Patent ID: 8005414
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image bearing heating apparatus comprising: a belt; an opposing roller, disposed opposed to said belt, and configured to form the nip between said belt and itself; a pad, disposed so as to sandwich said belt between said opposing roller and itself, and configured to press said belt toward said opposing roller in the nip; a pressure device configured and positioned to press at least one of said pad and said opposing roller so that said belt is pressed between said pad and said opposing roller in the nip; and a pressure changing device configured and positioned to change a pressure in the nip by said pressing device; wherein said pad has a thickness, at its longitudinal central portion, larger than that at its longitudinal end portions, wherein said pad has a first surface on said belt side and a second surface opposite from the first surface, and wherein each of the first surface and the second surface opposite from the first surface is curved longitudinally toward said opposing roller so that the longitudinal central portion of said pad is closer to said opposing roller than the longitudinal end portions of said pad.