Fixing device and image forming apparatus
AssigneeToshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorOsamu TAKAGI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fixing device includes a roller, an endless belt, and a heat generating member disposed in a space inside the endless belt, extending in a width direction of the endless belt, and pressing the endless belt against the roller. A sheet is passed through a nip formed between the roller and a portion of the endless belt pressed by the heat generating member, such that an image on the sheet is fixed thereto. The heat generating member includes first and second heat generating portions that are adjacent to each other along the width direction, and the first portion heat generating is independently operable from the second heat generating portion.
Claims20
A heat generating member comprising:
- a base layer;
- a first heat generating portion on the base layer configured to generate heat;
- a plurality of second heat generating portions on the base layer electrically connected in parallel with the first heat generating portion and configured to generate heat;
- and
- a plurality of third heat generating portions on the base layer electrically connected in parallel with the first heat generating portion and configured to generate heat, wherein
- each of the plurality of second heat generating portions and the plurality of third heat generating portions is electrically connected in series.
A fixing device comprising:
- a roller;
- an endless belt having a portion facing the roller;
- and
- a heat generating member disposed such that the portion of the endless belt is between the heat generating member and the roller, the heat generating member comprising:
- a base layer;
- a first heat generating portion on the base layer configured to generate heat;
- a plurality of second heat generating portions on the base layer electrically connected in parallel with the first heat generating portion and configured to generate heat;
- and
- a plurality of third heat generating portions on the base layer electrically connected in parallel with the first heat generating portion and configured to generate heat, wherein
- each of the plurality of second heat generating portions and the plurality of third heat generating portions is electrically connected in series.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet;
- a roller configured to convey the sheet;
- an endless belt having a portion facing the roller;
- and
- a heat generating member disposed such that the portion of the endless belt is between the heat generating member and the roller, the heat generating member comprising:
- a base layer;
- a first heat generating portion on the base layer configured to generate heat;
- a plurality of second heat generating portions on the base layer electrically connected in parallel with the first heat generating portion and configured to generate heat;
- and
- a plurality of third heat generating portions on the base layer electrically connected in parallel with the first heat generating portion and configured to generate heat, wherein
- each of the plurality of second heat generating portions and the plurality of third heat generating portions is electrically connected in series.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.