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:
Jun. 23, 2020
Filed:
May. 22, 2019
Ippei Fujimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroyuki Shimada, Tokyo, JP;
Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Seto, Kanagawa, JP;
Takayuki Seki, Kanagawa, JP;
Ippei Fujimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroyuki Shimada, Tokyo, JP;
Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Seto, Kanagawa, JP;
Takayuki Seki, Kanagawa, JP;
RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator that is disposed opposite the fixing rotator. A nip former is disposed inside a loop formed by the fixing rotator and disposed opposite the pressure rotator via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The fixing rotator slides over the nip former. A flange supports the fixing rotator at both lateral ends of the fixing rotator in a longitudinal direction of the fixing rotator. The nip former includes a base and a thermal conductor that has a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the base. The base is greater than the thermal conductor in the longitudinal direction of the fixing rotator. The base includes a groove that is disposed outboard at least from the thermal conductor in the longitudinal direction of the fixing rotator.