US4949131A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixing apparatus
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-06-22
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Granted: 1990-08-14
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Expires: 2008-06-22
Abstract
Abstract A fixing apparatus has a heat roller having a heater, a pressure roller contacting the heat roller under pressure, a drive for rotating the heat roller, a temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of the heat roller, a holder holding the temperature detecting element so that the element is maintained in a non-contact state with the heat roller at a specified temperature or less and so that the element is maintained in a contacting state with the heat roller over the specified temperature, and a controller for starting the carrying out of a rotation of the heat roller when it is detected that the temperature detecting element contacts the heat roller.
Inventors
- 👤 Masazumi Ito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:46
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2039
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A fixing apparatus comprising: a heat roller having a heater; a pressure roller contacting said heat roller under pressure; drive means for rotating said heat roller; a temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of said heat roller; a holder holding said temperature detecting element to maintain said element out of contact with said heat roller when said heat roller is at a specified temperature or less and to maintain said element in a contact with said heat roller when said heat roller is above the specified temperature; detecting means for detecting that said temperature detecting element contacts said heat roller; and control means for starting rotation of said heat roller in response to a signal from said detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A fixing apparatus comprising: a heat roller having a heater; a pressure roller contacting said heat roller under pressure; drive means for rotating said heat roller; a temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of said heat roller; a holder holding said temperature detecting element to maintain said element out of contact with said heat roller when said heat roller is at a specified temperature or less and to maintain said element in a contact with said heat roller when said heat roller is above the specified temperature; detecting means for detecting that said temperature detecting element contacts said heat roller; and control means for starting rotation of said heat roller in response to a signal from said detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holder contains shape memory alloys.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotation of said heat roller is stopped when said temperature detecting element detects a specified temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said specified temperature is below a temperature at which a fixing operation can be carried out.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes means for generating a signal at the time when said detecting means detects that an output generated from said temperature detecting element is greatly changed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting element has a negative temperatureresistance characteristic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3888622A
Cited
US4385826A
Cited
US4687315A
Cited
JPS59189659A
Cited
JPS6023872A
Cited
JPH094274A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-13 | 1994-02-12 | 1994-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-13 | 1998-02-12 | 1998-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-13 | 2002-02-12 | 2002-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |