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:
Oct. 30, 2018
Filed:
Jul. 24, 2017
Kenichi Hasegawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Fujita, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroyuki Shimada, Tokyo, JP;
Kaori Hemmi, Kanagawa, JP;
Kenichi Hasegawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Fujita, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroyuki Shimada, Tokyo, JP;
Kaori Hemmi, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device includes a fixing belt that is rotatable and a pressure rotator that is pressed against the fixing belt to form a fixing nip therebetween. A polishing roller separably contacts the fixing belt and slides over an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt while the polishing roller is pressed against the fixing belt. At least one support supports and stretches the fixing belt. A polishing aid, which is disposed opposite the polishing roller via the fixing belt, supports and stretches the fixing belt. The polishing roller is disposed opposite the polishing aid via the fixing belt to form a polishing nip between the polishing roller and the fixing belt while the polishing roller is pressed against the fixing belt. The polishing roller changes a rotation locus of the fixing belt along at least a part of a circumferential face of the polishing roller.