US 12,321,112 B2
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating the same
Keisuke Kubota, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Keisuke Kubota, Kanagawa (JP)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/509,422.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-184136 (JP), filed on Nov. 17, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0168417 A1, May 23, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/2025 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2064 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2025 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fixing device comprising:
a belt having a loop rotatable in a traveling direction;
a nip formation pad inside the loop;
a pressure rotator to press the belt against the nip formation pad to form a fixing nip between the belt and the pressure rotator to press a recording medium passing through the fixing nip;
a supplier at a position above and upstream from the nip formation pad in the traveling direction to supply lubricant to an inner face of the belt; and
a holder to hold the lubricant adhered to the inner face of the belt,
wherein the fixing nip forms a line passing through an entrance of the fixing nip and an exit of the fixing nip,
the belt forms a tangent at a contacting point with the supplier, the tangent extends to the nip formation pad adjacent to the entrance of the fixing nip in the traveling direction, and
the line and the tangent form an angle that is 25 degrees or more and 55 degrees or less,
wherein:
the holder has end portions at both ends of the holder in a width direction of the holder,
each of the end portions contacting the belt has a first length in the traveling direction, and
another portion between the end portions of the holder in the width direction has a second length shorter than the first length in the traveling direction.