Patent ID: 8886104
Filing Date: 2014-11-11
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing apparatus for a sheet-fed electrophotographic printer in which an image printed by electrophotographically operating printing units on a sheet of paper traveling while being gripped by a gripper is heated and thereby fixed, comprising: a fixing drum having a heating heater internally equipped therein for heating a peripheral surface thereof, the fixing drum being positioned spaced apart and downstream from a sheet delivery site at a downstreammost side of the printing units, the fixing drum being adapted to rotate at a peripheral speed identical to a speed of travel of a sheet of paper in said printing units; a first sprocket positioned adjoining said sheet delivery site at the downstreammost side of said printing units, and a second sprocket positioned coaxially with said fixing drum, the second sprocket having a pitch circle diameter approximately identical to a circumferential diameter of the fixing drum, the second sprocket being adapted to rotate integrally with the fixing drum; a conveyer chain having a gripper, the conveyer chain being wound around and engaging with said first and second sprockets to wind and convey a sheet of paper on a peripheral surface of the fixing drum upon gripping in turn with the gripper the sheet of paper traveling from the sheet delivery site at said downstreammost side; and a pressure member adapted to be urged into rotational contact under pressure with a peripheral surface of said fixing drum.