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:
Oct. 17, 2006
Filed:
Feb. 03, 2005
Naoki Sato, Kanagawa, JP;
Keiichi Sugai, Miyagi, JP;
Masae Sugawara, Miyagi, JP;
Masashi Ooi, Miyagi, JP;
Naoki Sato, Kanagawa, JP;
Keiichi Sugai, Miyagi, JP;
Masae Sugawara, Miyagi, JP;
Masashi Ooi, Miyagi, JP;
Ricoh Company, Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing roller in an image forming apparatus (such as a copier) has a fixing heater that is supplied power from a capacitor. The fixing heater, the capacitor, a mechanical switch (such as a relay) and a semiconductor switch (such as a FET) are serially connected. As a cover of the apparatus is opened, an interlock switch is turned on and outputs an off-signal to a CPU, which turns off the semiconductor switch prior to turning off the mechanical switch, and thereby prevents a counter-electromotive voltage due to an inrush current.