Patent · US Active

Image forming apparatus incorporating a fixing device and contact member to reduce fixing member deformation

US8594549B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by

2References

16Claims

0Family size

Assignee

RICOH COMPANY, LTD. · JP

Inventors

Toshihiko Shimokawa · Yokohama, JP
Masaaki Yoshikawa · Yokohama, JP
Akira Shinshi · Tokyo, JP
Kenji Ishii · Kawasaki, JP
Hiroshi Yoshinaga · Ichikawa, JP
Naoki Iwaya · Tokyo, JP
Tetsuo Tokuda · Tokyo, JP
Kenichi Hasegawa · Minato, JP
Yoshiki Yamaguchi · Sagamihara, JP
Shuntaroh Tamaki · Yokohama, JP
Takahiro Imada · Yokohama, JP
Ippei Fujimoto · Ebina, JP
Takamasa Hase · Yokohama, JP
Yutaka Ikebuchi · Yokohama, JP

Key dates

Filing date	Aug 3, 2010
Grant date	Nov 26, 2013
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Nov 8, 2031

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG03G2215/2016
WIPO fieldOptics
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In a fixing device, a pressing member rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation. A flexible fixing member is disposed opposite the pressing member to rotate in accordance with rotation of the pressing member. A nip formation member is provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A contact member pressingly contacts an outer circumferential surface of the rotating fixing member at both ends of the fixing member in an axial direction thereof.

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