Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same

An image forming apparatus for forming an image, comprising:

• an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof;
• a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member using toner to form a toner image;
• a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image on the image bearing member onto a recording medium;
• a fixing device, including:
• a fixing member provided in a width direction of the recording medium, configured to heat and fuse the toner image on the recording medium;
• a pressure member configured to press against the fixing member;
• a contact member provided inside the fixing member, configured to contact the pressure member through the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, the contact member includes a flat surface facing the pressure member;
• and
• a heater including a heating element, configured to heat the contact member,
• wherein the heating element of the heater is a moldable member including,
• a thin plate extending in a width direction of the fixing member and includes a flat surface that faces the contact member, and
• wherein a length of the flat surface of the heating element in a width direction of the recording medium is longer than a length of the nip portion in the width direction of the recording medium.

A fixing device, comprising:

• a fixing member provided in a width direction of a recording medium, configured to heat and fuse a toner image onto the recording medium;
• a pressure member configured to press against the fixing member;
• a contact member provided inside the fixing member, configured to contact the pressure member through the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, the contact member includes a flat surface facing the pressure member;
• and
• a heater including a heating element, configured to heat the contact member,
• wherein the heating element of the heater includes a moldable member having a thin plate extending in a width direction of the fixing member and includes a flat surface that faces the contact member,
• wherein an amount of radiant heat from one end of the heating element is larger than that from the other end, and
• wherein an electrical resistance of a material used for at least one end of the heating element in the longitudinal direction thereof is higher than that of the center thereof by adding an additive to the heating element.

A fixing device, comprising:

• a fixing member provided in a width direction of a recording medium, configured to heat and fuse a toner image onto the recording medium;
• a pressure member configured to press against the fixing member;
• a contact member provided inside the fixing member, configured to contact the pressure member through the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, the contact member includes a flat surface facing the pressure member;
• and
• a heater including a heating element, configured to heat the contact member,
• wherein the heating element of the heater includes a moldable member having a thin plate extending in a width direction of the fixing member and includes a flat surface that faces the contact member, and
• wherein the heater includes a sealing tube that encloses the heating element, and a surface of the sealing tube opposite the contact member is provided with a reflective member.

A fixing device, comprising:

• a fixing member provided in a width direction of a recording medium, configured to heat and fuse a toner image onto the recording medium;
• a pressure member configured to press against the fixing member;
• a contact member provided inside the fixing member, configured to contact the pressure member through the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, the contact member includes a flat surface facing the pressure member;
• and
• a heater including a heating element, configured to heat the contact member,
• wherein the heating element of the heater includes a moldable member having a thin plate extending in a width direction of the fixing member and includes a flat surface that faces the contact member, and
• wherein the contact member includes extending members extending toward the heating member at each side of the flat surface of the contact member.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image, comprising:

• an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof;
• a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member using toner to form a toner image;
• a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image on the image bearing member onto a recording medium;
• a fixing device, including:
• a fixing member provided in a width direction of the recording medium, configured to heat and fuse the toner image on the recording medium;
• a pressure member configured to press against the fixing member;
• a contact member provided inside the fixing member, configured to contact the pressure member through the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, the contact member includes a flat surface facing the pressure member;
• and
• a heater including a heating element, configured to heat the contact member,
• wherein the heating element of the heater is a moldable member having a thin plate extending in a width direction of the fixing member and includes a flat surface that faces the contact member,
• wherein an amount of radiant heat from one end of the heating element is larger than that from the other end, and
• wherein an electrical resistance of a material used for at least one end of the heating element in the longitudinal direction thereof is higher than that of the center thereof by adding an additive to the heating element.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image, comprising:

• an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof;
• a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member using toner to form a toner image;
• a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image on the image bearing member onto a recording medium;
• a fixing device, including:
• a fixing member provided in a width direction of the recording medium, configured to heat and fuse the toner image on the recording medium;
• a pressure member configured to press against the fixing member;
• a contact member provided inside the fixing member, configured to contact the pressure member through the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, the contact member includes a flat surface facing the pressure member;
• and
• a heater including a heating element, configured to heat the contact member,
• wherein the heating element of the heater is a moldable member having a thin plate extending in a width direction of the fixing member and includes a flat surface that faces the contact member, and
• wherein the heater includes a sealing tube that encloses the heating element, and a surface of the sealing tube opposite the contact member is provided with a reflective member.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image, comprising:

• an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof;
• a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member using toner to form a toner image;
• a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image on the image bearing member onto a recording medium;
• a fixing device, including:
• a fixing member provided in a width direction of the recording medium, configured to heat and fuse the toner image on the recording medium;
• a pressure member configured to press against the fixing member;
• a contact member provided inside the fixing member, configured to contact the pressure member through the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, the contact member includes a flat surface facing the pressure member;
• and
• a heater including a heating element, configured to heat the contact member,
• wherein the heating element of the heater is a moldable member having a thin plate extending in a width direction of the fixing member and includes a flat surface that faces the contact member, and
• wherein the contact member includes extending members extending toward the heating member at each side of the flat surface of the contact member.