US5280329A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixing device
Assignee: Toshiba TEC Corp
•
Filing: 1992-07-31
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Granted: 1994-01-18
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Expires: 2012-07-31
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a fixing device comprising a heater which is formed of a heating element produced by dispersing particles of ceramic having a negative resistance-temperature coefficient into a binding member. The heater is formed by mounting a heat-shrinkable tubing on the heating element. A heating temperature of the heater is adjusted based on the thickness of the heat-shrinkable tubing. In addition, the heating element is covered by the heat-shrinkable tubing so as to reduce its high surface roughness.
Inventors
- 👤 Ryozo Akiyama
- 👤 Yoshimitsu Ohtake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:50
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2053; H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/10; H05B3/12; H05B3/14; H05B3/141; H05B3/40; H05B3/42; H05B3/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A fixing device for heating toner images formed on a recording medium with a heater to thereby fix said toner images on said recording medium, characterized in that said heater comprises a heating element having a positive resistance-temperature coefficient and formed by dispersing particles of ceramic having a negative resistance-temperature coefficient into a binding member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
A fixing device for heating toner images formed on a recording medium with a heater to thereby fix said toner images on said recording medium, characterized in that said heater comprises a heating element having a positive resistance-temperature coefficient and formed by dispersing particles of ceramic having a negative resistance-temperature coefficient into a binding member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein said ceramic having the negative resistance-temperature coefficient comprises a ferrite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein said ceramic having the negative resistance-temperature coefficient comprises an Mn-Zn ferrite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A fixing device for heating toner images formed on a recording medium with an outer peripheral surface of a heater so as to fix said toner images on said recording medium, characterized in that a heating element formed by dispersing particles of ceramic having a negative resistance-temperature coefficient into a binding member is shaped in the form of a cylinder and a heat-shrinkable tubing is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of said heating element, thereby forming said heater.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A fixing device for heating toner images formed on a recording medium with an outer peripheral surface of a heater so as to fix said toner images on said recording medium, characterized in that a heating element formed by dispersing particles of ceramic having a negative resistance-temperature coefficient into a binding member is shaped in the form of a cylinder and a heat-shrinkable tubing is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of said heating element, thereby forming said heater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fixing device according to claim 4, wherein the roughness of the outer peripheral surface of said heating element ranges from 30(μm) to 80(μm).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fixing device according to claims 4 or 5, wherein said surface roughness and the thickness of said heat-shrinkable tubing are determined so as to meet the following equation: R≦t≦60R where R: surface roughness t: thickness of heat-shrinkable tubing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fixing device of claim 1, wherein said heating element has a positive resistance-temperature coefficient at least at temperatures greater than 200° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The fixing device of claim 1, wherein said binding member includes polyether-etherketone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fixing device of claim 3, wherein said ceramic is ground into grains having an average diameter of 3 μm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fixing device of claim 1, wherein said heating element has a hollow cylindrical shape having a radial thickness of approximately 2 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fixing device of claim 1, wherein said heating element is in the shape of a hollow cylinder having a radial thickness T and a diameter D, and wherein ##EQU1##
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fixing device of claim 4, wherein said heating element has a positive resistance-temperature coefficient at least at temperatures greater than 200° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fixing device of claim 4, wherein said cylinder has a tubular shape with a thickness T and a diameter D, and wherein ##EQU2##
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fixing device of claim 4, wherein said ceramic having the negative resistance-temperature coefficient comprises an Mn-Zn ferrite.
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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) | 1997-01-17 | 1997-07-19 | 1998-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-17 | 2001-07-19 | 2002-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-17 | 2005-07-19 | 2006-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |