Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
Fixing unit, image forming apparatus incorporating the fixing unit, and image forming method
A fixing unit includes an endless belt unit accommodating a heat source, a pressure roller to rotate in contact with the fixing belt unit forming a pressure border therebetween, and a heat transfer member heated by the heat source to heat the fixing belt unit. The heat transfer member is secured inside an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt unit and supports the fixing belt unit. A fixed member is secured inside the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt unit and is pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt unit. The heat transfer member has at least one convex portion partially formed in an outer circumferential surface of the heat transfer member in a rotational direction of the fixing belt unit and a longitudinal direction of the heat transfer member to narrow a gap formed between the heat transfer member and the fixing belt unit.
Ricoh Company, LTD.
G G
G03G G03G
additional inventional
Yutaka Yoshiharu Minoru Yasuharu Tomoya Hitoshi Tomohiko
Naitoh Takahashi Toyoda Kawarasaki Adachi Fujiwara Fujii