Fusing device and image forming apparatus including the same
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorDong Woo LEE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a fusing device having an improved heating structure. The fusing device is configured to apply heat and pressure to fix a developer to a print medium and includes a pressure device and a heating device. The heating device includes a heat radiating member extending along a longitudinal direction of the fusing device and terminal parts disposed at both ends of the heat radiating member. Contact points at which current is supplied to the heat radiating member through the terminal parts can be adjusted to change the effective width of heating area.
Claims25
A fusing device that applies heat and pressure to fix developer onto a print medium, comprising:
- a pressure device;
- and
- a heating device arranged to opposingly face the pressure device, the heating device including a heat radiating member and one or more terminal parts, the heat radiating member having a length that extends along a longitudinal direction of the fusing device, the one or more terminal parts each being configured to make contact with the heat radiating member at a contact position along the length of the heat radiating member so as to apply an electrical current to the heat radiating member at the contact position, the contact position being variable between at least a first position along the length of the heat radiating member and a second position along the length of the heat radiating member.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a photosensitive member;
- a charging device configured to charge the photosensitive member to a predetermined electric potential;
- a light scanning device configured to radiate light associated with image information to the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image;
- a developing device configured to supply developer to the photosensitive member on which the electrostatic latent image is formed to form a visible image;
- a transfer device configured to transfer the developer on the photosensitive member to a print medium;
- and
- a fusing device having a heating device and a pressure device, the fusing device being configured to apply heat and pressure to fix the developer to the print medium,
- wherein the heating device includes a heat radiating member and terminal parts disposed at both ends of the heat radiating member, the terminal parts being configured to vary a contact position at which each of the terminal parts makes a contact with the heat radiating member to supply the heat radiating member with an electrical current through the contact.
A heating roller for applying heat to a print medium carrying developer so as to fix the developer to the printing medium, comprising:
- a heat radiating member having a cylindrical shape, whose length extending along a longitudinal direction of the heating roller;
- and
- terminal parts disposed at both ends of the heat radiating member, the terminal parts each being configured to supply an electrical current to the heat radiating member through an electrical contact with the heat radiating member,
- wherein a width associated with a heat radiating area of the heat radiating member in which heat is generated is variable by varying positions of the electrical contacts between the terminal parts and the heat radiating member.
A method for controlling a heating roller of an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- measuring a first temperature at a first location along a length of the heating roller and a second temperature at a second position along the length of the heating roller;
- determining whether a difference between the measured first temperature and the measured second temperature exceeds a threshold difference;
- and
- adjusting a position of electrical contact through which an electrical current is supplied to the heat radiating member when the difference between the measured first temperature and the measure second temperature exceeds the threshold difference.
A heating device for heating a print medium to thereby fix toner particles to the print medium, comprising:
- an elongate heat radiating member;
- a first terminal device coupled to a first longitudinal end of the elongated heat radiating member, the first terminal device being configured to make a first electrical contact with the elongated heat radiating member at a first contact point along a length of the elongated heat radiating member, the first terminal device being configured to supply electrical current to the elongated heat radiating member though the first electrical contact;
- and
- a second terminal device coupled to a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end of the elongated heat radiating member, the second terminal device being configured to make a second electrical contact with the elongated heat radiating member at a second contact point along the length of the elongated heat radiating member, the second terminal device being configured to supply electrical current to the elongated heat radiating member though the second electrical contact,
- wherein a distance between the first contact point and the second contact point is variable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.