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:
Jan. 20, 2009
Filed:
Jun. 28, 2005
Norihiko Aze, Zama, JP;
Motokazu Hasegawa, Atsugi, JP;
Eiji Sawamura, Yokohama, JP;
Takayuki Yoshii, Yokohama, JP;
Norihiko Aze, Zama, JP;
Motokazu Hasegawa, Atsugi, JP;
Eiji Sawamura, Yokohama, JP;
Takayuki Yoshii, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet. The fixing unit includes a fixing belt, a support roller, and a coil. The fixing belt rotates and applies heat on the recording sheet to fix the toner image on the recording sheet. The support roller rotates and supports the fixing belt. The coil has a loop-like or U-like shape and generates a magnetic flux to induce heat in the fixing belt and the support roller. The coil sandwiches the support roller and the fixing belt in a manner that the coil faces an outer circumferential surface of the support roller via the fixing belt and an inner circumferential surface of the support roller. The above configuration of the coil controls a surface temperature of the fixing belt.