A fixing device that fixes an image on a recording medium includes a rotatable endless belt, deployed in a loop supported by rollers, a nip forming member provided inside the loop formed by the belt, a support member that supports the nip forming member, a counter rotation body disposed outside the loop formed by the belt and configured to form a nip with the belt by being in contact with the nip forming member through the belt, and a heat source configured to heat the belt directly by a radiant heat except at the nip. The support member includes a base portion that contacts the nip forming member and two arms extending from the base portion in a direction away from the nip forming member to partially surround a part of heat generating portion of the heat source.

Claims

8 · 1 independent · depth 2

8 granted claims

›1.independentA fixing device that fixes an image on a recording medium, comprising:na rotatable endless belt;a nip forming member provided inside a loop formed by …+7

›2.↳ 1The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the reflector is disposed at a position closer to the support than to the heat source…d2

›3.↳ 1The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the reflector extends over an area equivalent to a maximum width of the recording medium.d2

›4.↳ 1The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the two arms are disposed at each end portion in an upstream side and a downstream side of the base po…d2

›5.↳ 1The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the two arms are separated by a distance equal to a width of the nip in a recording medium conveyance …d2

›6.↳ 1An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device of claim 1.d2

›7.↳ 1The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the two arms are separated by a distance greater than a width of the nip in a recording medium conveya…d2

›8.↳ 1The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the concave portion of the reflector corresponds to a shape of a surface of the first porti…d2

Classifications

4 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section G — Physics

G03G15/20

USPC · US Patent Classification

399/329399/366399/328

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Pendency

2.0 y

722 days filing → grant

Office actions

non-final + final

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no RCE

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Examiner

Clayton E LaBalle

art unit 2852 · TC 2800

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Citations: 138 back · 0 forward

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Priority chain

1 priority documents

›Priority documents — 1

Type	Document	Date
related publication	US 20130183071 A1	18 Jul 2013

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