US5241155A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image fixing apparatus having linear heat generating layer with variable resistance distribution
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1991-08-22
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Granted: 1993-08-31
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Expires: 2011-08-22
Abstract
Abstract An image fixing apparatus includes a heater which is stationary during an image fixing operation, a linear heat generating layer and a film movable in sliding contact with the heater in which a toner image on a recording material is heated by heat from the heater through the film. The heater produces amounts of heat which are different in a direction transverse to a direction of movement of the recording material by varying the resistance distribution of the linear heat generating layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Shokyo Koh
- 👤 Shigeo Kimura
- 👤 Atsushi Hosoi
- 👤 Masahide Kinoshita
- 👤 Kensaku Kusaka
- 👤 Hiroyuki Adachi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:44
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2039; G03G15/2042; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00172; G03G2215/00324
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An image fixing apparatus comprising: a heater stationary in use, said heater having a linear heat generating layer extending in a direction transverse to a direction of movement of a recording material; a film in sliding contact with said heater and movable together with the recording material, wherein a toner image on the recording material is heated by heat from said heater through said film; wherein said heat generating layer has a resistance distribution provided by connecting different materials having different resistances; and wherein one of the resistance materials that has a smallest electric resistance is at a longitudinal end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An image fixing apparatus comprising: a heater stationary in use, said heater having a linear heat generating layer extending in a direction transverse to a direction of movement of a recording material; a film in sliding contact with said heater and movable together with the recording material, wherein a toner image on the recording material is heated by heat from said heater through said film; wherein said heat generating layer has a resistance distribution provided by connecting different materials having different resistances; and wherein one of the resistance materials that has a smallest electric resistance is at a longitudinal end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
An image fixing apparatus comprising: a heater stationary in use, said heater having a linear heat generating layer extending in a direction transverse to a direction of movement of a recording material; a film in sliding contact with said heater and movable together with the recording material, wherein a toner image on the recording material is heated by heat from said heater through said film; wherein said heat generating layer has a resistance distribution provided by connecting different materials having different resistances; and a pressing member for urging said film and the recording material toward said heat generating layer and having a pressing region which is shorter than a length of said heat generating layer, wherein said heat generating layer has a smaller resistance per unit length in a non-pressing region than in the pressing region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
An image fixing apparatus comprising: a heater stationary in use, said heater having a linear heat generating layer extending in a direction transverse to a direction of movement of a recording material; a film in sliding contact with said heater and movable together with the recording material, wherein a toner image on the recording material is heated by heat from said heater through said film; wherein said heat generating layer has a resistance distribution provided by connecting different materials having different resistances; and a pressing member for urging said film and the recording material toward said heat generating layer and having a pressing region which is shorter than a length of said heat generating layer, wherein said heat generating layer has a smaller resistance per unit length in a non-pressing region than in the pressing region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
138 words
An image fixing apparatus comprising: a heater stationary in use, said heater having a linear heat generating layer extending in a direction transverse to a direction of movement of a recording material; a film in sliding contact with said heater and movable together with the recording material, wherein a toner image on the recording material is heated by heat from said heater through said film; wherein said heat generating layer has a resistance distribution provided by connecting different materials having different resistances; and wherein said film slides on said heater during a fixing operation, and wherein said heat generating layer has a length larger than a width of said film, and said heat generating layer has a smaller electric resistance in a portion that does not contact said film than a portion where it does contact said film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
138 words
An image fixing apparatus comprising: a heater stationary in use, said heater having a linear heat generating layer extending in a direction transverse to a direction of movement of a recording material; a film in sliding contact with said heater and movable together with the recording material, wherein a toner image on the recording material is heated by heat from said heater through said film; wherein said heat generating layer has a resistance distribution provided by connecting different materials having different resistances; and wherein said film slides on said heater during a fixing operation, and wherein said heat generating layer has a length larger than a width of said film, and said heat generating layer has a smaller electric resistance in a portion that does not contact said film than a portion where it does contact said film.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein said heat generating layer and the toner image contact without an air layer therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a pressing member for urging said film and said recording material toward said heater.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a heater stationary in use, said heater having a linear heat generating layer extending in a direction transverse to a direction of movement of a recording material; a film in sliding-contact with said heater and movable together with the recording material, wherein a toner image on the recording material is heated by heat from said heater through said film; wherein said heat generating layer has a resistance distribution provided by varied width in a longitudinal direction thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a heater stationary in use, said heater having a linear heat generating layer extending in a direction transverse to a direction of movement of a recording material; a film in sliding-contact with said heater and movable together with the recording material, wherein a toner image on the recording material is heated by heat from said heater through said film; wherein said heat generating layer has a resistance distribution provided by varied width in a longitudinal direction thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a longitudinal end portion of said heat generating layer has a width larger than that in the central portion thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a pressing member for urging said film and the recording material toward said heat generating layer and having a pressing region which is shorter than a length of said heat generating layer, wherein said heat generating layer has a larger width in a non-pressing region than in the pressing region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an end portion of said heat generating layer has a width larger than that in the central portion thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said heat generating layer is made of the same material throughout its length.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said heating generating layer and the toner image are contacted without an air layer therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a pressing member for urging said film and recording material toward said heater.
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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) | 1996-08-30 | 1997-03-01 | 1997-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-30 | 2001-03-01 | 2001-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-30 | 2005-03-01 | 2005-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |