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:
Aug. 30, 2011
Filed:
Mar. 19, 2009
Masahito Kajita, Aichi, JP;
Masahito Kajita, Aichi, JP;
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device including a heating element and a pressure element, for fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet is provided. The pressure element is configured to be positioned selectively in two or more pressing positions defined relative to the heating element. The pressure element in any one of the pressing positions is configured to be pressed against the heating element. A plurality of interrupter elements are provided opposite to the heating element. Each of the interrupter elements is configured to sense a temperature of the heating element and to interrupt a flow of electrical current to a heat source for heating the heating element when the temperature is not lower than a predetermined threshold value. The interrupter elements are arranged in positions corresponding to the pressing positions.