Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-Kaisha

Hisashi Tsukawaki

Kei Ishida

Noboru Suzuki

Takuji Matsuno

Tomohiro Kondo

Seiji Hiramatsu

Kenji Takeuchi

Yasumasa Fujii

Tatsuya Koyama

Yusuke Mizuno

Masahito Kajita

Fumitake Tajiri

A controller of an image forming apparatus executes acquisition processing of acquiring an area of an image which exists in a predetermined region of a first page where a developer image is first to be formed, heating processing of heating a heating member such that a temperature of the heating member reaches a fixing temperature, and feeding processing of starting feed of a sheet to a process unit after a predetermined period of time elapses from a predetermined timing after a start of print processing. The predetermined region is laid at both end portions in a width direction of the first page. In a case where the area of the image is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the controller sets the predetermined period of time in the feeding processing shorter as compared with a case where the area of the image is larger than the predetermined value.

Image forming apparatus

To switch between four nip modes, a cam is driven by a single drive to move between first to fourth positions. At the first position, a first nip between a first pressing body and a fixing member has a first width, and a second nip between a second pressing body and the fixing member has a second width. At the second position, the first nip has a third width smaller than the first width, and the second nip has a width greater than or equal to the second width. At the third position, the first nip has a width greater than or equal to the first width, and the second nip has a fourth width smaller than the second width. At the fourth position, the first nip has a fifth width smaller than the first width, and the second nip has a sixth width smaller than the second width.

Fixing device having a multi-postion cam assembly

A fuser includes an endless belt, a base member, a sheet member including a first section pinched between an inner surface of the endless belt and the base member, a second section extending from an end of the first section, and a third section extending from another end of the first section, and a stationary member configured to pinch the second and third sections of the sheet member with a base member, the stationary member having a claw configured to stick in the second and third sections of the sheet member.

Fuser and image apparatus having the same

A fuser unit, which heat-fixes a developer image on a recording sheet, the fuser unit including: a cylindrical member having flexibility; a heat generation member; a nip member; a stay; a first frame; a second frame, and a wiring, wherein the first frame is provided with a pair of openings through which both axial end sides of the stay are exposed, wherein the second frame is configured to cover a central portion of the wiring, which is positioned at an inward side more than the pair of openings in the axial direction, wherein both axial sides of the second frame are provided with pressing protrusions that directly press the stay through the openings, and wherein both axial sides of the second frame are provided with third frames that cover a part of the wiring arranged at both axial end sides of the first frame.

Stay and guide configurations for a fuser unit

A fuser unit, which heat-fixes a developer image transferred on a recording sheet, the fuser unit includes: a cylindrical member having flexibility; a heat generation member that is arranged at an inside of the cylindrical member and generates radiation heat; a nip member that slidingly contacts an inner periphery of the cylindrical member; a first reflection member that extends along the heat generation member to corresponds with at least a range of a heat generation part of the heat generation member; a second reflection member that is arranged, at an outside of the heat generation member, to at least one of end sides of the first reflection member in the longitudinal direction, and a backup member that forms a nip region by nipping the cylindrical member between the nip member and the backup member, wherein the second reflection member is separated from the first reflection member.

Fuser unit

A fixing device includes: a tubular member having an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space, and an axis defining an axial direction, the tubular member being configured to move around the axis; a heater disposed in an internal space to radiate heat; a nip member that contacts the inner peripheral surface to transmit the heat to the tubular member; a backup member that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface to form a nip region between the backup member and the tubular member, the backup member applying a load to the nip member; and a stay disposed in the internal space to support the nip member against the load. The nip member includes: a first member that contacts the inner peripheral surface; and a second member disposed between the first member and the stay to transmit the load to the stay.

Fixing device

A fixing device includes a tubular flexible fusing member, a heater, a nip member, a backup member, and a restricting member. The fusing member is rotatable about a rotational axis defining an axial direction and has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space. The nip member is disposed in the internal space for receiving radiant heat from the heater. The nip member is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface. The backup member nips the fusing member in cooperation with the nip member. The restricting member restricts displacement of the fusing member in the axial direction and is tiltable about a fulcrum portion.

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Hisashi Tsukawaki