Patent ID: 7751769
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing device for fixing toner particles mounted on a sheet in an image forming apparatus, comprising: a first nip member in a shape of an endless belt; a second nip member that rotates about a central axis while being pressed against the first nip member so as to drive the first nip member in a direction orthogonal to the central axis and so as to form a nip portion between the first nip member and the second member, the nip portion allowing a sheet to enter thereinto; a heat source for heating at least one of the first nip member and the second nip member; a pressure receiving member that is provided so as to make contact with an inner surface of the first nip member and receives a pressure applied to the first nip member from the second nip member at the nip portion; a sliding contact member that has a sliding contact surface allowed to make sliding contact with an axial end portion of the first nip member, the sliding contact member being provided to each of the axial ends of the first nip member; and a supporting mechanism that supports the both sliding contact members in such a manner that the sliding contact surface of the sliding contact member makes contact with an inner surface of the axial end portion of the first nip member at a portion opposing the pressure receiving member, and displaces the sliding contact member so that the sliding contact surface of the sliding contact member moves away from the pressure receiving member as the first nip member moves away from the sliding contact member along the axial direction of the first nip member.