Back to results
US 8,428,499 B2Granted
Image forming apparatus, and fixing apparatus having a heating member to heat a fixing member
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorAkira Shinshi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fixing apparatus includes a flexible endless fixing member that moves in a predetermined direction for heating and melting a toner image, a heating member that is fixed to the fixing member in a position facing at least a part of an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member for heating the fixing member, and a pressing member that provides a nipping part by pressing into contact with the fixing member for conveying a recording medium. The heating member includes a metal plate subjected to a bending process.
Claims21
A fixing apparatus comprising:
- a flexible endless fixing member to move in a predetermined direction for heating and melting a toner image;
- a heating member, that includes a substantially round cross section;
- and
- a pressing member to provide a nipping part by pressing into contact with the fixing member for conveying a recording medium,
- wherein the heating member is made of metal and has a recessed part at the nipping part,
- wherein the heating member is in a position to perform sliding contact at least at a part of an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member and to transfer heat to the fixing member except the nipping part,
- wherein the heating member includes end parts that are bonded together after a bending process, and
- wherein the heating member is separated from the fixing member at a part of the bonded end parts.
5 more elements
A heating member comprising:
- a metal member, including a substantially round cross section, configured to be in a position to perform sliding contact at an inner peripheral surface of a fixing member and to transfer heat to the fixing member except a nipping part,
- wherein the metal member has a recessed part in an outer peripheral surface of the metal member,
- wherein the metal member includes end parts that are bonded together after the bending process, and
- wherein the metal member is separated from the fixing member at a part of the bonded end parts.
1 more element
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a flexible endless fixing member to move in a predetermined direction;
- a pressing member that is in contact with the flexible endless fixing member and forms a nipping part with the flexible endless fixing member;
- a metal heating member to be in a position to perform sliding contact and to transfer heat to at least a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member except the nipping part, the heating member having a recessed part at the nipping part;
- and
- a contacting member, disposed in the recessed part, the contacting member being in contact with the pressing member via the flexible endless fixing member at the nipping part,
- wherein the heating member includes end parts that are bonded together after the bending process, and
- wherein the heating member is separated from the fixing member at a part of the bonded end parts.
4 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a flexible endless fixing member to move in a predetermined direction;
- a pressing member that is in contact with the flexible endless fixing member and forms a nipping part with the flexible endless fixing member;
- a metal heating member to be in a position to perform sliding contact and to transfer heat to at least a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the flexible endless fixing member except the nipping part;
- a contacting member, disposed inside the flexible endless fixing member, the contacting member being in contact with the pressing member via the flexible endless fixing member at the nipping part;
- wherein the contacting member includes a mesh sheet material woven with fluorine fiber, the mesh sheet material is configured to perform sliding contact at the inner peripheral surface of the flexible endless fixing member and at the nipping part, the mesh sheet material includes fibers in which one of the fibers are oriented in the predetermined direction of the flexible endless fixing member,
- wherein the heating member includes end parts that are bonded together after the bending process, and
- wherein the heating member is separated from the fixing member at a part of the bonded end parts.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.