Heater and fixing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10884367-B2
Application number	US-202016808255-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2020
Priority date	Jun 20, 2016
Publication date	Jan 5, 2021
Grant date	Jan 5, 2021

Abstract

There is provided a heater according to an embodiment including a heat generating unit configured to generate heat by electric conduction; and a plurality of electrodes configured to be respectively disposed at facing side edges of the heat generating unit so as to be electrically connected to the heat generating unit and at least one side of the side edges is formed by cutting out a part thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heater comprising:
a heat generating unit configured to generate heat by electric conduction; and
a plurality of electrodes on at least one of opposite facing sides of the heat generating unit and electrically connected to the heat generating unit,
wherein said at least one of opposite facing sides of the heat generating unit has groove portions, depths of which are different from each other.

2. The heater according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the groove portions is arranged corresponding to a space between a pair of two adjacent electrodes of the plurality of electrodes.

3. The heater according to claim 1 , wherein
one of the electrodes is a common electrode arranged on another of the opposite facing sides of the heat generating unit.

4. The heater according to claim 1 , wherein
the groove portions are formed corresponding to cutout portions of the electrodes formed by cutting out a part of the electrodes.

5. The heater according to claim 1 , wherein
a depth of the groove portions at an edge of the heat generating unit is shallower than a depth of the groove portions located at a center of the heat generating unit.

6. A fixing device comprising:
a rotary body;
a heat generating unit configured to generate heat by electric conduction and disposed at a position where heat is transmitted to the rotary body; and
a plurality of electrodes on at least one of opposite facing sides of the heat generating unit and electrically connected to the heat generating unit,
wherein said at least one of the opposite facing sides of the heat generating unit has groove portions, depths of which are different from each other.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein
each of the groove portions is arranged corresponding to a space between a pair of two adjacent electrodes of the plurality of electrodes.

8. The device according to claim 6 , wherein
one of the electrodes is a common electrode arranged on another of the opposite facing sides of the heat generating unit.

9. The device according to claim 6 , wherein
the groove portions are formed corresponding to cutout portions of the electrodes formed by cutting out a part of the electrodes.

10. The device according to claim 6 , wherein
a depth of the groove portions at an edge of the heat generating unit is shallower than a depth of the groove portions located at a center of the heat generating unit.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a photoconductive drum;
a charging device configured to charge a surface of the photoconductive drum;
a developing device configured to develop an image on the surface of the photoconductive drum; and
a fixing device configured to fix the image on a medium and including
a rotary body,
a heat generating unit configured to generate heat by electric conduction and disposed at a position where heat is transmitted to the rotary body, and
a plurality of electrodes on at least one of opposite facing sides of the heat generating unit and electrically connected to the heat generating unit,
wherein said at least one of the opposite facing sides of the heat generating unit has groove portions, depths of which are different from each other.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
each of the groove portions is arranged corresponding to a space between a pair of two adjacent electrodes of the plurality of electrodes.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
one of the electrodes is a common electrode arranged on another of the opposite facing sides of the heat generating unit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the groove portions are formed corresponding to cutout portions of the electrodes formed by cutting out a part of the electrodes.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
a depth of the groove portions at an edge of the heat generating unit is shallower than a depth of the groove portions located at a center of the heat generating unit.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk
• Toshiba Hokuto Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Takagi Osamu

Classifications

• G03G2215/2025

  the fixing nip having a rotating belt support member opposing a pressure member · CPC title

• G03G15/2042

  specially for the axial heat partition · CPC title

• G03G15/2057 Primary

  relating to the chemical composition of the heat element and layers thereof · CPC title

• G03G15/2053 Primary

  Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating · CPC title