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:
Sep. 06, 2005
Filed:
Aug. 06, 2003
Nakafuji Atsushi, Tokyo, JP;
Kikuchi Hisashi, Kawasaki, JP;
Fujita Takashi, Yokohama, JP;
Kurotaka Shigeo, Sagamihara, JP;
Yura Jun, Yokohama, JP;
Baba Toshihiko, Funabashi, JP;
Echigo Katsuhiro, Asaka, JP;
Ikenoue Hirokazu, Inagi, JP;
Nakafuji Atsushi, Tokyo, JP;
Kikuchi Hisashi, Kawasaki, JP;
Fujita Takashi, Yokohama, JP;
Kurotaka Shigeo, Sagamihara, JP;
Yura Jun, Yokohama, JP;
Baba Toshihiko, Funabashi, JP;
Echigo Katsuhiro, Asaka, JP;
Ikenoue Hirokazu, Inagi, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A toner fixing device that includes a fixing member and a member formed opposite the fixing member so as to form a nip between the fixing member and the opposite member. The device is supplied with power from a main power source. A charger connects an electric double-layer capacitor to the main power source. A fixing member heater is powered by the electric double-layer capacitor and heats the fixing member. A controllable switch is disposed between the electric double-layer capacitor and the fixing member heater. A fixing member temperature sensor is in contact with the fixing member. A controller controls the switch such that the electric double-layer capacitor connects to or disconnects from the heater based on comparing a temperature sensed by the fixing member temperature sensor to a temperature threshold value so that a toner image is more efficiently fixed onto a recording medium passing through the nip.