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EP0411588A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

An image fixing apparatus

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1990-07-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-07-31
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Abstract

Abstract An image fixing apparatus includes a heater (1); an endless film (2) movable together with a supporting member for supporting a toner image, wherein the toner image is heated by heat from the heater through the film; a driver (3) for driving the film; and wherein at least a part of the endless film (2) is substantially tension-free when the film is driven.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kazuhiko C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ishiwata

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 05:41
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2064

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 60 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: heating means; an endless film movable together with a supporting member for supporting a toner image, wherein the toner image is heated by heat from said heating means through said film; driving means for driving said film; and wherein at least a part of said endless film is substantially tension-free when said film is driven.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 60 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: heating means; an endless film movable together with a supporting member for supporting a toner image, wherein the toner image is heated by heat from said heating means through said film; driving means for driving said film; and wherein at least a part of said endless film is substantially tension-free when said film is driven.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said heating means has a heater which is stationary in use, and said film slides on said heater.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said heater extends in a direction crossing with a direction of movement of said film and has a heat generating resistor generating heats upon electric energization.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein no air layer exists between said heat generating resistor and the toner image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a pressing member for urging together said heating means, said film and the image supporting member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 76 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a heating member; a film movable together with a supporting member for supporting a toner image, wherein the toner image on said supporting member is heated by heat from said heating member through said film; a rotatable pressing member for urging together said heating member, said film and the image supporting member; driving means for driving said rotatable pressing member, wherein said film moves following rotation of said pressing rotatable member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 76 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a heating member; a film movable together with a supporting member for supporting a toner image, wherein the toner image on said supporting member is heated by heat from said heating member through said film; a rotatable pressing member for urging together said heating member, said film and the image supporting member; driving means for driving said rotatable pressing member, wherein said film moves following rotation of said pressing rotatable member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 40 words
An apparatus according to Claim 6, further comprising a guide for guiding said film, and wherein said film is in the form of an endless belt, and said film is trained around said heating member and said guide with slackness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said rotatable pressing member is a roller having a rubber layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said heating means has a heater which is stationary in use, and said film slides on said heater.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 33 words
An apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein said heater extends in a direction crossing with a direction of movement of said film and has a heat generating resistor generating heats upon electric energization.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein no air layer exists between said heat generating resistor and the toner image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 93 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: heating means; an endless film movable together with a supporting member for supporting a toner image, wherein the toner image is heated by heat from said heating means through said film; driving means for driving said film, wherein at least a part of said endless film is tension-free when said film is driven; limiting means for limiting a position of said film in a direction substantially perpendicular to a movement direction of said film, said limiting means limiting a portion of said film where it is substantially tension-free.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 93 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: heating means; an endless film movable together with a supporting member for supporting a toner image, wherein the toner image is heated by heat from said heating means through said film; driving means for driving said film, wherein at least a part of said endless film is tension-free when said film is driven; limiting means for limiting a position of said film in a direction substantially perpendicular to a movement direction of said film, said limiting means limiting a portion of said film where it is substantially tension-free.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said limiting means has a limiting guide having a diameter continuously increasing toward an outside.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said limiting means has limiting members at opposite ends of said film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said heating means has a heater which is stationary in use, and said film slides on said heater.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 33 words
An apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein said heater extends in a direction crossing with a direction of movement of said film and has a heat generating resistor generating heats upon electric energization.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein no air layer exists between said heat generating resistor and the toner image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to Claim 12, further comprising a pressing member for urging together said heating means, said film and the image supporting member.

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