US4435072A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image recording apparatus with leakage preventing microwave fixing device
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1981-12-04
•
Granted: 1984-03-06
•
Expires: 2001-12-04
Abstract
Abstract An image formation apparatus having an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image, a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium and record the image, a conveyor for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from the image formation station until the recording medium passage through the fixing station, and a device for preventing leakage of the high-frequency waves for fixing the visualized image on the recording medium. The fixing station has a high-frequency wave applying process for fixing the visualized image on the moving recording medium. The image formation apparatus effectively utilizes the high-frequency waves for the image formation while, on the other hand, it prevents wasteful leakage of the high-freqency waves or leakage of the high-frequency waves which interferes with humans or image formation and ensures safety.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroyuki Adachi
- 👤 Nagao Hosono
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:13
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An image recording apparatus comprising an outer casing; an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; first means for preventing the high-frequency waves from leaking out of said casing of said image recording apparatus; and second means provided in said casing for preventing the high-frequency waves from leaking out of the fixing station into said image recording apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An image recording apparatus comprising an outer casing; an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; first means for preventing the high-frequency waves from leaking out of said casing of said image recording apparatus; and second means provided in said casing for preventing the high-frequency waves from leaking out of the fixing station into said image recording apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second means comprises a high-frequency wave absorbing rotatable member for conveying the recording medium, said rotatable member being provided in said recording medium conveyance path adjacent to said fixing station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said rotatable member is provided adjacent to the inlet of said fixing station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said second means has a high-frequency wave reflecting member having a curved suface for utilizing high-frequency waves for fixing the visualized image on the recording medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station and surrounding said fixing station; and a rotatable member for absorbing the high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region to convey the recording medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station and surrounding said fixing station; and a rotatable member for absorbing the high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region to convey the recording medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said high-frequency wave absorbing member is provided at the outlet region of said fixing station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said high-frequency wave absorbing member is provided at the inlet region of said fixing station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said rotatable member is a pair of rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein one of said pair of rollers is an elastic roller and has means for urging said pair of rollers against each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station and surrounding said fixing station; and a member for absorbing high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region, wherein said absorbing member has ferrite dispersed therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station and surrounding said fixing station; and a member for absorbing high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region, wherein said absorbing member has ferrite dispersed therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rotatable member is a pair of rollers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein one of said pair of rollers is an elastic roller and has means for urging said pair of rollers against each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, further having means for supplying a parting agent to said rotatable member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 7, further having means for supplying a parting agent to said rotatable member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the other of said pair of rollers is a metallic roller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the other of said pair of rollers is a metallic roller.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
127 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path fron said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station and surrounding said fixing station; and a member for absorbing the high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region, wherein said absorbing member is formed of resin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
127 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path fron said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station and surrounding said fixing station; and a member for absorbing the high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region, wherein said absorbing member is formed of resin.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said absorbing member has ferrite dispersed therein.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
128 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station and surrounding said fixing station; and a member for absorbing the high-frequency wave provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region, wherein said absorbing member is formed of rubber material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
128 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station and surrounding said fixing station; and a member for absorbing the high-frequency wave provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region, wherein said absorbing member is formed of rubber material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 16, 17, 18 or 19, wherein said surrounding means has a high-frequency wave absorbing member inside thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said surrounding means has a casing member formed of a metal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region through which the recording medium enters into said fixing station and an outlet region through which the recording medium discharges from said fixing station, said means surrounding said fixing station; and control means provided at at least one of said inlet region and outlet region for controlling the passage area through which the recording medium passes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region through which the recording medium enters into said fixing station and an outlet region through which the recording medium discharges from said fixing station, said means surrounding said fixing station; and control means provided at at least one of said inlet region and outlet region for controlling the passage area through which the recording medium passes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 22, further having means for absorbing the high-frequency wave at said outlet region.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said control means has means for opening-closing the passage area of said inlet region.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, further having means for detecting the position of the recording medium and wherein said control means is operated in accordance with a signal detected by said detector means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 24, further having means for detecting the position of the recording medium and wherein said opening-closing means is operated in accordance with a signal detected by said detector means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said opening-closing means has a member moving through the passage area of said inlet region.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said absorbing means has a rotatable member concerned with conveyance of the recording medium.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said rotatable member is a pair of rollers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 28 or 29, wherein said rotatable member is formed of rubber or resin.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said surrounding means has a casing member for intercepting the high-frequency wave.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
