US 12,332,592 B2
Fixing device including heater retention member, having slits formed on face opposing inner circumferential surface of fixing belt, and image forming apparatus
Hiroki Kawasaki, Osaka (JP); Ryohei Tokunaga, Osaka (JP); Akihiro Kondo, Osaka (JP); Yuta Kitabayashi, Osaka (JP); Rina Kikugawa, Osaka (JP); Shunsaku Fujii, Osaka (JP); and Yuto Masaoka, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed by KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Feb. 26, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/586,955.
Claims priority of application No. 2023-029705 (JP), filed on Feb. 28, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0288810 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/2053 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2017 (2013.01); G03G 15/2025 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2035 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fixing device comprising:
a fixing belt formed in a cylindrical shape, with a lubricant applied to an inner circumferential surface, and set such that a circumferential surface rotates in a circumferential direction;
a heater that heats the fixing belt from inside thereof;
a heater retention member that retains the heater, inside of the fixing belt; and
a pressure member that defines a nip region, through which a recording medium is transported in a nipped state, between the pressure member and a portion of the fixing belt heated from inside by the heater, and drives the fixing belt to rotate,
wherein the heater retention member includes a first opposing face extending in a rotation axis direction of the fixing belt, and opposed to the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt,
the first opposing face includes slits aligned in the rotation axis direction of the fixing belt, and
a lubricant is applied in advance inside each of the slits,
wherein the lubricant is not applied to the slits in predetermined end portions in the rotation axis direction.