Image forming apparatus

Abstract

In an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form a toner image on a sheet and a fixing device to heat the toner image. The fixing device includes a cylindrical belt, a heater within the interior region to heat a region of the belt. A first and a second heat conduction member are also within the interior region. The heater is between the first heat conduction member and the belt, and also between the second heat conduction member and the belt. The second heat conduction member has a recess facing the heater.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a sheet; and   a fixing device configured to heat the toner image on the sheet and including:
 a cylindrical belt surrounding an interior region and having an outer surface configured to contact the sheet, 
 a heater having a width in a first direction and a length in a second direction, the heater being within the interior region and positioned to heat a region of the outer surface, 
 a first heat conduction member within the interior region, the heater being between the first heat conduction member and the region of the outer surface in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, and 
 a second heat conduction member within the interior region, the heater being between the second heat conduction member and the region of the outer surface in the third direction, wherein 
   the second heat conduction member has a recess facing towards the heater in the third direction and extending in the second direction.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat conduction member has an anisotropic thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the thermal conductivity of the first heat conduction member in the first or second direction is greater than the thermal conductivity of the first heat conduction member in the third direction. 
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the heater in the first direction is less than or equal to a width of the recess in the first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat conduction member is between the heater and the second heat conduction member in the third direction. 
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second heat conduction member is between the heater and the first heat conduction member in the third direction. 
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a substrate on which the heater is disposed, the heater being between the region of the outer surface and the substrate in the third direction.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third heat conduction member between the heater and the first heat conduction member in the third direction.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein a maximum thickness of the third heat conduction member in the third direction is less than or equal to a maximum thickness of the first heat conduction member. 
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first heat conduction member comprises graphite, and   the second heat conduction member comprises a metal.   
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess in the second heat conduction member overlaps the heater when viewed from the third direction. 
     
     
         12 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second heat conduction member further includes a second recess spaced from the recess in the first direction. 
     
     
         13 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the recess in the second heat conduction member overlaps the heater when viewed from the third direction, and   the second recess in the second heat conduction member does not overlap the heater when viewed from the third direction.   
     
     
         14 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the first heat conduction member in the second direction is equal to a length of the second heat conduction member in the second direction. 
     
     
         15 . A fixing device for fixing toner to a sheet, the fixing device comprising:
 a cylindrical belt surrounding an interior region and having an outer surface configured to contact a sheet;   a heater having a width in a first direction and a length in a second direction, the heater being within the interior region and positioned to heat a region of the outer surface;   a first heat conduction member within the interior region, the heater being between the first heat conduction member and the region of the outer surface in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions; and   a second heat conduction member within the interior region, the heater being between the second heat conduction member and the region of the outer surface in the third direction, wherein   the second heat conduction member has a recess facing towards the heater in the third direction and extending in the second direction.   
     
     
         16 . The fixing device according to  claim 15 , wherein the thermal conductivity of the first heat conduction member in the first or second direction is greater than the thermal conductivity of the first heat conduction member in the third direction. 
     
     
         17 . The fixing device according to  claim 15 , wherein the first heat conduction member is between the heater and the second heat conduction member in the third direction. 
     
     
         18 . The fixing device according to  claim 15 , wherein the first heat conduction member comprises graphite, and the second heat conduction member comprises a metal. 
     
     
         19 . The fixing device according to  claim 15 , wherein the recess in the second heat conduction member overlaps the heater when viewed from the third direction. 
     
     
         20 . The fixing device according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the second heat conduction member further includes a second recess spaced from the recess in the first direction,   the recess in the second heat conduction member overlaps the heater when viewed from the third direction, and   the second recess in the second heat conduction member does not overlap the heater when viewed from the third direction.