Fixing apparatus with endless belt and curved pressing member
US8326201B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 7, 2010 |
| Grant date | Dec 4, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/2041
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fixing apparatus for heat-fixing an unfixed toner image formed on a sheet, includes a roller; an endless belt contacted to the roller; a pressing member contacted to an inner surface of the endless belt and cooperating with the roller to nip the endless belt, wherein the sheet on which the unfixed toner image is formed is heated while being nipped and fed by a nip between the roller and the endless belt, wherein such a surface of the pressing member as is opposed to the inner surface of the endless belt is curved substantially in the same direction as a curved surface of the roller, wherein the nip includes a first nip region in which the endless belt is not pressed by the pressing member and the endless belt is contacted to the roller by an elastic force of the endless belt which is in a slack state, and a second nip region in which the endless belt is contacted to the roller by pressing of the pressing member, wherein the nip starts with the first nip region with respect to a feeding direction of the sheet, wherein the second nip region is continuous with the first nip region.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.