Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and method of controlling fixing device
US9817345B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 2016 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/2064
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed, a moving device to move the pressure rotator in directions in which the pressure rotator comes into contact with and separates from the fixing rotator, a thermal expansion amount predictor to predict an amount of thermal expansion of the fixing rotator while the recording medium is conveyed, and a nip width adjuster to control a moving distance of the pressure rotator moved by the moving device toward the fixing rotator, depending on the amount of thermal expansion of the fixing rotator predicted by the thermal expansion amount predictor, so as to adjust a width of the fixing nip to maintain a substantially constant width of the fixing nip.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.