143 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from the image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an opening region through which the recording medium can pass along said conveyance path, said means surrounding said fixing station; and impedance changing means for making the impedance of said opening region differ from the applied high-frequency wave impedance of said fixing station, wherein said impedance changing means has at said opening region a guide opening portion having a length greater than the half-wavelength of the high-frequency waves with respect to said recording medium conveyance path.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
143 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from the image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an opening region through which the recording medium can pass along said conveyance path, said means surrounding said fixing station; and impedance changing means for making the impedance of said opening region differ from the applied high-frequency wave impedance of said fixing station, wherein said impedance changing means has at said opening region a guide opening portion having a length greater than the half-wavelength of the high-frequency waves with respect to said recording medium conveyance path.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the length of said guide opening portion is equal to or greater than one wavelength of the high-frequency waves.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
123 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an opening region through which said recording medium can pass along said conveyance path, said means surrounding said fixing station; and impedance changing means for making the impedance of said opening region differ from the applied high-frequency wave impedance of said fixing station, wherein said impedance changing means has a concavo-convex portion at said opening region.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
123 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an opening region through which said recording medium can pass along said conveyance path, said means surrounding said fixing station; and impedance changing means for making the impedance of said opening region differ from the applied high-frequency wave impedance of said fixing station, wherein said impedance changing means has a concavo-convex portion at said opening region.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said concave-convex portion is provided at an upper portion of said opening region relative to the recording medium conveyance direction.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said concave-convex portion is also provided at a lower portion of the opening region.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
122 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an opening region through which the recording medium can pass along said conveyance path, said means surrounding said fixing station; impedance changing means for making the impedance of said opening region differ from the applied high-frequency wave impedance of said fixing station; and a member for absorbing high-frequency provided at or around said opening region.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
122 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an opening region through which the recording medium can pass along said conveyance path, said means surrounding said fixing station; impedance changing means for making the impedance of said opening region differ from the applied high-frequency wave impedance of said fixing station; and a member for absorbing high-frequency provided at or around said opening region.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 31, 33 or 34, further having a high-frequency wave absorbing member at or around said opening region.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station, said means surrounding said fixing station and including a first high-frequency wave-absorbing member, having ferrite dispersed therein, inside thereof; and a second member for absorbing high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station, said means surrounding said fixing station and including a first high-frequency wave-absorbing member, having ferrite dispersed therein, inside thereof; and a second member for absorbing high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image recording apparatus having: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station, said means surrounding said fixing station and having a first high-frequency wave absorbing member, formed of resin, inside thereof; and a second member for absorbing high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image recording apparatus having: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station, said means surrounding said fixing station and having a first high-frequency wave absorbing member, formed of resin, inside thereof; and a second member for absorbing high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said second absorbing member has ferrite dispersed therein.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
132 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station, said means surrounding said fixing station and having a first high-frequency wave absorbing member formed of rubber material; and a second member for absorbing high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
132 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an inlet region and an outlet region through which the recording medium can go in and out relative to said fixing station, said means surrounding said fixing station and having a first high-frequency wave absorbing member formed of rubber material; and a second member for absorbing high-frequency waves provided at a predetermined region in the conveyance path from said inlet region to said outlet region.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
152 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an opening region through which said recording medium can pass along said conveyance path, said means surrounding said fixing station, and impedance changing means for making the impedance of said opening region differ from the applied high-frequency wave impedance of said fixing station, said impedance changing means making the height of said opening region gradually reduced relative to the recording medium conveyance direction in the vertical direction, wherein at least the height of a part thereof is smaller than the half-wavelength of the high-frequency waves.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
152 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; means having an opening region through which said recording medium can pass along said conveyance path, said means surrounding said fixing station, and impedance changing means for making the impedance of said opening region differ from the applied high-frequency wave impedance of said fixing station, said impedance changing means making the height of said opening region gradually reduced relative to the recording medium conveyance direction in the vertical direction, wherein at least the height of a part thereof is smaller than the half-wavelength of the high-frequency waves.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 34, 35, 36, 37, or 43, wherein said impedance means has at said opening region a guide opening portion having a length greater than half-wave length of the high-frequency waves with respect to said recording medium conveyance path.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 44 wherein the length of said guide opening portion is equal to or greater than one wavelength of the high-frequency waves.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
96 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; and a pair of rotatable members provided at the discharge side of said fixing station for passing therebetween the recording medium for conveyance and for preventing leakage of the high-frequency waves.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
96 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image formation station for causing a recording medium to bear a visualized image; a fixing station for applying high-frequency waves to thereby fix the visualized image on the recording medium thereby to record the image; means for conveying the recording medium along a conveyance path from said image formation station until the recording medium passes through said fixing station; and a pair of rotatable members provided at the discharge side of said fixing station for passing therebetween the recording medium for conveyance and for preventing leakage of the high-frequency waves.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said pair of rotatable members includes a high-frequency absorbing roller.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 46 or 47, wherein said rotatable members includes a high-frequency reflecting roller.
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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) | 1987-03-06 | 1987-09-05 | 1988-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-06 | 1991-09-05 | 1992-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-06 | 1995-09-05 | 1996-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |