Heating device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024361715-A1
Application number	US-202418645389-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 25, 2024
Priority date	Apr 28, 2023
Publication date	Oct 31, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heating device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, a heater, a nip formation pad, a reflector, and a shield. The second rotator faces the first rotator. The heater heats the first rotator. The nip formation pad is inside a loop of the first rotator to form a nip between the first rotator and the second rotator. The nip formation pad has a nip side face facing an inner circumferential surface of the first rotator. The reflector reflects radiant heat radiated from the heater toward the inner circumferential surface of the first rotator. The reflector contacts the nip side face of the nip formation pad. The shield contacts the reflector and shields the first rotator from the radiant heat radiated from the heater.

First claim

1 . A heating device comprising:
a first rotator; a second rotator facing the first rotator; a heater to heat the first rotator; a nip formation pad inside a loop of the first rotator to form a nip between the first rotator and the second rotator, the nip formation pad having a nip side face facing an inner circumferential surface of the first rotator; a reflector to reflect radiant heat radiated from the heater toward the inner circumferential surface of the first rotator, the reflector contacting the nip side face of the nip formation pad; and a shield: contacting the reflector; and shielding the first rotator from the radiant heat radiated from the heater.

2 . The heating device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a high thermal conductor between the nip formation pad and the inner circumferential surface of the first rotator, the high thermal conductor having thermal conductivity higher than thermal conductivity of the nip formation pad, wherein the reflector has: one face contacting the nip side face; and another face, opposite to the one face, contacting the high thermal conductor.

3 . The heating device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the heater includes: a center heater to heat a center portion of the first rotator in a longitudinal direction of the first rotator; and an end heater to heat both ends of the first rotator in the longitudinal direction, the shield includes a contact portion contacting the reflector, and the contact portion is closer to the end heater than to the center heater.

4 . The heating device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the reflector has thermal conductivity equal to or greater than 200 W/m×K.

5 . The heating device according to claim 1 ,
wherein one of the reflector and the shield has a hole into which a part of another of the reflector and the shield is inserted, and the part of said another of the reflector and the shield inserted into the hole contacts the one of the reflector and the shield.

6 . The heating device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a rotator holder holding both ends of an inner circumferential surface of the first rotator in a longitudinal direction of the first rotator; and lubricant adhering to the rotator holder.

7 . A fixing device comprising the heating device according to claim 1 .

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

9 . A heating device comprising:
a first rotator; a second rotator facing the first rotator; a heater to heat the first rotator; a nip formation pad inside a loop of the first rotator to form a nip between the first rotator and the second rotator; a high thermal conductor between the nip formation pad and an inner circumferential surface of the first rotator, the high thermal conductor having thermal conductivity higher than thermal conductivity of the nip formation pad; a reflector to reflect radiant heat radiated from the heater toward an inner circumferential surface of the first rotator, the reflector contacting the high thermal conductor; and a shield: contacting the reflector; and shielding the first rotator from the radiant heat radiated from the heater.

10 . The heating device according to claim 9 ,
wherein the heater includes: a center heater to heat a center portion of the first rotator in a longitudinal direction of the first rotator; and an end heater to heat both ends of the first rotator in the longitudinal direction, the shield includes a contact portion contacting the reflector, and the contact portion is closer to the end heater than to the center heater.

11 . The heating device according to claim 9 ,
wherein the reflector has thermal conductivity equal to or greater than 200 W/m×K.

12 . The heating device according to claim 9 ,
wherein one of the reflector and the shield has a hole into which a part of another of the reflector and the shield is inserted, and the part of said another of the reflector and the shield inserted into the hole contacts the one of the reflector and the shield.

13 . The heating device according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a rotator holder holding both ends of an inner circumferential surface of the first rotator in a longitudinal direction of the first rotator; and lubricant adhering to the rotator holder.

14 . A fixing device comprising the heating device according to claim 9 .

15 . An image forming apparatus comprising the heating device according to claim 9 .

Assignees

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

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G03G2215/2035

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

• G03G15/2017

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

• G03G15/2028

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

• G03G15/205

  specially for the mode of operation, e.g. standby, warming-up, error (G03G15/2046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/2053 Primary

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