Fixing device

Details Fixing device Fixing device

2000-02-28

2001-09-04

Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)

Electrophotography

Having particular structure

Modular or displaceable

C399S327000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06285846

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing device, in which a web unit having a windable web member is detachably provided to a fixing device frame.
2. Description of the Related Art
An fixing device is the well-known device in which a web unit having a windable web member is detachably provided to a fixing device frame, for example, in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 3-267984.
In the above-described conventional technology, such a care is taken that a housing of the web unit is made of heat resistive resin or a heat resistive sheet is adhered onto a grip area at the web unit replacement. However, because the web unit is located right above a fixing heat roller which is heated to about 200° C., it is not necessarily a safe structure to be handled with empty-hands by the operator.
Further, because there is no structure to directly fix the web unit to the fixing device frame, the print can be conducted even when the mounting of the web unit is imperfect. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that mid-insertion of the web unit can not be prevented.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems of the conventional technology, and to provide a highly reliable fixing device in which the replacement of the web unit can be easily and correctly conducted, and a printing failure is not generated due to imperfect attachment of the web unit to the fixing device frame. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device in which the safety during the web unit replacement is improved.
The above object can be attained by the following structure. A fixing device (
7
) which has a web unit (
73
) provided with a housing (
731
) which holds two shaft members (
732
,
732
) in parallel with each other, and a web member (
733
) supported so that it can be wound around the shaft members, and in which the web unit is detachably provided with the fixing device frame (
700
), wherein the web unit (
73
) has through holes (
731
a
,
731
b
) provided on the housing side surfaces, and a handle (
734
) having protrusions (
734
a
,
734
b
) formed into a sectional form having the first width (W
1
) and the second width (W
2
) larger than the first width, in which the protrusions can engage with the through holes, and protrude from the hosing side surfaces toward the outside in the condition being engaged with the through holes, and the fixing device frame has a guide groove (
701
) provided with a groove portion (
701
a
) to guide the protrusions based on the first width, and a guide portion (
701
b
) to allow the switching of the protrusions from the first width to the second width at the last stop of the groove portion, and the attachment and detachment of the web unit (
73
) to and from the fixing device frame (
700
) are regulated according to the position of the handle (
734
) to the housing (
731
).


REFERENCES:
patent: 5978640 (1999-11-01), Segawa
patent: 5999786 (1999-12-01), Saito

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