Patent ID: 7440723
Filing Date: 2008-10-21
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing device that is configured to be capable of fixing an image by a developer onto a sheet-like recording medium, and comprises: a heat roller arranged along a widthwise direction of the recording medium that is perpendicular to a transporting direction and a thickness direction of the recording medium, and is configured to be capable of heating the developer; a counter roller that is arranged along the widthwise direction of the recording medium so as to face the heat roller, in order to send the recording medium in the transporting direction due to the rotation with the recording medium nipped with the heat roller; a fixing unit case that is configured to rotatably support both end portions of the heat roller in the widthwise direction and to cover the heat roller; a counter roller support member that is supported at both end portions of the widthwise direction of the fixing unit case in a swayable manner, and configured to rotatably support both end portions of the counter roller in the widthwise direction; a spacer member composed of a spacer section that is configured to be clamped between the fixing unit case and the counter roller support member in order to adjust a distance between a shaft of the heat roller and a shaft of the counter roller, and a spacer support section that is provided so as to extend from the spacer section, wherein the spacer support section at the spacer section is supported by the counter roller support member so as to be capable of swaying between a first position where the spacer section is clamped between the fixing unit case and the counter roller support member and a second position where the spacer section is not clamped between the fixing unit case and the counter roller support member.