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:
Oct. 15, 2002
Filed:
May. 07, 2001
Yutaka Nakashima, Kanazawa, JP;
Akihiko Inamoto, Uchinada-machi, JP;
Shigeki Uesugi, Unoke-machi, JP;
Satoru Moto, Kanazawa, JP;
Motoharu Ichida, Tsubata-machi, JP;
Masanari Takabatake, Kanazawa, JP;
Shigeharu Okano, Hakui, JP;
Seiichi Takeda, Kanazawa, JP;
Hironaga Hongawa, Uchinada-machi, JP;
Hitoshi Terashima, Kanazawa, JP;
Satoshi Sakai, Kanazawa, JP;
Satoshi Miyamoto, Hakui, JP;
PFU Limited, Ishikawa, JP;
Abstract
A toner image is transferred from a photosensitive member onto an intermediate transfer belt . Toner particles transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt are melted through application of heat, and the molten toner is transferred onto a printing medium. A carrier-removing roller is disposed downstream of a position where a toner layer on the intermediate transfer belt is melted through application of heat. Through utilization of a phenomenon that toner particles (resin component) are melted and integrated in a heating process and a phenomenon that the carrier solvent (liquid component) is isolated in the heating process, the carrier solvent is removed efficiently. Also, there is disposed at the position of the heating process a carrier-removing roller for removing the carrier solvent from the intermediate transfer belt while the toner layer on the intermediate transfer belt is being melted through application of heat.