JP6108683B2 - Heating device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heating device such as a fixing device mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

  There is a film-type fixing device as a fixing device mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The film-type fixing device uses a heater having a structure in which a heating element is provided on a ceramic substrate.

  The heater is formed with an electrode portion to which a connector for supplying power to the heater is connected. The connector is attached to the electrode portion from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the support member that supports the heater. If it does so, the contact terminal provided inside a connector will contact | abut to the electrode part of a heater, and will be electrically connected. The contact terminal needs to ensure a predetermined contact pressure with respect to the electrode part of the heater in order to prevent poor conduction with the electrode part of the heater.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an invention relating to a connector that secures a predetermined contact pressure when a contact portion of a contact terminal contacts an electrode of a heater. Here, a problem derived from the invention described in Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

  FIG. 16A is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the connector 513. As shown in FIG. 16A, the connector 513 is configured by positioning the contact terminal 514 inside a housing 515 having a U-shaped opening 515X. The spring contact portion 644 of the contact terminal 514 is exposed to the U-shaped opening 515X of the housing 515.

  FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the heater 505 and the support member 506. In the heater 505 shown in FIG. 16B, a heating element (not shown) and an electrode portion 510 are provided on one surface of the ceramic substrate 509, and the other surface of the ceramic substrate 509 is bonded to the support member 506. ing.

  FIG. 16C is a cross-sectional view showing how the connector 513 is fitted to the support member 506. FIG. 17A is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the connector 513 is fitted to the support member 506. When the support member 506 enters the U-shaped opening 515X of the connector 513, the connector 513 and the support member 506 are positioned. Then, the spring contact portion 644 of the contact terminal 514 comes into contact with the electrode portion 510 of the heater 505, and a predetermined contact pressure is ensured.

Japanese Patent No. 3445034

  However, the configuration described above has the following problems. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view showing a process of fitting the connector 513 to the support member 506. As shown in FIG. 17B, in the process in which the housing 515 is mounted on the support member 506, the spring contact portion 644 of the contact terminal 514 is like 644a, 644b, 644c indicated by double chain line portions. Therefore, it is necessary to overcome the edge of the ceramic substrate 509 with strong friction. Therefore, it is considered that the surface of the spring contact portion 644 is worn. In such a case, it is considered that the contact area between the spring contact portion 644 and the ceramic substrate 509 varies, and conduction is not stable. Further, when worn, it is conceivable that the conduction becomes unstable even if the spring contact portion 644 secures a predetermined contact pressure.

In the present invention, in the process of mounting the connector on the power supply object, the contact portion of the contact terminal protruding from the opening of the connector comes into contact with the heater inserted into the opening. An object of the present invention is to provide a heating device in which the phenomenon of wear is suppressed and conduction failure is suppressed.

The present invention for solving the above-described problems includes a heater, a housing having an opening into which the heater enters, and a swingable contact terminal supported by the housing and in contact with an electrode of the heater. And a connector for supplying electric power to the heater, wherein the connector is operably attached from the outside of the housing and suppresses the contact terminal in a direction of retracting from the opening. a regulating position, has a regulating member movable to a retracted position retracted from the regulating position, the contact terminals, and the electrode contactable a contact portion of the heater, downstream of the contact portion in the heater entering direction a of hook provided in a region shaped portion, parallel to surface portion substantially parallel to the entering direction when the regulation and the member abuts the flat A substantially perpendicular to the surface portion, and a hook-shaped portion and a step portion of the regulating member when said contact restricting the member equivalent to regulate that contact with the contact portion, the receiving portion of the connector It has a contact part which can be contacted, and the restricting member is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the approach direction .

