Patent ID: 8126383
Filing Date: 2012-02-28
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing apparatus, comprising: a fixing member which is rotatable; a heating member which is curved and includes a planar heat-generating body; and a fixing belt which is endless and moves while getting in contact with the fixing member and the heating member, the fixing member and the heating member being arranged such that a concave curved surface of the heating member faces the fixing member, the planar heat-generating body, including: a resistive heat-generating body containing a plurality of small heat-generating bodies which are electrically connected in parallel and are aligned in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the fixing belt moves; and (i) positive temperature coefficient elements connected in series with whole of or some of the plurality of small heat-generating bodies in a power supply path from a power source or (ii) a single positive temperature coefficient element connected in series with some of the plurality of small heat-generating bodies in a power supply path from the power source, in an area corresponding to a non-sheet passing area of the fixing belt, the non-sheet passing area being an area where a smallest-size sheet does not pass, the smallest-size sheet being smallest among sheets that the fixing apparatus deals with, the positive temperature coefficient element(s) having a resistance value increasing at a predetermined temperature or higher.