Patent ID: 9323187
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A fixing device configured to thermally fix an image on a sheet, the fixing device comprising: an endless belt extending in a first direction and configured to rotate; a heater extending inside the endless belt in the first direction and configured to heat the endless belt; a nip plate extending inside the endless belt in the first direction and configured to receive heat from the heater and transmit the heat to the endless belt; a first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the nip plate heated by the heater and outputting a first signal of the temperature of the nip plate, the first temperature sensor being disposed inside the endless belt; a second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the endless belt heated by the heater and outputting a second signal of the temperature of the endless belt, the second temperature sensor being disposed outside of the endless belt; a thermal cutoff disposed outside of the endless belt and configured to interrupt electric current to the heater when the temperature of the endless belt exceeds a specified temperature; and a controller configured to control a temperature of the heater based on the first signal of the temperature of the nip plate from the first temperature sensor and the second signal of the temperature of the endless belt from the second temperature sensor.