  According to the present invention, there is a phenomenon in which the contact portion of the contact terminal protruding from the opening of the connector and the contact of the heater (power supply target) are worn in the process of mounting the connector on the heater (power supply target). It is avoided and conduction failure is suppressed.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of an image forming apparatus provided with the heating apparatus which has a connector of this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a fixing device. It is sectional drawing etc. which show the structure of a heater. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a connector. It is a perspective view etc. which show the structure of the whole of a heater and a supporting member. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that a connector is attached to a heater. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a connector and a supporting member. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a connector and a supporting member. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a heater according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a perspective view etc. which show the structure of the whole of a heater and a supporting member. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a connector and a supporting member. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a connector and a supporting member. It is sectional drawing etc. which show the structure of a connector. It is sectional drawing etc. which show a mode after a connector was fitted by the supporting member.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, since the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described in this embodiment are appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions, there is no specific description. As long as the scope of the invention is not limited to these, it is not intended.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 including a heating unit 2 according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 is an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 has an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter, simply referred to as “apparatus main body”) 100A. Inside the apparatus main body 100A, an image forming unit G for forming an image is provided. Provided. The image forming unit G includes a photosensitive drum 31 that is an “image carrier”, a primary transfer roller 36 that is a “transfer device”, and the like. At least the photosensitive drum 31 or the developing device 34 may be included in the process cartridge and incorporated into the apparatus main body 100A as a process cartridge.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes an apparatus main body 100A. A plurality of image forming units G are arranged inside the apparatus main body 100A. Among the components of the image forming unit G, those that differ only in color are indicated by the suffixes a, b, c, and d in FIG. 1, but will be omitted in the following description. Go. The image forming unit G includes a photosensitive drum 31, a charging roller 32, an exposure device 33, a developing device 34, and the like. The developing device 34 has a developing roller 35.

  An intermediate transfer belt 37 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 31. The intermediate transfer belt 37 is suspended from a secondary transfer counter roller 37x, a drive roller 37y, and a tension roller 37z. A plurality of primary transfer rollers 36 are arranged between the drive roller 37y and the tension roller 37z. The photosensitive drum 31 and the primary transfer roller 36 form a nip with the intermediate transfer belt 37 interposed therebetween.

  In addition, the apparatus main body 100A includes a feeding cassette 41, a pickup roller 42, a separation roller 43, a registration roller pair 44, a secondary transfer roller 45, a fixing device 1, and a discharge roller pair 47. The fixing device 1 includes a heating unit 2 and a pressure roller 3.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of the fixing device (heating device) 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 1 has an exterior portion 1A. Inside the exterior portion 1A, a conveyance guide 51, a heating unit 2 and a pressure roller 3, a conveyance guide 51, and a conveyance roller 4 are arranged in order from the bottom. The heating unit 2 includes a heater 5 (an object to which power is supplied) and a support member 6 that supports the heater 5, and is urged toward the pressure roller 3 by an urging unit (not shown). The pressure roller 3 is rotated by a driving force of a driving unit (not shown) from the outside. Reference numeral 7 denotes a cylindrical film, and the film 7 rotates following the pressure roller 3. Electric power is supplied to the heater 5 via a connector described later.

  When the sheet S carrying an unfixed toner image is conveyed to the contact portion (nip portion) between the heating unit 2 and the pressure roller 3, the toner is fixed to the sheet S by heat and pressure, and then discharged from the conveyance roller 4. It is conveyed to a part (not shown). As described above, the fixing device 1 includes the heater 5, the cylindrical film 7 disposed so that the heater 5 contacts the inner surface, and the nip portion that sandwiches and conveys the sheet S together with the heater 5 via the film 7. And a heating roller 3 to be formed.

  FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the heater 5. FIG.3 (b) is the top view seen from the arrow b direction of Fig.3 (a). FIG.3 (c) is the reverse view seen from the arrow c direction of Fig.3 (a). The fixing device 1 includes the support member 6 and the heater 5 described above. Among these, the heater 5 includes an insulating substrate 9, a heating element 8, an electrode part 10, a conduction part 11, and a protective layer 12.

  The insulating substrate 9 is formed of a ceramic material. The heating element 8 is a resistor that is provided on the insulating substrate 9 and has conductivity and generates heat. The electrode unit 10 is provided on the insulating substrate 9 and is electrically connected to the heating element 8. The conduction part 11 is a part that electrically connects the electrode part 10 and the heating element 8. The protective layer 12 is an insulating layer that covers and protects the heating element 8 and the conductive portion 11. The insulating substrate 9 is fixed to the supporting member 6 (see FIG. 2), and the supporting member 6 supports the insulating substrate 9 so that the supporting member 6 supports the heater 5. As shown in FIG. 3C, nothing is provided on the back surface of the insulating substrate 9, but this portion is supported by the support member 6.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the connector 13. The connector 13 includes a housing 15 having an opening 15X into which the heater 5 enters, and a swingable contact terminal 14 that is supported by the housing 15 and contacts the heater electrode. The housing 15 has a U-shaped opening 15X in sectional view. The opening 15X is provided with a protruding retraction hole 15Y so that the contact terminal 14 protrudes from the opening 15X or the contact terminal 14 retreats from the opening 15X. The housing 15 is provided with a receiving portion 146 against which the abutting portion (tip portion) 145 of the contact terminal 14 abuts. The projecting / retracting hole 15Y is formed by an end portion of the receiving portion 146 and an end portion of a pressing portion 171 of the regulating member 17 described later.

