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. 27, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 08, 2005
Atsushi Ide, Nara, JP;
Atsushi Ide, Nara, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A fixing apparatus for fusing and fixing an unfixed developer by heating/pressurizing a recording medium on which an image of the unfixed developer is formed, includes a fixing roller cleaning unit for cleaning surfaces of fixing rollers, and a propinquity/separation mechanism for moving the fixing roller cleaning unit close to and away from the fixing roller. The fixing apparatus operates the propinquity/separation mechanism so as to make the fixing roller cleaning unit contact the fixing roller when a temperature of the fixing roller becomes equal to or higher than a softening temperature of a developer. The fixing apparatus operates the propinquity/separation mechanism so as to move the fixing roller cleaning unit away from the fixing roller when a temperature of the fixing roller becomes lower than the softening temperature of the developer.