermal conductivity of a material of the contact-side connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact-side connector is a conductive component, and the backup-side connector is a nonconductive component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact-side connector and the backup-side connector are joined by welding. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastically deformed portion includes a slit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a roller configured to form a fixing nip portion through which the recording medium is conveyed in cooperation with the heater via the film. ### Claim 9 A fixing apparatus comprising: a tubular film; a heater provided at an inside of the film, the heater including an electrode; a holder provided at the inside of the film, the holder being configured to hold the heater; and a power feeding connector configured to feed power to the heater, wherein an unfixed image formed on a recording medium is fixed on the recording medium by the heat of the heater via the film, wherein the power feeding connector comprises a contact-side connector and a backup-side connector, the contact-side connector including a spring contact in contact with the electrode of the heater, the backup-side connector being disposed on a side of a surface of the holder that holds the heater opposite to a side of a surface on which the contact-side connector is disposed, wherein the contact-side connector and the backup-side connector are joined together to form the power feeding connector, wherein the contact-side connector is a conductive component and the backup-side connector is a component made of material different from the contact-side connector, wherein the contact-side connector and the backup-side connector are joined together at a position opposite to a position at which the power feeding connector and a power feed cable are connected in a lateral direction of the heater, and wherein the contact-side connector includes an elastically deformed portion between the position of joining and the power feed cable in the lateral direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fixing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein both of the contact-side connector and the backup-side connector are conductive components. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fixing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the contact-side connector and the backup-side connector are conductive components made of different materials. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The fixing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the backup-side connector is made of a material with lower thermal conductivity than a thermal conductivity of a material of the contact-side connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The fixing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the contact-side connector is a conductive component, and the backup-side connector is a nonconductive component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The fixing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the contact-side connector and the backup-side connector are joined by welding. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The fixing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the elastically deformed portion includes a slit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The fixing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a roller configured to form a fixing nip portion through which the recording medium is conveyed in cooperation with the heater via the film.