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. 16, 2013
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2011
Kenji Ishii, Kawasaki, JP;
Aldyasu Amita, Yokohama, JP;
Ken Omura, Machida, JP;
Kenichi Hasegawa, Kawasaki, JP;
Hiroshi Yokoyama, Yokohama, JP;
Satoshi Ueno, Tokyo, JP;
Kenji Ishii, Kawasaki, JP;
Aldyasu Amita, Yokohama, JP;
Ken Omura, Machida, JP;
Kenichi Hasegawa, Kawasaki, JP;
Hiroshi Yokoyama, Yokohama, JP;
Satoshi Ueno, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism and an image fixing unit. The image forming mechanism forms a toner image on a recording sheet. The image fixing unit fixes the toner image onto the recording sheet. The image fixing unit includes a magnetic flux generator, a heat member, a magnetic flux adjuster, and a controlling member. The magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux. The heat member is heated inductively by the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux adjuster reduces the magnetic flux active on the heat member to form a heat reduction area in an outer circumferential surface of the heat member in a width direction thereof. The controlling member moves the magnetic flux adjuster to change the heat reduction area.