Fixing device, heating device, and image forming apparatus
View Patent ↗A fixing device includes a fixing member that has a conductive layer capable of being heated by electromagnetic induction and fixes an image to the recording material; a magnetic-field generator that generates an alternating magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer of the fixing member; a heating member that is at least partly separated from the fixing member and is heated; and a deformable member that is deformed when receiving heat and moves the heating member toward the fixing member.
1. A fixing device, comprising:
a fixing member that has a conductive layer capable of being heated by electromagnetic induction and fixes an image to the recording material;
a magnetic-field generator that generates an alternating magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer of the fixing member;
a heating member that is at least partly separated from the fixing member and is heated; and
a deformable member that is deformed when receiving heat and moves the heating member toward the fixing member.
2. The fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the heating member is heated by the alternating magnetic field generated by the magnetic-field generator.
3. The fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the deformable member is deformed when receiving heat from the heating member.
4. The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fixing member is substantially cylindrical, and
wherein the deformable member is arranged inside the substantially cylindrical fixing member.
5. The fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the deformable member expands toward the fixing member and moves the heating member toward the fixing member.
6. The fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the deformable member is curved when receiving the heat and moves the heating member toward the fixing member by using a portion of the deformable member, the portion being displaced when the deformable member is curved.
7. The fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing member and the heating member are separated from each other before the deformable member is deformed.
8. The fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the deformable member is formed of a shape memory alloy.
9. A heating device, comprising:
a supply member that has a conductive layer capable of being heated by electromagnetic induction and supplies heat to a member to be heated;
a magnetic-field generator that generates an alternating magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer of the supply member;
a heating member that is at least partly separated from the supply member and is heated; and
a deformable member that is deformed when receiving heat and moves the heating member toward the supply member.
10. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material;
a fixing member that has a conductive layer capable of being heated by electromagnetic induction and fixes the image formed by the image forming unit to the recording material;
a magnetic-field generator that generates an alternating magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer of the fixing member;
a heating member that is at least partly separated from the fixing member and is heated; and
a deformable member that is deformed when receiving heat and moves the heating member toward the fixing member.