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:
Feb. 28, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2009
Toshiaki Kagawa, Nara, JP;
Toshiaki Kagawa, Nara, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A planar heat-generating bodyof a fixing apparatus of the present invention includes (i) a resistive heat-generating bodycontaining small heat-generating bodies electrically connected in parallel and aligned in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which a fixing beltmoves and (ii) a PTC element and a corresponding small heat-generating body being provided to be connected in series with a power source, the PTC element having a resistance value increasing at a predetermined temperature or higher. The PTC elementand the small heat-generating body are provided in an area corresponding to a non-sheet passing area of the fixing belt, the non-sheet passing area being an area where a smallest-size sheet does not pass, the smallest-size sheet being smallest among sheets that the fixing apparatus deals with. This allows for prevention of a temperature increase in the non-sheet passing area with a simple arrangement.