Patent · US Active

Image fixing apparatus stably controlling a fixing temperature, and image forming apparatus using the same

US7925177B2 · kind B2 · utility

34Cited by
18References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 20, 2005
Grant dateApr 12, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 16, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/2032
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism and an image fixing unit. The image forming mechanism forms a toner image on a recording sheet. The image fixing unit fixes the toner image onto the recording sheet. The image fixing unit includes a magnetic flux generator, a heat member, a magnetic flux adjuster, and a controlling member. The magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux. The heat member is heated inductively by the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux adjuster reduces the magnetic flux active on the heat member to form a heat reduction area in an outer circumferential surface of the heat member in a width direction thereof. The controlling member moves the magnetic flux adjuster to change the heat reduction area.

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