| US 7,603,069 B2 | ||
| Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus provided therewith | ||
| Shinji Yamana, Yamatokoriyama (Japan); Kenji Asakura, Kyoto (Japan); Toshiaki Kagawa, Nara (Japan); and Hiroyuki Yamaji, Nara (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 13, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/685,244. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2006-070913 (JP), filed on Mar. 15, 2006. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0217838 A1, Sep. 20, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 399—328 [399/329] | 7 Claims |
| 1. An image forming apparatus that comprises a fixing apparatus including an external heating section that brings an endless
belt member into contact with a surface of a rotatable fixing member and supplies heat from the belt member to the fixing
member so as to externally heat the fixing member, said fixing apparatus causing a printing medium to pass between the fixing
member and a pressure member pressed against the fixing member, so as to fix a toner image formed on the printing medium,
the external heating section including; the belt member; a heating member provided inside the belt member and pressed against
the fixing member via the belt member; and a release/contact mechanism for causing the heating member to separate from or
contact with the fixing member,
the belt member and the fixing member being in contact with each other, with the heating member separated from the fixing
member by the release/contact mechanism, wherein the belt member is provided with a resin layer;
wherein the belt member is suspended by a plurality of belt-suspending rollers including at least one heatable belt-suspending
roller having a heat source therein, and at least one unheated belt-suspending roller, the heatable belt-suspending roller
serving as the heating member, and
wherein the release/contact mechanism moves the heatable belt-suspending roller and does not move the unheated belt-suspending
roller.
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