US5293202A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image fixing apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1992-01-03
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Granted: 1994-03-08
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Expires: 2012-01-03
Abstract
Abstract An image fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image on an image supporting material. A guiding member for guiding the image supporting material is provided without contact to an image fixing rotatable member but with a predetermined small clearance. In order to maintain the predetermined clearance, spacers are provided at positions outside the maximum image forming region. The rotatable image fixing member is prevented from being damaged, and in addition, the image supporting material is prevented from being wrapped on the rotatable member.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobukazu Adachi
- 👤 Yuzo Isoda
- 👤 Toshio Miyamoto
- 👤 Yohji Tomoyuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:31
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2017; G03G15/2028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a fixing rotatable member for fixing a toner image on an image supporting material; and a separating guide for separating the image supporting material from said fixing rotatable member, said separating guide being disposed along a direction of a generating line of said fixing rotatable member with a predetermined gap from a surface of said fixing rotatable member, a contact portion contacting a surface of said fixing rotatable member to form the gap; wherein said contact portion partly overlaps with both a maximum sheet passage region and a non-sheet passage region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a fixing rotatable member for fixing a toner image on an image supporting material; and a separating guide for separating the image supporting material from said fixing rotatable member, said separating guide being disposed along a direction of a generating line of said fixing rotatable member with a predetermined gap from a surface of said fixing rotatable member, a contact portion contacting a surface of said fixing rotatable member to form the gap; wherein said contact portion partly overlaps with both a maximum sheet passage region and a non-sheet passage region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said contact portion is provided at each of the longitudinal end portions of said separating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said contact portion has a surface layer possessing good parting properties.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said surface layer is of fluorinated resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said contact portion is outside a maximum image area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixing rotatable member is contactable to an unfixed toner image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said fixing rotatable member is heated by heating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined gap is 0.1-0.6 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said separating guide has an end portion which is parallel with the generating line of said fixing rotatable member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing member for pressing against the fixing rotatable member, wherein the end portion of said separating guide is disposed within a range between 40 and 90 degrees from a line connecting a center of said fixing rotatable member and a center of said pressing member in a direction downstream with respect to rotational direction of said rotatable member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixing rotatable member has a diameter not more than 30 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said separating guide is a resin injection-molded.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a fixing rotatable member for fixing a toner image n an image supporting material; separating member for separating the image supporting material from said fixing rotatable member, said separating member being disposed along a direction of a generating line of said fixing rotatable member with a predetermined gap from a surface of said fixing rotatable member; wherein separating member has plural ribs for separating a leading end of said image supporting material and for guiding the thus separated image supporting material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a fixing rotatable member for fixing a toner image n an image supporting material; separating member for separating the image supporting material from said fixing rotatable member, said separating member being disposed along a direction of a generating line of said fixing rotatable member with a predetermined gap from a surface of said fixing rotatable member; wherein separating member has plural ribs for separating a leading end of said image supporting material and for guiding the thus separated image supporting material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said fixing rotatable member is contactable to an unfixed toner image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said fixing rotatable member is heated by heating means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined gap is 0.1-0.6 mm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said separating member has an end portion which is parallel with the generating line of said fixing rotatable member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to any one claim 13, further comprising a pressing member for pressing against the fixing rotatable member, wherein the end portion of said separating member is disposed within a range between 40 and 90 degrees from a line connecting a center of said fixing rotatable member and a center of said pressing member in a direction downstream with respect to rotational direction of said rotatable members.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said fixing rotatable member has a diameter not more than 30 mm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said separating member is a resin injection-molded material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
89 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a fixing rotatable member for fixing a toner image on an image supporting material; bearing means for rotatably supporting said fixing rotatable member; and separating means for separating the image supporting material from said fixing rotatable member, said separating means being disposed along a direction of a generating line of said fixing rotatable member with a predetermined gap form a surface of said fixing rotatable member, wherein said separating means has a contact portion for contact with said bearing means to maintain the gap.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
89 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a fixing rotatable member for fixing a toner image on an image supporting material; bearing means for rotatably supporting said fixing rotatable member; and separating means for separating the image supporting material from said fixing rotatable member, said separating means being disposed along a direction of a generating line of said fixing rotatable member with a predetermined gap form a surface of said fixing rotatable member, wherein said separating means has a contact portion for contact with said bearing means to maintain the gap.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said separating means is supported on said bearing member adjacent opposite longitudinal ends.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
111 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a fixing rotatable member for fixing a toner image on an image supporting material; separating guide for separating the image supporting material from said fixing rotatable member, said separating guide being disposed along a direction of a generating line of said fixing rotatable member with a predetermined gap form a surface of said fixing rotatable member, an urging member for urging said separating guide toward said fixing rotatable member; and a positioning portion for receiving an urging force from said urging member to position said separating guide; wherein three of such positioning portions are provided at a central position and end portions of said separating guide.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
111 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a fixing rotatable member for fixing a toner image on an image supporting material; separating guide for separating the image supporting material from said fixing rotatable member, said separating guide being disposed along a direction of a generating line of said fixing rotatable member with a predetermined gap form a surface of said fixing rotatable member, an urging member for urging said separating guide toward said fixing rotatable member; and a positioning portion for receiving an urging force from said urging member to position said separating guide; wherein three of such positioning portions are provided at a central position and end portions of said separating guide.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said separating means has three projections in total for the positioning with the three points.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said projections adjacent the end portions are contacted to a surface of said fixing rotatable member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising bearing means for rotatably supporting said fixing rotatable member, wherein the projections at the end portions are contacted to said bearing means.
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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) | 1997-03-07 | 1997-09-06 | 1998-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-03-07 | 2001-09-06 | 2002-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-03-07 | 2005-09-06 | 2006-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |