Patent ID: 8929788
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing device comprising: a fixing belt formed into a loop and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation; a pressing belt formed into a loop to frictionally contact the fixing belt and rotatable in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the fixing belt; a stationary fixing pad that contacts an inside surface of the loop formed by the fixing belt; a stationary pressing pad disposed inside the loop formed by the pressing belt; a roller disposed inside only one of the loop formed the fixing belt and the loop formed by the pressing belt and contacting an inner circumferential surface of the one of the fixing belt and the pressing belt; a driver connected to the roller, wherein the roller transmits a driving force generated by the driver to the one of the fixing belt and the pressing belt; a fixing belt heater disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt, at a non-contacting distance from the fixing pad, to heat the fixing belt, the fixing pad pressing against the pressing pad to form a fixing nip therebetween with the fixing belt and the pressing belt interposed between the fixing pad and the pressing pad, the fixing nip through which a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image is conveyed in a state in which the unfixed toner image contacts the fixing belt; a through-hole produced through the one of the fixing belt and the pressing belt; a pair of tubular driving force transmitters detachably attached to both lateral ends of the roller in an axial direction thereof; and a protrusion mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the pair of tubular driving force transmitters to engage the through-hole of the one of the fixing belt and the pressing belt, wherein an outer diameter of the pair of tubular driving force transmitters is smaller than an outer diameter of the roller.