# US 10,768,561 B2 · Fixing device and image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 10,768,561 B2
- Document ID: US10768561B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/509,737
- Filed: 2019-07-12
- Published: 2020-01-16
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-13
- Assignees: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Applicants: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Inventors: Takashi Eiki; Hiroki Kawasaki; Atsushi Kohama; Yuhiro Sakai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768561B2

## 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 15/2042: {specially for the axial heat partition}
- G03G 15/2064: {combined with pressure}
- G03G 15/5004: {Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off}
- G03G 2215/2035: the fixing nip having a stationary belt support member opposing a pressure member
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A fixing device includes a cylindrical rotatable fixing belt, a flat heater, a safety device, a heater holding part and a pressuring member. The flat heater has a plurality of heat generating parts. The safety device is arranged across two adjacent heat generating parts to interrupt power supply to the heat generating parts in a case where temperature reaches a threshold value. The heater holding part holds the flat heater so that the flat heater comes into contact with an inner circumference face of the fixing belt. The pressuring member sandwiches the fixing belt with the flat heater to form a pressuring area for sandwiching and conveying a sheet between the fixing belt and the pressuring roller.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fixing device comprising:
a cylindrical rotatable fixing belt;
a flat heater having a plurality of heat generating parts;
a safety device arranged across two adjacent heat generating parts to interrupt power supply to the heat generating parts in a case where temperature reaches a threshold value;
a heater holding part holding the flat heater so that the flat heater comes into contact with an inner circumference face of the fixing belt; and
a pressuring member sandwiching the fixing belt with the flat heater to form a pressuring area for sandwiching and conveying a sheet between the fixing belt and the pressuring roller,
wherein between the two adjacent heat generating parts and the safety device, a sheet-shaped heat conduction member promoting heat conduction from the heat generating part to the safety device is provided.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein
the heat conduction member has an area larger than an area of the heat conduction member facing to the heat generating parts.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming part forming a toner image on the sheet; and
the fixing device according to claim 2 to fix the toner image on the sheet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein
the flat heater includes an electrode part connected to a predetermined power source,
the safety device is provided between the heat generating part and the electrode part via a predetermined feeder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming part forming a toner image on the sheet; and
the fixing device according to claim 4 to fix the toner image on the sheet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein
the safety device is composed of a thermostat using a bimetal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming part forming a toner image on the sheet; and
the fixing device according to claim 6 to fix the toner image on the sheet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein
the safety device is composed of a thermostat using shape memory alloy.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming part forming a toner image on the sheet; and
the fixing device according to claim 8 to fix the toner image on the sheet.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein
the safety device is composed of a fuse.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming part forming a toner image on the sheet; and
the fixing device according to claim 10 to fix the toner image on the sheet.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming part forming a toner image on the sheet; and
the fixing device according to claim 1 to fix the toner image on the sheet.