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:
Aug. 11, 2015
Filed:
Aug. 28, 2013
Minoru Toyoda, Hyogo, JP;
Tomohiko Fujii, Hyogo, JP;
Tomoya Adachi, Hyogo, JP;
Yutaka Naitoh, Hyogo, JP;
Yoshiharu Takahashi, Osaka, JP;
Hitoshi Fujiwara, Osaka, JP;
Yasuharu Kawarasaki, Osaka, JP;
Minoru Toyoda, Hyogo, JP;
Tomohiko Fujii, Hyogo, JP;
Tomoya Adachi, Hyogo, JP;
Yutaka Naitoh, Hyogo, JP;
Yoshiharu Takahashi, Osaka, JP;
Hitoshi Fujiwara, Osaka, JP;
Yasuharu Kawarasaki, Osaka, JP;
Ricoh Company, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing unit includes an endless belt unit accommodating a heat source, a pressure roller to rotate in contact with the fixing belt unit forming a pressure border therebetween, and a heat transfer member heated by the heat source to heat the fixing belt unit. The heat transfer member is secured inside an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt unit and supports the fixing belt unit. A fixed member is secured inside the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt unit and is pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt unit. The heat transfer member has at least one convex portion partially formed in an outer circumferential surface of the heat transfer member in a rotational direction of the fixing belt unit and a longitudinal direction of the heat transfer member to narrow a gap formed between the heat transfer member and the fixing belt unit.