| CPC G03G 15/2017 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2053 (2013.01); G03G 15/2064 (2013.01); G03G 21/1652 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2035 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1639 (2013.01); G03G 2221/166 (2013.01)] | 6 Claims |
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1. A fixing device in which a toner image formed on a recording medium is to be fixed onto the recording medium while the recording medium is pinched and conveyed at a fixing nip portion, the fixing device comprising:
a heating unit that includes a film having a tubular shape, a heater having a long and narrow sheet-like shape, wherein the heater is disposed in an internal space of the film along a longitudinal direction of the film, and that further includes a heater holder disposed in the internal space of the film in such a manner as to hold the heater over the longitudinal direction;
a heating unit holder configured to hold the heating unit and disposed at a position at which the heating unit holder faces an end surface of the film in the longitudinal direction, the heating unit holder includes an inner surface receiving portion entering the internal space of a longitudinal end of the film and configured to receive an inner surface of the longitudinal end of the film;
a roller having a shaft and configured to form, together with the heating unit, the fixing nip portion at which the recording medium is pinched and conveyed;
an apparatus frame having a first surface side facing the film and a second surface side opposite to the first surface side, the apparatus frame is configured to hold the heating unit and the roller by holding the heating unit holder and the shaft of the roller; and
a connector configured to be electrically connected to the heater on the second surface side of the apparatus frame,
wherein the connector includes an engagement portion configured to engage with a to-be-engaged portion of the heating unit holder in such a manner as to restrict the connector from becoming detached when a force in a direction in which the connector is detached is applied to the connector in a state in which the connector is electrically connected to the heater,
wherein the heating unit holder includes an abutment portion overlapping with the connector with respect to the longitudinal direction, and overlapping with the heater holder when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a flat surface of the heater,
wherein, when a force in a direction toward the roller is applied to the connector, the heater holder comes into contact with the abutment portion, and
wherein the heating unit holder includes a shielding portion overlapping with a connection terminal of the connector with respect to the longitudinal direction and configured to cover the connection terminal of the connector when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and parallel to the flat surface of the heater.
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