US 11,809,112 B2
Image heating device and image forming apparatus
Hikaru Osada, Kanagawa (JP); and Masashi Tanaka, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jun. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/831,968.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-097422 (JP), filed on Jun. 10, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0404744 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/206 (2013.01) 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image heating device that heats a recording material on which an image is formed, while conveying the recording material, so as to heat the image in a nip portion, comprising:
a rotatable tubular film;
a heater that heats the film;
a rotatable roller that contacts an outer peripheral surface of the film, and forms the nip portion with the film, to convey the recording material;
a backup member that is disposed in an internal space of the film all through a longitudinal direction of the film, and supports an inner peripheral surface of the film;
regulating members that are disposed to face both ends of the film in the longitudinal direction respectively, so as to regulate a movement of the film in the longitudinal direction, and to move along with the backup member;
a frame of the apparatus, that includes a guide portion to insert the regulating members and a shaft of the roller; and
a pressing mechanism that applies force to the regulating members so as to apply pressure to the nip portion, wherein
the roller includes an elastic layer that is deformed by being pressed from a side which the film is placed, such that a distance between a rotation axis of the roller and the nip portion decreases and that a volume of the elastic layer decreases, wherein
the guide portion guides so that the regulating members move more to a downstream side in a conveying direction of the recording material as the regulating members approach the rotation axis of the roller.