Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12422766-B2
Application number	US-202418638723-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2024
Priority date	Apr 27, 2023
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a heater, a pressure rotator, a nip formation pad, and a slide aid sheet. The fixing rotator is rotatable in a rotation direction. The heater heats the fixing rotator. The pressure rotator contacts an outer circumferential face of the fixing rotator. The nip formation pad is inside a loop of the fixing rotator to form a nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The slide aid sheet is on the nip formation pad and faces the fixing rotator. The slide aid sheet includes a carbon fiber extending in a width direction orthogonal to a rotation direction of the fixing rotator.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fixing device comprising:
a fixing rotator rotatable in a rotation direction;
a heater to heat the fixing rotator;
a pressure rotator contacting an outer circumferential face of the fixing rotator;
a nip formation pad inside a loop of the fixing rotator to form a nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator; and
a slide aid sheet, fixed on the nip formation pad, facing the fixing rotator,
the slide aid sheet including a carbon fiber extending in a width direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the fixing rotator,
wherein the slide aid sheet includes:
a warp extending in the rotation direction of the fixing rotator; and
a weft extending in the width direction of the fixing rotator, and
only the weft includes the carbon fiber.

2. The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the warp is made of at least one of:
a heat-resistant resin; or
a glass fiber.

3. The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the carbon fiber includes at least one of:
an acrylic fiber carbon fiber; or
a pitch-based carbon fiber.

4. The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the carbon fiber includes a carbon nanotube.

5. The fixing device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the carbon nanotube has a two or more layer structure.

6. The fixing device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the carbon nanotube has a single layer structure.

7. The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the slide aid sheet holds at least one of:
silicone oil,
silicone grease, or
fluorine grease.

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

Assignees

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

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G03G15/2064

  combined with pressure · CPC title

• G03G15/2025 Primary

  with special means for lubricating and/or cleaning the fixing unit, e.g. applying offset preventing fluid · CPC title

• G03G15/2057

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

• G03G15/206

  Structural details or chemical composition of the pressure elements and layers thereof · CPC title

• G03G15/2028 Primary

  with means for handling the copy material in the fixing nip, e.g. introduction guides, stripping means · CPC title