Heated Roller Patents (Class 399/330)
  • Patent number: 7565103
    Abstract: A fusing device for fusing a predetermined toner image on paper, and which controls the heating range of a fusing unit by inputting an eddy current generated by a transformer to a terminal corresponding to the size of paper selected from a plurality of terminals of the fusing unit. The fusing device includes a power supply unit to which a predetermined alternating current is input and which generates an induced current in response to the input alternating current, a fusing unit being resistance-heated and induction-heated by the induced current and fusing the toner image on the paper using the generated heat, and a controller for controlling the induced current supplied to the fusing unit according to the size of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-min Chae, Joong-gi Kwon, Hwan-guem Kim, Durk-hyun Cho, Sang-yong Han
  • Patent number: 7565089
    Abstract: A fusing roller and a fusing device using the fusing roller. The fusing roller applies heat to a toner image and fuses the toner image onto a piece of paper and is heated by a coil connected to an external power source. The fusing roller includes a pair of end caps which are provided at opposite ends of the fusing roller, a connection electrode which is disposed in one of the end caps and connected to the external power source, and an adherence member which is coupled with the connection electrode, and having an end portion of the coil disposed between the adherence member and the connection electrode to ensure an electric connection between the coil and the connection electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-hyeok Jang, Hwan-guem Kim
  • Publication number: 20090175664
    Abstract: A fixing unit (14) of an image forming apparatus (1) includes a heating member (48) having a first area where a sheet does not come into contact with the heating member (48) and a second area where the sheet comes into contact with the heating member (48). The fixing unit (14) further includes a coil (52) forming a magnetic field, cores (54,56) forming a magnetic path near the coil (52), a nonmagnetic magnetism adjusting member (90) arranged on the magnetic path and having a closed frame, and a switcher (58,60) capable of switching the magnetism adjusting member (90) between a first state where the magnetism adjusting member (90) generates an induction current resulting from the magnetic field to shield the magnetism in the first area, and a second state where the magnetism adjusting member (90) generates no induction current and the magnetism is not shielded in the first area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuzuru Nanjo, Eiji Nakajima, Akihiro Kondo, Naoyuki Ishida, Syoukou Gon, Kenichi Kasama
  • Patent number: 7555233
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a non-contacting thermistor (54) disposed in the vicinity of the surface of a heat roller (21) and an upper cover temperature thermistor (60) for detecting the temperature of a pressure roller (22). The calculated surface temperature (T) of the heat roller 21 is calculated based on the detected temperature (T1) detected by the non-contacting thermistor (54), the detected temperature (T2) detected by the upper cover temperature thermistor (60), the distance (L1) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the surface of the heat roller (21) and the distance (L2) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the upper cover (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimasa Shiobara, Koji Aida
  • Publication number: 20090155706
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing device to fix a toner image on a recording medium including a heat roller and an oil applicator to apply a silicone oil to the heat roller, having a system speed of from 500 to 1700 mm/sec, and using a toner including a binder resin including a crystalline polyester resin and an amorphous polyester resin; a fatty acid amide compound; and a colorant, wherein a ratio (W/R) of a height (W) of a peak at a wavenumber of 1638 cm?1, specific to the fatty acid amide compound, to a height (R) of a peak at a wavenumber of 829 cm?1, specific to the amorphous polyester resin, is from 0.010 to 0.040 in an absorption spectrum obtained by an ATR method (total reflectance method) using a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Hyo Shu, Minoru Masuda, Yasuaki Iwamoto, Yasutada Shitara
  • Patent number: 7548719
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes: a casing; a heat roller that is rotatably supported and that supplies heat for fixing; and a tubular heater disposed in parallel in the heat roller along an axis thereof. The tubular heater includes a lead wire having a protruding end portion protruding outwardly from an axial end portion thereof. In addition, the tubular heater includes a flat terminal having one face thereof connected and fixed to the protruding end portion. Moreover, a fitting surface for fixing the flat terminal is formed in the casing. The fitting surface is arranged to be flat in an area excluding an area in which the protruding end portion is disposed and is provided with a clearance for storing the protruding end portion. Further, the flat terminal is fixed to the fitting surface with the one face of the flat terminal facing the fitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ito, Kunihiko Ishii
  • Publication number: 20090148205
