| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090123202 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A pressure releasing lever is operated to switch the position of a locking member between a pressure exertion position and a pressure release position. In the pressure exertion position a pressure exerting roller exerts pressure against another roller via a pressure exerting lever and in the pressure release position the pressure exerting roller separates from the roller. An elastic member pulls the locking member and a second end of the pressure exerting lever in a locking direction. A core end of the pressure exerting roller is rotatably supported by a shaft bearing. The pressure exerting lever engages with the shaft bearing. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090148204 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING THE SAME - A fixing device and image-forming apparatus, which provide required glossiness and paper adaptability, and, in addition, feature good operability and excellent durability while achieving optimal pressure-applying force for a variety of requirements, having: a pressure-applying lever; a pressure-releasing lever; a locking member, the one end of which is rotationally attached to the pressure-releasing lever; and an elastic member, which pulls the locking member in a locking direction. The configuration is such that the rotation of the pressure-releasing lever displaces the location of the locking member, thereby enabling switching between a pressure-applying position, in which a fixing member presses against another fixing member, and a pressure-releasing position, in which the one fixing member moves away from the other fixing member, and in the pressure-applying position, the pressure-applying lever and the locking member, which are fastened together at one end of the pressure-applying lever opposite a rotation central shaft, are pulled in a locking direction by the elastic member, and the gripping pressure on a piece of paper is varied by the pair of fixing members. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20110200368 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device includes a contact member provided inside a fixing member and pressed against a pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing member through which a recording medium bearing atoner image passes. A sheet heat generator provided in the fixing member includes a flexible heat generation sheet contactable against the fixing member to heat the fixing member. A contact adjuster provided in the fixing member adjusts an area of contact of the heat generation sheet and the fixing member in the axial direction, supports the heat generation sheet at a first position at which the heat generation sheet contacts the fixing member, and bends a portion of the heat generation sheet at a second position to separate the heat generation sheet from the fixing member. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110211876 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a flexible, endless belt-shaped fixing member that rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation, a substantially cylindrical metal heat conductor provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and facing an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, a pressing member that presses the fixing member against the metal heat conductor to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes, and a separator that presses the fixing member against the metal heat conductor, provided downstream from the nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing member and contacting the recording medium discharged from the nip to separate the recording medium from the fixing member and guide the recording medium out of the fixing device. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110217056 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same - A fixing device includes a substantially cylindrical metal member, a heater, an endless, flexible fixing member, a rotary pressing member, a stationary member, a first temperature detector, and a second temperature detector. The first temperature detector is disposed upstream from a nip in a rotation direction of the fixing member to detect a surface temperature of the fixing member. The second temperature detector is disposed downstream from the nip in a rotation direction of the pressing member to detect a surface temperature of the pressing member. When a difference between a surface temperature of the fixing member detected by the first temperature detector and a surface temperature of the pressing member detected by the second temperature detector after a predetermined time has elapsed since the first temperature detector detects the surface temperature of the fixing member is greater than a predetermined threshold, the heater stops heating the metal member. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110217057 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same - A fixing device includes a heat conductive member; a flexible fixing belt looped around the heat conductive member, an inner circumference of the flexible fixing belt slidably contacting a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the heat conductive member; a rotary pressing member disposed opposing the heat conductive member; heat sources disposed in a circumferential direction of the fixing belt at a predetermined interval to heat the heat conductive member; and temperature detectors provided to detect a surface temperature of the fixing belt at a detection position at which heating intensity of a corresponding one of the heat sources is not affected by any other one. In operation, the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt contacts the heat conductive member at a position at which each temperature detector contacts the fixing belt as the detection position or a position proximal to the detection position of each temperature detector. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110217093 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing member formed into a loop inside which a nip formation member, a core holder, a heater support, and a laminated heater are provided, and a pressing member provided outside the loop formed by the fixing member. The pressing member is pressed against the nip formation member via the fixing member. The heater support is between the laminated heater and the nip formation member to support the laminated heater. The core holder is between the nip formation member and the heater support to support the nip formation member and the heater support. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110217095 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes an endless belt-shaped fixing member; a pressing member; a contact member provided inside the loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing member, a laminated heater facing an inner circumferential face of the fixing member to heat the fixing member, connected to an external power source, and including a heat generation sheet that includes a heat-resistant resin in which conductive particles to receive electricity from the external power source and generate heat are unevenly dispersed throughout the heat-resistant resin to have a dispersal gradient of increasing particle dispersion density from an inner face toward an outer face of the heat generation sheet; and a heater support to support the laminated heater along the inner circumferential face of the fixing member. | 09-08-2011 |
