Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus including a contact type temperature sensor placed stably on a paper non-passing zone of a fixing member
US7546079B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 5, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jun 9, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 5, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/2032
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
There is described a fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image onto a recording material, which makes it possible not only to reduce the frictional resistance generated between a temperature sensor and a heating member, but also to prevent occurrences of abnormal sounds and breaking of the wire coupled to the temperature sensor, both caused by the direct contact between them. The fixing apparatus includes: a heating member provided with a surface layer, which is elastically deformable and includes the paper sheet passing area and the paper sheet non-passing area; a pressing member that press-contacts the heating member; and a temperature sensor that contacts the paper sheet non-passing area of the surface layer. A surface roughness Ra of the paper sheet non-passing area is set at such a value that is larger than that of a paper sheet passing area.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.