公开(公告)号：US11782367B1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-10

申请号：US17895964

申请日：2022-08-25

Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Hiroshi Ota

IPC: G03G15/20 ,  G03G15/00

CPC classification number: G03G15/2039 ,  G03G15/2064 ,  G03G15/5004 ,  G03G2215/2038

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a fixer including a rotating body and a heating member to heat the rotating body. A temperature sensor is positioned to detect a temperature of the rotating body and output a temperature detection result. A heating control circuit is configured to estimate the temperature of the rotating body based on the temperature detection result, a power supply voltage value, an energization pulse setting for controlling the heating member, a heat capacity of the fixer, and a heat resistance of the fixer. The control circuit generates an energization pulse for controlling power supplied to the heating member based on the estimated temperature and the temperature detection result. A controller detects a variation in the heat capacity of the fixer device and supplies a correction amount for the heat capacity corresponding to the detected variation to the heating control circuit.

公开(公告)号：US20230297016A1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-21

申请号：US18184190

申请日：2023-03-15

Applicant: Yukimichi SOMEYA ,  Yuusuke FURUICHI ,  Tomoya ADACHI ,  Hiroyuki SHIMADA

Inventor： Yukimichi SOMEYA ,  Yuusuke FURUICHI ,  Tomoya ADACHI ,  Hiroyuki SHIMADA

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2057 ,  G03G15/2064 ,  G03G2215/2038

Abstract: A nip forming device includes an endless belt that is flexible and rotates. A nip formation pad is disposed opposite an inner circumferential face of the endless belt. A pressure rotator rotates and presses against the nip formation pad via the endless belt to form a nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator, through which a conveyed object is conveyed. A housing supports the pressure rotator. A separator is disposed downstream from the nip in a conveyance direction in which the conveyed object is conveyed. The separator separates the conveyed object from the endless belt. The separator moves toward and away from the endless belt. A restrictor restricts motion of the separator that moves toward the endless belt. The restrictor is mounted on the housing.

公开(公告)号：US20230273556A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-31

申请号：US18168492

申请日：2023-02-13

Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： YASUHARU TORATANI ,  AKIYOSHI SHINAGAWA ,  HIROSHI MIYAMOTO ,  DAIGO MATSUURA ,  HIROKI KAWAI ,  AYANO OGATA ,  ASUNA FUKAMACHI ,  MASANOBU TANAKA ,  MISA KAWASHIMA

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2053 ,  G03G15/2064 ,  G03G2215/2038

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt configured to heat a recording material, a pressure member configured to press the fixing belt, and a sliding member configured to be in sliding contact with an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt and being opposed to the pressure member. The pressure member and the fixing belt form a fixing nip portion, and heat and pressure are applied to the recording material at the fixing nip portion to fix a toner image onto the recording material. The sliding member includes a plurality of protrusions on a surface of the sliding member that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt. The following expressions are satisfied: The fixing belt satisfies the prescribed formula.

公开(公告)号：US20230251595A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-10

申请号：US18303100

申请日：2023-04-19

Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Ryota SAEKI

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2053 ,  G03G15/206 ,  G03G15/2064 ,  G03G2215/2038

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt formed of a tubular film, a heater configured to heat the fixing belt and including an insulating layer, a roller positioned such that the fixing belt extends between the roller the heater, and a heat conductor in contact with the heater. The heater is positioned such that the insulating layer of the heater extends between the fixing belt and the heat conductor to prevent the heat conductor from contacting the tubular film.

公开(公告)号：US20230251593A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-10

申请号：US18154141

申请日：2023-01-13

Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Inventor： TAKASHI UEHARA

IPC: G03G15/20 ,  G03G15/00

CPC classification number: G03G15/205 ,  G03G15/2064 ,  G03G15/5004 ,  G03G2215/2038

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a heating unit including a heating rotation member configured to heat a recording medium: a pressure rotation member which contacts the heating rotation member to form a nip portion to fix a toner image to the recording medium, a heat source configured to heat the heating rotation member, the heat source including a first heater and a second heater, and a control unit configured to control the first heater and the second heater, wherein the image forming unit is operable to transition to: a fixing state in which an operation to fix the toner image to the recording medium is performed by receiving a job; and a standby state, to wait for the job, in which an operation to fix the toner image to the recording medium is not performed.

