US5084738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixing apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1990-10-31
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Granted: 1992-01-28
•
Expires: 2010-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A fixing apparatus having an electrically conductive film which moves in contact with a recording material on which a picture image is held, a pressing roller for causing the film to be brought into contact with the recording material, and a plurality of electrodes disposed along a nip between the film and the pressing roller at a position opposing this pressing roller. The electrically conductive film heats up substantially only in the nip as the result of an electrical conductance to this electrode. An image on the recording material is heated and fixed by the heat generated by the electrically conductive film.
Inventors
- 👤 Noriyoshi Ishikawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:49
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A fixing apparatus, comprising: an electrically conductive film adapted to move along with a recording material containing an unfixed image thereon; a pressing member that presses against said film and forms a nip therebetween; a plurality of electrodes disposed in a direction longitudinal to the nip, and contacting said electrically conductive film; wherein said electrically conductive film generates heat by current flowing between the contacting portions of said electrodes through said electrically conductive film; and wherein the unfixed image on the recording material is heated and fixed by the heat generated by said electrically conductive film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A fixing apparatus, comprising: an electrically conductive film adapted to move along with a recording material containing an unfixed image thereon; a pressing member that presses against said film and forms a nip therebetween; a plurality of electrodes disposed in a direction longitudinal to the nip, and contacting said electrically conductive film; wherein said electrically conductive film generates heat by current flowing between the contacting portions of said electrodes through said electrically conductive film; and wherein the unfixed image on the recording material is heated and fixed by the heat generated by said electrically conductive film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive film has a volume resistivity value of 20 to 200Ω·cm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive film has a surface resistance value of 200 to 1000Ω.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive film includes a carbon black additive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said plurality of said electrodes are disposed within the width of the nip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressing member is a roller having a rubber elastic layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
A fixing apparatus, comprising: an electrically conductive film that moves along with a recording material containing an unfixed image thereon; a plurality of electrodes for supplying electricity to said film, thereby causing said film to generate and emit heat to heat and fix the unfixed image on the recording material, each of said electrodes having an elongated rotary body that is rotatingly mounted so as to rotate together with said conductive film as it moves along with the recording material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A fixing apparatus, comprising: an electrically conductive film that moves along with a recording material containing an unfixed image thereon; a plurality of electrodes for supplying electricity to said film, thereby causing said film to generate and emit heat to heat and fix the unfixed image on the recording material, each of said electrodes having an elongated rotary body that is rotatingly mounted so as to rotate together with said conductive film as it moves along with the recording material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said electrically conductive film has a volume resistivity value of 20 to 200Ω·cm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said electrically conductive film has a surface resistance value of 200 to 1000Ω.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said electrically conductive film includes a carbon black additive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said apparatus further includes a pressing member that presses against said electrically conductive film to form a nip, and wherein said electrodes are disposed within the width of the nip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein movement of said film rotates said electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
A fixing apparatus comprising: an electrically conductive film that moves along with a recording material, said film having a predetermined width W2; a pressing member that presses against film and forms a nip therebetween, said pressing member having a predetermined width W1; a plurality of electrodes disposed in the longitudinal direction of the nip within the width of the nip, said electrodes having a predetermined effective length EL in the longitudinal direction and supplying electricity to said film, wherein a recording material on which an image is held is heated and fixed by the heat from said film while the recording material is grasped between said film and said pressing member and transported, and wherein W1<W2<EL.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
A fixing apparatus comprising: an electrically conductive film that moves along with a recording material, said film having a predetermined width W2; a pressing member that presses against film and forms a nip therebetween, said pressing member having a predetermined width W1; a plurality of electrodes disposed in the longitudinal direction of the nip within the width of the nip, said electrodes having a predetermined effective length EL in the longitudinal direction and supplying electricity to said film, wherein a recording material on which an image is held is heated and fixed by the heat from said film while the recording material is grasped between said film and said pressing member and transported, and wherein W1<W2<EL.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the recording material has a predetermined maximum width denoted as WP in the longitudinal direction of the nip, and WP<W1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the said electrically conductive film has a volume resisitvity value of 20 to 200Ω·cm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said electrically conductive film has a surface resistance value of 200 to 1000Ω.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said resistance value electrically conductive film includes a carbon black additive.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said pressing member is a roller having a rubber elastic layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said electrodes are rotatingly mounted so as to rotate together with movement of said film.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein two of said electrodes form a region therebetween, and wherein the region in between said electrodes generates heat for said film.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-27 | 1995-07-29 | 1996-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-27 | 1999-07-29 | 2000-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | 2004-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |