IP Library Granted Patent US 10,768,559
Granted Patent B2
US 10,768,559 · App. 15/624,522 · Granted Sep 8, 2020

Heating device and image forming apparatus

Inventors: Chie Miyauchi (Odawara Kanagawa, JP); Osamu Takagi (Chofu Tokyo, JP); Kazuhiko Kikuchi (Yokohama Kanagawa, JP)
Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G15/2039G03G15/2021G03G15/2053G03G15/2042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,768,559
App. No.
15/624,522
Granted
Sep 8, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A heating device according to an embodiment generally includes heat generating parts and temperature sensors. The heat generating parts are divided into a plurality of blocks, so that the plurality of heat generating parts are arranged with a gap therebetween on a substrate in each block. With a temperature detection region provided in each block, the temperature sensors are provided corresponding to the heat generating parts with the gaps being avoided. The temperatures of the heat generating parts are detected by the temperature sensors that are less in number than the plurality of heat generating parts.

Claims (29)

1. A heating device comprising:

a heating member substrate;

a plurality of resistive members which is divided into a plurality of blocks on the heating member substrate, the resistive members being arranged side by side along a first direction with a gap between every two adjacent resistive members, each block comprising at least one resistive member; and

temperature sensors which each have a film-shaped thermistor, each block having one film-shaped thermistor that has a contact region in which the film-shaped thermistor detects temperature, the contact region being inside of a width, in the first direction, of a resistive member in the block, wherein

a predetermined block is adjacent, in the first direction, to two blocks having a different number of resistive members, the contact region of the film-shaped thermistor for the predetermined block is located closer to the one of the adjacent two blocks having a greater number of the resistive members of the two blocks adjacent to the predetermined block.

2. The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blocks comprise:

a first block having a greatest number of resistive members among the plurality of blocks; and

a second block having fewer resistive members than the first block, and

the contact region of the film-shaped thermistor for the second block is located closer to the first block than to a center location of the second block in the first direction.

3. The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein

if a first block having a greatest number of resistive members among the plurality of blocks includes an odd number of resistive members, the contact region of the film-shaped thermistor for the first block is provided corresponding to the resistive member disposed at a center in, the first direction, of the first; and

if the first block includes an even number of resistive members, the contact region of the film-shaped thermistor for the first block is provided within a width, in the first direction, of one of the two resistive members adjacent to a center gap, the center gap being located at the center in the first direction of the first block.

4. An image forming apparatus comprising a fixing device, the fixing device comprising:

an endless rotational body;

a heating member and a plurality of resistive members which are divided into a plurality of blocks, the resistive members being arranged side by side along a first direction with a gap between every two adjacent resistive members, each block comprising at least one resistive member, the heating member being provided on an inner side of the endless rotational body;

temperature sensors which each have a film-shaped thermistor, each block having one film-shaped thermistor that has a contact region in which the film-shaped thermistor detects temperature, the contact region being inside of a width, in the first direction, of a resistive member in the block; and

a pressure roller configured to face the heating member via the endless rotational body and to form a nip with the endless rotational body, the fixing device being configured to fix an image onto a sheet, wherein

a predetermined block is adjacent in the first direction, to two blocks, the contact region of the film-shaped thermistor for the predetermined block is located closer to the one of the adjacent two blocks having a greater number of the resistive members of the two blocks adjacent to the predetermined block.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of blocks comprise:

a first block having a greatest number of resistive members among the plurality of blocks; and

a second block having fewer resistive members than the first block, and

the contact region of region the film-shaped thermistor for the second block is located closer to the first block than to a center location of the second block in the first direction.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

if a first block having a greatest number of resistive members among the plurality of blocks includes an odd number of resistive members, the contact region of the of the film-shaped thermistor for the first block is provided corresponding to the resistive member at a center, in the first direction, of the first block; and

if the first block includes an even number of resistive members, the contact region of the film-shaped thermistor for the first block is provided within a width, in the first direction, of one of the two resistive members adjacent to a center gap, the center gap being located at the center in the first direction of the first block.

7. The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of the heating member substrate on which the resistive members are formed faces an inner side of an endless rotational belt, and the contact region of the film-shaped thermistor is between the endless rotational body and the surface of the heating member substrate.

8. The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact region of each film-shaped thermistor is contained within a single resistive member.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a surface of the heating member on which the resistive members are formed faces an inner side of the endless rotational body, and the contact region of the film-shaped thermistor is between the endless rotational body and the surface of the heating member.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the contact region of each film-shaped thermistor is contained within a single resistive member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2017
From: MIYAUCHI, CHIE; TAKAGI, OSAMU; KIKUCHI, KAZUHIKO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 042932/0509 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2016-121406 · Jun 20, 2016 · national
JP 2017-059625 · Mar 24, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170363999A1 · Dec 21, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,306,562