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat applying system having an exciting coil that creates a magnetic flux for generating induction heat in a heat generation layer provided in a fixing roller. Plural demagnetizing coils are stacked in plural layers partially overlying the exciting coil to cancel the magnetic flux at one end of the fixing roller. The plural demagnetizing coils partially overlap each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroshi SEO, Takamasa HASE
  • Patent number: 7546079
    Abstract: There is described a fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image onto a recording material, which makes it possible not only to reduce the frictional resistance generated between a temperature sensor and a heating member, but also to prevent occurrences of abnormal sounds and breaking of the wire coupled to the temperature sensor, both caused by the direct contact between them. The fixing apparatus includes: a heating member provided with a surface layer, which is elastically deformable and includes the paper sheet passing area and the paper sheet non-passing area; a pressing member that press-contacts the heating member; and a temperature sensor that contacts the paper sheet non-passing area of the surface layer. A surface roughness Ra of the paper sheet non-passing area is set at such a value that is larger than that of a paper sheet passing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori Katada, Masami Maruko, Masakazu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7537838
    Abstract: A heat fixing roll or belt having a silicone rubber layer which is formed by curing a silicone rubber composition comprising (A) 100 pbw of an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded alkenyl radicals in a molecule, (B) 20-500 pbw of a metallic silicon powder having an average particle size of up to 100 ?m, and (C) an effective amount of a curing agent. The silicone rubber layer has a high heat conductivity and long-term temperature durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satao Hirabayashi, Mikio Iino, Nobumasa Tomizawa, Noriyuki Meguriya
  • Publication number: 20090123203
    Abstract: According to embodiments, a heating member or a sliding member arranged in contact with the surface of a fusing roller is moved in an intersecting direction with the rotational direction of the fusing roller in a contact state with the heating member or the sliding member so as to prevent a scratch from being generated on the surface of the fusing roller or to repair the scratch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Tanaka, Atsuyoshi Abe, Daisuke Aoki, Kazuhisa Kemmochi, Tsutomu Miki
  • Patent number: 7532848
    Abstract: A roll useful in fusing marking material to a print sheet includes a coating disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface thereof. A lamp disposed inside the roll supplies radiant energy to the inner surface. The coating changes its absorptivity (such as color) as desired, to obtain specific desired temperatures at different portions of the roll. The coating can be thermochromic, changing its absorptivity in response to local temperature; or electrochromic, changing its absorptivity in response to an external electrical stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Scott M Potter, John Poxon, Pieter Mulder
  • Publication number: 20090103958
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, one side of first and second side coils formed by winding a Litz wire plural times are formed by bending the Litz wire and the other sides thereof are formed by simply winding the Litz wire without bending the same. The bent one ends of the first and second side coils are arranged to be adjacent to a center coil and the other ends simply wound without being bent are arranged to be opposed to both ends of a heat roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori TAKAI, Shuji YOKOYAMA
  • Patent number: 7512371
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet. In the fixing unit, a magnetic flux generator generates magnetic flux to induce heat in a fixing roller. The recording sheet having the toner image is inserted between the fixing roller and a pressure roller pressingly contacting the fixing roller. The fixing roller applies heat to the recording sheet. The pressure roller applies pressure to the recording sheet. The heat and pressure fix the toner image on the recording sheet. The magnetic flux generator is disposed to face outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the fixing roller. The magnetic flux generator is formed in a U-like or loop-like shape, and the fixing roller is placed in a gap or a loop of the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux generator may include a single wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Higaya
  • Patent number: 7511249
    Abstract: Provided is a printing device comprising a hot roller having an inside surface and an outside surface. A heating element is present within the hot roller. The inside surface has a first region, wherein the first region is coated with a first type of material. The inside surface has a second region, wherein the second region is coated with the first type of material, and wherein second region is of a different dimension than the first region. The inside surface has a third region, wherein the third region is coated with a second type of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Infoprint Solutions Company, LLC
    Inventors: Carlton E. Begeal, Christopher Raymond Henderson, Laurie Yoshiko Takemori, John Uhlenbrock, Jason Cole Jackson
  • Patent number: 7504605
