Fixing device that uniformly heats unfixed toner images along a fixing nip portion
US6577839B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 18, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 18, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/2032
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fixing device includes a fixing nip portion that conveys a recording material. As the recording material is conveyed, the fixing nip portion melts and fixes unfixed toner images on the recording material. The fixing device includes a first rotating element having a roller shape, an induction heating device, and a pressing member. The induction heating device has an exciting coil wound along the outer or inner peripheral surface of the first rotating element that heats the first rotating element by electromagnetic induction. The exciting coil has a clearance which changes in a direction of an axis of rotation of the heating roller to thereby vary the magnetic field intensity in the exciting coil. The pressing member is pressed into contact with the first rotating element, or a second rotating element heated by the first rotating element, and is rotated in the forward direction to form the fixing nip portion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.