US 12,092,977 B1
Fixing device with contact portions having different contact areas
Sasuke Endo, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/119,203.
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/2053 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2017 (2013.01); G03G 15/2039 (2013.01); G03G 15/5045 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2009 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2016 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2035 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fixing device comprising:
a film forming a cylinder;
a heater extending within the cylinder and including a heating element that extends in a longitudinal direction along the cylinder;
a thermometer configured to detect a temperature of the cylinder; and
a plurality of contact portions configured to contact an inner surface of the cylinder and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, the plurality of contact portions including:
a first contact portion longitudinally offset from the thermometer and having a first contact area with the cylinder, the first contact portion contacting the inner surface of the cylinder along a first contact length measured in a circumferential direction of the cylinder; and
a second contact portion colocated with the thermometer in the longitudinal direction and having a second contact area with the cylinder, the second contact area being smaller than the first contact area, the second contact portion contacting the inner surface of the cylinder along a second contact length measured in the circumferential direction, and the second contact length being shorter than the first contact length.