Patent ID: 8818222
Filing Date: 2014-08-26
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing apparatus comprising: an endless belt configured to heat an unfixed toner image on a sheet at a nip portion in which the sheet is nipped and conveyed, said endless belt being disposed so as to contact the unfixed toner image on the sheet; a rotatable member configured to form the nip portion cooperatively with said endless belt; a pressing pad, provided inside said endless belt and configured to press said endless belt toward said rotatable member to form the nip portion; a projection portion provided on a surface of said pressing pad opposed to said rotatable member and configured to apply a peak pressure in the nip portion; a moving mechanism configured to move said pressing pad relative to said rotatable member in a sheet conveying direction; and a control portion configured to control an operation of said moving mechanism, wherein when a fixing operation for a thick sheet is performed, said projection portion is positioned within the nip portion and adjacent to an exit of the nip portion due to control by said control portion, and wherein when a fixing operation for a thin sheet having a thickness which is smaller than the thick sheet is performed, said projection portion is placed at a downstream position downstream and spaced from the exit of the nip portion in the sheet conveying direction due to control by said control portion.