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:
Aug. 19, 2025
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2023
Kota Shiodera, Tokyo, JP;
Takayuki Andoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Masahiro Samei, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiyuki Kabata, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Chiba, JP;
Kota Shiodera, Tokyo, JP;
Takayuki Andoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Masahiro Samei, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiyuki Kabata, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Chiba, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device includes a rotator, a heater, a rotator support, a nip formation pad, lubricant, and a pressure rotator. The heater heats an inner circumferential surface of the rotator. The rotator support supports an end of the inner circumferential surface of the rotator in an axial direction of the rotator. The rotator slides on the rotator support. The nip formation pad is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the rotator. One end of the nip formation pad in a longitudinal direction of the nip formation pad is separated from the rotator support with a clearance of 2 mm or more. The lubricant is between the rotator and the nip formation pad. The pressure rotator presses the nip formation pad via the rotator to form a nip between the rotator and the pressure rotator.