IP Library Granted Patent US 8,543,044
Granted Patent B2
US 8,543,044 · App. 13/070,223 · Granted Sep 24, 2013

Fixing device and image forming apparatus having sheet separation device

Inventors: Toshihiro Wazumi (Hino, JP); Jinju Okuno (Hino, JP); Koji Yamamoto (Toyokawa, JP)
Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,543,044
App. No.
13/070,223
Granted
Sep 24, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fixing device conveying a sheet carrying a toner image under heating and pressurization at a nip section and fixing the toner image on the sheet comprising; a fixing member provided with a heating member, a pressure member pressing on the fixing member and forming the nip section which sandwiches the sheet carrying the toner image; a blower duct equipped with an outlet opening toward a vicinity of a sheet outlet of the nip section; a blower member for blowing air in a vicinity of the sheet outlet through the blower duct; and a guide device provided with a guide member for guiding the sheet ejected from the nip section arranged on an upper side of a sheet conveyance path; and, further comprising a biasing member for biasing the sheet toward the guide member, in the vicinity of the nip section.

Claims (14)

1. A fixing device conveying a sheet carrying a toner image under heating and pressurization at a nip section and fixing the toner image on the sheet comprising:

a fixing member provided with a heating member;

a pressure member pressing on the fixing member and forming the nip section which sandwiches the sheet carrying the toner image;

a blower duct equipped with an outlet opening toward a vicinity of a sheet outlet of the nip section;

a blower member for blowing air in a vicinity of the sheet outlet through the blower duct; and

a guide device provided with a guide member for guiding the sheet ejected from the nip section arranged on an upper side of a sheet conveyance path,

wherein an exhaust gas flow moving along an exhaust gas flow path formed through the guide device between the blower duct and the sheet biases the sheet toward the guide member.

2. The fixing device of claim 1 wherein a sectional area of the exhaust gas flow path is increased in size in a direction in which the exhaust gas flow moves.

3. The fixing device of claim 1 wherein the guide device is configured to comprise a rib.

4. The fixing device of claim 1 wherein the guide device is configured to comprise a net.

5. The fixing device of claim 1 wherein the guide device is configured to comprise a belt.

6. The fixing device of claim 1 further comprising;

a separation claw arranged on a lower side of the sheet conveyance path to separate the sheet from the pressure member.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device of claim 1 .

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Mar 5, 2014
From: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
Reel/Frame 032390/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2011
From: WAZUMI, TOSHIHIRO; OKUNO, JINJU; YAMAMOTO, KOJI
To: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 026013/0836 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-077218 · Mar 30, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110243619A1 · Oct 6, 2011