FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A fixing device, comprising:
- first and second rollers defining a fixing nip and rotatable around respective their axes;
a pressure adjustment mechanism for performing posture change of changing from a first posture where the first and second rollers are in pressed contact with each other at a first pressure to a second posture where the first and second rollers are in pressed contact with each other at a second pressure lower than the first pressure, and vice versa;
a drive input gear device operable to receive a torque of a first rotational direction around an axis of the gear device and another torque of a second rotational direction opposite to the first direction;
a ratchet mechanism for, when the drive input gear device receives the torque of the first rotational direction, transmitting the torque of the first rotational direction to the first roller and for, when the drive input gear device receives the torque of the second rotational direction, suspending a torque transmission to the first roller; and
a transmission mechanism for, when the drive input gear device receives the torque of the second rotational direction, exerting a driving force to the pressure adjustment mechanism to thereby allow the posture change, whereinthe drive input gear device includes a housing portion housing a part of the ratchet mechanism.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fixing device includes first and second rollers, a pressure adjustment mechanism, a drive input gear, a ratchet mechanism, and a transmission mechanism. The pressure adjustment mechanism changes a pressing posture of the first and second rollers. The drive input gear device receives a torque of a first rotational direction around an axis of the gear device and another toque of a second rotational direction. The ratchet mechanism, when the drive input gear device receives the torque of the first rotational direction, transmits the torque to the first roller, and in the case of the torque of the second rotational direction, suspends a torque transmission. When the drive input gear device receives the torque of the second rotational direction, the transmission mechanism exerts a driving force to the pressure adjustment mechanism. The drive input gear device includes a housing portion housing a part of the ratchet mechanism.
12 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A fixing device, comprising:
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first and second rollers defining a fixing nip and rotatable around respective their axes; a pressure adjustment mechanism for performing posture change of changing from a first posture where the first and second rollers are in pressed contact with each other at a first pressure to a second posture where the first and second rollers are in pressed contact with each other at a second pressure lower than the first pressure, and vice versa; a drive input gear device operable to receive a torque of a first rotational direction around an axis of the gear device and another torque of a second rotational direction opposite to the first direction; a ratchet mechanism for, when the drive input gear device receives the torque of the first rotational direction, transmitting the torque of the first rotational direction to the first roller and for, when the drive input gear device receives the torque of the second rotational direction, suspending a torque transmission to the first roller; and a transmission mechanism for, when the drive input gear device receives the torque of the second rotational direction, exerting a driving force to the pressure adjustment mechanism to thereby allow the posture change, wherein the drive input gear device includes a housing portion housing a part of the ratchet mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification