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:
Apr. 19, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2003
Atsuo Hirose, Nagoya, JP;
Yasuo Tamaru, Nagoya, JP;
Hidetoshi Yano, Toukai, JP;
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya, JP;
Abstract
A laser printer for forming toner images on sheets includes a duct wall and a shutter. The duct wall extends between a process cartridge, which is filled with toner, and a thermal fixing unit, which generates heat to fix toner images onto the sheets. The duct wall defines a duct and is formed with openings at its side that faces the thermal fixing unit. A fan is provided for drawing hot air from the thermal fixing unit, through the openings in the duct wall and the duct itself, and out from the laser printer. The shutter moves in and out of contact with the process cartridge in association with opening and closing movement of a cover of the laser printer. When the shutter is in contact with the process cartridge, an exhaust chamber is formed that connects an ozone exhaust hole of the process cartridge with the duct. Another fan is provided for drawing the ozone generated by a charge unit of the process cartridge through the ozone exhaust hole, the exhaust chamber, and the duct.