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:
Oct. 08, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 10, 2010
Noboru Oomoto, Toyokawa, JP;
Shoichi Yoshikawa, Okazaki, JP;
Shigeru Tashiro, Toyokawa, JP;
Atsuhiko Shimoyama, Tahara, JP;
Yoshiyuki Toso, Toyokawa, JP;
Tou Matsunaga, Okazaki, JP;
Noboru Oomoto, Toyokawa, JP;
Shoichi Yoshikawa, Okazaki, JP;
Shigeru Tashiro, Toyokawa, JP;
Atsuhiko Shimoyama, Tahara, JP;
Yoshiyuki Toso, Toyokawa, JP;
Tou Matsunaga, Okazaki, JP;
Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc., Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a cylindrical or annular fixing member, an outer surface of which is brought into pressure contact with a conveyed sheet to fix an image onto the sheet; and a heating source for heating the fixing member to a specified target temperature. The fixing member includes a cylindrical or annular base material, a rubber layer with elasticity, and an outer layer for aiding release of the sheet. An end portion of the rubber layer and an end portion of the outer layer are each positioned inner than an end portion of the base material with respect to a width direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction on the base material. A filter member capable of trapping ultra fine particles generated from the rubber layer is provided on the base material in a position facing the end portion of the rubber layer along the circumferential direction.