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. 28, 2022
Filed:
Aug. 03, 2021
Natsuki Watanabe, Kanagawa, JP;
Natsuki Watanabe, Kanagawa, JP;
RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, a belt holder, a pressure gear, a thermal equalizer, a nip formation pad, and a support. The thermal equalizer includes a first face facing a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, and second and third faces bending and extending from upstream end and downstream end, respectively, of the first face in a direction of rotation of the fixing rotator. An upstream boundary portion between the first face and the second face and a downstream boundary portion between the first face and the third face each include, at least in a longitudinal end portion of the thermal equalizer proximate to the pressure gear, an inclined portion inclined to narrow the first face toward a longitudinal end of the thermal equalizer and having an angle of inclination not greater than 3°.