Patent · US Expired

Fixing device capable of changing smoothness of surface of toner of fixed toner image on sheet and image forming apparatus using said fixing device

US6721532B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
27References
55Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 31, 2002
Grant dateApr 13, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 26, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/2038
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A fixing device that fixes an unfixed toner image onto a moving sheet, includes a first fixing unit that makes toner of the unfixed toner image penetrate into the sheet by heat and pressure so as to be fixed onto the sheet as a fixed toner image, and a second fixing unit arranged downstream of the first fixing unit in a sheet moving direction to contact and press the fixed toner image on the sheet to change smoothness of a surface of the toner of the fixed toner image on the sheet. The second fixing unit is arranged at a position where a temperature of the toner of the fixed toner image on the sheet is greater than a glass transition temperature.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.