# US 11,079,705 B2 · Heater and image heating device mounted with heater > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,705 B2 - Document ID: US11079705B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/581,079 - Filed: 2019-09-24 - Published: 2020-01-16 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-19 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yasuhiro Shimura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079705B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/2039: {with means for controlling the fixing temperature} - G03G 15/2003: {using heat} - G03G 15/2042: {specially for the axial heat partition} - G03G 15/2053: {Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating} - H05B 3/03: Electrodes - G03G 2215/2035: the fixing nip having a stationary belt support member opposing a pressure member - H05B 3/26: heating conductor mounted on insulating base {(for transparent areas H05B3/84, H05B3/86)} - H05B 2203/007: using multiple electrically connected resistive elements or resistive zones - H05B 2203/02: Heaters using heating elements having a positive temperature coefficient - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A heater of the present invention includes jointed heat generating resistors having a positive temperature characteristic of resistance and provided between a first conductive element and a second conductive element on a substrate in a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and a plurality of heating blocks provided in the longitudinal direction, each of which is a set of the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the heat generating resistor, and power supplied to at least one of the plurality of heating blocks can be controlled independent of other heating blocks. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heater to be used for a heating device, the heater comprising: an elongated substrate; a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged side by side in a longitudinal direction of the substrate; a first heating block including a heat generating resistor arranged in a central area of the substrate in the longitudinal direction of the substrate; a second heating block including a heat generating resistor arranged closer to an end portion than the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block in the longitudinal direction of the substrate; and a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode configured to cause the heat generating resistors to generate heat, wherein the plurality of heat generating resistors includes the heat generating resistor arranged in the central area of the substrate and the heat generating resistor arranged closer to the end portion than the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are arranged on the substrate, and the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode receive power supply from a power source by coming into contact with power supply terminals different from each other, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, wherein the second electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, wherein the third electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, and wherein a plurality of heat generating resistors included in the first heating block are electrically connected in parallel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heater according to claim 1, wherein a length of the first heating block is greater than a length of the second heating block in the longitudinal direction of the substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The heater according to claim 2, wherein the length of the first heating block is twice or more the length of the second heating block arranged next to the first heating block on one side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heater according to claim 1, wherein a number of heat generating resistors included in the first heating block is greater than a number of heat generating resistors included in the second heating block. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The heater according to claim 4, wherein the number of heat generating resistors included in the first heating block is twice or more the number of heat generating resistors included in the second heating block arranged next to the first heating block on one side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The heater according to claim 1, wherein a first heat generating resistor and a second heat generating resistor adjacent to each other among the heat generating resistors electrically connected in parallel in the first heating block partially overlap each other, when viewed in a widthwise direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction of the substrate and a thickness direction of the substrate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The heater according to claim 6, wherein the first heat generating resistor and the second heat generating resistor are arranged inclined in the longitudinal direction and the widthwise direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The heater according to claim 1, wherein the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are arranged on only a same surface of the substrate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The heater according to claim 8, further comprising: a first conductive element configured to electrically connect the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and the first electrode; a second conductive element configured to electrically connect the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block and the second electrode; and a third conductive element configured to electrically connect the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, and the third electrode, wherein the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the third conductive element are arranged on only the same surface of the substrate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The heater according to claim 1, further comprising: a third heating block including a heat generating resistor arranged closer to the end portion than the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block in the longitudinal direction, wherein the second heating block is arranged next to the first heating block on one side, and the third heating block is arranged next to the first heating block on an other side. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The heater according to claim 10, further comprising: a fourth electrode configured to cause a heat generating resistor to generate heat, wherein the fourth electrode is arranged on the substrate and receives power supply, wherein the fourth electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the third heating block, wherein the third electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, and the heat generating resistor included in the third heating block. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The heater according to claim 1, wherein a characteristic of the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block is a positive temperature characteristic of resistance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The heater according to claim 12, wherein a characteristic of the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block is a positive temperature characteristic of resistance. ### Claim 14 An image heating device comprising: a cylindrical film; a heater arranged in an inner space of the film; and a roller configured to come into contact with an outer periphery of the film and form a nip portion to nip and convey a recording material together with the heater via the film, wherein a recording material on which an image is formed is nipped and conveyed by the nip portion and heated, wherein the heater includes: an elongated substrate; a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged side by side in a longitudinal direction of the substrate; a first heating block including a heat generating resistor arranged in a central area of the substrate in the longitudinal direction of the substrate; a second heating block including a heat generating resistor arranged closer to an end portion than the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block in the longitudinal direction of the substrate; and a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode configured to cause the heat generating resistors to generate heat, wherein the plurality of heat generating resistors includes the heat generating resistor arranged in the central area of the substrate and the heat generating resistor arranged closer to the end portion than the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are arranged on the substrate and the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode receive power supply from a power source by coming into contact with power supply terminals different from each other, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, wherein the second electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, wherein the third electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, and wherein a plurality of heat generating resistors included in the first heating block are electrically connected in parallel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image heating device according to claim 14, wherein a length of the first heating block is greater than a length of the second heating block in the longitudinal direction of the substrate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The image heating device according to claim 15, wherein the length of the first heating block is twice or more the length of the second heating block arranged next to the first heating block on one side. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The image heating device according to claim 14, wherein a number of heat generating resistors included in the first heating block is greater than a number of heat generating resistors included in the second heating block. