# US 11,029,631 B2 · Heating device, image processing apparatus, and method for manufacturing the heating unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,631 B2 - Document ID: US11029631B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/880,930 - Filed: 2020-05-21 - Published: 2021-03-04 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-02 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Ryota Saeki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029631B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/2053: {Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating} - G03G 15/2042: {specially for the axial heat partition} - G03G 2215/2035: the fixing nip having a stationary belt support member opposing a pressure member - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A heating device includes a cylindrical film, a heater arranged inside the cylindrical film and extending along a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical film, a heat conductor extending along the longitudinal direction, and a first grease layer between the heater and the heat conductor and having a consistency grade less than or equal to three. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heating device, comprising: a cylindrical film arranged to be rotated about an axis; a heater having a first side facing an inner surface of the cylindrical film, wherein the heater extends along a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis and comprises a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line along the longitudinal direction, and the heating elements include a center heating element and a pair of end heating elements that are independently controllable with respect to the center heating element; a heat conductor on a second side of the heater opposite the first side, the heat conductor extending along the longitudinal direction; and a first grease layer between the heat conductor and the second side of the heater and having a consistency grade less than or equal to three. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the first grease layer does not contain a thermally conductive filler. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the first grease layer has a thermal conductivity less than 1 W/m·K. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second grease layer on the inner surface of the cylindrical film. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The heating device according to claim 4, wherein the second grease layer comprises the same material as the first grease layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The heating device according to claim 4, wherein one of the heating elements contacts the second grease layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, further comprising: a roller that forms a nip with the cylindrical film through which an object to be heated passes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first temperature sensor between the axis of the cylindrical film and the heat conductor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the first grease layer comprises a base oil that is fluorinated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The heating device according to claim 9, wherein the first grease layer has a thermal conductivity less than 1 W/m·K, and the first grease layer does not contain a thermally conductive filler. ### Claim 11 An image processing apparatus, comprising: a heating device including: a cylindrical film arranged to be rotated about an axis, a heater having a first side facing an inner surface of the cylindrical film, wherein the heater extends along a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis and comprises a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line along the longitudinal direction, and the heating elements include a center heating element and a pair of end heating elements; a heat conductor on a second side of the heater opposite the first side, the heat conductor extending along the longitudinal direction, and a first grease layer between the heat conductor and the second side of the heater and having a consistency grade less than or equal to three; and a controller configured to control the heating device for an image processing operation, wherein the controller controls the pair of end heating elements independently with respect to the center heating element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first grease layer does not contain a thermally conductive filler. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first grease layer has a thermal conductivity less than 1 W/m·K. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the heating device further includes a second grease layer on the inner surface of the cylindrical film. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second grease layer comprises the same material as the first grease layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first grease layer comprises a base oil that is fluorinated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The heating device according to claim 16, wherein the first grease layer has a thermal conductivity less than 1 W/m·K, and the first grease layer does not contain a thermally conductive filler. ### Claim 18 A method for manufacturing a heating device including a cylindrical film arranged to be rotated about an axis, a heater extending along a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis and having a first side facing an inner surface of the cylindrical film, the heater including a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line along the longitudinal direction, the heating elements including a center heating element and a pair of end heating elements that are independently controllable with respect to the center heating element, and a heat conductor on a second side of the heater opposite the first side and extending along the longitudinal direction, the method comprising: forming a grease layer on the inner surface of cylindrical film; arranging the heater to extend along the longitudinal direction with the first side of the heater facing the inner surface; arranging the heat conductor to be on the second side of the heater and to extend along the longitudinal direction; generating heat using the heater so that the grease layer flows into a gap between the heater and the heat conductor.