Fixing device and image forming apparatus
AssigneeKyocera Mita Corporation
InventorYuzuru Nanjo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fixing device (30) has a fixing member (30) adapted to be heated by induction heating based on a magnetic field from an induction coil (34). A pressing member (40) is disposed in contact with the fixing member (30) to define therebetween a nip zone (N) for passing a sheet (P) therethrough. The fixing member includes a heating layer (32). The heating layer (32) has a temperature-sensitive metal layer (321) and formed on the side of the induction coil (34), and a nonmagnetic metal layer (322) laminated onto the temperature-sensitive metal layer (321). The nonmagnetic metal layer is made of aluminum as a metal having a low specific resistance, and formed to have a thickness (50 μm) allowing the nonmagnetic metal layer to be substantially free from a temperature rise due to the induction heating.
Claims20
A fixing device comprising:
- a fixing member for fixing a transferred toner image onto a transfer target through a heating process;
- and
- a pressing member disposed in contact with said fixing member to define therebetween a nip zone for passing the transfer target therethrough,
- wherein said fixing member includes:
- a nonmagnetic metal layer made of a nonmagnetic metal;
- a temperature-sensitive metal layer made of a temperature-sensitive metal;
- and
- an induction coil for applying a magnetic field to said nonmagnetic metal layer and said temperature-sensitive metal layer to cause induction heating therein,
- wherein:
- said temperature-sensitive metal layer is disposed closer to said induction coil than said nonmagnetic metal layer;
- and
- said nonmagnetic metal layer is made of aluminum and formed to have a thickness allowing said nonmagnetic metal layer to be substantially free from a temperature rise due to said induction heating.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a transfer section for transferring to a sheet a toner image based on image data;
- and
- an image fixing section for fixing the toner image transferred onto a surface of the sheet in said transfer section, to said sheet by means of heat, said image fixing section including:
- a fixing member for fixing a transferred toner image onto a sheet through a heating process;
- a pressing member disposed in contact with said fixing member to define therebetween a nip zone for passing the sheet therethrough,
- wherein said fixing member includes:
- a nonmagnetic metal layer made of a nonmagnetic metal;
- a temperature-sensitive metal layer made of a temperature-sensitive metal;
- and
- an induction coil for applying a magnetic field to said nonmagnetic metal layer and said temperature-sensitive metal layer to cause induction heating therein,
- wherein:
- said temperature-sensitive metal layer is disposed closer to said induction coil than said nonmagnetic metal layer;
- and
- said nonmagnetic metal layer is made of aluminum and formed to have a thickness allowing said nonmagnetic metal layer to be substantially free from a temperature rise due to said induction heating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.