    Abstract: The heating apparatus of a surface-heating type, includes a rotary member, an opposing member that forms a nip with respect to the rotary member, and a heating member for heating a portion of a rotary member surface other than the nip, in which temperature used for heating the rotary member by the heating member is controlled, and a heating material inserted in the nip to be nipped and conveyed therein is heated using heat of the rotary member. Accordingly, after insertion of the heating material in the nip starts, control temperature of the heating member is increased before the rotary member rotates by one revolution, thereby preventing an uneven heating phenomenon of the heating material in the first revolution and the second revolution or later, and preventing uneven gloss due to the uneven heating phenomenon in the fixing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Nanataki, Taku Fukita, Yozo Hotta
  • Publication number: 20090067903
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, an electromagnetic induction coil, insulating plates, and a magnetic core are positioned by a coil holder including holder plates on which ribs are integrally formed. Consequently, the electromagnetic induction coil is regulated from sliding on the holder plates and fixed in a desired proper position regardless of flows of a mold material caused when a coil mold is injection-molded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Yokoyama, Masanori Takai
  • Publication number: 20090052955
    Abstract: A fixing device capable of suitable fixing even after moving to a print mode by reducing overshoot at moving to a print mode, and an image forming device using this. A mode switching unit informs a set or switched print mode to a calorie control unit and a rotation speed control unit. The calorie control unit controls supply power to a fixing roller, a heating roller and a fixing belt, that is a heating output from a heating means consisting of the fixing roller, the heating roller and the fixing belt according to a print mode informed from the mode switching unit. Therefore, the image fixing temperature of a non-fixed image at the heating means can be maintained at a specified temperature corresponding to a print mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Tatematsu, Koichi Baba, Yukio Arai
  • Patent number: 7489896
    Abstract: A fixing device (30) has a fixing member (30) adapted to be heated by induction heating based on a magnetic field from an induction coil (34). A pressing member (40) is disposed in contact with the fixing member (30) to define therebetween a nip zone (N) for passing a sheet (P) therethrough. The fixing member includes a heating layer (32). The heating layer (32) has a temperature-sensitive metal layer (321) and formed on the side of the induction coil (34), and a nonmagnetic metal layer (322) laminated onto the temperature-sensitive metal layer (321). The nonmagnetic metal layer is made of aluminum as a metal having a low specific resistance, and formed to have a thickness (50 ?m) allowing the nonmagnetic metal layer to be substantially free from a temperature rise due to the induction heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Yuzuru Nanjo
  • Patent number: 7486923
    Abstract: A heat generating roller, fixing equipment and an image forming apparatus in which warm-up time is shortened while preventing excessive temperature rise and good fixing performance is realized by preventing offset. The heat generating roller is formed principally by laying a high permeability conductive layer and a nonmagnetic conductive layer in layer. When a voltage is applied from a power supply to an exciting coil and an alternating current flow, magnetic flux is generated around the exciting coil and a magnetic field is formed. Magnetic coupling of a system including the heat generating roller and the exciting coil is advantageous at a low temperature and heat generation of the heat generating roller is accelerated. When the Curie point is exceeded, skin depth increases and skin resistance decreases, which suppresses generation of Joules heat and reduces heat generation of the heat generating roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Imai, Noboru Katakabe, Youichi Nakamura, Naoto Matsuo, Tomoyuki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7486924
    Abstract: A fixing roller and method of manufacturing the same. The fixing roller includes a fixing sleeve configured to fuse and fix a toner image on a recording medium and a fixing assist roller configured to be inserted into the fixing sleeve. The fixing sleeve includes a first heating layer having a Curie point. The first heating layer is configured to be heated with a magnetic flux. The fixing assist roller includes an elastic insulating layer and a first low-resistivity layer. The elastic insulating layer is formed on an outer circumference of the fixing assist roller. The first low-resistivity layer is formed under the elastic insulating layer and has a volume resistivity not greater than 5.0×10?8 ?m. Convexities and concavities are alternately formed on an outer surface of the elastic insulating layer along a circumferential direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiko Ito
  • Publication number: 20090028616
    Abstract: A coil spring 60 is provided in an empty room (inside of a fixing roller 50) of a main body 52 of a roller. The coil spring 60 is in contact with an inside wall 52a surrounding the empty room of the roller main body 52 and pushes the inside wall 52a outward. The coil spring 60 and the inside wall face 52a are coated with a black film 66 except the contact portion 62 of the coil spring 60 and the inside wall 52a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: CANON FINETECH INC.
