Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same

A fixing device, comprising:

• a rotatable fixing belt stretched taut around a plurality of supports;
• a pressure rotator configured to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator;
• a belt polishing mechanism configured to polish a surface of the fixing belt,
• the belt polishing mechanism including:
• a polishing roller configured to separably contact the fixing belt and slide over the surface of the fixing belt when the polishing roller is pressed against the fixing belt;
• a contact and separation driver configured to press the polishing roller to the fixing belt and configured to separate the polishing roller from the fixing belt;
• an opposed member disposed opposite the polishing roller via the fixing belt and disposed opposite the pressure rotator via the fixing belt proximate to the fixing nip, the opposed member being configured to form a polishing nip between the polishing roller and the fixing belt;
• and
• a polishing roller rotation mechanism configured to rotate the polishing roller,
• the polishing roller rotation mechanism including a first rotator disposed coaxially with the polishing roller and a second rotator disposed coaxially with the opposed member,
• wherein the second rotator is configured to transmit a driving force to the first rotator when the polishing roller is pressed against the fixing belt,
• wherein the polishing roller is configured to rotate at a speed different from a rotational speed of the surface of the fixing belt.

A fixing device, comprising:

• a rotatable fixing belt stretched taut around a plurality of supports;
• a pressure rotator configured to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator;
• a belt polishing mechanism configured to polish a surface of the fixing belt,
• the belt polishing mechanism including:
• a polishing roller configured to separably contact the fixing belt and slide over the surface of the fixing belt when the polishing roller is pressed against the fixing belt;
• a contact and separation driver configured to press the polishing roller to the fixing belt and configured to separate the polishing roller from the fixing belt;
• an opposed member disposed opposite the polishing roller via the fixing belt and disposed opposite the pressure rotator via the fixing belt proximate to the fixing nip, the opposed member being configured to form a polishing nip between the polishing roller and the fixing belt;
• and
• a polishing roller rotation mechanism configured to rotate the polishing roller,
• the polishing roller rotation mechanism including a first rotator disposed coaxially with the polishing roller and a second rotator disposed coaxially with the opposed member,
• wherein a rotational speed of the second rotator is different from a rotational speed of the opposed member,
• wherein the second rotator is configured to transmit a driving force to the first rotator when the polishing roller is pressed against the fixing belt, and
• wherein the polishing roller is configured to rotate at a speed different from a rotational speed of the surface of the fixing belt.