Fixing apparatus having actuator for moving pressure member in endless belt

A fixing apparatus, comprising:

• an endless belt;
• a cylindrical member;
• a first pressure member which is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and is configured to nip the endless belt between itself and the cylindrical member;
• a second pressure member which is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and is configured to nip the endless belt between itself and the cylindrical member;
• a frame configured to support the first pressure member and the second pressure member;
• an actuator configured to move the first pressure member between a first position and a second position different from the first position in a running direction, the running direction being a direction in which the endless belt runs between the first pressure member and the second pressure member;
• and
• an elastic body configured to generate nipping force to nip the endless belt between the first pressure member and the cylindrical member and between the second pressure member and the cylindrical member,
• wherein the actuator includes a cam configured to move the first pressure member from the second position to the first position,
• wherein the nipping force by the elastic body is generated between the first pressure member and the cylindrical member and between the second pressure member and the cylindrical member, both in a case that the first pressure member is positioned in the first position and a case that the first pressure member is positioned in the second position,
• wherein the first pressure member is disposed at a position downstream of the second pressure member in the running direction, the first pressure member configured to be movable relative to the frame in the running direction,
• wherein the second pressure member is not moved relative to the frame in a direction orthogonal to a width direction of the endless belt,
• wherein the cam is attached to the second pressure member, and
• wherein the first pressure member is positioned in the first position in a state where the cam is in contact with the first pressure member.

A fixing apparatus, comprising:

• an endless belt;
• a cylindrical member;
• a first pressure member which is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and is configured to nip the endless belt between itself and the cylindrical member;
• a second pressure member which is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and is configured to nip the endless belt between itself and the cylindrical member;
• a frame configured to support the first pressure member and the second pressure member;
• an actuator configured to move the first pressure member between a first position and a second position different from the first position in a running direction, the running direction being a direction in which the endless belt runs between the first pressure member and the second pressure member, the actuator including a cam;
• an elastic body configured to generate nipping force to nip the endless belt between the first pressure member and the cylindrical member and between the second pressure member and the cylindrical member;
• and
• a belt guide which is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and is configured to be movable between a third position and a fourth position which is farther away from a pivot center of the cam than the third position,
• wherein the nipping force by the elastic body is generated between the first pressure member and the cylindrical member and between the second pressure member and the cylindrical member, both in a case that the first pressure member is positioned in the first position and a case that the first pressure member is positioned in the second position, and
• wherein movement of the belt guide is linked to movement of the actuator.

A fixing apparatus, comprising:

• an endless belt;
• a cylindrical member;
• a first pressure member which is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and is configured to nip the endless belt between itself and the cylindrical member;
• a second pressure member which is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and is configured to nip the endless belt between itself and the cylindrical member;
• a frame configured to support the first pressure member and the second pressure member;
• an actuator configured to move the first pressure member between a first position and a second position different from the first position in a running direction, the running direction being a direction in which the endless belt runs between the first pressure member and the second pressure member;
• and
• an elastic body configured to generate nipping force to nip the endless belt between the first pressure member and the cylindrical member and between the second pressure member and the cylindrical member,
• wherein the nipping force by the elastic body is generated between the first pressure member and the cylindrical member and between the second pressure member and the cylindrical member, both in a case that the first pressure member is positioned in the first position and a case that the first pressure member is positioned in the second position,
• wherein the actuator includes:
• a cam configured to move the first pressure member from the second position to the first position;
• a driving gear;
• a pivot shaft of the cam extending in a width direction of the endless belt and configured to engage with the first pressure member;
• and
• a swing gear fixed to the pivot shaft and configured to rotate and move along an outer circumferential surface of the driving gear in a state of being engaged with the driving gear.