Patent ID: 8699918
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing device comprising: a fixing member that is rotated by a driving unit and that fixes a developer image on a recording medium; an external heating member that is driven and rotated while contacting an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member, and that heats the fixing member; a moving unit that moves the external heating member between a separation position, where the external heating member is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member, and a contact position, where the external heating member contacts the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member, the moving unit moving the external heating member from the separation position to the contact position after starting the fixing by the fixing member; a drive transmitting mechanism including a fixing-side gear, an external-heating-member-side gear, and a drive transmitting member that transmits a driving force between the fixing-side gear and the external-heating-member-side gear, the external-heating-member-side gear being provided at the external heating member; and a driving force transmitting/non-transmitting unit that is provided at the drive transmitting mechanism, the driving force transmitting/non-transmitting unit transmitting the driving force from the fixing-side gear to the external-heating-member-side gear so that the external heating member rotates when the external heating member is at the separation position, the driving force transmitting/non-transmitting unit not transmitting the driving force from the fixing-side gear to the external-heating-member-side gear so that the external heating member is driven and rotated by the fixing member when the external heating member is at the contact position.