Patent · US Expired

Image forming method and apparatus for fixing an image

US7177580B2 · kind B2 · utility

23Cited by
50References
60Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 29, 2004
Grant dateFeb 13, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 18, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G15/2064
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An image forming apparatus, includes an image forming mechanism configured to form an image, and a fixing unit configured to fix a toner image formed on a recording medium. The fixing unit includes a fixing device having a first endless moving member configured to rotate, and a second endless moving member configured to rotate to form a nip area together with the first endless moving member to fix, at the nip area, a toner image disposed on the recording medium onto the recording medium with heat and pressure, the second endless moving member including a surface layer having a universal hardness HU and a maximum nip surface pressure P each within a predetermined range.

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