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:
Jan. 21, 2014
Filed:
May. 25, 2012
Toshiyuki Sakai, Shinshiro, JP;
Toshiyuki Sakai, Shinshiro, JP;
Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device includes an endless belt with a resistance heating layer, a pressure roller fitting loosely in a belt circulation path, and a pressing roller pressing the pressure roller through the belt to form a fixing nip with a belt surface, and thermally fixes an unfixed image by passing a recording sheet through the fixing nip, comprises: a pair of annular electrodes provided circumferentially and sandwiching a sheet-passing region of the belt surface; a first power supply member pressurizing a given one of the electrodes; and a second power supply member positioned closer to the fixing nip than the first power supply member, also pressurizing the given one of the electrodes, and supplying power to the resistance heating layer in cooperation with the first power supply member, wherein the pressing force applied by the first power supply member is weaker than that applied by the second power supply member.