US6539185B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixing apparatus and image-forming apparatus
Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
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Filing: 2001-05-23
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Granted: 2003-03-25
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Expires: 2021-05-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention concerns a fixing apparatus and an image-forming apparatus. The fixing apparatus and the image-forming apparatus include a heating roller; a heating element disposed in the heating roller; a pressing roller pressure-contacting the heating roller to fix an image onto a transfer sheet passing through a pressure-contacting section between the heating roller and the pressing roller; and a cooling device to cool the heating roller. In the fixing apparatus, the cooling device is activated during a predetermined time period after consecutive fixing operations are completed. While, the image-forming apparatus further includes a control section to activate the cooling device during a predetermined time period after consecutive fixing operations are completed.
Inventors
- 👤 Naohiko Hanyu
- 👤 Shinsuke Fujita
- 👤 Yuji Tamura
- 👤 Tomoya Motoyoshi
- 👤 Eiji Anzai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:32
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2039; G03G15/2017; G03G15/2042; G03G21/00; G03G21/20; G03G21/206; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00535; G03G2215/00548; G03G2215/00666
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A fixing apparatus, comprising: a heating roller; a heating element disposed in said heating roller; a pressing roller pressure-contacting said heating roller to fix an image onto a transfer sheet passing through a pressure-contacting section between said heating roller and said pressing roller; and a cooling device to cool said heating roller; wherein, in case of a jam occurence, said heating element is deactivated and said cooling device is activated until a jam-processing is completed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A fixing apparatus, comprising: a heating roller; a heating element disposed in said heating roller; a pressing roller pressure-contacting said heating roller to fix an image onto a transfer sheet passing through a pressure-contacting section between said heating roller and said pressing roller; and a cooling device to cool said heating roller; wherein, in case of a jam occurence, said heating element is deactivated and said cooling device is activated until a jam-processing is completed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The fixing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a temperature detecting device to detect a temperature of said heating roller; wherein said cooling device is deactivated either when said jam processing is completed or when said temperature of said heating roller is lowered to a predetermined temperature based on a result detected by said temperature detecting device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fixing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said cooling device is deactivated either when said jam processing is completed or when a determined time period has elapsed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fixing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a cooling region cooled by said cooling device is variable in a longitudinal direction of said heating roller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
An image-forming apparatus, comprising: a heating roller; a heating element disposed in said heating roller; a pressing roller pressure-contacting said heating roller to fix an image onto a transfer sheet passing through a pressure-contacting section between said heating roller and said pressing roller; a cooling device to cool said heating roller; a jam-detecting device to detect a jam occurrence; and a control section to deactivate said heating element and to activate said cooling device when said jam-detecting device detects said jam occurrence, until a jam-processing is completed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
An image-forming apparatus, comprising: a heating roller; a heating element disposed in said heating roller; a pressing roller pressure-contacting said heating roller to fix an image onto a transfer sheet passing through a pressure-contacting section between said heating roller and said pressing roller; a cooling device to cool said heating roller; a jam-detecting device to detect a jam occurrence; and a control section to deactivate said heating element and to activate said cooling device when said jam-detecting device detects said jam occurrence, until a jam-processing is completed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The image-forming apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising: a door member to be opened and closed when said jam-processing is performed; and a door status detecting device to detect an opened or closed status of said door member; wherein said control section deactivates said cooling device and activates again said heating element when said jam-detecting device detects a completion of said jam-processing and said door status detecting device detects said closed status of said door member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The image-forming apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising: a temperature detecting device to detect a temperature of said heating roller; wherein said control section deactivates said cooling device either when said jam-processing is completed or when said temperature of said heating roller is lowered to a predetermined temperature based on a result detected by said temperature detecting device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The image-forming apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said control section deactivates said cooling device either when said jam-processing is completed or when a predetermined time period has elapsed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image-forming apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a cooling region cooled by said cooling device is variable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
The image-forming apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said cooling device comprises a plurality of fans arrayed in a longitudinal direction of said heating roller, and said image-forming apparatus further comprising: a cooling region varying device to shade said heating roller from wind blown by at least a fan included in the plurality of fans, in order to vary a cooling region cooled by said cooling device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5561512A
Cited
US6385410B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-24 | 2006-09-23 | 2007-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-24 | 2010-09-23 | 2011-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-24 | 2014-09-23 | 2015-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |