Patent ID: 11934118
Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 10:
11. A fuser configured to nip a sheet by a heating member and a pressurizing member and to thermally fix an image formed in a toner on the sheet, the fuser comprising:
a supporting member supporting the heating member;
a temperature sensor including a temperature-detecting element, the temperature sensor attached to the supporting member being configured to detect a temperature of the heating member without contacting; and
a plurality of ribs arranged on the supporting member, the plurality of ribs extending in a rotating direction of the heating member along an outer circumferential surface of the heating member at positions different from the temperature-detecting element in a lengthwise direction of the heating member, the plurality of ribs including:
a first rib having a face facing the outer circumferential surface;
a second rib located farther than the first rib from the temperature-detecting element in the lengthwise direction, the second rib having a face facing the outer circumferential surface; and
a third rib located on a side opposite to the first rib across the temperature-detecting element in the lengthwise direction,

wherein a length of the face of the first rib in the lengthwise direction is greater than a length of the face of the second rib in the lengthwise direction, and
wherein the fuser further comprises a first enhancing rib connecting the first rib and the third rib, the first enhancing rib being located at a position different from the temperature-detecting element in the rotating direction.