Fixing unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020125017-A1
Application number	US-201916600849-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2019
Priority date	Oct 23, 2018
Publication date	Apr 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fixing unit includes an endless belt, a heating unit configured to heat the belt, a pressure rotary member configured to form a fixing nip portion that nips and conveys a recording material with the belt, a pad configured to press the belt toward the pressure rotary member, a sliding sheet provided on the pad and configured to slide against the belt, a plate-like member configured to fix the sliding sheet to the pad, the sliding sheet being fixed in a manner sandwiched between the plate-like member and the pad, and fixing tools configured to fix the plate-like member at a plurality of positions along a longitudinal direction of the plate-like member. A width of the sliding sheet is wider than a width of the fixing nip portion and narrower than a width of the plate-like member in the longitudinal direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fixing unit configured to fix an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material to the recording material, the fixing unit comprising:
an endless belt; a heating unit configured to heat the belt; a pressure rotary member configured to form a fixing nip portion that nips and conveys a recording material with the belt and to drive the belt to rotate; a pad configured to press the belt toward the pressure rotary member; a sliding sheet provided on the pad and configured to slide against the belt; a plate-like member configured to fix the sliding sheet to the pad, the sliding sheet being fixed in a manner sandwiched between the plate-like member and the pad; and fixing tools configured to fix the plate-like member at a plurality of positions along a longitudinal direction of the plate-like member, wherein a width of the sliding sheet is wider than a width of the fixing nip portion and narrower than a width of the plate-like member in the longitudinal direction.

2 . The fixing unit according to claim 1 ,
further comprising: a first regulation member comprising a first cylindrical peripheral portion arranged at a first end portion, on a first side in the longitudinal direction, of the belt and configured to cover a surface of the belt, and a first abutment portion configured to abut against a first edge of the belt in the longitudinal direction; and a second regulation member comprising a second cylindrical peripheral portion arranged at a second end portion, on a second side opposite to the first side in the longitudinal direction, of the belt and configured to cover a surface of the belt, and a second abutment portion configured to abut against a second edge of the belt in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first and second regulation members regulate movement of the belt in the longitudinal direction.

3 . The fixing unit according to claim 2 ,
wherein a width of the pad is narrower than a width of the belt in the longitudinal direction.

4 . The fixing unit according to claim 2 ,
wherein an end portion of the plate-like member on the first side is arranged further on a center side than the first regulation member and is arranged further on the first side than the fixing nip portion in the longitudinal direction, and wherein an end portion of the plate-like member on the second side is arranged further on a center side than the second regulation member and is arranged further on the second side than the fixing nip portion in the longitudinal direction.

5 . The fixing unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein a fixing tool arranged furthest on a first side among the fixing tools is arranged further on the first side than the fixing nip portion in the longitudinal direction, and wherein a fixing tool arranged furthest on a second side among the fixing tools is arranged further on the second side than the fixing nip portion in the longitudinal direction.

6 . The fixing unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fixing tools are screws.

7 . The fixing unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plate-like member fixes the sliding sheet at a position upstream of the pad in a direction of rotation of the belt.

8 . The fixing unit according to claim 2 ,
wherein the first and second regulation members rotate together with the belt.

9 . The fixing unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the heating unit is a heater provided on an outside of the belt so as not to contact the belt.

10 . The fixing unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the heating unit comprises a coil, and wherein the belt comprises a conductive layer, and is configured to generate heat by eddy current generated in the conductive layer by having current supplied to the coil.

11 . A fixing unit configured to fix an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material to the recording material, the fixing unit comprising:
an endless belt; a heating unit configured to heat the belt; a pressure rotary member configured to form a fixing nip portion that nips and conveys a recording material with the belt and to drive the belt to rotate; a pad configured to press the belt toward the pressure rotary member; a sliding sheet provided on the pad and configured to slide against the belt; a plate-like member configured to fix the sliding sheet to the pad, the sliding sheet being fixed in a manner sandwiched between the plate-like member and the pad; and fixing tools configured to fix the plate-like member at a plurality of positions along a longitudinal direction of the plate-like member, wherein a width of the sliding sheet is wider than a width of the fixing nip portion and equal to or narrower than a width of the plate-like member in the longitudinal direction.

12 . The fixing unit according to claim 11 ,
further comprising: a first regulation member comprising a first cylindrical peripheral portion arranged at a first end portion, on a first side in the longitudinal direction, of the belt and configured to cover a surface of the belt, and a first abutment portion configured to abut against a first edge of the belt in the longitudinal direction; and a second regulation member comprising a second cylindrical peripheral portion arranged at a second end portion, on a second side opposite to the first side in the longitudinal direction, of the belt and configured to cover a surface of the belt, and a second abutment portion configured to abut against a second edge of the belt in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first and second regulation members regulate movement of the belt in the longitudinal direction.

13 . The fixing unit according to claim 12 ,
wherein a width of the pad is narrower than a width of the belt in the longitudinal direction.

14 . The fixing unit according to claim 12 ,
wherein an end portion of the plate-like member on the first side is arranged further on a center side than the first regulation member and arranged further on the first side than the fixing nip portion in the longitudinal direction, and wherein an end portion of the plate-like member on the second side is arranged further on a center side than the second regulation member and arranged further on the second side than the fixing nip portion in the longitudinal direction.

15 . The fixing unit according to claim 11 ,
wherein a fixing tool arranged furthest on a first side among the fixing tools is arranged further on the first side than the fixing nip portion in the longitudinal direction, and wherein a fixing tool arranged furthest on a second side among the fixing tools is arranged further on the second side than the fixing nip portion in the longitudinal direction.

16 . The fixing unit according to claim 11 ,
wherein the fixing tools are screws.

17 . The fixing unit according to claim 11 ,
wherein the plate-like member fixes the sliding sheet at a position upstream of the pad in a direction of rotation of the belt.

18 . The fixing unit according to claim 12 ,
wherein the first and second regulation members rotate together with the belt.

19 . The fixing unit according to claim 11 ,
wherein the heating unit is a heater provided on an outside of the belt so as not to contact the belt.

20 . The fixing unit according to claim 11 ,
wherein the heating unit comprises a coil, and wherein the belt comprises a conductive layer, and is configured to generate heat by eddy current generated in the conductive layer by having current supplied to the coil.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Yasui Tatsuo
• Moteki Junichi
• Shinagawa Akiyoshi
• Tadomi Takuma
• Nakamoto Ikuo
• Katsumi Toru
• Ohnishi Takahiro

Classifications

• G03G15/2053 Primary

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

• G03G2215/2035

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

• G03G15/2064 Primary

  combined with pressure · CPC title

• G03G2215/00679

  Conveying means details, e.g. roller · CPC title

• G03G2215/2038

  the belt further entrained around one or more rotating belt support members · CPC title