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. 26, 2016
Filed:
Jul. 08, 2015
Kohichi Utsunomiya, Kanagawa, JP;
Hideo Nagafuji, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuji Arai, Kanagawa, JP;
Arinobu Yoshiura, Kanagawa, JP;
Shohei Saito, Kanagawa, JP;
Qifeng Cui, Tokyo, JP;
Yutaka Ikebuchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Motoyoshi Yamano, Kanagawa, JP;
Kohichi Utsunomiya, Kanagawa, JP;
Hideo Nagafuji, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuji Arai, Kanagawa, JP;
Arinobu Yoshiura, Kanagawa, JP;
Shohei Saito, Kanagawa, JP;
Qifeng Cui, Tokyo, JP;
Yutaka Ikebuchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Motoyoshi Yamano, Kanagawa, JP;
RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt, fixing-belt holding members which hold the fixing belt at opposite ends, a pressure member to be brought into contact with the fixing belt, a nip forming member arranged inside the fixing belt to form a nip area by contacting the pressure member with the fixing belt, a nip supporting member, side plates where the fixing-belt holding members and the nip supporting member are fixed, and a pressing mechanism which presses the pressure member against the nip forming member. The nip forming member includes at least three layers including a heat absorbing layer contacting the nip supporting member. With no load applied, the nip supporting member assumes a shape protruding at longitudinal center toward the pressure member and is in contact with the nip forming member while having the shape protruding at the center portion.