Patent ID: 7369804
Filing Date: 2008-05-06
Classification: G03G,H05B

Abstract:
1. A fixing apparatus comprising: a magnetic flux generator that generates magnetic flux; a heat-producing element that is induction-heated by the generated magnetic flux; a magnetic path forming element that is positioned opposite said heat-producing element and forms a magnetic flux path between said magnetic flux generator and said heat-producing element; a magnetism suppressing element that is provided in said magnetic path forming element and is movable to a masking position, that masks at least part of the magnetic flux path corresponding to a paper non-passage area of said heat-producing element, between said magnetic path forming element and said heat-producing element, to suppress magnetic coupling between said magnetic path forming element and said heat-producing element in a region corresponding to the paper non-passage area; and a rotation section that causes said magnetism suppressing element to rotationally move to the masking position and to a withdrawal position, withdrawn from the masking positions, wherein said magnetic flux generator comprises an exciting coil that extends in a paper passage width direction of said heat-producing element and is wound so as to loop back at both edges of said heat-producing element, and a core that covers said exciting coil; and said magnetic path forming element comprises a center core located in the center of the windings of said exciting coil.