The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 07, 2018
Filed:
Dec. 12, 2016
Kazunari Sawada, Kanagawa, JP;
Kenji Ishii, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuhito Kishi, Kanagawa, JP;
Takayuki Seki, Kanagawa, JP;
Ippei Fujimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Seto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Chiba, JP;
Misaki Shimizu, Tokyo, JP;
Kazunari Sawada, Kanagawa, JP;
Kenji Ishii, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuhito Kishi, Kanagawa, JP;
Takayuki Seki, Kanagawa, JP;
Ippei Fujimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Seto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Chiba, JP;
Misaki Shimizu, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device includes a flexible endless belt formed into a loop and having an inner circumferential surface, a heater to heat the endless belt, and a nip formation assembly disposed inside the loop formed by the endless belt. The nip formation assembly includes a pressure pad made of heat-resistant resin including a hollow filler, and a supplementary thermal conductor having a belt sliding-contact face over which the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt slides. The supplementary thermal conductor is interposed between the endless belt and the pressure pad to conduct heat from the heater in an axial direction of the endless belt. The fixing device further includes a pressure rotator to press against the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed.