Heater, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorTakayuki Seki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heater is installable in a fixing device having a fixing nip through which a recording medium is conveyed. The heater includes a base including a downstream portion in a recording medium conveyance direction. A heat generator is mounted on the base. A projection is disposed separately from the base and shifted from the heat generator. The projection is disposed opposite the downstream portion of the base. The projection projects toward the fixing nip in a state in which the heater is installed in the fixing device.
Claims16
A heater installable in a fixing device having a fixing nip through which a recording medium is conveyed, the heater comprising:
- a base including a downstream portion in a recording medium conveyance direction;
- a heat generator mounted on the base;
- a projection disposed separately from the base and shifted from the heat generator, the projection disposed opposite the downstream portion of the base, the projection configured to project toward the fixing nip in a state in which the heater is installed in the fixing device;
- an electrode mounted on the base;
- a protective layer configured to cover the base;
- and
- another projection arranged with the projection in a longitudinal direction of the heater with a gap between the projection and said another projection.
A heater installable in a fixing device having a fixing nip through which a recording medium is conveyed, the heater comprising:
- a base including a downstream portion in a recording medium conveyance direction;
- a heat generator mounted on the base;
- a projection disposed separately from the base and shifted from the heat generator,
- the projection disposed opposite the downstream portion of the base, the projection configured to project toward the fixing nip in a state in which the heater is installed in the fixing device;
- an electrode mounted on the base;
- and
- a protective layer configured to cover the base,
- wherein the projection includes:
- a protrusion mounted on the base and configured to be disconnected from the electrode;
- and
- a cover portion configured to cover the protrusion, the cover portion included in the protective layer.
A fixing device comprising:
- a fixing rotator that is hollow and endless, the fixing rotator configured to rotate;
- a pressure rotator configured to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, the fixing nip through which a recording medium bearing an image is conveyed;
- and
- a heater configured to contact an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator,
- the heater comprising:
- a base including a downstream portion in a recording medium conveyance direction;
- a heat generator mounted on the base;
- and
- a projection disposed separately from the base and shifted from the heat generator,
- the projection disposed opposite the downstream portion of the base, the projection configured to project toward the fixing nip in a state in which the heater is installed in the fixing device,
- wherein the base further includes:
- a front face that faces the fixing rotator;
- and
- a back face that is opposite the front face and mounts the heat generator,
- wherein the heater further includes a back face protective layer disposed on the back face of the base and the heat generator, and
- wherein the projection is disposed separately from the back face protective layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.