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US5970299A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image heating apparatus

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1998-03-02
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Granted: 1999-10-19
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Expires: 2018-03-02
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Abstract

Abstract An image heating device includes a movable member including an electroconductive layer; an excitation coil for generating magnetic flux; wherein the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil generates an eddy current which in turn generates heat in the movable member to heat an image on a recording material; and a magnetic member for guiding the magnetic flux; wherein the magnetic member is elongated in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction of the movable member, and the excitation coil is extended in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic member; wherein the magnetic member including a first magnetic portion adjacent to the movable member, a second magnetic portion, and a third magnetic portion between the first magnetic portion and the second magnetic portion and adjacent to the movable member with the excitation coil therebetween, as seen in the longitudinal direction.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tetsuya Sano
  • 👤 Koichi Tanigawa
  • 👤 Hideo Nanataki
  • 👤 Atsuyoshi Abe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 06:21
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/02; H05B6/10; H05B6/14; H05B6/145; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2053; H05B3/00; H05B3/0095

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim 161 words
An image heating apparatus comprising: a movable member including an electroconductive layer; an excitation coil for generating magnetic flux; wherein the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil generates an eddy current which in turn generates heat in said movable member to heat an image on a recording material; and a magnetic member for guiding the magnetic flux; wherein said magnetic member is elongated in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction of said movable member, and said excitation coil is extended in a longitudinal direction of said magnetic member; wherein said magnetic member includes a first magnetic portion adjacent to said movable member, a second magnetic portion, and a third magnetic portion between said first magnetic portion and said second magnetic portion and adjacent to said movable member with said excitation coil therebetween, as seen in the longitudinal direction; a surface of said third magnetic portion closer to said excitation coil is curved to be convex toward said movable member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 161 words
An image heating apparatus comprising: a movable member including an electroconductive layer; an excitation coil for generating magnetic flux; wherein the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil generates an eddy current which in turn generates heat in said movable member to heat an image on a recording material; and a magnetic member for guiding the magnetic flux; wherein said magnetic member is elongated in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction of said movable member, and said excitation coil is extended in a longitudinal direction of said magnetic member; wherein said magnetic member includes a first magnetic portion adjacent to said movable member, a second magnetic portion, and a third magnetic portion between said first magnetic portion and said second magnetic portion and adjacent to said movable member with said excitation coil therebetween, as seen in the longitudinal direction; a surface of said third magnetic portion closer to said excitation coil is curved to be convex toward said movable member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a back up member for contacting to said movable member and forming a contact portion therewith, and said first magnetic portion is opposed to said contact portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second magnetic portion is disposed at each of upstream and downstream sides of said first magnetic portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a recording material carrying an image is passed through said contact portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic member has a V-shaped cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic member has an U-shaped cross-section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a back up member for contacting to said movable member and forming a contact portion therewith, and an entirety of said magnetic member is disposed upstream of said contact portion with respect to the movement direction of said movable member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting member for supporting said excitation coil adjacent said magnetic member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said supporting member is provided with a groove in a surface thereof contacting to said excitation coil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein supporting member is of magnetic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said supporting member and said excitation coil are integrally formed into a unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said third magnetic portion is provided with a groove in a surface contacting to said excitation coil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable member is in the form of an endless film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a supporting member, inside said film, for supporting said magnetic member and said excitation coil and for guiding movement of said film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 47 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a back-up member for forming a nip with said supporting member with a film therebetween, and a recording material carrying an unfixed image is passed through said nip to heat and fix the unfixed image on the recording material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 181 words
An image heating apparatus comprising: a movable member including an electroconductive layer; an excitation coil for generating magnetic flux; wherein the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil generates an eddy current which in turn generates heat in said movable member to heat an image on a recording material; and a magnetic member for guiding the magnetic flux; wherein said magnetic member is elongated in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction of said movable member, and said excitation coil is extended in a longitudinal direction of said magnetic member; wherein said magnetic member includes a first magnetic portion adjacent to said movable member, a second magnetic portion, and a third magnetic portion between said first magnetic portion and said second magnetic portion and adjacent to said movable member with said excitation coil therebetween, as seen in the longitudinal direction; a back up member for contacting to said movable member and forming a contact portion therewith; wherein an entirety of said magnetic member is disposed substantially upstream of said contact portion with respect to the movement direction of said movable member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 181 words
An image heating apparatus comprising: a movable member including an electroconductive layer; an excitation coil for generating magnetic flux; wherein the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil generates an eddy current which in turn generates heat in said movable member to heat an image on a recording material; and a magnetic member for guiding the magnetic flux; wherein said magnetic member is elongated in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction of said movable member, and said excitation coil is extended in a longitudinal direction of said magnetic member; wherein said magnetic member includes a first magnetic portion adjacent to said movable member, a second magnetic portion, and a third magnetic portion between said first magnetic portion and said second magnetic portion and adjacent to said movable member with said excitation coil therebetween, as seen in the longitudinal direction; a back up member for contacting to said movable member and forming a contact portion therewith; wherein an entirety of said magnetic member is disposed substantially upstream of said contact portion with respect to the movement direction of said movable member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said third magnetic portion has a curved surface adjacent said excitation coil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said third magnetic portion has a flat surface adjacent said excitation coil.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a recording material carrying an image is passed through said contact portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said magnetic member has a V-shaped cross-section.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said magnetic member has a U-shaped cross-section.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a supporting member for supporting said excitation coil adjacent said magnetic member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said supporting member is provided with a groove in a surface thereof contacting to said excitation coil.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the supporting member is of magnetic material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said supporting member and said excitation coil are integrally formed into a unit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said third magnetic portion is provided with a groove in a surface contacting to said excitation coil.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said movable member is in the form of an endless film.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 30 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a supporting member, inside said film, for supporting said magnetic member and said excitation coil and for guiding movement of said film.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 48 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising a back-up member for forming a nip with said supporting member with a film therebetween, and wherein a recording material carrying an unfixed image is passed through said nip to heat and fix the unfixed image on the recording material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 40 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a pressing stay for applying pressure to said contact portion, and wherein said magnetic member is provided at a position out of a portion between said pressing stay and said contact portion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

EP0649072A1 Cited
US5778293A Cited
US5745833A Cited
US5881349A Cited
US5839043A Cited
US5819150A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-10-18 2003-04-19 2003-10-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-10-18 2007-04-19 2007-10-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-10-18 2011-04-19 2011-10-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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