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. 04, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 18, 2004
Tomoe Aruga, Nagano, JP;
Ken Ikuma, Nagano, JP;
Tomoe Aruga, Nagano, JP;
Ken Ikuma, Nagano, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on a sheet-shaped recording medium is disclosed. A first roller incorporates a heat source therein. A second roller is pressed toward the first roller. A part of an endless belt is wound on an outer periphery of the second roller to be circulated. A non-rotatable belt stretcher stretches the endless belt together with the second roller such that the circulated endless belt is slid on a first face extending in a widthwise direction of the endless belt, and such that a tensile force is applied to both widthwise end portions of the endless belt. The circulated endless belt is nipped between the first roller and the second roller to form a first nip portion through which the unfixed toner image is fixed on the recording medium with heat from the heat source. The first face is curved in the widthwise direction.