Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film having an inner surface and a plate-like heater that extends in a longitudinal direction of the film, with the heater having (i) a first surface that contacts the inner surface of the film, and (ii) a second surface opposite to the first surface. The fixing device further includes a heat conduction plate that extends in the longitudinal direction of the film and contacts the second surface of the heater, and a supporting member that supports the heater through the heat conduction plate. An image that is formed on a recording material is heated by heat from the heater through the film.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film including a heat generating layer and configured to be supplied with electric power so that the heat generating layer generates heat; a first temperature detecting member contacting the film; a second temperature detecting member contacting the film and provided at such a position that temperature change at the position of the second temperature detecting member is slower in responsiveness than at a position of the first temperature detecting member; and a controller configured to control the electric power supplied to the film. A toner image formed on a recording material is heated by heat from the film and is fixed on the recording material. The controller stops supply of the electric power to the film depending on a difference value between detection temperatures of the first and second temperature detecting members.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating member including a base layer, first and second electroconductive layers and a plurality of heat generating resistors provided on the base layer and having a volume resistivity smaller than a volume resistivity of the base layer; a temperature detecting member; and an electrode member. The heat generating resistors are provided helically around the base layer so that a helical axis thereof extends along the longitudinal direction of the rotatable member, and are disposed with intervals. One end and the other end of each of the heat generating resistors are electrically connected with the first and the second electroconductive layers, respectively. A temperature detecting region of the rotatable member by the temperature detecting member overlaps with the heat generating resistors.

Abstract: Each rear pillar (4) includes a rear pillar inner panel (33) and a rear pillar reinforcement (34). The rear pillar inner panel (33) and the rear pillar reinforcement (34) each include a substantially L-shaped corner portion (C1, C2) raised toward the rear pillar inner panel (33), and a ridge portion (X1, X2). The corner portions (C1, C2) are arranged next to each other in the direction toward a reinforcement (50), and an L-shaped closed cross section (40) is formed between the corner portions (C1, C2). The reinforcement (50) is, not via the closed cross section, directly connected to the corner portions (C1, C2). An upper portion of the L-shaped closed cross section (40) is connected to a closed rear header cross section (19).

Abstract: A vehicle side body structure is provided, which includes a hinge pillar having inner and outer hinge pillar members forming, in a vehicle side part, a closed section space extending in vehicle vertical directions, a side sill having a member forming, on a rear side of the hinge pillar, a closed section space extending in vehicle longitudinal directions, and a closed section space component forming a closed section space extending continuously in the longitudinal directions along an outer surface of the inner hinge pillar member and connecting to the closed section space of the side sill on the rear side. The inner hinge pillar member is formed with a bend-facilitating portion adjacently disposed on the front side of a front end of the closed section space component, extending vertically continuously or intermittently, and protruding outwardly due to a stress concentration by a frontal impact load applied to the hinge pillar.

Abstract: A fixing member for a fixing device, the fixing member includes a cylindrical base layer; and a plurality of heat generating resistors extending in a longitudinal direction of the fixing member on the base layer and arranged with intervals in a circumferential direction of the base layer, wherein heat generating resistors have volume resistivities lower than that of the base layer, the heat generating resistors include a first heat generating resistor and a second heat generating resistor adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, and the first heat generating resistor and the second heat generating resistor are at least partly overlapped in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus heats a toner image formed on a recording material, and includes: a heater including a substrate and a heat generating resistor thereon for generating heat for heating the toner image, by electric power supply; an electric power shut-off member operable in response to an abnormal temperature rise of the heater to shut off the electric power supply; and a heat conduction member having a thermal conductivity, in a direction of a thickness of the substrate, higher than that of the substrate. The contact area between the heat conduction member and the substrate is larger than the contact area between the heat conduction member and the electric power shut-off member.

Abstract: A side body structure of a vehicle is provided, which includes a hinge pillar extending in vertical directions of the vehicle, a hinge reinforcement disposed in the hinge pillar, and a reinforcing member disposed in the hinge pillar and extending in the vertical directions. The hinge reinforcement is provided with an overlapping section provided on a rear side of a portion of the reinforcing member and overlapping in the vertical directions with the portion when viewed from a vehicle front side.

Abstract: A side body structure of a vehicle is provided, which includes a hinge pillar having a hinge pillar member forming, in a side part of the vehicle, a closed section space extending continuously in vertical directions of the vehicle, a side sill having a side sill member forming, on a rear side of the hinge pillar in the side part of the vehicle, a closed section space extending continuously in longitudinal directions of the vehicle, and a closed section space component forming, in a connecting part between a lower end part of the hinge pillar and a front end part of the side sill, a closed section space extending continuously in the longitudinal directions and connecting to the closed section space of the side sill on the rear side, the closed section space of the closed section space component having a vertical dimension that increases toward a front side.

