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. 18, 2017
Filed:
Jun. 02, 2016
Konica Minolta, Inc., Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JP;
Takeru Kinoshita, Toyokawa, JP;
Naoki Kataoka, Toyokawa, JP;
KONICA MINOLTA, INC., Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a door, an elastic member to generate a pressing force of a nip portion of the fixing unit, and a switching member to change a pressing state of the elastic member. The switching member is placed in any one of first, second, and third positions. In the first position, the pressing force is defined as a first level. The second position has a second level different from the first level. The pressing force of the third position is equal to or lower than the smaller one of the first and second levels. While the door is closed from open state, an interference member of the door does not interfere with the switching member in the first or second position but interferes with the switching member in the third position to move the switching member to the first position.