    Inventors: Michinori NAKAMURA, Naruhiko ITO, Kazuaki TESHIMA, Kazuhiro MURAKAMI, Kazuki YOKOKAWA, Takeshi INOUE, Naoki KIYOHARA, Kazuaki IMAIZUMI, Yasushi SAWADA, Hiroshi OGAWA, Hidekatsu WADA, Tomoaki CHIBA
  • Publication number: 20090022528
    Abstract: A fixing device is provided in image forming apparatuses such as a printer and the like and performs a fixing by heating to a recording sheet on which a toner image is transferred. The fixing device includes: a heating source adapted for performing fixing of a toner image onto a recording medium by heat; a fixing roller including a thin-wall cylinder rotatable about an axis thereof and carrying the heating source therein, the recording medium being placed on a peripheral surface of the cylinder; an annular heat-insulating member coaxially mounted on an outside surface of the fixing roller; and a C-shaped stopper attached to the peripheral surface of the fixing roller for preventing the annular heat-insulating member from moving out of the fixing roller, the C-shaped stopper including at least three engaging portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akinori Matsuno, Masuo Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 7480479
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus used in an image forming apparatus has a fixing member for fixing toner on paper and a pressure member making contact therewith to form in between a nip through which paper is passed. The fixing member has a support member formed of a ferromagnetic material and a heating layer formed adjacent thereto in the form of a thin layer of a non-magnetic, electrically conductive material. When a high-frequency electric current is passed through an exciting coil that is combined with the fixing member, the fixing member produces a high-frequency magnetic field, thereby produces induced eddy currents in the heating layer of the fixing member, thereby produces Joule's heat in the heating layer, and thereby heats the fixing member. A leaking magnetic flux is absorbed by the support member of the ferromagnetic member, and thus has reduced influence on metal parts located around the fixing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Yuzuru Nanjo, Eiji Nakajima, Akihiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 7480480
    Abstract: In a fixing apparatus capable of reducing unevenness in temperature distribution in an axial direction while reducing heat loss at an end portion, a fixing belt 11 extended around a fixation roller 13 and a fixation tension roller 14 is heated by a coil unit 28 for effecting induction heating. The fixation tension roller 14 is assembled by inserting a heat pipe 15 into a hollow roller 14a. At both end portions, the hollow roller 14a is covered with a cover portion having small holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiaki Endo, Masahiko Yokota, Kazuhisa Okuda, Takatoshi Chiba, Shinsuke Ubayashi, Hiromasa Katayama, Hiromitsu Uchida
  • Publication number: 20090010689
    Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image bearing body, a rotating body disposed in contact with or disposed facing the image bearing body, a supporting member that supports a rotation shaft of the rotating body, an insertion hole provided on the supporting member, a bearing inserted into the insertion hole and supporting the rotation shaft of the rotating body, and three or more contact portions provided on the bearing or the insertion hole. The contact portions contact the insertion hole or the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsu Koyama
  • Patent number: 7473871
    Abstract: A heating apparatus that enables an abnormally high temperature detection section that detects, when a heating element heated by means of electromagnetic induction reaches an abnormally high temperature, this abnormally high temperature, to operate speedily and reliably irrespective of the material and temperature characteristic of the heating element in a low-cost and compact configuration. In this apparatus, thermostat 301 is disposed on the same side as exciting coil 231 with respect to heat generating belt 210 and between winding bundles of a conductor wire of exciting coil 231. This allows coil guide 234 to hold both thermostat 301 and exciting coil 231 and allows these wires and terminals to be concentrated on one location, thus making it possible to reduce the number of parts and assembling man-hours and configure the body of the apparatus in a low-cost and compact configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Tajima, Koichi Baba, Akihiro Yasuda, Keisuke Fujimoto, Shigemitsu Tani, Masayuki Isayama
  • Patent number: 7465906
