US4511778A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image fixing device utilizing a high frequency wave
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1981-12-04
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Granted: 1985-04-16
•
Expires: 2001-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A dielectric or induction heating fixing device utilizing a high-frequency wave such as microwave for fixing an unfixed image on an image bearing member stabilizes the fixing effect in accordance with the size of the image bearing member. A control device controls the applied high-frequency wave in accordance with the size of the image bearing member, a conveyer conveys one side edge of the image bearing member of each size along a conveyance standard or reference, and a device regulates the area to which the high-frequency wave is applied, in accordance with each size. In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a control device for controlling the applied high-frequency wave so that the fixativeness of the unfixed image after the image bearing member has passed the area to which the high-frequency wave is applied becomes equal irrespective of the size of the image bearing member.
Inventors
- 👤 Tohru Takahashi
- 👤 Hatsuo Tajima
- 👤 Michio Shigenobu
- 👤 Shigemichi Washiyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:08
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2007; H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A fixing device comprising: means defining a high-frequency wave guide for causing a high-frequency wave to travel in a direction intersecting the direction of movement of image bearing members of various width sizes bearing thereon an unfixed image formed by image formation means and for applying the high-frequency wave to said image bearing members to fix the unfixed image on said image bearing members; means for inputting the high-frequency wave to one side of said applying means; and means for conveying said image bearing members such that one side edge of each image bearing member, regardless of its width size, moves along a common conveyance reference which intersects the travelling direction of the high-frequency wave, such that said image bearing members of various width sizes are all conveyed on one side of said common reference; whereby substantially uniform fixation is obtained regardless of the width size of the image bearing members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A fixing device comprising: means defining a high-frequency wave guide for causing a high-frequency wave to travel in a direction intersecting the direction of movement of image bearing members of various width sizes bearing thereon an unfixed image formed by image formation means and for applying the high-frequency wave to said image bearing members to fix the unfixed image on said image bearing members; means for inputting the high-frequency wave to one side of said applying means; and means for conveying said image bearing members such that one side edge of each image bearing member, regardless of its width size, moves along a common conveyance reference which intersects the travelling direction of the high-frequency wave, such that said image bearing members of various width sizes are all conveyed on one side of said common reference; whereby substantially uniform fixation is obtained regardless of the width size of the image bearing members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein said applying means has a region for leaking the high-frequency wave to said image bearing members along the direction of travel of the high-frequency wave in said high-frequency wave guide means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein said conveyance reference lies at one side edge portion of said applying means whereat said input means inputs the high-frequency wave.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fixing device according to claim 2, wherein said leakage region has a plurality of high-frequency wave leaking openings which are successively larger with respect to the direction of travel of the high-frequency wave.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fixing device according to claim 2, wherein said leakage region has a plurality of high-frequency wave leaking openings provided at different densities with respect to the direction of travel of the high-frequency wave.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fixing device according to claim 2, wherein said leakage region has electrode members provided at such intervals that they are successively smaller with respect to the direction of travel of the high-frequency wave.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fixing device according to claim 2, wherein said leakage region comprises an electrode having a plurality of openings therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said wave guide means has a dielectric material and a conductor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising means for controlling the applied high-frequency wave in accordance with the sizes of said image bearing members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fixing device according to claim 2, further having effective fixation width regulating means for controlling the leakage area of the high-frequency wave in accordance with the sizes of said image bearing members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fixing device according to claim 9, wherein said control means controls a voltage applied for the generation of the high-frequency wave.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fixing device according to claim 9 or 11, wherein said control means controls the frequency of the high-frequency wave.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A fixing device according to claim 10, wherein said effective fixation width regulating means controls the high-frequency wave leaking area on the high-frequency wave travel side of the conveyance path along which an image bearing member of a desired size among said image bearing members of various sizes is conveyed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
A fixing device comprising: means for conveying image bearing members of various width sizes bearing thereon an unfixed image formed by image formation means; means for generating a high-frequency wave; high-frequency wave applying means for applying the high-frequency wave to said image bearing members to fix the unfixed image on each image bearing member; and means for controlling the high-frequency wave output of said generating means in accordance with the width sizes of said image bearing members; whereby substantially uniform fixation is obtained regardless of the width size of the image bearing members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
A fixing device comprising: means for conveying image bearing members of various width sizes bearing thereon an unfixed image formed by image formation means; means for generating a high-frequency wave; high-frequency wave applying means for applying the high-frequency wave to said image bearing members to fix the unfixed image on each image bearing member; and means for controlling the high-frequency wave output of said generating means in accordance with the width sizes of said image bearing members; whereby substantially uniform fixation is obtained regardless of the width size of the image bearing members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A fixing device according to claim 14, wherein said control means has detector means for detecting the width of an image bearing member used in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance thereof and controls said high-frequency wave output correspondingly to a signal formed by said detector means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fixing device according to claim 14, wherein said control means controls the voltage of said generating means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fixing device according to claim 14 or 16, wherein said control means controls the frequency of the high-frequency wave of said generating means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fixing device according to claim 14, wherein said applying means has high-frequency wave guide means having a region for leaking the high-frequency wave to the image bearing members.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
95 words
A fixing device comprising: means for conveying image bearing members of various width sizes bearing thereon an unfixed image formed by image formation means; means for generating a high-frequency wave; high-frequency wave applying means for applying a high-frequency wave to said image bearing members to fix the unfixed image on each image bearing member; and means for controlling the high-frequency wave applied by said high-frequency wave applying means in accordance with the width sizes of said image bearing member; whereby substantially uniform fixation is obtained regardless of the width size of the image bearing members.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
95 words
A fixing device comprising: means for conveying image bearing members of various width sizes bearing thereon an unfixed image formed by image formation means; means for generating a high-frequency wave; high-frequency wave applying means for applying a high-frequency wave to said image bearing members to fix the unfixed image on each image bearing member; and means for controlling the high-frequency wave applied by said high-frequency wave applying means in accordance with the width sizes of said image bearing member; whereby substantially uniform fixation is obtained regardless of the width size of the image bearing members.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
A fixing device according to claim 19, further comprising detector means for detecting the width of an image bearing member used with respect to the direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance thereof and wherein said control means controls the high-frequency wave applied to said image bearing member, correspondingly to a signal formed by said detector means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
A fixing device according to claim 19, further comprising regulating means for controlling the effective area to which the high-frequency wave is applied, in accordance with the width of an image bearing member used with respect to the direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fixing device according to claim 19, wherein said high-frequency wave applying means has high-frequency wave guide means having a region for leaking the high-frequency wave to said image bearing members.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fixing device according to claim 22, wherein said control means has variable means variable in accordance with the sizes of the image bearing members and controls the applied high-frequency wave from said leakage region by said variable means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fixing device according to claim 23, wherein said variable means is openable and closable and controls the applied high-frequency wave by the degree of opening thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fixing device according to claim 21, wherein said regulating means has cut-off means for cutting off the other area than the effective area to which the high-frequency wave is applied.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fixing device according to claim 25, wherein said cut-off means cuts off the area of said applying means on the starting point side of the direction of travel of the high-frequency wave.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fixing device according to claim 21, wherein said regulating means has cut-off means for cutting off the other area so that said effective area becomes equal to the size of the image bearing member.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fixing device according to claim 25, 26 or 27, further comprising means for moving said cut-off means in accordance with the sizes of the image bearing members.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fixing device according to any one of claims 19 or 21-27, further comprising means for controlling the frequency of the applied high-frequency wave.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fixing device according to any one claims 19 or 21-27, further comprising means for controlling the voltage applied to the high-frequency wave generating means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
A fixing device according to claim 1, 14 or 19, wherein said high-frequency wave is microwave.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fixing device according to claim 18 or 22, wherein said leakage region has a plurality of high-frequency wave leaking openings which are successively larger with respect to the direction of travel of the high-frequency wave.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fixing device according to claim 18 or 22, wherein said leakage region has a plurality of high-frequency wave leaking openings provided at different densities with respect to the direction of travel of the high-frequency wave.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fixing device according to claim 18 or 22, wherein said leakage region has electrode members provided at such intervals that they are successively smaller with respect to the direction of travel of the high-frequency wave.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fixing device according to claim 18 or 22, wherein said leakage region comprises an electrode having a plurality of openings therein.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fixing device according to claim 18 or 22, wherein said wave guide means has a dielectric material and a conductor.
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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) | 1988-04-15 | 1988-10-15 | 1989-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-15 | 1992-10-15 | 1993-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-15 | 1996-10-15 | 1997-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |