Fixing device and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12353150-B2
Application number	US-202318510632-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2023
Priority date	Nov 24, 2022
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a heat source, and a reflecting member. The pressing member presses and contacts an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member. The heat source is disposed inside a loop of the fixing member. The reflecting member includes a reflecting portion, a pressure receiving portion, and an extending portion. The reflecting portion reflects heat toward an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member. The pressure receiving portion receives a pressing force of the pressing member via the fixing member. The extending portion extends from an area upstream to an area downstream from the nip portion in a direction of rotation of the fixing member and facing the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member. The reflecting member is in non-contact with one or more of members disposed inside the loop of the fixing member, at least when the fixing member rotates.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fixing device comprising:
a fixing belt that is rotatable;
a pressing roller to press and contact an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt to form a nip portion;
a heat source disposed inside a loop of the fixing belt; and
a reflector includes:
a reflecting portion to reflect heat, which is radiated from the heat source to at least a portion of the fixing belt, toward an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt;
a pressure receiving portion to receive a pressing force of the pressing roller via the fixing belt; and
an extending portion extending at least from an area upstream from the nip portion to an area downstream from the nip portion in a direction of rotation of the fixing belt and facing the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt,

the reflector to be in non-contact with one or more of structures disposed inside the loop of the fixing belt, at least when the fixing belt rotates,
wherein the reflector is disposed around and in non-contact with an outer periphery of a stay.

2. The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the member is in non-contact with the fixing belt at least when the fixing belt rotates.

3. The fixing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a slider having a higher slidability against the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt than a slidability of the pressure receiving portion against the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt,
wherein the pressure receiving portion abuts the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt via the slider.

4. The fixing device according to claim 3 , further comprising a nip forming structure disposed inside the loop of the fixing belt to form the nip portion,
wherein the nip forming structure includes a resin pad,
wherein the extending portion is sandwiched between the slider and the resin pad.

5. The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fixing device has a gap between the fixing belt and the reflector in a state where the reflector is heated by the heat source and a maximum deformation amount is generated in the reflector.

6. The fixing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a liquid or semi-solid volatile substance stored in the fixing device.

7. The fixing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a support rotatably supporting the fixing belt,
wherein the reflector is in non-contact with the support at least when the fixing belt rotates.

8. An image forming device comprising the fixing device according to claim 1 .

9. A fixing device comprising:
a fixing belt that is rotatable;
a pressing roller to press and contact an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt to form a nip portion;
a heat source disposed inside a loop of the fixing belt; and
a reflector includes:
a reflecting portion to reflect heat, which is radiated from the heat source to at least a portion of the fixing belt toward an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt;
a pressure receiving portion to receive a pressing force of the pressing roller via the fixing belt; and
an extending portion extending at least from an area upstream from the nip portion to an area downstream from the nip portion in a direction of rotation of

the fixing belt and facing the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt, the reflector to be in non-contact with one or more of structures disposed inside the loop of the fixing belt, at least when the fixing belt rotates,
wherein the extending portion is continuous and integrated with the pressure receiving portion.

10. A fixing device comprising:
a fixing belt that is rotatable;
a pressing roller to press and contact an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt to form a nip portion;
a heat source disposed inside a loop of the fixing belt; and
a reflector includes:
a reflecting portion to reflect heat, which is radiated from the heat source to at least a portion of the fixing belt r toward an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt;
a pressure receiving portion to receive a pressing force of the pressing roller via the fixing belt; and
an extending portion extending at least from an area upstream from the nip portion to an area downstream from the nip portion in a direction of rotation of

the fixing belt and facing the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt, the reflector to be in non-contact with one or more of structures disposed inside the loop of the fixing belt, at least when the fixing belt rotates,
wherein the one or more of the structures disposed inside the loop of the fixing belt is a stay that receives pressure from the pressing roller.

Assignees

• Yoshinaga Hiroshi
• Yamaguchi Yoshiki
• Seto Takashi
• Matsuda Ryohei
• SUGIYAMA Ryohhei
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoshinaga Hiroshi
• Yamaguchi Yoshiki
• Seto Takashi
• Matsuda Ryohei
• SUGIYAMA Ryohhei

Classifications

• G03G15/2064

  combined with pressure · CPC title

• G03G2215/2029

  the belt further entrained around one or more stationary belt support members, the latter not being a cooling device · CPC title

• G03G15/2053 Primary

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