US5966577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heater and heat fixing apparatus having a resistance adjustment portion
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-19
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Granted: 1999-10-12
•
Expires: 2015-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A heater includes a substrate; a heat generating resistor on the substrate to generate heat when supplied with electric energy; a pair of electrodes for supplying the energy to the heat generating resistor; and a resistance adjustment portion for adjusting the resistance between the electrodes. The resistance adjustment portion adjusts the resistance while maintaining uniform electrical conductivity between the electrodes and the heat generating resistor.
Inventors
- 👤 Atsuyoshi Abe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:19
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A heater comprising: a substrate; a heat generating resistor on said substrate to generate heat when supplied with electric energy; a pair of electrodes for supplying the energy to said heat generating resistor; and a resistance adjustment portion for adjusting the resistance between said electrodes, wherein said resistance adjustment portion adjusts the resistance while maintaining uniform electrical conductivity between said electrodes and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A heater comprising: a substrate; a heat generating resistor on said substrate to generate heat when supplied with electric energy; a pair of electrodes for supplying the energy to said heat generating resistor; and a resistance adjustment portion for adjusting the resistance between said electrodes, wherein said resistance adjustment portion adjusts the resistance while maintaining uniform electrical conductivity between said electrodes and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A heater according to claim 1, wherein said resistance adjustment portion is a partially removed portion to adjust the resistance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A heater according to claim 2, wherein said resistance adjustment portion is reduced in width in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the energy supply.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A heater according to claim 2, where said resistance adjustment portion is reduced in its thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A heater according to claim 1, wherein said resistance adjustment portion is formed by printing and baking, using silver-palladium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A heater according to claim 1, wherein the resistance of said resistance adjustment portion is higher than the resistances of said electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A heater according to claim 1, wherein a width of said resistance adjustment portion in the direction perpendicular to the energy supply direction is larger than that of said heat generating resistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A heater according to claim 1, wherein an electrically conductive portion having a smaller resistance value than that of said resistance adjustment portion is provided between said resistance adjustment portion and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A heater according to claim 1, wherein said resistance adjustment portion and said heat generating resistor are contiguously formed of the same material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
140 words
A heat fixing apparatus for heat-fixing a toner image on a recording material, comprising: a heater; and a film movable with the recording material, one surface of said film being in contact with said heater, and the other surface being contactable with the recording material, wherein heat from said heater is transferred to the recording material through said film, and wherein the heater comprises: a substrate; a heat generating resistor on said substrate to generate heat when supplied with electric energy; a pair of electrodes for supplying the energy to said heat generating resistor; and a resistance adjustment portion provided between said heat generating resistor and one of said pair of electrodes, for adjusting the resistance between said electrodes, wherein said resistance adjustment portion adjusts the resistance while maintaining uniform electrical conductivity between said electrodes and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
A heat fixing apparatus for heat-fixing a toner image on a recording material, comprising: a heater; and a film movable with the recording material, one surface of said film being in contact with said heater, and the other surface being contactable with the recording material, wherein heat from said heater is transferred to the recording material through said film, and wherein the heater comprises: a substrate; a heat generating resistor on said substrate to generate heat when supplied with electric energy; a pair of electrodes for supplying the energy to said heat generating resistor; and a resistance adjustment portion provided between said heat generating resistor and one of said pair of electrodes, for adjusting the resistance between said electrodes, wherein said resistance adjustment portion adjusts the resistance while maintaining uniform electrical conductivity between said electrodes and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A heat fixing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said resistance adjustment portion is disposed outside an image forming region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A heat fixing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the resistance is adjusted by partially removing said resistance adjustment region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A heat fixing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said resistance adjustment portion is reduced in width in a direction perpendicular to the energy supply direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A heat fixing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said resistance adjustment portion is reduced in thickness.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A heat fixing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said resistance adjustment portion is formed through a step of printing a pattern thereof using silver-palladium paste, and a step of baking the printed pattern.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A heat fixing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the resistance of said resistance adjustment portion is higher than the resistances of said electrodes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A heat fixing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said resistance adjustment portion is wider than said heat generating resistor, in a direction perpendicular to the energy supply direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A heat fixing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an electrically conductive portion having a lower resistance value than that of said resistance adjustment portion is provided between said resistance adjustment portion and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat fixing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said resistance adjustment portion and said heat generating resistor are contiguously formed of the same material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
104 words
A heater comprising: a substrate; a heat generating resistor on said substrate to generate heat when supplied with electric energy; an electrode for supplying energy to said heat generating resistor; and a high resistance portion provided between said heat generating resistor and said electrode, wherein said high resistance portion is wider than said heat generating resistor, in a direction perpendicular to the energy supply direction, and has a higher resistance than that of said electrode, wherein said high resistance portion adjusts the resistance between said heat generating resistor and said electrode while maintaining uniform electrical conductivity between said electrode and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
104 words
A heater comprising: a substrate; a heat generating resistor on said substrate to generate heat when supplied with electric energy; an electrode for supplying energy to said heat generating resistor; and a high resistance portion provided between said heat generating resistor and said electrode, wherein said high resistance portion is wider than said heat generating resistor, in a direction perpendicular to the energy supply direction, and has a higher resistance than that of said electrode, wherein said high resistance portion adjusts the resistance between said heat generating resistor and said electrode while maintaining uniform electrical conductivity between said electrode and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A heater according to claim 20, wherein said high resistance portion is formed through a step of printing the pattern thereof, using silver-palladium paste, and a step of baking the printed pattern.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A heater according to claim 20, wherein an electrically conductive portion, having a lower resistance value than that of said high resistance portion, is provided between said, high resistance portion and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A heater according to claim 20, wherein said high resistance portion and said heat generating resistor are contiguously formed of the same material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
164 words
A heat fixing apparatus for heat-fixing a toner image on a recording material, comprising: a heater; and a film movable with the recording material, one of the surfaces of said film being in contact with said heater, and the other being contactable with the recording material, wherein heat from said heater is transferred to the recording material through said film, said heater comprising: a substrate; a heat generating resistor on said substrate for generating heat when supplied with electric energy; an electrode for supplying energy to said heat generating resistor; and a high resistance portion provided between said heat generating resistor and said electrode, wherein said high resistance portion is wider than said heat generating resistor, in a direction perpendicular to the energy supply direction, and has a higher resistance than that of said electrode, wherein said high resistance portion adjusts the resistance between said heat generating resistor and said electrode while maintaining uniform electrical conductivity between said electrode and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
164 words
A heat fixing apparatus for heat-fixing a toner image on a recording material, comprising: a heater; and a film movable with the recording material, one of the surfaces of said film being in contact with said heater, and the other being contactable with the recording material, wherein heat from said heater is transferred to the recording material through said film, said heater comprising: a substrate; a heat generating resistor on said substrate for generating heat when supplied with electric energy; an electrode for supplying energy to said heat generating resistor; and a high resistance portion provided between said heat generating resistor and said electrode, wherein said high resistance portion is wider than said heat generating resistor, in a direction perpendicular to the energy supply direction, and has a higher resistance than that of said electrode, wherein said high resistance portion adjusts the resistance between said heat generating resistor and said electrode while maintaining uniform electrical conductivity between said electrode and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said high resistance portion is provided outside an image forming region.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said high resistance portion is formed through a step of printing the pattern thereof using silver-palladiun paste, and a step of baking the printed pattern.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein an electrically conductive portion having a lower resistance value than that of said high resistance portion is provided between said high resistance portion and said heat generating resistor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said high resistance portion and said heat generating resistor are contiguously formed of the same material.
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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) | 2002-10-11 | 2003-04-12 | 2003-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-11 | 2007-04-12 | 2007-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-11 | 2011-04-12 | 2011-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |