Fixing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016349683-A1
Application number	US-201615150941-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 10, 2016
Priority date	May 27, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fixing apparatus including a rotary member in which a generatrix direction thereof is substantially parallel to a generatrix direction of a film, the rotary member being provided between the film and a cover member such that a gap is formed between the film and the rotary member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fixing apparatus that fixes an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material to the recording material, the fixing apparatus comprising:
a rotatable film; a pressure member that forms a fixing nip portion that pinches and conveys the recording material by being in contact with the film; and a cover member that surrounds the film, wherein the unfixed toner image formed on the recording material is fixed to the recording material at the fixing nip portion with heat from the film, and wherein the fixing apparatus further includes a rotary member in which a generatrix direction thereof is substantially parallel to a generatrix direction of the film, the rotary member being provided between the film and the cover member such that a gap is formed between the film and the rotary member.

2 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a restriction member that includes a surface that faces an end face of the film and that restricts movement of the film in the generatrix direction, the rotary member being held by the restriction member.

3 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the gap is in a range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

4 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein a gap that is at a middle of the rotary member in the generatrix direction is larger than a gap that is at an end portion of the rotary member in the generatrix direction.

5 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein a diameter of the rotary member becomes smaller from the middle to the end portion of the rotary member in the generatrix direction.

6 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein the rotary member is divided into a plurality of pieces in the generatrix direction.

7 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein a gap between the rotary member and the cover member is in a range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

8 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a heater that heats the film, wherein a length of the rotary member in the generatrix direction is longer than a heat generating area of the heater.

9 . A fixing apparatus that fixes an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material to the recording material, the fixing apparatus comprising:
a fixing roller; a rotatable heat member that is in contact with a surface of the fixing roller; a pressure member that forms a fixing nip portion that pinches and conveys the recording material by being in contact with the fixing roller; and a cover member that surrounds the fixing roller and the heat member, wherein the unfixed toner image formed on the recording material is fixed to the recording material at the fixing nip portion with heat from the heat member, and wherein the fixing apparatus further includes a rotary member in which a generatrix direction thereof is substantially parallel to a generatrix direction of the heat member, the rotary member being provided between the heat member and the cover member such that a gap is formed between the heat member and the rotary member.

10 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein the heat member is a film.

11 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a restriction member that includes a surface that faces an end face of the film and that restricts movement of the film in the generatrix direction, the rotary member being held by the restriction member.

12 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 11 ,
wherein the gap is in a range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

13 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 12 ,
wherein a gap that is at a middle of the rotary member in the generatrix direction is larger than a gap that is at an end portion of the rotary member in the generatrix direction.

14 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein a diameter of the rotary member becomes smaller from the middle to the end portion of the rotary member in the generatrix direction.

15 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 14 ,
wherein the rotary member is divided into a plurality of pieces in the generatrix direction.

16 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein a gap between the rotary member and the cover member is in a range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

17 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a heater that heats the heat member, wherein a length of the rotary member in the generatrix direction is longer than a heat generating area of the heater.

18 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a projection that is provided in the cover member and that protrudes from the cover member towards a vicinity of a contact portion between the heat member and the fixing roller.

19 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 18 ,
wherein a gap between the fixing roller and the projection is in a range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

20 . The fixing apparatus according to claim 18 ,
a heater that heats the heat member, wherein a length of the projection in the generatrix direction is longer than a heat generating area of the heater.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Maeda Masafumi
• Tanaka Masaki

Classifications

• G03G21/206

  Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone · CPC title

• 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

• G03G15/2017 Primary

  Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means (G03G15/2053 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/2089 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic