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:
Nov. 18, 2025
Filed:
Nov. 28, 2023
Akimitsu Obana, Kanagawa, JP;
Akimitsu Obana, Kanagawa, JP;
RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a container, a thermal fixing device, and a duct. The image forming device forms an image on a sheet with an image forming substance. The container is separate from the image forming device and stores the image forming substance to be supplied to the image forming device. The thermal fixing device applies heat and pressure to the image forming substance to fix the image on the sheet. The duct guides air to flow upward through a first region between an outer circumference of the image forming device and an outer circumference of the container and a second region adjacent to an outer circumference of the thermal fixing device.