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:
Apr. 24, 2012
Filed:
Jun. 27, 2008
Yasuo Katano, Yokohama, JP;
Tsuneo Kurotori, Tokyo, JP;
Tomoyasu Hirasawa, Yokohama, JP;
Tomoaki Sugawara, Atsugi, JP;
Takuma Nakamura, Yokohama, JP;
Yuko Arizumi, Yokohama, JP;
Yasuo Katano, Yokohama, JP;
Tsuneo Kurotori, Tokyo, JP;
Tomoyasu Hirasawa, Yokohama, JP;
Tomoaki Sugawara, Atsugi, JP;
Takuma Nakamura, Yokohama, JP;
Yuko Arizumi, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device, and an image forming method and an image forming apparatus using the fixing device. The fixing device includes an application unit to apply a foam-like fixing agent including a softener to particulates including a resin on a medium, the softener softening the particulates by at least partially dissolving or swelling the resin and a thickness control unit to control a layer thickness of the foam-like fixing agent such that an application time during which the foam-like fixing agent is applied to the particulates is not shorter than a penetration time required for the foam-like fixing agent to penetrate through a layer of the particulates to the medium.