公开(公告)号：US20230244169A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-03

申请号：US18162888

申请日：2023-02-01

Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.

Inventor： Masakazu Uehara ,  Hironori Takahashi ,  Tomohiro Watatani ,  Shota Onishi ,  Yuhiro Sakai

IPC: G03G15/20 ,  G03G21/16

CPC classification number: G03G15/2064 ,  G03G21/1647 ,  G03G21/1685

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device including: a fixing belt; a pressure roller which pressurizes toner on a sheet that passes through a pressure area; a pair of retention members each including a shaft-supporting portion which rotatably guides one of both end portions of the fixing belt in an axial direction, and a restriction surface which restricts a movement of the fixing belt in the axial direction; and a frame including a pair of side plates which rotatably support both end portions of the pressure roller in the axial direction as well as support the fixing belt via the pair of retention members, in which attachment positions of the pair of retention members in the pair of side plates are provided such that a gap becomes larger on a downstream side of a passing direction of the sheet with respect to the pressure area than on an upstream side.

公开(公告)号：US12181821B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-31

申请号：US18343451

申请日：2023-06-28

Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.

Inventor： Yuhiro Sakai ,  Masakazu Uehara ,  Hironori Takahashi ,  Tomohiro Watatani ,  Shota Onishi

IPC: G03G15/20

Abstract: A fixing device according to the present disclosure includes a rotatable endless belt and an end portion holder. The end portion holder supports each of end portions of the fixing belt rotatably, and has a cylindrical part along which an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt slides and an end wall part which faces an end surface of the fixing belt. The end wall part has a restraint part which faces an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt with a predetermined interval and restrains the fixing belt from turning up.

公开(公告)号：US11630406B2

公开(公告)日：2023-04-18

申请号：US17488993

申请日：2021-09-29

Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.

Inventor： Shota Onishi

IPC: G03G15/20

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating roller, a pressing roller, a heating part, a heat insulating member and a bearing. The pressing roller holds a sheet with the heating roller. The heating part heats the heating roller. The heat insulating member is fitted on an end portion in an axial direction of the heating roller, has a heat-resistance to heat applied from the heating roller and has an inclined shape in which an outer diameter becomes small toward an inside in the axial direction of the heating roller. The bearing supports the heating roller through the heat insulating member.

公开(公告)号：US10126699B2

公开(公告)日：2018-11-13

申请号：US15619184

申请日：2017-06-09

Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.

Inventor： Shota Onishi

IPC: G03G15/00

Abstract: A photosensitive drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a drum shaft, a resin frame, and a conducting member. The drum shaft is inserted through the photosensitive drum. The resin frame supports opposite ends of the drum shaft. The conducting member is a substantially coil-shaped spring member having a first end adjacent to the resin frame and a second end opposite to the first end. The conducting member is tapered from the first end toward the second end. The first end forms a first opening and the second end forms a second opening. A circle inscribed in the second opening has a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the drum shaft.

公开(公告)号：US12044990B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-23

申请号：US18191784

申请日：2023-03-28

Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.

Inventor： Tomohiro Watatani ,  Masakazu Uehara ,  Hironori Takahashi ,  Shota Onishi ,  Yuhiro Sakai ,  Takuya Kawasumi

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2025 ,  G03G15/2064

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressure member, and a holder. The pressure member forms a pressure area between the pressure member and a fixing belt. The holder is provided inside the fixing belt, has a sliding surface in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt via a lubricant, and holds a heater for heating the fixing belt. The holder includes a plurality of slits and a blocking portion. The plurality of slits are arranged in an axial direction on the sliding surface upstream of the pressure area in a passing direction of a medium and guide movement of the lubricant from upstream to downstream in a rotational direction of the fixing belt. The blocking portion restricts an outflow of the lubricant from each of the slits and restricts a fall of the fixing belt into each of the slits.

公开(公告)号：US20230314987A1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-05

申请号：US18191784

申请日：2023-03-28

Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.

