Patent ID: 9250587
Filing Date: 2016-02-02
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing side member configured to rotate; a back side member configured to rotate in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the fixing side member under pressure, and to cooperate with the fixing side member for forming a fixing nip portion and holding and conveying a sheet with a toner image between the back side member and the fixing side member; a drive motor configured to rotate the back side member; a braking force generation unit configured to generate a braking force in a direction to hinder rotation of the fixing side member to set a differential speed between a surface speed of the fixing side member and a surface speed of the back side member; a control unit configured to adjust the braking force generated by the braking force generation unit; and a torque detection unit configured to detect a rotational torque of the drive motor, wherein the control unit adjusts the braking force generated by the braking force generation unit to decrease if the rotational torque of the drive motor detected by the torque detection unit is larger than a predetermined target torque, and to increase if the rotational torque of the drive motor detected by the torque detection unit is smaller than the predetermined target torque, wherein the braking force generation unit comprises a braking unit which generates a braking force in the direction to hinder rotation of the fixing side member and an assist unit which generates, within a range not exceeding the braking force generated by the braking unit, an assist force in a direction opposite to the braking force generated by the braking unit to assist the rotation of the fixing side member, and wherein while the braking force generated by the braking unit is fixed, the control unit adjusts the braking force generated by the braking force generation unit by adjusting the assist force generated by the assist unit.