Image heating apparatus
US7630677B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 2, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 8, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 2, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/2032
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an image heating apparatus, outer peripheral surfaces of two endless belts are held in contact with each other to form a nip portion, and a recording material bearing a toner image is heated at the nip portion while being pinched and conveyed. In the image heating apparatus, the nip portion has a pre-nip portion formed by regions of the endless belts with no backup by pressure members, and a pressure nip portion where one endless belt with backup by the pressure members is held in contact with another endless belt. The image heating apparatus is capable of securing a large nip width compatible with an increase in speed and free from “pressure-absence” leading to image abnormality such as misregistration, thus enabling an image having a sufficient gloss to be obtained.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.