Abstract: A film for use in a fixing device includes a base layer having a cylindrical shape. An electrode portion is formed at an end part of the base layer in a longitudinal direction of the film. A heat generation portion is formed at a central part of the base layer in the longitudinal direction of the film and electrically connected to the electrode portion. The heat generation portion is formed of a conductive layer made of a same material as a material of the electrode portion. A thickness of the conductive layer is larger in the electrode portion than in the heat generation portion. A surface area of the conductive layer per unit length in the longitudinal direction of the film is larger in the electrode portion than in the heat generation portion.

Abstract: A vehicle side body structure is provided, which includes a hinge pillar having inner and outer hinge pillar members forming, in a vehicle side part, a closed section space extending in vehicle vertical directions, a side sill having a member forming, on a rear side of the hinge pillar, a closed section space extending in vehicle longitudinal directions, and a closed section space component forming a closed section space extending continuously in the longitudinal directions along an outer surface of the inner hinge pillar member and connecting to the closed section space of the side sill on the rear side. The inner hinge pillar member is formed with a bend-facilitating portion adjacently disposed on the front side of a front end of the closed section space component, extending vertically continuously or intermittently, and protruding outwardly due to a stress concentration by a frontal impact load applied to the hinge pillar.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular film; a heater including a first surface being in contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat-generating resistor; a heat-conductive member being in contact with a second surface of the heater opposite to the first surface, the heat-conductive member having a higher thermal conductivity than the substrate; and a supporting member supporting the heater with the heat-conductive member interposed therebetween. The heat-conductive member includes first and second parts at upstream and downstream ends, respectively, in a conveyance direction, and a third part between the first and second parts. The first to third parts are each held between the supporting member and the heater. A non-contact area between the heat-conductive member and the supporting member is provided between the first part and the second part in the conveyance direction. The heat-conductive member is shorter than the heater in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: In a lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises a suspension cross member, a side member, and first and second reinforcing members which are provided in a closed cross section formed by the side member and a slant portion, the suspension cross member being fixed by fastening a bolt which is inserted through the suspension cross member to a weld nut which is vertically fixed to a bottom plate portion of the side member, the first reinforcing member is joined to a front-side semicircular portion of a peripheral portion of the weld nut and the second reinforcing member is joined to a rear-side semicircular portion of the peripheral portion of the weld nut.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating member including a base layer, first and second electroconductive layers and a plurality of heat generating resistors provided on the base layer and having a volume resistivity smaller than a volume resistivity of the base layer; a temperature detecting member; and an electrode member. The heat generating resistors are provided helically around the base layer so that a helical axis thereof extends along the longitudinal direction of the rotatable member, and are disposed with intervals. One end and the other end of each of the heat generating resistors are electrically connected with the first and the second electroconductive layers, respectively. A temperature detecting region of the rotatable member by the temperature detecting member overlaps with the heat generating resistors.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member to a greater extent than an end portion of the film.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to make contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate, and a heat conduction member configured to make contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof being in contact with the film, the heat conduction member having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate, and being divided into parts in a generatrix direction of the film. The toner image formed on the recording material is fixed on the recording material by using heat of the film, and one of the parts of the heat conduction member is configured to make contact with the heater continuously from a center to an end of a heat generation region of the heater in the generatrix direction.

Abstract: In a fixing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a projection portion projected in a direction opposite to a direction biased by the biasing member, from a body part of the biasing member, is provided in a biasing member configured to push a thermosensitive member which receives heat from a heater, toward the heater, so that a crack in the heater at the time of an abnormal temperature rise is prevented.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes a tubular shaped film; a backup member configured to be brought into contact with an outer surface of the film; a heater having an elongated shape and being configured to be brought into contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generating resistor formed; a first heat conductive member having a higher thermal conductivity than the substrate and being configured to be brought into contact with a surface of the heater, the first heat conductive member including divided first heat conductive members arranged with a gap formed therebetween; a pinching member configured to pinch the first heat conductive member; and a second heat conductive member provided in a region of the gap so as to be brought into contact with both of the heater and the pinching member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member to a greater extent than an end portion of the film.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to make contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate, and a heat conduction member configured to make contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof being in contact with the film, the heat conduction member having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate, and being divided into parts in a generatrix direction of the film. The toner image formed on the recording material is fixed on the recording material by using heat of the film, and one of the parts of the heat conduction member is configured to make contact with the heater continuously from a center to an end of a heat generation region of the heater in the generatrix direction.