Inventor： Tomohiro Watatani ,  Masakazu Uehara ,  Hironori Takahashi ,  Shota Onishi ,  Yuhiro Sakai ,  Takuya Kawasumi

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2025 ,  G03G15/2064

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressure member, and a holder. The pressure member forms a pressure area between the pressure member and a fixing belt. The holder is provided inside the fixing belt, has a sliding surface in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt via a lubricant, and holds a heater for heating the fixing belt. The holder includes a plurality of slits and a blocking portion. The plurality of slits are arranged in an axial direction on the sliding surface upstream of the pressure area in a passing direction of a medium and guide movement of the lubricant from upstream to downstream in a rotational direction of the fixing belt. The blocking portion restricts an outflow of the lubricant from each of the slits and restricts a fall of the fixing belt into each of the slits.

公开(公告)号：US11460805B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-04

申请号：US17423079

申请日：2019-12-11

Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.

Inventor： Shota Onishi

IPC: G03G21/00 ,  G03G21/20 ,  G03G15/00

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a discharge roller pair, a cooling fan, a detection portion, and a cooling fan control unit. The discharge roller pair discharges a sheet on which a toner image has been fixed in the fixing device to a discharge tray via a discharge port. The cooling fan cools the sheet discharged on the discharge tray by blowing air thereto. The detection portion detects a rear end of the sheet being conveyed from the fixing device toward the discharge port. The cooling fan control unit performs control so that, within a prescribed period from a point in time of detection of the rear end of the sheet by the detection portion to when the rear end passes through the discharge roller pair, a rotation speed of the cooling fan is reduced to be lower than a reference speed used to cool the sheet.

公开(公告)号：US12050422B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-30

申请号：US18162888

申请日：2023-02-01

Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.

Inventor： Masakazu Uehara ,  Hironori Takahashi ,  Tomohiro Watatani ,  Shota Onishi ,  Yuhiro Sakai

IPC: G03G15/20 ,  G03G21/16

CPC classification number: G03G15/2064 ,  G03G21/1647 ,  G03G21/1685

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device including: a fixing belt; a pressure roller which pressurizes toner on a sheet that passes through a pressure area; a pair of retention members each including a shaft-supporting portion which rotatably guides one of both end portions of the fixing belt in an axial direction, and a restriction surface which restricts a movement of the fixing belt in the axial direction; and a frame including a pair of side plates which rotatably support both end portions of the pressure roller in the axial direction as well as support the fixing belt via the pair of retention members, in which attachment positions of the pair of retention members in the pair of side plates are provided such that a gap becomes larger on a downstream side of a passing direction of the sheet with respect to the pressure area than on an upstream side.

公开(公告)号：US20230244168A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-03

申请号：US18159588

申请日：2023-01-25

Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.

Inventor： Hironori Takahashi ,  Masakazu Uehara ,  Tomohiro Watatani ,  Shota Onishi ,  Yuhiro Sakai

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2064

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, and a pair of retention members each including a restriction surface. The restriction surface restricts a movement of the fixing member in an axial direction. The restriction surface includes a first contact area and a second contact area. The first area is an area more on a downstream side of a passing direction of a medium than a center of a pressure area in the passing direction, and also closer to the pressure area than an apex of the fixing member on an opposite side of the pressure area. The first contact area and the second contact area are each tilted at a certain gradient so as to be set apart from the end portion of the fixing member in the axial direction from a side of the apex toward a side of the pressure area.

公开(公告)号：US20220373960A1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-24

申请号：US17662913

申请日：2022-05-11

Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.

Inventor： Shota Onishi

IPC: G03G21/16

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a printing device, a sheet conveyance path, a protective cover, a swing member, and a biasing member. The sheet conveyance path includes an upper guide portion and a lower guide portion. The swing member is supported inside a main body and can swing upward from a standard position. The biasing member biases the swing member to the standard position. The swing member includes the upper guide portion. The protective cover includes the lower guide portion and a contact portion. The contact portion pushes the swing member upward when the protective cover pivots in an outward position from a closed position. The protective cover can pivot from the closed position to an open position as the contact portion pushes the swing member upward.