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. 14, 2014
Filed:
Aug. 17, 2012
Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Yokohama, JP;
Akihiko Uchiyama, Mishima, JP;
Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Yokohama, JP;
Takaaki Akamatsu, Yokohama, JP;
Toshihiko Takayama, Kawasaki, JP;
Yuya Kojima, Yokohama, JP;
Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Yokohama, JP;
Akihiko Uchiyama, Mishima, JP;
Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Yokohama, JP;
Takaaki Akamatsu, Yokohama, JP;
Toshihiko Takayama, Kawasaki, JP;
Yuya Kojima, Yokohama, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus, which is configured to form an image on a sheet, includes an image forming unit configured to form an unfixed toner image on the sheet, and a fixing unit configured to fix the unfixed toner image to the sheet by heating the sheet bearing the unfixed toner image while conveying the sheet by a fixing nip portion. The image forming apparatus can perform a cleaning mode for cleaning the fixing unit by conveying a sheet with an unfixed toner image for cleaning formed thereon by the fixing nip portion. At a time of the cleaning mode, the image forming unit forms the unfixed toner image for cleaning on a sheet surface opposite from a sheet surface where the unfixed toner image is formed at a time of image formation.