# US 2022/0035286 A1 · Heating device and image processing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0035286 A1 - Document ID: US20220035286A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/319,358 - Filed: 2021-05-13 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-03 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Ryota SAEKI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220035286A1 ## 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 15/2064: {combined with pressure} - G03G 2215/2035: the fixing nip having a stationary belt support member opposing a pressure member - G03G 2215/2038: the belt further entrained around one or more rotating belt support members - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A heating device includes a cylindrical film a heater disposed inside the cylindrical film on an inner surface of the cylindrical film. The heater has a plurality of heating elements on a first surface that are spaced from each other at intervals along an axial direction. A heat transfer member contacts a second surface of the heater. The heat transfer member is arranged such that, in a first region of the heater that includes just a single one of the heating elements, contact between the heater and heat transfer member is greater than in a second region of the heater that includes an interval between a pair of adjacent heating elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heating device, comprising: a cylindrical film; a heater disposed inside a region surrounded by the cylindrical film and contacting an inner surface of the cylindrical film, the heater having a plurality of heating elements on a first surface, the heating elements spaced from each other at intervals along the axial direction of the cylindrical film; and a heat transfer member contacting a second surface of the heater opposite the first surface, wherein in a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction through a first region of the heater including just a single one of the heating elements, the heat transfer member contacts the second surface for a first length in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and in a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction through a second region of the heater including an interval between a pair of adjacent heating elements, the heat transfer member contacts the second surface for a second length in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and the second length is less than the first length. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent pair of heating elements overlap each other in part when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the axial direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer member has a recess that is adjacent to the second surface in the second region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer member has a plurality of recesses that are adjacent to the second surface in the second region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer member has a recess that is adjacent to the second surface in the second region, and the recess extends in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction to an outer edge of the heat transfer member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The heating device according to claim 5, wherein the recess has a semicircular portion in a plane parallel to the second surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The heating device according to claim 5, wherein the recess has a triangular portion in a plane parallel to the second surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The heating device according to claim 5, wherein the recess is rectangular in a plane parallel to the second surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer member has a recess that is adjacent to the second surface in the second region, and the recess is in an interior region of the heat transfer member surrounded by the heat transfer members in all directions within a plane that is parallel to the second surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The heating device according to claim 9, wherein the recess is circular in the plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The heating device according to claim 9, wherein the recess is rectangular in the plane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, further comprising: a penetrating portion that penetrates through the heat transfer member in the second region and is at the second surface of heater, wherein the penetrating portion has a thermal conductivity that is less than that of the heat transfer member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer member is metal. ### Claim 14 A fixing device, comprising: a fixing belt configured to rotate about an axis; a heater disposed inside a region surrounded by the fixing belt and contacting an inner surface of the fixing belt, the heater having a plurality of heating elements on a first side, the heating elements spaced from each other at intervals along an axial direction of the fixing belt; and a heat transfer member contacting a second side of the heater opposite the first side, wherein a contact area ratio between the heater and the heat transfer member within a first region of the heater including a single heating element is less than a contact area ratio between the heater and the heat transfer member within a second region of the heater including an interval between a pair of adjacent heating elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fixing device according to claim 14, wherein the adjacent pair of heating elements overlap each other in part when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The fixing device according to claim 14, wherein the heat transfer member has a recess in a position corresponding to the second region of the heater. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The fixing device according to claim 14, further comprising: a projection portion extending through the heat transfer member in a position correspond to the second region of the heater, wherein the projection portion has a thermal conductivity that is lower than that of the heat transfer member. ### Claim 18 An image processing apparatus, comprising: a heating device configured to heat a sheet, the heating device including: a cylindrical film; a heater disposed inside a region surrounded by the cylindrical film and contacting an inner surface of the cylindrical film, the heater having a plurality of heating elements on a first surface, the heating elements spaced from each other at intervals along the axial direction of the cylindrical film; and a heat transfer member contacting a second surface of the heater opposite the first surface, wherein in a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction through a first region of the heater including just a single one of the heating elements, the heat transfer member contacts the second surface for a first length in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and in a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction through a second region of the heater including an interval between a pair of adjacent heating elements, the heat transfer member contacts the second surface for a second length in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and the second length is less than the first length. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the heat transfer member has a recess that is adjacent to the second surface in the second region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising: a penetrating portion that penetrates through the heat transfer member in the second region and is at the second surface of heater, wherein the penetrating portion has a thermal conductivity that is less than that of the heat transfer member.