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. 30, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 12, 2003
Kazunobu Shima, Wakayama, JP;
Hidetoshi Nishikawa, Wakayama, JP;
Masazumi Ishikawa, Wakayama, JP;
Kazuo Nagaosa, Wakayama, JP;
Masaki Nakamoto, Wakayama, JP;
Masanori Inoshita, Wakayama, JP;
Masasuke Funase, Wakayama, JP;
Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd., Wakayama-Ken, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus fixes, by heating, an image formed on a sheet-like recording medium thereto with sublimating ink. The apparatus includes a heating fixing unit for receiving and heating the recording medium and then discharging the heat-fixed recording medium, the heating fixing unit including a heating space for heating the recording medium and a transporting mechanism for transporting the medium in the heating space. The apparatus further includes a smoothing-out mechanism for discharging the recording medium from the heating space while smoothing out or flattening the recording medium.