Fixing device having stably positioned nip plate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8948671-B2
Application number	US-201213426656-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2012
Priority date	Apr 28, 2011
Publication date	Feb 3, 2015
Grant date	Feb 3, 2015

Abstract

A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible tubular member defining an axis extending in an axial direction; a heater; a nip plate configured to be in sliding contact with the tubular member and having an engaging portion; a backup member configured to nip the flexible tubular member in cooperation with the nip plate; and a stay configured to support the nip plate and having an end portion in the axial direction. The stay includes: a support portion configured to support the nip plate; a plurality of hook portions provided at the end portion to support the nip plate; and a protruding portion protruding toward the backup member and configured to engage the engaging portion such that the nip plate is restricted from moving in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the backup member confronts the nip plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet comprising:
a flexible tubular member having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space, the flexible tubular member defining an axis extending in an axial direction;
a heater disposed at the internal space;
a nip plate disposed at the internal space and having a first surface configured to be in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tubular m…

Assignees

• Suzuki Noboru
• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Suzuki Noboru

Classifications

• G03G15/2053 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G03G15/2025 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G03G2215/2035

  Physics · mapped topic