# US 7,466,953 B2 · Fixing device and image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 7,466,953 B2
- Document ID: US7466953B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/724,302
- Filed: 2007-03-15
- Published: 2007-12-06
- Granted: 2008-12-16
- Earliest claimed: 2006-06-01
- Assignees: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Hiroshi Matsumoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7466953B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/206: {Structural details or chemical composition of the pressure elements and layers thereof}
- G03G 2215/2009: Pressure belt
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

In a fixing device which fixes toner image on a recording material while using a nipping section which is formed between a fixing roller heated by a heating section and a fixing belt which is formed to be endless and rotated by the fixing roller, wherein the fixing device includes a pressing section which presses the fixing belt from an inner surface of the fixing belt against the fixing roller, a sliding member which is mounted between the fixing belt and the pressing section via a lubricant, and a supporting member which supports the inner peripheral surface of an end section of the fixing belt with respect to an axial direction of the fixing belt, wherein a predetermined clearance is provided between the sliding member and the supporting member with respect to the axial direction of the fixing belt.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fixing device which fixes toner image on a recording material while using a nipping section which is formed between a fixing roller heated by a heating section and a fixing belt which is formed to be endless and rotated by the fixing roller, comprising:
a pressing section which presses the fixing belt from an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt against the fixing roller;
a sliding member which is mounted between the fixing belt and the pressing section via a lubricant; and
a supporting member which supports the inner peripheral surface of an end section of the fixing belt with respect to an axial direction of the fixing belt;
wherein a predetermined clearance is provided between the sliding member and the supporting member with respect to, the axial direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fixing device of claim 1, further comprising:
a lubricant supplying member which carries the lubricant and is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt,
wherein the predetermined clearance is provided between the lubricant supplying member and the supporting member with respect to each axial direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fixing device of claim 1, further comprising;
a guide member which supports the pressing section and guides the fixing belt through the sliding member,
wherein the predetermined clearance is provided between the guide member and the supporting member with respect to the axial direction of the fixing belt.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fixing device of claim 1, wherein
both ends of the fixing roller are located closer to a longitudinal center of the fixing roller than both ends of the fixing belt are to, with respect to the axial direction of the fixing belt.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fixing device of claim 1, wherein
the supporting member supports the inner peripheral surface at both end sections of the fixing belt.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus which includes a fixing device, wherein the fixing device of claim 1.