US6336009B1 — Image heating apparatus and heater for heating im…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 198 words

An image heating apparatus comprising: a heater including a long base material; a temperature detecting element for detecting temperature of said heater; and a film having a first surface which slides on said heater and a second surface which moves while contacting a recording material bearing an image, wherein (a) said heater is controlled by an output from said temperature detecting element to obtain a predetermined temperature and the image on the recording material is heated by heat from said heater via said film, (b) said heater further comprises a first heating member and a second heating member shorter than said first heating member which are disposed along a longitudinal direction of said base material and generate heat by being energized (c) said first heating member is disposed on an upstream side of said second heating member with respect to a moving direction of the recording material, (d) when a first size recording material is heated, said first heating member is energized and said second heating member is not energized, and (e) when a second size recording material smaller than said first size recording material is heated, said first heating member and said second heating member are energized.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 198 words

An image heating apparatus comprising: a heater including a long base material; a temperature detecting element for detecting temperature of said heater; and a film having a first surface which slides on said heater and a second surface which moves while contacting a recording material bearing an image, wherein (a) said heater is controlled by an output from said temperature detecting element to obtain a predetermined temperature and the image on the recording material is heated by heat from said heater via said film, (b) said heater further comprises a first heating member and a second heating member shorter than said first heating member which are disposed along a longitudinal direction of said base material and generate heat by being energized (c) said first heating member is disposed on an upstream side of said second heating member with respect to a moving direction of the recording material, (d) when a first size recording material is heated, said first heating member is energized and said second heating member is not energized, and (e) when a second size recording material smaller than said first size recording material is heated, said first heating member and said second heating member are energized.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said temperature detecting element contacts said heater.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said heater includes a protective layer for covering said first heating member and said second heating member, and said temperature detecting element is disposed on said protective layer.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a resistance value per unit length of said second heating member is larger than that of said first heating member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a width of said second heating member along the moving direction of the recording material is smaller than that of said first heating member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 74 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said heater further comprises a third heating member which is disposed along the longitudinal direction of said base material and generates heat by being energized, a length of said third heating member is substantially the same as that of said first heating member, and said third heating member is energized together with said first heating member when the first size recording material is heated.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said third heating-member is disposed on a downstream side of said second heating member with respect to the moving direction of the recording material.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said third heating member is disposed on a downstream side of said first heating member and on the upstream side of said second heating member with respect to the moving direction of the recording material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 37 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein an end portion of said third heating member in the longitudinal direction thereof has a resistance value per unit length larger than that of a central portion.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein a width along the moving direction of the recording material of the end portion of said third heating member in the longitudinal direction thereof is smaller than that of the central portion.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 36 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said film contacts a surface of said base material opposite to a surface on which said first heating member and said second heating member are disposed.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 56 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a roller for forming a nip with said heater via said film, the recording material bearing an unfixed image at said nip being nipped and conveyed, and the unfixed image being fixed on the recording material by the heat from said heater via said film.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 142 words

A heater for heating an image, said-heater comprising: a long base material; a temperature detecting element for detecting temperature; and a first heating member and a second heating member shorter than said first heating member which are disposed along a longitudinal direction of said base material and generate heat by being energized, wherein (a) said first heating member and said second heating member are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said base material, heat generating areas of said first heating member and said second heating member in a longitudinal direction of said base material are overlapping, (b) said first heating member is disposed for heating a first size recording material and a second size recording material smaller than the first size recording material, and (c) said second heating member is disposed for heating the second size recording material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 142 words

A heater for heating an image, said-heater comprising: a long base material; a temperature detecting element for detecting temperature; and a first heating member and a second heating member shorter than said first heating member which are disposed along a longitudinal direction of said base material and generate heat by being energized, wherein (a) said first heating member and said second heating member are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said base material, heat generating areas of said first heating member and said second heating member in a longitudinal direction of said base material are overlapping, (b) said first heating member is disposed for heating a first size recording material and a second size recording material smaller than the first size recording material, and (c) said second heating member is disposed for heating the second size recording material.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

