Transport device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus

A transport device comprising:

• a first nipping part having an outer surface;
• a second nipping part having an outer surface, the second nipping part being configured to form, with the first nipping part, a nip region in which a recording medium is nipped by bringing the outer surface into contact with the outer surface of the first nipping part, the second nipping part being relatively movable between a first position at which a distance from the second nipping part to the first nipping part is a first distance at which the nip region is formed and a second position at which the distance from the second nipping part to the first nipping part is longer than the first distance;
• a transport part including a holder that holds a front end side of the recording medium, the transport part being configured to move the holder to transport the recording medium to pass through the nip region together with the holder while the recording medium is being held by the holder;
• and
• a moving mechanism configured to relatively move the second nipping part such that a middle point of a period from when a relative movement of the second nipping part from the first position to the second position is started before the holder enters the nip region to when the second nipping part is relatively moved to the first position after the holder enters the nip region precedes a middle point of a period during which the holder passes through the nip region.

A transport device comprising:

• a first nipping part having an outer surface and a recess on a part of the outer surface, the first nipping part being configured to rotate in a rotation direction;
• a second nipping part having an outer surface, the second nipping part being configured to form, with the first nipping part, a nip region in which a recording medium is nipped by bringing the outer surface of the second nipping part into contact with the outer surface of the first nipping part, the second nipping part being relatively movable between a first position at which a distance from the second nipping part to the first nipping part is a first distance at which the nip region is formed and a second position at which the distance from the second nipping part to the first nipping part is longer than the first distance;
• a transport part including a holder that holds a front end side of the recording medium, the transport part being configured to move the holder in the rotation direction with the holder being accommodated in the recess to transport the recording medium to pass through the nip region together with the holder while the recording medium is being held by the holder;
• and
• a moving mechanism configured to relatively move the second nipping part such that a middle point of a period from when a relative movement of the second nipping part from the first position to the second position is started before the recess enters the nip region to when the second nipping part is relatively moved to the first position after the recess enters the nip region precedes a middle point of a period during which the recess passes through the nip region.