Image forming apparatus for controlling amount of air flow flowing to heat unit in fixing device
First Claim
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a housing comprising a fan, and a wall portion; and
a fixing device comprising;
a casing having an upper cover and providing an inner space, the upper cover and the wall portion defining an air passage in communication with the fan;
a heat unit provided in the inner space and extending in an axial direction, the heat unit comprising a heater, the heat unit having a central region in the axial direction and an end region positioned outside of the central region in the axial direction, the upper cover being positioned between the heat unit and the wall portion; and
an opponent member provided to face the heat unit in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction;
wherein the upper cover comprises;
a central cover portion positioned to face the central region and spaced away from the central region by a reference distance; and
a side cover portion positioned to face the end region and movable between a first position providing a first distance from the heat unit and a second position providing a second distance from the heat unit, the first distance being equal to or less than the reference distance, and the second distance being greater than the reference distance, andwherein operation of the fan causes a first air flow flowing through the air passage, and movement of the side cover portion from the first position to the second position directs a part of the first air flow flowing through the air passage into the inner space to increase an amount of a second air flow flowing through the inner space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fixing device includes: a heat unit extending in an axial direction and comprising a heater, the heat unit having a central region in the axial direction and an end region outside of the central region; an opponent member to face the heat unit; and a cover positioned opposite to the opponent member with respect to the heat unit. The cover has: a central cover portion positioned to face the central region and spaced away from the central region by a reference distance; and a side cover portion positioned to face the end region and movable between a first position providing a first distance from the heat unit and a second position providing a second distance from the heat unit, the first distance being not more than the reference distance, and the second distance being greater than the reference distance.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a housing comprising a fan, and a wall portion; and a fixing device comprising; a casing having an upper cover and providing an inner space, the upper cover and the wall portion defining an air passage in communication with the fan; a heat unit provided in the inner space and extending in an axial direction, the heat unit comprising a heater, the heat unit having a central region in the axial direction and an end region positioned outside of the central region in the axial direction, the upper cover being positioned between the heat unit and the wall portion; and an opponent member provided to face the heat unit in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction; wherein the upper cover comprises; a central cover portion positioned to face the central region and spaced away from the central region by a reference distance; and a side cover portion positioned to face the end region and movable between a first position providing a first distance from the heat unit and a second position providing a second distance from the heat unit, the first distance being equal to or less than the reference distance, and the second distance being greater than the reference distance, and wherein operation of the fan causes a first air flow flowing through the air passage, and movement of the side cover portion from the first position to the second position directs a part of the first air flow flowing through the air passage into the inner space to increase an amount of a second air flow flowing through the inner space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fixing device comprising:
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a casing having an upper cover and providing an inner space; a heat unit extending in an axial direction and comprising a heater, the heat unit having a central region in the axial direction and an end region positioned outside of the central region in the axial direction; an opponent member provided to face the heat unit in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the upper cover being positioned opposite to the opponent member with respect to the heat unit, wherein the upper cover comprises; a central cover portion positioned to face the central region and spaced away from the central region by a reference distance; and a side cover portion positioned to face the end region and movable between a first position providing a first distance from the heat unit and a second position providing a second distance from the heat unit, the first distance being equal to or less than the reference distance, and the second distance being greater than the reference distance, and wherein movement of the side cover portion from the first position to the second position allows an air flow flowing outside the casing and along the upper cover to be directed into the inner space. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A fixing device comprising:
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a heater, a tubular member extending in an axial direction and having an outer peripheral surface, the tubular member being heated by the heater, the outer peripheral surface having a central region in an axial direction and an end region positioned outside of the central region in the axial direction; a cover extending in the axial direction, the cover having an arcuate shape along the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction, the cover being positioned outside of the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the cover including; a main member having a central portion and an end portion positioned outside of the central portion in the axial direction, the central portion facing the central region of the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member, the main member having a hole formed in the end portion at a position facing the end region of the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member, and a side cover positioned to cover the hole and facing the end region of the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member, the side cover having a protrusion extending in a first direction perpendicular to the axial direction; a spring coupled between the main member and the protrusion, the spring being configured to urge the side cover toward the hole; a shaft extending in the axial direction, the shaft being positioned between a first connecting portion at which one end of the spring is connected to the main member and a second connecting portion at which an other end of the spring is connected to the protrusion in a second direction perpendicular to the axial direction and crossing the first direction; and a cam fixed to the shaft to be contacted with the protrusion, the cam being positioned between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification