Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible tubular member having an inner peripheral surface and circularly moving in a moving direction while the developing agent image is thermally fixed; a heater; a nip member being in sliding contact with the tubular member; a backup member nipping the tubular member in cooperation with the nip member; a stay covering the heater and supporting the nip member; an electric component positioned opposite to the heater with respect to the stay; and a frame supporting the electric component. The frame includes: an isolating portion interposed between the tubular member and the electric component for isolating the electric component from the tubular member; and a guide portion guiding the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member while the flexible tubular member is moving in the moving direction.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible tubular member having an inner peripheral surface and circularly moving in a moving direction while the developing agent image is thermally fixed; a heater; a nip member being in sliding contact with the tubular member; a backup member nipping the tubular member in cooperation with the nip member; a stay covering the heater and supporting the nip member; an electric component positioned opposite to the heater with respect to the stay; and a frame supporting the electric component. The frame includes: an isolating portion interposed between the tubular member and the electric component for isolating the electric component from the tubular member; and a guide portion guiding the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member while the flexible tubular member is moving in the moving direction.

Abstract: A fixing device configured to heat-fix a developer image on a recording sheet, the fixing device includes: a flexible cylindrical member; a nip member configured to slidingly contact an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member; a heating member that is arranged at an inside of the cylindrical member and is configured to heat the nip member; a stay configured to support the nip member with surrounding the heating member; a backup member configured to interpose the cylindrical member between the nip member and the backup member; a cover member that is arranged at the inside of the cylindrical member and is configured to cover the stay from an opposite side to the heating member; and a first support member configured to support the cover member and form a gap between the stay and the cover member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular body extending in a first direction, a heater disposed in an internal space of the tubular body, a frame supporting the tubular body and a plate-like member provided on the frame. The tubular body has an open end in the first direction. The heater includes a hollow tube extending in the first direction, a heat generating element disposed in a hollow space of the tube, a terminal fixed to the frame, and a pin connecting the heat generating element and the terminal. The frame has a first surface positioned to oppose the open end of the tubular body in the first direction. The plate-like member is positioned between the open end and the first surface in the first direction, the plate-like member being formed with a pin opening for permitting the pin to penetrate therethrough.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes a tubular member, a nip plate, a heater, a reflection plate, and a backup member. The tubular member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an axis defining an axial direction. The nip plate is disposed in the internal space, and the inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip plate. A heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip plate in a confronting direction. The reflection plate is configured to reflect radiant heat from the heater toward the nip plate. A backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip plate for nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip plate.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction includes a tubular flexible fusing member, a nip plate, a heater, a reflection plate, and a backup member. The tubular flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an axis defining an axial direction. The nip plate is disposed in the internal space, and the inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip plate. A heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip plate in a confronting direction. The reflection plate is configured to reflect a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip plate. A backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip plate for nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip plate.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible tubular member having an inner peripheral surface and circularly moving in a moving direction while the developing agent image is thermally fixed; a heater; a nip member being in sliding contact with the tubular member; a backup member nipping the tubular member in cooperation with the nip member; a stay covering the heater and supporting the nip member; an electric component positioned opposite to the heater with respect to the stay; and a frame supporting the electric component. The frame includes: an isolating portion interposed between the tubular member and the electric component for isolating the electric component from the tubular member; and a guide portion guiding the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member while the flexible tubular member is moving in the moving direction.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible tubular member having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space; a heater; a nip member being in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tubular member and having an electrically conductive surface; a stay supporting the nip member and being electrically conductive and electrically connected to the electrically conductive surface; a backup member nipping the flexible tubular member in cooperation with the nip member; a supporting member supporting the nip member and the stay, the supporting member being movable relative to the backup member; and a first grounding member disposed to be in contact with the stay for grounding the stay, the first grounding member being supported to the supporting member such that the first grounding member is integrally movable with the supporting member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a first fixing member and a second fixing member forming a nip portion for heat-fixing a recording sheet; an urging mechanism including an urging member and urging the first fixing member toward the second fixing member by an urging force of the urging member; a first frame for supporting the second fixing member; a second frame arranged at an opposite side to the second fixing member with the first fixing member being interposed therebetween; and a switching member, which applies a pressing force resisting the urging force to the first fixing member for switching a width of the nip portion, and which includes a cam to which the urging force is applied and a shaft for supporting the cam. The first frame and the second frame are connected to each other by the shaft.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes a tubular member, a nip plate, a heater, a reflection plate, and a backup member. The tubular member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an axis defining an axial direction. The nip plate is disposed in the internal space, and the inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip plate. A heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip plate in a confronting direction. The reflection plate is configured to reflect radiant heat from the heater toward the nip plate. A backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip plate for nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip plate.