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The image heating device according to claim 17, wherein the number of heat generating resistors included in the first heating block is twice or more the number of heat generating resistors included in the second heating block arranged next to the first heating block on one side. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The image heating device according to claim 14, wherein a first heat generating resistor and a second heat generating resistor adjacent to each other among the heat generating resistors electrically connected in parallel in the first heating block partially overlap each other, when viewed in a widthwise direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction of the substrate and a thickness direction of the substrate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The image heating device according to claim 17, wherein the first heat generating resistor and the second heat generating resistor are arranged inclined in the longitudinal direction and the widthwise direction. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The image heating device according to claim 14, wherein the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are arranged on only a same surface of the substrate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The image heating device according to claim 21, further comprising: a first conductive element configured to electrically connect the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and the first electrode; a second conductive element configured to electrically connect the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block and the second electrode; and a third conductive element configured to electrically connect the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, and the third electrode, wherein the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the third conductive element are arranged on only the same surface of the substrate. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The image heating device according to claim 14, further comprising: a third heating block including a heat generating resistor arranged closer to the end portion than the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block in the longitudinal direction, wherein the second heating block is arranged next to the first heating block on one side, and the third heating block is arranged next to the first heating block on an other side. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The image heating device according to claim 23, further comprising: a fourth electrode configured to cause a heat generating resistor to generate heat, wherein the fourth electrode is arranged on the substrate and receives power supply, wherein the fourth electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the third heating block, wherein the third electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, and the heat generating resistor included in the third heating block. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The image heating device according to claim 14, wherein the heater is changeable between a first state that power is supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and a second state that power is supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The image heating device according to claim 23, wherein the heater is changeable between a first state that power is supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and a second state that power is supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, and the heat generating resistor included in the third heating block. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) The image heating device according to claim 14, wherein a characteristic of the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block is a positive temperature characteristic of resistance. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The image heating device according to claim 27, wherein a characteristic of the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block is a positive temperature characteristic of resistance. ### Claim 29 (depends on 14) The image heating device according to claim 14, wherein a number of temperature detection elements configured to detect a temperature of a first area of the image heating device in which the first heating block is arranged is greater than a number of temperature detection elements configured to detect a temperature of a second area of the image heating device different from the first area in the longitudinal direction and in which the second heating block is arranged, when the image heating device is viewed in a direction in which a recording material is conveyed. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The image heating device according to claim 29, wherein a first temperature detection element is arranged near a center of the first area in the longitudinal direction, and wherein a second temperature detection element is arranged near an end of the first area in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 31 (depends on 14) The image heating device according to claim 14, further comprising: a control unit configured to control power to be supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block; a first triac arranged in a power supply path between a power supply and the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and to change a state between a state that power is supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and a state that power is not supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block in response to a control signal from the control unit; and a second triac arranged in a power supply path between a power supply and the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block and to change a state between a state that power is supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block and a state that power is not supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block in response to a control signal from the control unit. ### Claim 32 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording material; and a fixing unit configured to fix the image formed on the recording material to the recording material, wherein the fixing unit includes: (i) a cylindrical film; (ii) a heater arranged in an inner space of the film; and (iii) a roller configured to come into contact with an outer periphery of the film and form a nip portion to nip and convey a recording material together with the heater via the film, wherein a recording material on which an image is formed is nipped and conveyed by the nip portion and heated so that the image is fixed to the recording material, wherein the heater includes: an elongated substrate; a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged side by side in a longitudinal direction of the substrate; a first heating block including a heat generating resistor arranged in a central area of the substrate in the longitudinal direction of the substrate; a second heating block including a heat generating resistor arranged closer to an end portion than the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block in the longitudinal direction of the substrate; and a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode configured to cause the heat generating resistors to generate heat, wherein the plurality of heat generating resistors includes the heat generating resistor arranged in the central area of the substrate and the heat generating resistor arranged closer to the end portion than the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are arranged on the substrate and the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode receive power supply from a power source by coming into contact with power supply terminals different from each other, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, wherein the second electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, wherein the third electrode is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, and wherein a plurality of heat generating resistors included in the first heating block are electrically connected in parallel. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The image forming apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising: a control unit configured to control power to be supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block and the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, wherein the control unit controls a state to change between a first state that power is supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block of the heater and a second state that power is supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block of the heater and the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block of the heater. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The image forming apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising: a third heating block including a heat generating resistor arranged closer to the end portion than the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block in the longitudinal direction, wherein the second heating block is arranged next to the first heating block on one side, and the third heating block is arranged next to the first heating block on an other side. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising: a control unit configured to control power to be supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block, the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block, and the heat generating resistor included in the third heating block, wherein the control unit controls a state to change between a first state that power is supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block of the heater and a second state that power is supplied to the heat generating resistor included in the first heating block of the heater, the heat generating resistor included in the second heating block of the heater, and the heat generating resistor included in the third heating block of the heater.