A heater according to claim 13 , further comprising a protective layer for covering said first heating member and said second heating member, said temperature detecting element being disposed on said protective layer.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

A heater according to claim 13 , wherein a resistance value per unit length of said second heating member is larger than that of said first heating member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

A heater according to claim 15 , wherein a width of said second heating member along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said base material is smaller than that of said first heating member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 89 words

A heater according to claim 13 , further comprising a third heating member which is disposed along the longitudinal direction of said base material and generates heat by being energized, a length of said third heating member being substantially the same as that of said first heating member, said third heating member, said first heating member and said second heating member being arranged in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said base material, and said third heating member being disposed for heating the first size recording material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

A heater according to claim 17 , wherein said third heating member is disposed on an opposite side to said first heating member with respect to said second heating member as a center.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

A heater according to claim 17 , wherein said third heating member is disposed between said first heating member and said second heating member.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 35 words

A heater according to claim 17 , wherein an end portion of said third heating member in the longitudinal direction thereof has a resistance value per unit length larger than that of a central portion.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

A heater according to claim 20 , wherein a width along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said base material of the end portion of said third heating member in the longitudinal direction thereof is smaller than that of the central portion.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 173 words

A heater for heating an image, said heater comprising: a long base material; a first heating member; a second heating member, said second heating member being shorter than said first heating member; and a third heating member, said third heating member having substantially a same length as a length of said first heating member, wherein (a) said first heating member, said second heating member, and said third heating member are each disposed along a longitudinal direction of said base material and generate heat by being energized, (b) said first heating member, said second heating member and said third heating member are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said base material, heat generating areas of said first heating member, said second heating member and said third heating member in a longitudinal direction of said base material are overlapping, and (c) said second heating member is disposed between said first heating member and said third heating member with respect to the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said base material.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 173 words

A heater for heating an image, said heater comprising: a long base material; a first heating member; a second heating member, said second heating member being shorter than said first heating member; and a third heating member, said third heating member having substantially a same length as a length of said first heating member, wherein (a) said first heating member, said second heating member, and said third heating member are each disposed along a longitudinal direction of said base material and generate heat by being energized, (b) said first heating member, said second heating member and said third heating member are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said base material, heat generating areas of said first heating member, said second heating member and said third heating member in a longitudinal direction of said base material are overlapping, and (c) said second heating member is disposed between said first heating member and said third heating member with respect to the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said base material.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 61 words

A heater according to claim 22 , wherein said first heating member is disposed for heating a first size recording material and a second size recording material smaller than the first size recording material, said second heating member is disposed for heating the second size recording material, and said third heating member is disposed for heating the first size recording material.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 44 words

A heater according to claim 22 , further comprising temperature detecting element for detecting temperature and a protective layer for covering said first heating member, said second heating member and said third heating member, said temperature detecting element being disposed on said protective layer.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 28 words

A heater according to claim 22 , wherein a resistance value per unit length of said second heating member is larger than that of said first heating member.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 36 words

A heater according to claim 25 , wherein a width of said second heating member along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said base material is smaller than that of said first heating member.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 35 words

A heater according to claim 22 , wherein an end portion of said third heating member in the longitudinal direction thereof has a resistance value per unit length larger than that of a central portion.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 44 words

A heater according to claim 27 , wherein the width along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said base material of the end portion of said third heating member in the longitudinal direction thereof is smaller than that of the central portion.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 43 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, with respect to the moving direction of the recording material, said temperature detecting element is provided on a downstream side of an end portion on an upstream side of said first heating member.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 43 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein, with respect to the moving direction of the recording material, said temperature detecting element is provided on an upstream side of an end portion on a downstream side of said second heating member.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 61 words

An image heating apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein, with respect to the moving direction of the recording material, said temperature detecting element is provided on a downstream side of an end portion on an upstream side of said first heating member and on an upstream side of an end portion on a downstream side of said third heating member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-12-31	2005-07-02	2006-01-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-12-31	2009-07-02	2010-01-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-12-31	2013-07-02	2014-01-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image heating apparatus and heater for heating image

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