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, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 11, 2001
Hiroshi Fuma, Yamahashi, JP;
Konica Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The invention concerns the image forming apparatus incorporating a fixing unit, which is includes either a fixing belt or a fixing roller, and effectively used in a copier or a printer. The fixing unit includes a fixing belt threaded on a plurality of supporting rollers and a temperature-equalizing member to equalize a temperature distribution of the fixing belt in its width direction. The temperature-equalizing member moves from a separate position to a first pressure-contacting position at which the temperature-equalizing member pressure-contacts the fixing belt, and further moves to a second pressure-contacting position while maintaining a pressure-contacting state with the fixing belt. A contact area of the temperature-equalizing member and the fixing belt is enlarged at the second pressure-contacting position, compared to that at the first pressure-contacting position. The temperature-equalizing member can park at either the first pressure-contacting position or the second pressure-contacting position.