Patent ID: 11947296
Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 13:
14. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming device configured to form an image;
a nip forming device configured to fix the image on a conveyed object,
the nip forming device including:
an endless film that is flexible, the endless film configured to rotate;
a heater configured to heat the endless film;
a pressure rotator configured to press against the heater via the endless film to form a nip between the endless film and the pressure rotator, the nip through which the conveyed object is conveyed; and
a detector configured to detect a temperature of the pressure rotator;

a driver configured to drive and rotate the pressure rotator to cause the pressure rotator to drive and rotate the endless film; and
a controller configured to control the driver to drive and rotate the pressure rotator based on the temperature of the pressure rotator,
the controller configured to:
control the driver to drive and rotate the pressure rotator in a forward direction to convey the conveyed object in a conveyance direction and to interrupt forward rotation of the pressure rotator; and
in response to a determination that the temperature of the pressure rotator is higher than a predetermined temperature when a job of the nip forming device is finished, control the driver to drive and rotate the pressure rotator for a predetermined time in a backward direction opposite to the forward direction and to interrupt backward rotation of the pressure rotator.