  The connector 13 has a restriction member 17 inside the housing 15. The restricting member 17 is a restricting position (position in FIG. 7) for restraining the contact terminal 14 in the retracting direction from the opening 15X, and a retracting position (the position in FIG. 4 where the contact terminal is retracted from the restricting position). Position). The movement direction of the restricting member 17 is parallel to the direction in which the heater enters the connector opening 15X (the direction opposite to the connector mounting direction Y shown in FIG. 6) (the X1 direction shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 9). X2 direction). An operation member 18 for moving the regulating member 17 is provided on the back surface of the housing 15. The operation member 18 is movable between the position shown in FIG. 4 and the position shown in FIG. The operating member 18 is provided with a convex portion 18a, and the position of the operating member 18, that is, the position of the regulating member 17 is determined by entering the concave portion 15a or the concave portion 15b provided on the back surface of the housing.

  The contact terminal 14 includes a support surface portion 141, a bending portion 142, an engagement surface portion (saddle-shaped portion) 143, a contact portion 144, and an abutting portion 145 in order from the base end side. The contact terminal is a terminal that is electrically connected to the electrode portion 10 of the heater that is inserted into the opening 15X by protruding (swinging) with respect to the opening 15X. The contact part 144 is in contact with the electrode part 10 of the heater 5. Further, a bent portion between the support surface portion 141 and the bent portion 142 is a swing fulcrum of the contact terminal 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the contact terminal 14 has an engagement surface portion (a saddle type) provided in a region downstream of the contact portion 144 in the heater entry direction X <b> 2 (see FIG. 9) (the power supply target entry direction). Shape portion) 143. Further, the engagement surface portion (saddle-shaped portion) 143 is provided between the contact portion 144 and the swing fulcrum. The engaging surface portion 143 includes a parallel surface portion 143a that is substantially parallel to the approach direction X2, and a step surface portion 143b that is substantially perpendicular to the parallel surface portion 143a. The support surface portion 141 is a portion formed on the proximal end side of the contact terminal 14 and supported by the housing 15. The bent portion 142 extends with an inclination with respect to the support surface portion 141 at a predetermined angle. Since the contact terminal 14 has a spring property, when the contact terminal receives a force in a direction in which the support surface portion 141 and the bent portion 142 are linear, a resistance is generated.

  The contact portion 144 has a curved surface and is a portion that comes into contact with the electrode portion 10 of the heater 5 inserted into the opening portion 15 </ b> X, and is urged to the electrode portion 10 by the urging force of the bending portion 142 described above. become. The abutting portion 145 is a portion that restricts the movement of the contact terminal 14 by abutting against the receiving portion 146 of the housing 15.

  The material of the contact terminal 14 is stainless steel or titanium alloy, and the surface is plated with a low resistance material such as gold.

  The regulating member 17 has a pressing portion 171 that is provided inside the housing 15 and extends in the regulating direction X1. When the restricting member 17 operates in the restricting direction X <b> 1, the restricting member 17 reaches the saddle-shaped portion 143 while pressing the bent portion 142 of the contact terminal 14 by the pressing portion 171. When the pressing portion 171 of the restricting member 17 reaches the saddle-shaped portion 143 (reaching the restricting position), the parallel surface portion 143a of the contact terminal 14 is pushed by the pressing portion 171 of the restricting member 17, so that the contact terminal 14 is restricted. It is pushed down by the member 17.

  A regulating member 17 is fixed to the operation member 18. The operation member 18 is a member for operating the restriction member 17 in the restriction direction X1 or the release direction X2. Further, the operating member 18 is formed with a convex portion 18a for engaging with the concave portion 15a or the concave portion 15b of the housing 15. When the operating member 18 moves in the release direction X2 and the convex portion 18a is engaged with the concave portion 15b, the contact terminal 14 protrudes with respect to the opening 15X, and the heater 5 inserted into the opening 15X. It is electrically connected to the electrode unit 10. When the operating member 18 operates in the restricting direction X1 and the convex portion 18a is engaged with the concave portion 15a, the contact terminal 14 is retracted from the opening 15X (see FIG. 7).

  FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the heater 5 and the support member 6. FIG. 5B is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the configuration of the heater 5 on the side in contact with the film 7. FIG. 5C is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the configuration of the support member 6. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the support member 6 supports the heater 5 inside a groove 6A formed over the longitudinal direction. The support member 6 also has a role of regulating the rotation posture of the film 7.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the connector 13 is attached to the support member 6 that supports the heater 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the connector 13 is attached to the support member 6 outside the end of the film 7. An arrow Y indicates a direction in which the connector 13 is attached. Subsequently, an operation for attaching the connector 13 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the connector 13. Before attaching the connector 13 to the support member 6 that supports the heater 5, first, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation member 18 is operated to move the regulating member 17 from the state of FIG. 4 to the state of FIG. And move. When the operating member 18 is operated, the regulating member 17 is moved toward the U-shaped opening 15X of the housing 15 (X1 direction).

  When the regulating member 17 moves toward the U-shaped opening 15X, the pressing portion 171 moves while contacting the bent portion 142 of the contact terminal 14, and pushes the contact terminal 14 downward. When further moved in the X1 direction, the pressing portion 171 comes into contact with the engaging surface portion (saddle-shaped portion) 143. At this time, the pressing portion 171 is in contact with the parallel surface portion 143a. Finally, as shown by the dotted circle in FIG. 7, the end surface 18 </ b> A (see FIG. 4) of the operation member 18 abuts against the abutment surface 15 </ b> A (see FIG. 4) of the housing 15 and is positioned. The pressing member 171 of the regulating member 17 stops in a state where it is engaged with the engaging surface portion 143.

  When the pressing portion 171 is in contact with the parallel surface portion 143a, the parallel surface portion 143a is configured by a surface substantially parallel to the regulation direction X1 that is the moving direction of the pressing portion 171. For this reason, the regulating member 17 can be moved smoothly without being caught. As described above, the engagement surface portion 143 includes not only the parallel surface portion 143a but also the step surface portion 143b that forms a step between the parallel surface portion 143a and the contact portion 144. The stepped surface portion 143b also has a function of preventing the contact portion 144 from coming into contact with the pressing portion 171.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the connector 13 and the support member 6. In a state where the contact terminal 14 is pushed down as shown in FIG. 7, the connector 13 is attached to the support member 6 that supports the heater 5 as shown in FIG. 8. Since the contact terminal 14 is pushed down by the restricting member 17 before the connector 13 is mounted, the engagement surface portion 143 and the contact portion 144 of the contact terminal 14 are connected to the heater 5 (particularly the electrode portion 10) in the process of mounting the connector 13. ).

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing configurations of the connector 13 and the support member 6. After the connector 13 is mounted on the support member 6 that supports the heater 5 as shown in FIG. 8, the operation member 18 is operated as shown in FIG. Is moved in the release direction X2, which is the opposite direction to the direction toward the opening 15X. If it does so, the engagement surface part 143 of the contact terminal 14 pressed down by the press part 171 of the control member 17 will be released, and the contact part 144 will contact the surface of the electrode part 10 of the heater 5 from a substantially perpendicular direction. In this state, the contact terminal 14 has gaps at two places (a dotted line round part) between the bent part 142 and the pressing part 171 and between the abutting part 145 and the receiving part 146, and the contact part 144 is an electrode. The position is determined by contacting the portion 10 with a predetermined pressure.

In this embodiment, the connector 13 is mounted on the support member 6 that supports the heater 5 in a state where the engagement surface portion 143 of the contact terminal 14 is pressed down by the pressing portion 171 of the regulating member 17. Therefore, there is a gap between the contact portion 144 and the heater 5, and both can be prevented from rubbing. As a result, wear of the heater electrode 10 and the contact portion 144 of the contact terminal can be suppressed, and conduction failure can be suppressed.

Further, since the provided hook-shaped portion to the contact terminal 14, restricting depressed width of the contact terminals 14 by member 17 becomes precisely, the connector 13 securely wear suppression of the contact portion when mounting the heater 5 Become.

  FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the heater 20. FIG.10 (b) is the top view seen from the arrow b direction of Fig.10 (a). FIG.10 (c) is the reverse view seen from the arrow c direction of Fig.10 (a). Among the other configurations of the heater 20, the support member 21 and the connector 22 of the second embodiment, the same configurations and effects as those of the heater 5, the support member 6, the connector 13 and the other of the first embodiment are the same with the same reference numerals or different signs. Explanation is appropriately omitted using terms. Since the second embodiment can be applied to the same image forming apparatus as that of the first embodiment, the description of the image forming apparatus is omitted. Characteristic features of the heater 20 and the support member 21 of the second embodiment are as follows.

  The heater 20 includes a first heating element 8b provided on the first surface E of the insulating substrate 9, and a first electrode provided on the first surface E of the insulating substrate 9 and electrically connected to the first heating element 8b. Part 10b. In addition, the heater 20 is a second heating element 8c provided on the second surface F of the insulating substrate 9 and a second heating element 8c provided on the second surface F of the insulating substrate 9 and electrically connected to the second heating element 8c. 2 electrode part 10c. Here, of the two surfaces 20 b and 20 c of the heater 20, the surface 20 c is supported by the support member 21.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the heater 20 has a heating element 8 b on the surface (first surface) side of the insulating substrate 9, and the heating element on the back surface (second surface) side of the insulating substrate 9. 8c. Further, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, the heating element 8c is shorter than the heating element 8b.

  The heating element 8b and the heating element 8c have different lengths in the longitudinal direction in order to correspond to sheets of various sizes. When electric power is supplied through the connector 13, the electrode parts 10b and 10c, and the conduction parts 11b and 11c, each of the heating elements 8b and 8c generates heat with electric power according to the voltage and the resistance value of the heating elements 8b and 8c. . A control unit (not shown) can arbitrarily change whether both the heating element 8b and the heating element 8c generate heat at the same time or only one of them.

  FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the heater 20 and the support member 21. FIG. 11B is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the configuration of the heater 20 on the side in contact with the film 7. FIG. 11C is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the configuration of the cutout portion 21B formed on the support surface side opposite to the side in contact with the film 7 in the support member 21. The support member 21 regulates the rotational posture of the film 7 while supporting the heater 20 with the groove portion 21 </ b> A formed over the longitudinal direction. The support member 21 is notched so that one electrode portion 10c of the heater 20 is exposed (notch portion 21B).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, the housing 23 of the connector 22 has a pair of contact terminals 24, and the contact portions 244 are arranged to face each other at the opening 23X. When the support member 21 that supports the heater 20 enters the opening 23X, the pair of contact terminals 24 come into contact with the electrode portions 10b and 10c provided on both surfaces of the heater 20, respectively. Details will be described below.

  FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the connector 22. The connector 22 includes a housing 23 having a U-shaped opening 23 </ b> X, a pair of contact terminals 24, a regulating member 25, and an operation member 18.

  The contact terminal 24 includes, in order from the base end side, a support surface portion 241 supported by the housing 23, a bent portion 242 for generating an urging force, an engagement surface portion (a saddle shape portion) 243, a contact portion 244 having a curved surface, Abutting portion 245. The housing 23 is provided with a receiving portion 246 against which the abutting portion 245 abuts. The engaging surface portion 243 has a parallel surface portion 243a and a step surface portion 243b. These parts of the contact terminal 24 have the same functions as the parts of the contact terminal 14 described in the first embodiment.

  Here, although the contact portions 244 of the pair of contact terminals 24 are arranged to face each other, it is preferable to prevent the plating state on the surface of the contact portions 244 from changing when the contact portions 244 come into contact with each other. For this reason, a gap is provided between both contact portions 244 in a state where the connector 22 is not attached to the heater 20 (the state shown in FIG. 12).

  The restricting member 25 has two pressing portions 251. The pressing portion 251 is formed by being divided into two forks. The upper pressing portion presses the upper contact terminal 24, and the lower pressing portion presses the lower contact terminal 24.

  FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the connector 22. Before the connector 22 is attached to the support member 21 that supports the heater 20, first, as shown in FIG. 13, the regulating member 25 is moved from the state of FIG. 12 to the state of FIG. . When the restricting member 25 moves in the direction of the U-shaped opening 23X, the upper and lower pressing portions 251 move while contacting the bent portions 242 of the contact terminals 24, and finally the engagement surface portion (saddle shape portion). 243 is contacted. Finally, the end surface 18A of the operating member 18 is positioned by abutting against the abutting surface 23A of the housing 23 (the dotted line circle in FIG. 13), and the pressing portion 251 of the regulating member 25 is engaged with the engaging surface portion 243. Stop in the combined state.

  FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the connector 22 and the support member 21. As shown in FIG. 14, the connector 22 is attached to the support member 21 that supports the heater 20. At the time of mounting, the contact portion 244 of the contact terminal 24 is supported with a predetermined gap with respect to the electrode portion 10 of the heater 20.

  FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating configurations of the connector 22 and the support member 21. As shown in FIG. 15, the regulating member 25 is moved in the release direction X2 by operating the operating member 18. Then, the pressing portion 251 of the regulating member 25 is separated from the engagement surface portion 243 of the contact terminal 24, and the upper and lower contact portions 244 come into contact with the upper and lower electrode portions 10 of the heater 20 from a substantially vertical direction.

  In this embodiment, the connector 22 is mounted on the support member 21 that supports the heater 20 in a state where the engagement surface portion 243 of the contact terminal 24 is supported by the pressing portion 251 of the regulating member 25. Therefore, there is a gap between the contact portion 244 and the electrode of the heater 20 at the stage of mounting the connector, and both can be prevented from rubbing. As a result, the contact portion 244 is not worn, and the conduction failure of the contact portion 244 can be prevented.

As in Example 1 or 2, prior to mounting the connector 13 and 22 to the heater are configured to regulate the contact terminals 14, 24 by the restricting member. For this reason, the contact portions 144 and 244 of the contact terminals 14 and 24 do not come into contact with the support members 6 and 21 when the connector is attached to the heater. As a result, a phenomenon in which a strong load is applied to the contact portions 144 and 244 of the contact terminals 14 and 24 and the contact terminals 14 and 24 are plastically deformed and worn is suppressed, and a stable contact pressure is secured.

Further, since the provided hook-shaped portion to the contact terminal, depressed width of the contact terminal by the regulating member is accurate, wear control of the contact portion when mounting the connector to the heater is ensured.

  17 and 18, it is necessary to regulate the mounting direction of the connector 513 so that the spring contact portion 644 can easily get over the ceramic substrate 509. On the other hand, according to the structure of Example 1 or 2, the freedom degree of the direction which mounts the connectors 13 and 22 to a heater increases. As a result, the assembly of the heating unit 2 is facilitated, and there are less restrictions on securing the space for the locus of inserting the connectors 13 and 22 into the peripheral portions of the connectors 13 and 22, thereby reducing the size of the heating unit 2. Realized.

  Furthermore, according to the configuration of the first or second embodiment, when the heating unit 2 is disassembled, a person who disassembles the connectors 13 and 22 without causing the contact portions 144 and 244 and the electrode portion 10 to rub against each other. Can be removed from. When reassembling, since the friction between the contact terminals 14 and 24 and the electrode portion 10 is suppressed, the change in the conductive state before and after the disassembly is suppressed, and the adjustment of the fixing property is unnecessary and maintenance is possible. Is good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electrode part 13, 22 Connector 14, 24 Contact terminal 15, 23 Housing 15X, 23X Opening part 17 Restriction member 141 Support surface part 143 Engagement surface part (saddle shape part)
144 Contact part

Claims (4)

A heater,
A housing having an opening into which the heater enters, a swingable contact terminal supported by the housing and in contact with an electrode of the heater, and a connector for supplying electric power to the heater;
In a heating device having
The connector includes a restriction position that is operably attached from the outside of the housing and that restrains the contact terminal in a direction of retreating from the opening, and a restriction member that is movable from the restriction position to a retreat position. ,
The contact terminal is a contact portion that can come into contact with the electrode of the heater, and a bowl-shaped portion that is provided in a region downstream of the contact portion in the heater entry direction, and is in contact with the restriction member parallel surface substantially parallel to said approach direction to the a substantially perpendicular to the parallel surface portion, a step of the regulating member when the the regulating member abuts to regulate that contact with the contact portion A saddle-shaped part having a surface part, and an abutting part capable of contacting the receiving part of the connector ;
The heating device , wherein the restricting member is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the approach direction .   The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the contact terminal has a swing fulcrum, and the saddle-shaped portion is provided between the contact portion and the swing fulcrum.   The heating device according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the contact terminals are provided so as to face each other.   The apparatus further includes a cylindrical film disposed so that the heater contacts the inner surface, and a roller that forms a nip portion that sandwiches and conveys the sheet together with the heater via the film. The heating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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