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:
May. 11, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 03, 1997
Akira Watanabe, Yokohama, JP;
Toru Obuchi, Kawasaki, JP;
Masahiro Itoh, Sagamihara, JP;
Takeo Tsunemi, Kawasaki, JP;
Takeshi Menjo, Tokyo, JP;
Yasuo Nami, Kawasaki, JP;
Kazuo Kishino, Kawasaki, JP;
Hideo Kawamoto, Kawasaki, JP;
Jiro Ishizuka, Tokyo, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, has a fixing device for fixing a developer image transferred to a transfer medium, such as paper, with a fixing roller whose surface is coated with a release agent, such as oil, and includes at least one feed passage member for conveying, while contacting, a transfer medium to a transfer region of the apparatus. The feed passage member has a release agent absorbing layer on the surface thereof, and is thus advantageous for preventing release agent from being transferred and adhered to a photo-sensitive drum of the apparatus. The release agent absorbing layer of the feed passage member may contain either porous particles or particles and a binder resin, and be formed on another layer for retaining release agent absorbed by the release agent absorbing layer. The feed passage member preferably constitutes a transfer medium carrying member, which may include a dielectric sheet, for supporting and carrying a transfer medium. The member may alternatively constitute a pick-up roller, a feed guide, and/or a resist roller of the apparatus.