Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Fixing device and image forming apparatus with a mechanism to extend a life of a fixing belt
- Patent Title (中): 固定装置和成像装置具有延长定影带寿命的机构
-
Application No.: US13112344Application Date: 2011-05-20
-
Publication No.: US08639171B2Publication Date: 2014-01-28
- Inventor: Noboru Yonekawa , Mamoru Fukaya , Naoki Yamamoto , Toru Hayase
- Applicant: Noboru Yonekawa , Mamoru Fukaya , Naoki Yamamoto , Toru Hayase
- Applicant Address: JP Tokyo
- Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: JP Tokyo
- Agency: Morrison & Foerster LLP
- Priority: JP2010-127574 20100603
- Main IPC: G03G15/20
- IPC: G03G15/20

Abstract:
A fixing device for thermally fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording sheet by passing the recording sheet through a fixing nip. The fixing device has a heat-generating endless belt that includes: a resistive heat layer that generates heat upon receiving electric current; and a pair of electrode layers each disposed along a different one of widthwise edges of the heat-generating endless belt. The resistive heat layer has (i) reduced thickness portions each along a widthwise edge thereof and (ii) a middle portion between the reduced thickness portions. Each reduced thickness portion is thinner than the middle portion and connected to the middle portion with a wall surface upright in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the heat-generating endless belt to define a stair shape. Each electrode layer is disposed on the resistive heat layer to be in contact with a corresponding one of the wall surfaces.
Public/Granted literature
- US20110299902A1 FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS Public/Granted day:2011-12-08
Information query