公开(公告)号：US11703782B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-18

申请号：US17489821

申请日：2021-09-30

Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.

Inventor： Kiyoshi Koyanagi ,  Toko Hara ,  Toshiyuki Miyata ,  Kazuyoshi Itoh ,  Keitaro Mori ,  Motoharu Nakao ,  Sou Morizaki ,  Toru Inoue

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2053 ,  G03G15/2039 ,  G03G15/2064 ,  G03G2215/2038

Abstract: A fixing device includes a movable belt; and a planar heat-generating section that is in contact with the belt and in which, among plural heat-generating portions provided in a movement direction of the belt, a heat-generating portion on an upstream side in the movement direction of the belt has a larger heat generation amount than a heat-generating portion on a downstream side.

公开(公告)号：US11703781B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-18

申请号：US17407237

申请日：2021-08-20

Applicant: Naoki Iwaya

Inventor： Naoki Iwaya

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2053 ,  G03G15/2064 ,  G03G2215/2038

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a nip formation pad, a support, an opposing rotator, a heat source, a housing, an inlet guide, an airflow generator, and an airflow guide. The fixing belt fixes an unfixed image on a recording medium. The nip formation pad is disposed inside a loop of the fixing belt. The support supports the nip formation pad. The opposing rotator abuts on the nip formation pad via the fixing belt. The heat source heats the fixing belt. The housing has an inlet opening to receive the recording medium. The inlet guide is disposed at the inlet opening and guides the recording medium to the fixing nip. The airflow generator generates an airflow in the housing. The airflow guide guides the airflow toward the inlet opening to generate a flow of air in the inlet opening in a direction different from a conveyance direction.

公开(公告)号：US20230205121A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-29

申请号：US18178479

申请日：2023-03-03

Applicant: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha

Inventor： Toshihiro SONE

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2053 ,  G03G15/2064 ,  G03G2215/2038

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a heating device includes a cylindrical belt, a heater, a press roller, and a holder. The heater is disposed on an inner surface of the belt. The press roller rotates and is configured to contact an outer surface of the belt at a position opposite the heater to form a nip. The end portions of the press roller project by a first amount in a radial direction more than the central portion of the press roller. A holder has a first surface supporting the heater to face the cylindrical belt. The holder has a second surface that is opposite of the first surface with a center portion projecting in a direction orthogonal to the first surface more than the end portions of the second surface by a second projection amount that is greater than the first projection amount.

公开(公告)号：US20230205120A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-29

申请号：US18176687

申请日：2023-03-01

Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： JUN HARA ,  SATOSHI NISHIDA ,  TAKANORI MITANI

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2053 ,  G03G15/2064 ,  G03G2215/2038

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member, a nip member, a reflection member, and a support member. The support member configured to transit to a pressurized state and a non-pressurized state, the pressurized state being a state in which a first position and a second position of the support member are pressurized in a pressurization direction toward the second rotary member, the non-pressurized state being in which the pressurized state of the support member is released. The support member includes a contact surface in contact with the reflection member in the pressurized state. The contact surface takes such a posture that a center position between the first and second positions in the rotation axial direction is close to the second rotary member rather than the first and second positions in a case where the support member is in the non-pressurized state.

公开(公告)号：US11669032B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-06

申请号：US17516993

申请日：2021-11-02

Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Kazuhiro Doda ,  Tsuguhiro Yoshida ,  Kohei Wakatsu

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2053 ,  G03G15/2064 ,  G03G2215/2038

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including: a first rotary member; a second rotary member; a nip forming member; and a heater. The nip forming member includes: a first projection portion inside a nip area; and a second projection portion located outside the nip area. The first and second projection portion abut against the inner circumferential surface of the first rotary member. In a direction orthogonal to a nip tangent, a distance between a tip of the second projection portion and the nip tangent is larger than a distance between a tip of the first projection portion and the nip tangent. The second projection portion extends toward the second rotary member without exceeding the nip tangent. A radius of curvature at a tip portion of the second projection portion is smaller than a radius of an inner circumferential circle of the first rotary member.