# US 9,517,888 B2 · Endless belt and image heating apparatus including the endless belt > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,888 B2 - Document ID: US9517888B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/263,060 - Filed: 2014-04-28 - Published: 2014-10-30 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-30 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Koji Takematsu; Tomohiko Yoshimura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517888B2 ## CPC - B65G 15/60: Arrangements for supporting or guiding belts, e.g. by fluid jets - G03G 15/2053: {Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating} - G03G 2215/2035: the fixing nip having a stationary belt support member opposing a pressure member - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An endless belt for heating an image on a sheet includes a resistance layer for generating heat by the supply of electric power; a first ring member provided in a widthwise end side of the endless belt so as to be electrically connected with the resistance layer; a second ring member, one of the first and second ring members being fitted around the other with the resistance layer sandwiched therebetween; and a fixing member configured to fix the first and second ring members to each other so that the first and second ring members are rotated integrally with the resistance layer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endless belt unit for heating an image on a sheet, comprising: an electrode layer provided in a widthwise end side of said endless belt; a resistance layer provided so as to electrically connect with said electrode layer and configured to generate heat by the supply of electric power through said electrode layer; a first ring assembled in a widthwise end side of said endless belt and configured to electrically connect with said electrode layer; a second ring assembled so as to oppose said first ring through said electrode layer; and a fixing member configured to fix said first and second rings to each other so that said first and second rings are rotated integrally with said electrode layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An endless belt unit according to claim 1, wherein said fixing member includes a screw penetrating said electrode layer in a sandwiched state between said first and second rings. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An endless belt unit according to claim 1, wherein said fixing member includes a ring holding member configured to hold and fix said first and second rings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An endless belt unit according to claim 3, wherein said ring holding member is provided with a tapered portion configured to fix said first and second rings. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An endless belt unit according to claim 1, wherein said first ring is disposed in close contact with said electrode layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An endless belt unit according to claim 1, wherein said first ring is formed of metal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An endless belt unit according to claim 6, wherein said first ring is formed of copper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An endless belt unit according to claim 1, wherein said second ring is provided with a slit at a part thereof with respect to a circumferential direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An endless belt unit according to claim 1, wherein said first ring is disposed at an outer surface side of said endless belt, and said second ring is disposed at an inner surface side of said endless belt. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An endless belt unit according to claim 1, further comprising a parting layer, provided on said resistance layer, configured to contact the sheet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An endless belt unit according to claim 10, further comprising an elastic layer provided between said resistance layer and said parting layer. ### Claim 12 An endless belt unit for heating an image on a sheet, comprising: an electrode layer provided in a widthwise end side of said endless belt; a resistance layer provided so as to electrically connect with said electrode layer and configured to generate heat by the supply of electric power through said electrode layer; a ring assembled in a widthwise end of said endless belt, said ring being provided with a bottom and a hollow portion into which the widthwise end of said endless belt is inserted so as to be electrically connected with said electrode layer; and a fixing member configured to fix said ring so that said ring is rotated integrally with said electrode layer. ### Claim 13 An endless belt unit for heating an image on a sheet, comprising: a first electrode layer provided in one widthwise end side of said endless belt; a second electrode layer provided in the other widthwise end side of said endless belt; a resistance layer provided so as to electrically connect with said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer and configured to generate heat by the supply of electric power through said first electrode layer; a first ring assembled in the one widthwise end side of said endless belt and configured to electrically connect with said first electrode layer; a second ring assembled so as to oppose said first ring through said first electrode layer; a first fixing member configured to fix said first and second rings to each other so that said first and second rings are rotated integrally with said first electrode layer; a third ring assembled in the other widthwise end side of said endless belt and configured to electrically connect with said second electrode layer; a fourth ring assembled so as to oppose said third ring through said second electrode layer; and a second fixing member configured to fix said third and fourth rings to each other so that said third and fourth rings are rotated integrally with said second electrode layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An endless belt unit according to claim 13, wherein said first fixing member includes a screw penetrating said first electrode layer in a sandwiched state between said first and second rings, and said second fixing member includes a second screw penetrating said second electrode layer in a sandwiched state between said third and fourth rings. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) An endless belt unit according to claim 13, wherein said first fixing member includes a first ring holding member configured to hold and fix said first and second rings, and said second fixing member includes a second ring holding member configured to hold and fix said third and fourth rings. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An endless belt unit according to claim 15, wherein said first ring holding member is provided with a tapered portion configured to fix said first and second rings, and said second ring holding member is provided with a tapered portion configured to fix said third and fourth rings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) An endless belt unit according to claim 13, wherein said first ring is disposed in close contact with said first electrode layer, and said third ring is disposed in close contact with said second electrode layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) An endless belt unit according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and third rings is formed of metal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An endless belt unit according to claim 18, wherein each of said first and third rings is formed of copper. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) An endless belt unit according to claim 13, wherein each of said second and fourth rings is provided with a slit at a part thereof with respect to a circumferential direction. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) An endless belt unit according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and third rings is disposed at an outer surface side of said endless belt, and each of said second and fourth rings is disposed at an inner surface side of said endless belt. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) An endless belt unit according to claim 13, further comprising a parting layer, provided on said resistance layer, configured to contact the sheet. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) An endless belt unit according to claim 22, further comprising an elastic layer provided between said resistance layer and said parting layer. ### Claim 24 An endless belt unit for heating an image on a sheet, comprising: a first electrode layer provided in one widthwise end side of said endless belt; a second electrode layer provided in the other widthwise end side of said endless belt; a resistance layer provided so as to electrically connect with said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer and configured to generate heat by the supply of electric power through said first electrode layer; a first ring assembled in the widthwise end of said endless belt, said first ring being provided with a bottom and a hollow portion into which the one widthwise end of said endless belt is inserted so as to be electrically connected with said first electrode layer; a first fixing member configured to fix said first ring so that said first ring is rotated integrally with said first electrode layer; a second ring assembled in the other widthwise end of said endless belt, said second ring being provided with a bottom and a hollow portion into which the other widthwise end of said endless belt is inserted so as to be electrically connected with said second electrode layer; and a second fixing member configured to fix said second ring so that said second ring is rotated integrally with said second electrode layer. ### Claim 25 An image heating apparatus comprising: (i) an endless belt configured to heat an image on a sheet at a nip, said endless belt including: (i-i) a first electrode layer provided in one widthwise end side of said endless belt; (i-ii) a second electrode layer provided in the other widthwise end side of said endless belt; (i-iii) a resistance layer provided so as to electrically connect with said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer and configured to heat by the supply of electric power through said first electrode layer; (i-iv) a first ring assembled in a widthwise end side of said endless belt and configured to electrically connect with said first electrode layer; (i-v) a second ring assembled so as to oppose-said first ring through said first electrode layer; (i-vi) a first fixing member configured to fix said first and second rings to each other so that said first and second rings are rotated integrally with said first electrode layer; (i-vii) a third ring assembled in the other widthwise end side of said endless belt so as to be electrically connected with said second electrode layer; (i-viii) a fourth ring assembled so as to oppose said third ring through said second electrode layer; (i-ix) a second fixing member configured to fix said third and fourth rings to each other so that said third and fourth rings are rotated integrally with said second electrode layer; (ii) a first slidable member, provided slidably with said first ring, configured to effect electric power supply to said resistance layer via said first electrode layer; (iii) a second slidable member, provided slidably with said third ring, configured to form an electric power supply path, via said resistance layer, between said first and second slidable members; and (iv) a rotatable driving member configured to form the nip in cooperation with said endless belt and configured to rotationally drive said endless belt. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said first fixing member includes a screw penetrating said first electrode layer in a sandwiched state between said first and second rings, and said second fixing member includes a second screw penetrating said second electrode layer in a sandwiched state between said third and fourth rings. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said first fixing member includes a first ring holding member configured to hold and fix said first and second rings, and said second fixing member includes a second ring holding member configured to hold and fix said third and fourth rings. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) An image heating apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said first ring holding member is provided with a tapered portion configured to fix said first and second rings, and said second ring holding member is provided with a tapered portion configured to fix said third and fourth rings. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said first ring is disposed in close contact with said first electrode layer, and said third ring is disposed in close contact with said second electrode layer. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein each of said first and third rings is formed of metal. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) An image heating apparatus according to claim 30, wherein each of said first and third rings is formed of copper. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein each of said second and fourth rings is provided with a slit at a part thereof with respect to a circumferential direction. ### Claim 33 (depends on 25) An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein each of said first and third rings is disposed at an outer surface side of said endless belt, and each of said second and fourth rings is disposed at an inner surface side of said endless belt. ### Claim 34 (depends on 25) An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising: a first limiting member, provided opposed to said endless belt with respect to the one widthwise end side of said endless belt, configured to limit movement of said endless belt toward the one widthwise end side; and a second limiting member, provided opposed to said endless belt with respect to the other widthwise end side of said endless belt, configured to limit movement of said endless belt toward the other widthwise end side, wherein said first limiting member is configured to abut against said first ring, and said second limiting member is configured to abut against said third ring. ### Claim 35 (depends on 25) An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a parting layer, provided on said resistance layer, configured to contact the sheet. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) An image heating apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising an elastic layer provided between said resistance layer and said parting layer. ### Claim 37 An image heating apparatus comprising: (i) an endless belt configured to heat an image on a sheet at a nip, said endless belt including: (i-i) a first electrode layer provided in one widthwise end side of said endless belt; (i-ii) a second electrode layer provided in the other widthwise end side of said endless belt; (i-iii) a resistance layer provided so as to electrically connect with said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer and configured to generate heat by the supply of electric power through said first electrode layer; (i-iv) a first ring assembled in the widthwise end of said endless belt, said first ring being provided with a bottom and a hollow portion into which the one widthwise end of said endless belt is inserted so as to be electrically connected with said first electrode layer; (i-v) a first fixing member configured to fix said first ring so that said first ring is rotated integrally with said first electrode layer; (i-vi) a second ring assembled in the other widthwise end of said endless belt, said first ring being provided with a bottom and a hollow portion into which the other widthwise end side of said endless belt is inserted so as to be electrically connected with said second electrode layer; (i-vii) a second fixing member configured to fix said second ring so that said second ring is rotated integrally with said second electrode layer; (ii) a first slidable member, provided slidably with said first ring, configured to effect electric power supply to said resistance layer via said first electrode layer; (iii) a second slidable member, provided slidably with said second ring, configured to form an electric power supply path, via said resistance layer, between said first and second slidable members; and (iv) a rotatable driving member configured to form the nip in cooperation with said endless belt and configured to rotationally drive said endless belt.