| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20110150544 | Fixing Device Provided with Temperature Sensor - There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes: a tubular flexible member having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space; a nip member disposed in the internal space and having one surface, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the one surface; a heater disposed in the internal space: a reflection plate configured to reflect a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member; a backup member providing a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member; and a temperature sensor disposed in the internal space to detect a temperature of the reflection plate. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110158715 | Fixing Device - A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes a tubular flexible fusing member, a nip plate, a heater, a reflection plate, and a backup member. The tubular flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an axis defining an axial direction. The nip plate is disposed in the internal space, and the inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip plate. A heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip plate in a confronting direction. The heater includes a glass tube, a heat source provided in the glass tube, and a gas sealed in the glass tube. The glass tube includes a glass tube body and a tip portion protruding radially outwardly from the glass tube body for sealing the gas in the glass tube body. The tip portion protrudes in a predetermined direction to define a cross-sectional length of the glass tube in the confronting direction greater than a cross-sectional length of the glass tube in a perpendicular direction extending perpendicular to the confronting direction and the axial direction, and the cross-section includes the tip portion. The reflection plate is configured to reflect a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip plate. A backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip plate for nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip plate. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110158716 | Fixing Device - In a fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, a nip plate is disposed on an inner surface of a tubular flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable in such a manner that permits the fusing member to slide along the nip plate, and configured to be heated by a heating element disposed inside the fusing member. The fusing member is nipped between the nip plate and a backup member to form a nip portion between the fusing member and the backup member. The nip plate is bent to form a recessed portion which opens on the inner surface of the fusing member and holds a lubricant. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110158717 | Fixing Device - A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction includes a tubular flexible fusing member, a nip plate, a heater, a reflection plate, and a backup member. The tubular flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an axis defining an axial direction. The nip plate is disposed in the internal space, and the inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip plate. A heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip plate in a confronting direction. The heater includes a glass tube, a heat source provided in the glass tube, and a gas sealed in the glass tube. The glass tube includes a glass tube body and a tip portion protruding radially outwardly from the glass tube body for sealing the gas in the glass tube body. The tip portion protrudes in a predetermined direction to define a cross-sectional length of the glass tube in the confronting direction smaller than a cross-sectional length of the glass tube in a perpendicular direction extending perpendicular to the confronting direction and the axial direction, and the cross-section includes the tip portion. The reflection plate is configured to reflect a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip plate. A backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip plate for nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip plate. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110158719 | Fixing Device Provided with Temperature Sensor - There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member, a reflection plate, a backup member, a stay and a temperature sensor. The flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member. The reflection plate is configured to reflect the radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member, the reflection plate having an outer profile. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member. The stay covers the reflection plate and supports the nip member, the stay having a profile in conformance with the outer profile of the reflection plate, and the stay being formed with one of a through-hole and a notch. The temperature sensor is disposed in the internal space and extends through the one of the through-hole and the notch. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110164906 | Fixing Device - A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction includes: a tubular flexible member; a nip member; a heater; a reflection member; a backup member; and a temperature sensor. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and has one surface and opposite surface. The inner peripheral surface is in contact with the one surface. The heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip member in a confronting direction. The reflection member is configured to reflect a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member. The temperature sensor is disposed in the internal space and is configured to detect a temperature of the nip member. The temperature sensor is positioned outside of the reflection member and in confrontation with the opposite surface. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110170920 | Fixing Device - A fixing device includes a tubular fusing film, a heater, a nip member, a backup member, a backup member, first supporting member, and a second supporting member. The heater may be disposed inside the tubular shape of the fusing film. The nip member may be disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the fusing film and heated by the heater. The backup member may form a nip portion between the backup member and the fusing film with the fusing film between the backup member and the nip member. The first supporting member may be configured to integrally support the heater and the nip member. The second supporting member may be configured to movably support the first supporting member so that the nip member moves relative to the backup member. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110206406 | Fixing Device with Grounded Fusing Film - There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member and a backup member. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed within the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed within the internal space and is configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member, and the nip member being electrically conductive and the tubular flexible member being grounded via the nip member. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110206409 | Image Forming Device - An image forming device includes: a heater; a nip member; a stay; a tubular flexible fusing member; a pair of frame members; a backup member; and a ventilator. The heater is configured to radiate radiant heat. The nip member is configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater. The stay has an inner surface confronting the heater and an outer surface in opposition to the inner surface. The stay is configured to cover the heater and to support the nip member. The tubular flexible fusing member has end portions in an axial direction and an inner peripheral surface. The fusing member is configured to surround the heater, the nip member and the stay. The pair of frame members is disposed at the end portions. One of the frame members is formed with an inlet opening. Remaining one of the frame members is formed with an outlet opening. The inlet opening and the outlet opening are in fluid communication with a space defined between the inner peripheral surface and the outer surface. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The ventilator is configured to allow an air to flow in the space in the axial direction from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. | 08-25-2011 |
