Patent · US Active

Fixing device and image formation apparatus

US8265538B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
1References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 10, 2009
Grant dateSep 11, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 24, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/2009
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Fixing belt is brought into pressure-contact with the surface of fixing roller such that fixing belt rotates according to rotation of fixing roller, thereby forming, between fixing belt and fixing roller, fixing nip portion through which recording sheets pass. A pressing area of an opposing surface of pressing member contacting the surface of fixing roller via fixing belt is smaller in each end portion of the opposing surface in the axis direction of fixing roller than in a central portion of the opposing surface in the axis direction of fixing roller. This makes speed of conveying recording sheets faster in each edge portion in the width direction perpendicular to a recording sheet conveyance direction than in a central portion in the width direction. Thus, creases of recording sheets can be prevented while a recording sheet passes through fixing nip portion between fixing roller and fixing belt mutually brought into pressure-contact.

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