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:
Jan. 09, 2024
Filed:
Feb. 16, 2022
Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Kiyotaka Murakami, Mishima Shizuoka, JP;
Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Yokohama Kanagawa, JP;
Sasuke Endo, Chigasaki Kanagawa, JP;
Masaya Tanaka, Sunto Shizuoka, JP;
Ryota Saeki, Sunto Shizuoka, JP;
Kousei Miyashita, Sunto Shizuoka, JP;
Ryosuke Kojima, Sunto Shizuoka, JP;
Yohei Doi, Mishima Shizuoka, JP;
Yuki Kawashima, Tagata Shizuoka, JP;
Eiji Shinohara, Mishima Shizuoka, JP;
Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing unit or device that can be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first heater element that is formed of a material that increases in electrical resistance with increases in temperature. A controller of the fixing unit is configured to vary a duty ratio of electric power applied to the first heater element during a start-up operation in which the temperature of the first heater element is raised to a target operating temperature. By varying the duty ratio during the start-up operation, changes in the resistance of the first heater element with the heating can be compensated. For example, the duty ratio can be increased during the course of the start-up to achieve the target operating temperature faster.