Patent ID: 8737877
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction comprising: a fixing frame including a first casing, and a second casing configured to be moved relative to the first casing in the sheet feeding direction; a tubular flexible fusing member having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space; a heater disposed in the internal space and configured to radiate radiant heat; a nip member disposed in the internal space and configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member; a resiliently deformable backup member configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip member, the backup member being configured to be rotatably supported at the first casing, the backup member confronting the nip member in a confronting direction; a guide member configured to support the nip member, the guide member being further configured to be linearly movably supported at the second casing such that the nip member is linearly movable relative to the backup member in the confronting direction to provide a nip pressure between the nip member and the backup member and to release the nip pressure; and an adjustment mechanism configured to move the second casing relative to the first casing in the sheet feeding direction to move the nip member relative to the backup member between a first position and a second position different from the first position in the sheet feeding direction to adjust the sheet feeding direction while the nip pressure is released.