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:
Jul. 21, 2026
Filed:
Aug. 01, 2024
Applicant:
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya, JP;
Inventors:
Saya Minoshima, Gifu, JP;
Tomonori Watanabe, Ichinomiya, JP;
Assignee:
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya, JP;
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G03G 21/18 (2006.01); G03G 15/20 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G03G 21/1832 (2013.01); G03G 15/2017 (2013.01); G03G 21/1685 (2013.01); G03G 21/1835 (2013.01); G03G 21/1633 (2013.01); G03G 21/1647 (2013.01); G03G 2215/00544 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2003 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2009 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2016 (2013.01);
Abstract
An image-forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a shutter, and an urging member. The fixing device includes a heater unit, and a pressure unit forming a nipping region in cooperation with the heater unit. The shutter is movable between a closing position for covering a part of the heating unit and an opening position for uncovering the part of the heating unit. The urging member is configured to urge the shutter such that: the shutter at the closing position is maintained at the closing position; and the shutter at the opening position is maintained at the opening position.