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US 7,242,897 B2Granted
Image forming apparatus, roller, belt, and fixing unit of image forming apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsMasahiko Satoh, Akira Shinshi, Naoki Iwaya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tubular roller to support a belt having an inner surface provided with a protruding circumferential edge having a width includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion has a first outer radius and contacts the inner surface of the belt. The second portion has a second outer radius smaller than the first outer radius of the first portion. The third portion is connected to the first portion with a first vertically extending wall and to the second portion with a second vertically extending wall and has a third outer radius smaller than the second outer radius.
Claims22
A tubular roller configured to support a belt, the belt comprising an inner surface in contact with a surface of the roller, the inner surface including a protruding circumferential edge, the roller comprising:
- an engagement portion configured to engage with the protruding circumferential edge of the belt,
- wherein the roller has a first thickness and a second thickness, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness, and
- wherein a portion of the roller having the second thickness includes the engagement portion.
A tubular roller configured to support a belt having an inner surface provided with a protruding circumferential edge having a width in an axial direction of the roller, the tubular roller comprising:
- a first portion having a first outer radius, the first portion being configured to contact the inner surface of the belt;
- and
- a second portion having a second outer radius smaller than the first outer radius of the first portion;
- and
- a third portion connected to the first portion with a first vertically extending wall and to the second portion with a second vertically extending wall, the third portion having a third outer radius smaller than the second outer radius.
2 more elements
A fixing unit configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a fixing belt comprising an inner surface including a protruding circumferential edge;
- a first roller configured to support and heat the fixing belt, the first roller comprising:
- an engagement portion configured to engage with the protruding circumferential edge of the fixing belt;
- and
- a heater provided in an inner space of the first roller,
- wherein the roller has a first thickness and a second thickness, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness, and
- wherein a portion of the roller having the second thickness includes the engagement portion;
- a second roller configured to support the fixing belt with the first roller and to fix the toner image on the recording medium;
- and
- a third roller configured to press the fixing belt toward the second roller.
7 more elements
A fixing unit configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a fixing belt including an inner surface provided with a protruding circumferential edge having a width;
- a first roller configured to support and heat the fixing belt, the first roller comprising:
- a first portion having a first outer radius, the first portion being configured to contact the inner surface of the fixing belt;
- and
- a second portion having a second outer radius smaller than the first outer radius of the first portion;
- a third portion connected to the first portion with a first vertically extending wall and to the second portion with a second vertically extending wall, the third portion having a third outer radius smaller than the second outer radius;
- and
- a heater provided in an inner space of the first roller;
- a second roller configured to support the fixing belt with the first roller and to fix the toner image on the recording medium;
- and
- a third roller configured to press the fixing belt toward the second roller.
8 more elements
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image carrier configured to carry a toner image thereon;
- a recording medium configured to receive the toner image directly or indirectly from the image carrier;
- and
- a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium, comprising:
- a fixing belt comprising an inner surface including a protruding circumferential edge;
- a first roller configured to support and heat the fixing belt, the first roller comprising:
- an engagement portion configured to engage with the protruding circumferential edge of the fixing belt;
- and
- a heater provided in an inner space of the first roller,
- wherein the roller has a first thickness and a second thickness, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness, and
- wherein a portion of the roller having the second thickness includes the engagement portion;
- a second roller configured to support the fixing belt with the first roller and to fix the toner image on the recording medium;
- and
- a third roller configured to press the fixing belt toward the second roller.
11 more elements
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image carrier configured to carry a toner image thereon;
- a recording medium configured to receive the toner image from the image directly or indirectly carrier;
- a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium, comprising:
- a fixing belt including an inner surface provided with a protruding circumferential edge having a width;
- a first roller configured to support and heat the fixing belt, the first roller comprising:
- a first portion having a first outer radius, the first portion being configured to contact the inner surface of the fixing belt;
- and
- a second portion having a second outer radius smaller than the first outer radius of the first portion;
- a third portion connected to the first portion with a first vertically extending wall and to the second portion with a second vertically extending wall, the third portion having a third outer radius smaller than the second outer radius;
- and
- a heater provided in an inner space of the first roller;
- a second roller configured to support the fixing belt with the first roller and to fix the toner image on the recording medium;
- and
- a third roller configured to press the fixing belt toward the second roller.
11 more elements
Am image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image carrier configured to carry a toner image thereon;
- an intermediate transfer belt configured to receive the toner image from the image carrier, the intermediate transfer belt comprising an inner surface including a protruding circumferential edge having a width and being supported by a tubular roller comprising:
- an engagement portion configured to engage with the protruding circumferential edge of the intermediate transfer belt,
- wherein the roller has a first thickness and a second thickness, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness, and
- wherein a portion of the roller having the second thickness includes the engagement portion;
- a recording medium configured to receive the toner image directly or indirectly form the image carrier;
- and
- a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium.
5 more elements
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image carrier configured to carry a toner image thereon;
- a recording medium configured to receive the toner image directly or indirectly from the image carrier;
- a transport belt for transporting the recording medium, the transport belt comprising an inner surface including a protruding circumferential edge having a width and being supported by a tubular roller comprising:
- an engagement portion configured to engage with the protruding circumferential edge of the transport belt;
- and
- wherein the roller has a first thickness and a second thickness, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness, and
- wherein a portion of the roller having the second thickness includes the engagement portion;
- a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.