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a coil for generating magnetic flux, a rotatable heat generation member for generating heat by the magnetic flux generated by the coil to heat a recording material, and a magnetic flux adjusting member for adjusting a distribution of the magnetic flux from the coil toward the heat generating member. The apparatus further includes a motor, a first drive transmission member, and a second drive transmission member for moving the magnetic flux adjusting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichiro Wakahara, Koki Watanabe, Jiro Shirakata, Koji Takematsu
  • Patent number: 7466950
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a coil for generating magnetic flux and an image heating member. The image heating member comprises an electroconductive layer which generates heat by eddy current generated by the magnetic flux from the coil, for heating an image on a recording material. The image heating apparatus further comprises an energization control device for controlling energization of the coil so that a temperature of the image heating member is a predetermined temperature Tf (° C.), and a heat pipe contactable with the image heating member. The electroconductive layer has a Curie temperature Tc so that the relation Tf?Tc?Tf+Qmax (W)×Rh (° C./W) is satisfied, wherein Qmax (W) represents a maximum amount of heat transport, and Rh (° C./W) represents a value of heat resistance of the heat pipe at a dryout occurrence temperature of the heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daigo Matsuura, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Ikuo Nakamoto, Kazuhiro Hasegawa, Shigeaki Takada
  • Patent number: 7462804
    Abstract: In order to prevent non-sheet passing portion temperature rise occurred in a non-sheet passing area of an electromagnetic induction heating member 1, leakage of magnetic flux is reduced by setting a Curie temperature of the heating member 1 to be smaller than an acceptable upper limit temperature and setting a thickness of the heating member so that a thickness tk in a Curie temperature arrival area (P1?P2) is larger than a thickness tn in a Curie temperature non-arrival area P2 which is a conveyance area of a material to be heated having a minimum passing size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Shirakata, Shouhei Takeda, Koki Watanabe, Shinichiro Wakahara, Koji Takematsu, Koichiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7460822
    Abstract: A roll useful in fusing marking material to a print sheet includes a coating disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface thereof. A lamp disposed inside the roll supplies radiant energy to the inner surface. The coating changes its absorptivity (such as color) as desired, to obtain specific desired temperatures at different portions of the roll. The coating can be thermochromic, changing its absorptivity in response to local temperature; or electrochromic, changing its absorptivity in response to an external electrical stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Scott M. Potter, John Poxon, Pieter Mulder
  • Publication number: 20080292348
    Abstract: A technique is provided that enables restraining temperature fall in a heating roller and a pressurizing roller due to passage of paper or the like at the time of fixing processing without greatly increasing overall power consumption by a fixing apparatus. In a fixing apparatus having a first roller 1 which includes a first heater L1 and a second heater L2 arranged in difference ranges from each other in the direction of rotation axis and an auxiliary heater L4 arranged in a range including the ranges where the first and second heaters are arranged in the direction of rotation axis, and a second roller which is heated by a third heater L3 and nips and carries a sheet in cooperation with the first roller 1, predetermined timing accompanied by start of fixing processing in the fixing apparatus is determined, and when it is determined that the predetermined timing has been reached, the quantity of power supply to the third heater L3 is reduced and power supply to the auxiliary heater L4 is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noboru Furuyama
  • Publication number: 20080292376
    Abstract: The contact rate between a heater 1 and a heater holder 2 is made higher at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the heater than at the center. Alternatively, the per-unit-length volume of the heater holder 2 in the longitudinal direction is made larger at the both ends in the longitudinal direction of the heater. In this configuration, the heat generated by the heater can easily escape into the heater holder side at the both ends but cannot easily escape into the heater holder side at the center. Although the per-unit-length heat amount in the longitudinal direction of the heater 1 may be even, it is also possible to set the heat amount distribution in such a way that the heat amount at the both ends is larger than that at the center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: CANON FINETECH INC.
    Inventors: Ryuji NISHIYAMA, Shintaro KAWAI
  • Patent number: 7447475
    Abstract: A fixing device configured to fix a toner image onto a recording medium includes a coil for generating a magnetic flux and a heat generation member for generating heat by the magnetic flux; the heat generation member includes a hollow cylinder shape, the coil has a loop-shaped coil disposed in a loop shape to sandwich inner and outer circumference planes of the heat generation member of the hollow cylinder shape, the loop-shaped coil is divided into an inside coil portion, which is positioned in the inner circumference plane side of the heat generation member, and an outside coil portion which is positioned in the outer circumference plane side of the heat generation member, and a terminal portion for connecting both of the coil portions is provided between the inside coil portion and the outside coil portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishibe, Makoto Murata, Kohji Kamiya, Kazuo Uchida, Motokazu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7447473
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium, and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The fixing device includes a fixing roller heated by a heating source, and a pressing unit disposed opposite the fixing roller to bias a recording medium towards the fixing roller so that the recording medium contacts the fixing roller. The pressing unit has a movable support member, a pressing member mounted at the support member to face the fixing roller, a pressing belt rotatably disposed around the support member and the pressing member and biased by the pressing member to form a nip with the fixing roller, a driving roller for rotating the pressing belt, and a resilience applying member for biasing at least one of the support member and the driving roller toward the fixing roller. Accordingly, the pressing unit basically expands the width of the fixing nip to improve the image fixing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-hyeuk Jeong, Dong-jin Seol
  • Patent number: 7446281
    Abstract: A fusing device (23) has heat reflectors (238) and (239) positioned in consideration of the fact that convective heat loss from respective outer surfaces of the heat reflectors (238) and (239) depends on orientation of the outer surfaces. More specifically, each of the heat reflectors (238) and (239) are positioned so as to have a convective heat transfer coefficient ? of up to 0.9. The convective heat transfer coefficient ? is given by the following expression: ?=(Su+0.77Sh+0.54Sd)/(Su+Sh+Sd), were Su is a projected area of an outer surface of each of the heat reflectors on an upper horizontal plane, Sh is a projected area of the same on a vertical plane, and Sd is a projected area of the same on a lower horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kagawa, Hiroshi Kida, Takashi Yamanaka, Tetsunori Mitsuoka
  • Patent number: 7442905
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes magnetic flux generating means; a rotatable heat generation member for generating heat by a magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generating means to heat a recording material; a magnetic flux adjusting member, disposed between the magnetic flux generating means and the heat generation member, for adjusting a magnetic flux effective region for the heat generation member, with respect to a longitudinal direction which is perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material; moving means for moving the magnetic flux adjusting member to a predetermined magnetic flux adjusting position to adjust a temperature distribution of the heat generation member with respect to the longitudinal direction; and a drive receiving portion, disposed at opposite end portions of the magnetic flux adjusting member, for receiving a driving force from the moving means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichiro Wakahara, Koki Watanabe, Jiro Shirakata, Koji Takematsu
  • Publication number: 20080260415
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a heating roller which provides heat to a developer-holding medium holding a developer image, a pressurizing roller which is in contact with the heating roller, a heating device having a plurality of heating members which heat the heating roller, a first thermoelectric converting section having a plurality of thermoelectric converting elements, each of which has a heat-absorbing surface and a cooling surface and generates electromotive force by difference in temperature between the heat-absorbing surface and the cooling surface, and formed along a curved surface of the heating roller, in which the heat-absorbing surface is disposed with a predetermined space from an outer circumferential surface of the heating roller, an auxiliary power supply charged with electric power generated by the first thermoelectric converting section, and a switching section which switches the apparatus between a first state in which electric power is supplied from utility power to the heating members and
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiro Sone, Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda
  • Patent number: 7437114
    Abstract: A heating roller includes an exterior aluminum pipe preferably coated with a Teflon layer. A primer layer is disposed inside the exterior aluminum pipe. An outer insulating layer is disposed inside the primer layer. A heating coil is disposed inside the outer insulating layer. An inner insulating layer is disposed inside the heating coil. An aluminum interior pipe is disposed inside the inner insulating layer, and has a predetermined expandability. The heating roller is used as an image fixing unit for fixing a developed image on a recording medium while being pressed by a pressing roller at a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwan-guem Kim, Dong-kyun Kang
  • Patent number: 7428401
    Abstract: A belt-type fixing device is provided that achieves reduction in time required between start of rotation of a fixing belt upon reception of print starting signal in printing-standby status and recovery of a specified fixation temperature in a fixing nip. The belt-type fixing device of the invention has an endless-sheet-like fixing belt to be heated, a nip forming member positioned inside the fixing belt, a rotatable pressurizing roller which is in pressure contact with the nip forming member with the fixing belt interposed between and in which part in contact with the fixing belt forms a fixing nip, and a heater lamp for heating the fixing belt which lamp is provided in a position inside the fixing belt and away from the fixing nip, and the fixing nip is in a position higher than the heater lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Taizou Oonishi
  • Patent number: 7425691
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a mold (holding member) formed by injection molding to hold a coil so that the coil maintains a predetermined positional relation with respect to a heating roller, and capable of holding a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of the heating roller and a thermostat which detects an abnormal temperature of the heating roller in predetermined positions facing the heating roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone
  • Publication number: 20080219729
    Abstract: In a heat fixing member which is a seamless type cylindrical heat fixing member having an elastic layer, the elastic layer is mixed with carbon fibers, and the elastic layer has a thermal conductivity of 1.0 W/(m·K) or more in the thickness direction thereof. A heat fixing member is provided which is more improved in the thermal conductivity in the thickness direction, can efficiently supply heat to the heating object (recording medium) at the time of high-speed printing, can give fixed images having a high glossiness in virtue of the elastic layer, which has secured a sufficient flexibility. A high-performance heat fixing assembly is also provided which can conduct sufficient heat to toner images even if the dwell time is shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhisa MATSUNAKA, Kazuo KISHINO, Yoko KURUMA, Masaaki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20080219728
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a fixing unit thereof are disclosed. The fixing unit includes a heating roller, a press roller mounted in close contact with the heating roller to apply heat and pressure to the printable medium with the heating roller, a press lever to press the press roller toward the heating roller, a press spring connected to the press lever, a release device to operate the press lever to release pressing force exerted on the press roller, and a power conversion device to transmit driving power generated from a main driving source to drive the heating roller to the release device. Accordingly, since the press lever pressing the press roller to closely contact the heating roller can be operated by the driving power of the main driving source, the jammed printable medium can be easily removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hoon Lee, Hak Kyum Kim, Se Hyun Lyu
  • Publication number: 20080219727
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to shorten a warm-up time required to fuse a visible image to a printing medium is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an indirect heating member to indirectly transfer radiant heat to the visible image formed on the printing medium passing through the fusing nip, and a direct heating member to directly transfer resistance heat to the visible image formed on the printing medium passing through the fusing nip. Accordingly, since the radiant heat generated from the indirect heating member heats the direct heating member, a heating rate of the direct heating member increases, and the warm-up time required to reach a predetermined fusing temperature to fuse the visible image is shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Dong Jin SEOL
  • Patent number: 7424234
    Abstract: An image printer using a common filter to remove harmonic waves generated at a common operating frequency band of a fixing module to fix toner onto a print medium using high frequency power generated from a high frequency generator and a switch mode power supply module to supply operating power to the high frequency generator. The image printer includes a fixing module to fix toner to a print medium using high frequency power generated from a high frequency generator, a switch mode power supply module to supply operating power to the high frequency generator, and a band pass filter to filter harmonic waves of a common operating frequency band of the fixing module and the switch mode power supply module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-ha Kim, Hwan-guem Kim, Durk-hyun Cho, Young-min Chae, Sang-yong Han
