FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• Main Author: SASAKI YOSHIKUNI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: 12.02.2015
• Subjects: CINEMATOGRAPHY; ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY; PHOTOGRAPHY; PHYSICS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing apparatus configured to prevent damage to a fixing member by forming a gap larger than a predetermined gap between a separating plate and the fixing member to increase a distance between the separating plate and the fixing member when the separating plate is located in a position separated from the fixing member.SOLUTION: A fixing apparatus 20 includes: a fixing member having an elastic layer formed on an outer circumference of a metal core; a pressure member arranged in pressure contact with the fixing member; a pressure-contact/separation mechanism which causes a sheet with an unfixed toner image carried thereon to pass through a nip part N formed by pressure contact between the fixing member and the pressure member, for thermal fixation, to bring the pressure member into pressure-contact with or away from the fixing member; and a separating plate 10 arranged downstream of the nip part N so as to form a predetermined gap from the fixing member. When the pressure member is located in a position separated from the fixing member, a gap larger than the predetermined gap between the separating plate 10 and the fixing member is formed. 【課題】分離板は加圧部材が定着部材に対して離間位置になっている場合、分離板と定着部材の所定の隙間よりも隙間を拡大することにより、必要な場合以外は分離板と定着部材の間隔を広げることで定着部材への傷つきを防止することができる定着装置を提供する。【解決手段】金属芯金の外周に弾性層を有する定着部材と、定着部材に圧接して配置される加圧部材と、定着部材と加圧部材との圧接によって形成される定着部材と加圧部材とのニップ部Ｎに、未定着トナー像を担持した用紙を通紙して加熱定着を行い、加圧部材は定着部材に対して圧接と離間が可能な圧接離間機構と、ニップ部Ｎの下流には定着部材に対して所定の隙間を持つように配置された分離板１０と、を有する定着装置２０であって、分離板１０は加圧部材が定着部材に対して離間位置になっている場合、分離板１０と定着部材との所定の隙間よりも隙間を拡大する。【選択図】図２