Patent ID: 7532847
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing apparatus comprising: a first fixing unit; and a second fixing unit, the first fixing unit comprising: a first heating member, that includes a heat source and rotates; a first fixing belt, rotatably contacted with the first heating member, that carries a sheet, contacting a face of the sheet, on which face an image is formed; a first pressure member that is provided in opposing relation to the first heating member and is pressed to the first fixing belt, the first fixing belt being sandwiched by the first pressure member and the first heating member; a first separation member contacting the first fixing belt, that separates the sheet carried by the first fixing belt from the first fixing belt; and a first cooling member, disposed between the first separation member and the first heating member, that cools the first fixing belt by contacting the first fixing belt; the second fixing unit comprising: a second heating member, provided in a downstream of a sheet path with respect to the first fixing unit, that includes a heat source and rotates; a second fixing belt, rotatably contacted with the second heating member, that carries a sheet, contacting another face of the sheet, a second pressure member, provided in opposing relation to the second heating member, that is pressed to the second fixing belt, the second fixing belt being sandwiched by the second pressure member and the second heating member, a vertical position of a rotation axis of the second pressure member being lower than a vertical position of a rotation axis of the second heating member; a second separation member contacting the second fixing belt, that separates the sheet carried by the second fixing belt from the second fixing belt; and a second cooling member, disposed between the second separation member and the second heating member, that cools the second fixing belt by contacting the second fixing belt.