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:
Feb. 16, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 12, 1996
Masahiko Matsuura, Suita, JP;
Eiichi Sano, Takatsuki, JP;
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device includes a heater and a fixing belt entrained around first and second supporting rollers. A pressure roller is arranged outside the belt. Also, an elastic forcing member is arranged inside the belt to force a portion of the belt running between the two supporting rollers against the pressure roller so that the belt portion is brought into circumferential contact with the pressure roller to form an extended nipping region. In addition, a braking device connected to an upstream support roller stretches the belt at the nip region. With this arrangement enough amount of heat is supplied to a recording medium and toner image flattening is prevented.