  • Patent number: 7420141
    Abstract: A thermal processing roller includes a heat transfer medium flowing path therein and heats a member to be processed abutting against a surface of the roller or absorbs heat therefrom by heat transfer fluid flowing through the heat transfer medium flowing path, wherein a sealed chamber extending in a longitudinal direction of the roller and in which heat transfer medium of vapor-liquid two phases is sealed is formed within a thick portion of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Tokuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Kitano, Toru Tonomura, Kozo Okamoto, Shigeyuki Hirota, Masanobu Heguri, Toshiki Hanafusa
  • Publication number: 20080205949
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes: a heat roller that is rotatably supported and that supplies heat for fixing; and a first and a second tubular heaters that are disposed in parallel in the heat roller along an axis thereof and that each have on an outer circumferential surface thereof one protruding residual fused tip, namely, tip portion. As viewed from a side end surface of the heat roller, the tip portions of the first and second tubular heaters are oriented directly opposite to each other with respect to the connection line connecting centers of the first and second tubular heaters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ito, Kunihiko Ishii
  • Patent number: 7418228
    Abstract: Embodiments use an apparatus comprising a media path that is adapted to transport media sheets within the printing apparatus. Fuser rolls are positioned along the media path, and the fuser rolls are adapted to fuse marking material on the media sheets as the media sheets pass the fuser rolls. A heating belt is positioned to pass a first location between the fuser rolls and to pass a second location separate from the fuser rolls. A heater is positioned in the second location, and the heater is adapted to heat the heating belt. In addition, an iso-thermalizing roller is in contact with the heating belt. In some embodiments, the elements can be positioned in any order. In other embodiments, the elements are positioned such that the heating belt passes the elements in the following order: the heater, the fuser rolls, and then the iso-thermalizing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald A. Domoto, Nicholas P. Kladias, David H. Pan
  • Patent number: 7415235
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet. In the fixing unit, a magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux to induce heat in a support roller. The heat is transferred to a fixing belt contacting the support roller. The recording sheet having the toner image is inserted between the fixing belt and a pressure roller facing the fixing belt. A holder holds the magnetic flux generator and positions the magnetic flux generator to face outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the support roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiko Aze, Motokazu Hasegawa, Hidenori Machida
  • Patent number: 7411164
    Abstract: An image fixing device inductively injects thermal energy into a rotating printing form of a press for fixing an image formed on the rotating printing form by means of a digital imaging system. The fixing device has at least one inductor with at least one induction loop, a high-frequency part that forms a tuned circuit with the inductor, and a supply part that can be coupled to the inductor by means of supply lines suitable for high frequency. The inductor loop is in an elongated form aligned parallel to the circumferential direction of the rotating printing form, with the effect that the zone of energy transfer and therefore the heating zone can be configured specifically in terms of its spread in the printing form, so that a high flux density can be introduced zonally into the printing form at the point which is to be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Michael Wagner, Thomas Kothmayr, Franz Peter Weissgärber, Johann Dieter Bierl
  • Patent number: 7412197
    Abstract: A heat roller for a laser printer has a roller pipe, a resistive heat element accommodated in the roller pipe, an internal expanding pipe installed in the roller pipe which restricts the resistive heat element by pushing the resistive heat element toward the roller pipe, caps coupled to both end portions of the internal expanding pipe and provided with electrodes which supply a current to the resistive heat element, a gear coupled to any one of the caps, and a coupling unit which restricts at least one of the caps from slipping along the internal expanding pipe. The heat roller has the enhanced secure coupling between the internal expanding pipe, the roller pipe, the coil and the insulation layer. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent slip off and coil short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-hyeok Jang