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:
Jul. 16, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2011
Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kanagawa, JP;
Masanao Ehara, Kanagawa, JP;
Tadashi Ogawa, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Ueno, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroshi Seo, Kanagawa, JP;
Takamasa Hase, Kanagawa, JP;
Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kanagawa, JP;
Masanao Ehara, Kanagawa, JP;
Tadashi Ogawa, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Ueno, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroshi Seo, Kanagawa, JP;
Takamasa Hase, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, and a damage detecting unit. The fixing member includes a heat-insulating elastic layer, to which a conductive thin-film layer is provided. The pressure member presses against the fixing member to form a fixing nip. The damage detecting unit detects the electric resistance of the thin-film layer. The damage detecting unit detects a change in the electric resistance of the thin-film layer, thereby detecting damage to the fixing member. Depending on the extent of the damage, the condition of conveyance of a recording medium to the fixing nip is changed.