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:
Mar. 26, 2019
Filed:
Jun. 20, 2017
Kazunari Sawada, Shizuoka, JP;
Ippei Fujimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Kenji Ishii, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Seto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Chiba, JP;
Takayuki Seki, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazunari Sawada, Shizuoka, JP;
Ippei Fujimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Kenji Ishii, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Seto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Chiba, JP;
Takayuki Seki, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device includes a nip former including a first face to form a fixing nip, a second face being disposed upstream from the first face in a rotation direction of a rotator and defining a predetermined angle relative to the first face, and a bent portion coupling the first face to the second face. An inner circumferential surface of the rotator slides over the first face. A lateral end accumulation portion and a center accumulation portion are defined by the second face and the bent portion of the nip former and the inner circumferential surface of the rotator. The lateral end accumulation portion is accumulated with a lubricant in a first amount. The center accumulation portion is disposed inboard from the lateral end accumulation portion in an axial direction of the rotator and accumulated with the lubricant in a second amount greater than the first amount.