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. 09, 2021
Filed:
Apr. 28, 2020
Ippei Fujimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Seto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroyuki Shimada, Tokyo, JP;
Ippei Fujimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Seto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroyuki Shimada, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device includes a fixing rotator that rotates and includes an inner face. A pressure rotator is disposed opposite the fixing rotator and rotates. A nip former sandwiches the fixing rotator together with the pressure rotator to form a nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The nip former includes an outer face disposed opposite the inner face of the fixing rotator. The inner face of the fixing rotator and the outer face of the nip former sandwich a lubricant. At least one of the inner face of the fixing rotator and the outer face of the nip former includes a projection having a volume smaller than 0.3 ml/mand a recess having a spatial volume greater than 0.08 ml/m. The volume and the spatial volume are three-dimensional surface roughness parameters, respectively, defined by the International Organization for Standardization 25178 standard in an initial state before the fixing rotator rotates.