Patent ID: 8706013
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing device comprising: a fixing section which has a pair of fixing members for fixing a toner image on a sheet by passing the sheet through a fixing nip portion and supplying heat to the toner image having been transferred onto the sheet, the fixing nip portion being formed by pressing the pair of fixing members in contact with each other; a blowing section for separating the sheet from the pair affixing members by blowing gas to the sheet from a sheet ejection side of the fixing nip portion; and a control section for controlling a wind speed of the gas blown by the blowing section, the control section having, as switchable modes, a first control mode for controlling the blowing section at a wind speed for separation which includes one or more set wind speeds having been set for separating the sheet from the pair of fixing members, a second control mode for controlling the blowing section at a wind speed smaller than a smallest set wind speed of the wind speed for separation, and allowing the blowing section to stop blowing, wherein the control section selects the second control mode on a priority basis over the first control mode, wherein the control section determines whether or not the control mode needs to be switched to the first control mode according to a type of the sheet to be subjected to fixing, wherein the pair of fixing members are controlled by the control section so as to permit switching between a state of pressure contact in which the pair of fixing members are pressed in contact with each other, and a detached state in which the pair of fixing members are detached from each other, and wherein the control section controls the blowing section in any one of the first and second control modes so as not to stop blowing gas while the pair of fixing members is in the state of pressure contact.