Abstract: A fuser unit includes: a cylindrical member having flexibility; a heat generator, which is arranged at the inside of the cylindrical member; a plate-shaped nip member, which is arranged to slidingly contact an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member and receives radiation heat from the heat generator; a backup member, which is configured to configure a nip part between the cylindrical member and the backup member with the cylindrical member, by nipping between the backup member and the nip member; a temperature detection unit, which is arranged to face an opposite surface that is opposite to the surface of the nip member slidingly contacting the cylindrical member at the inside of the cylindrical member and detects a temperature of the nip member, and an urging member that urges the temperature detection unit toward the nip member.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible tubular member having an inner peripheral surface, the tubular member defining an axis extending in an axial direction and having widthwise end portions in the axial direction; a heater; a nip member being in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface; a backup member confronting the nip member to nip the tubular member in cooperation with the nip member; a stay supporting the nip member; a pair of inner guides being in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface to guide the same; and a pair of restricting members restricting the widthwise end portions of the tubular member from moving in the axial direction, at least one of the pair of restricting members being formed separately from the inner guides and being assembled to the stay in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible tubular member having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space; a heater disposed at the internal space; a nip member disposed at the internal space and configured to be in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tubular member; a backup member nipping the flexible tubular member in cooperation with the nip member; a stay disposed at the internal space to support the nip member; and a cover disposed at the internal space and covering the stay, one of the stay and the cover being provided with a hook portion, and remaining one of the stay and the cover being provided with an engaged portion engaged with the hook portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular fusing film, a heater, a nip member, a backup member, a backup member, first supporting member, and a second supporting member. The heater may be disposed inside the tubular shape of the fusing film. The nip member may be disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the fusing film and heated by the heater. The backup member may form a nip portion between the backup member and the fusing film with the fusing film between the backup member and the nip member. The first supporting member may be configured to integrally support the heater and the nip member. The second supporting member may be configured to movably support the first supporting member so that the nip member moves relative to the backup member.

Abstract: A fixing device which may include a nip plate which has roll marks formed on at least a first surface of the nip plate, a flexible cylindrical member having an inner peripheral surface that is configured to slide on the nip plate and a pressure member that is configured to rotate while the pressure member and the nip plate pinch the flexible cylindrical member, so that the pressure member and the cylindrical member convey a recording sheet. Further, a lubricant may be provided between the nip plate and the flexible cylindrical member. Also, the nip plate may be arranged so that the roll marks extend along a conveying direction of the recording sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a tubular member; a heater; a nip member; a stay; and a backup member. The heater including: a glass tube; and a heat source. The nip member confronts the heater in a confronting direction. The glass tube has an axis defining an axial direction. The glass tube includes a glass tube body having end portions in the axial direction and sealed portions formed integrally with the end portions. Each sealed portion is formed in a plate shape and protrudes radially outwardly from the glass tube body when viewing in the axial direction. Each sealed portion is oriented in a first direction and defines a cross-sectional distance between one end portion and another end portion of the sealed portion in the confronting direction greater than a cross-sectional length of the glass tube in a second direction perpendicular to the confronting direction and the axial direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a tubular member; a heater; a nip member including a base portion, a connecting portion, and a flange portion; a backup member; and a guide member. The tubular member is circularly movable in a circularly-moving direction. The guide member has a part positioned upstream of the nip member in the circularly-moving direction and configured to guide the tubular member. The part has an end portion containing a most downstream end at which the tubular member is directed to a position between the nip member and the backup member. The nip member and the guide member define a first imaginary plane containing a line connecting a first curved portion provided by a boundary region between the connecting portion and the base portion, and the most downstream end. The first imaginary plane is positioned opposite to the heater relative to a first end of the flange portion.

Abstract: In a fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, a nip plate is disposed on an inner surface of a tubular flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable in such a manner that permits the fusing member to slide along the nip plate, and configured to be heated by a heating element disposed inside the fusing member. The fusing member is nipped between the nip plate and a backup member to form a nip portion between the fusing member and the backup member. The nip plate is bent to form a recessed portion which opens on the inner surface of the fusing member and holds a lubricant.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a tubular member; a heater; a nip member including a base portion, a connecting portion, and a flange portion; a backup member; and a guide member. The tubular member is circularly movable in a circularly-moving direction. The guide member has a part positioned upstream of the nip member in the circularly-moving direction and configured to guide the tubular member. The part has an end portion containing a most downstream end at which the tubular member is directed to a position between the nip member and the backup member. The nip member and the guide member define a first imaginary plane containing a line connecting a first curved portion provided by a boundary region between the connecting portion and the base portion, and the most downstream end. The first imaginary plane is positioned opposite to the heater relative to a first end of the flange portion.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member, a reflection plate, a backup member, a stay and a temperature sensor. The flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member. The reflection plate is configured to reflect the radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member, the reflection plate having an outer profile. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.