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:
Jul. 03, 2007
Filed:
Nov. 19, 2004
Masahiko Sato, Chiba, JP;
Ken Omura, Tokyo, JP;
Naoki Iwaya, Kanagawa, JP;
Akira Shinshi, Tokyo, JP;
Masahiko Sato, Chiba, JP;
Ken Omura, Tokyo, JP;
Naoki Iwaya, Kanagawa, JP;
Akira Shinshi, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fixing apparatus with which the movement of heat to the fixing belt during warm-up is suppressed, and the time it takes for the heating roller temperature to rise can be shortened, by reducing the contact surface area between the fixing belt and the heating roller, and an image formation apparatus that makes use of this fixing apparatus, and a toner used therein. A separation member provided on the inside of the fixing belt forms a pair with a tension roller, and a switching device for switching the positions thereof switches the positions when a set temperature is detected by temperature sensing device installed on the heating roller, so that the contact surface area of the fixing belt on the heating roller is different during warm-up and during fixing.