# US 12,111,593 B2 · Fixing device and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,593 B2 - Document ID: US12111593B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/172,026 - Filed: 2023-02-21 - Published: 2023-09-07 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-04 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Rikiya Takemasa; Hidekazu Tatezawa; Takeshi Kozuma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111593B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/205: {specially for the mode of operation, e.g. standby, warming-up, error (G03G15/2046 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/2053: {Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating} - G03G 15/2032: {Retractable heating or pressure unit} - G03G 15/2064: {combined with pressure} - G03G 15/5045: {Detecting the temperature} - G03G 2215/2038: the belt further entrained around one or more rotating belt support members - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A fixing device includes a heating rotating member and a pressure rotating member and performs image formation in one mode out of a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode. A time during which one of the heating rotating member and the pressure rotating member moves between an abutment position and a separation position in a case where the image formation is performed in the first mode is a first time, a time during which the one moves between the abutment position and the separation position in a case where the image formation is performed in the second mode is a second time, and the first time is shorter than the second time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fixing device comprising: a heating rotating member configured to be rotatable and apply heat to a recording material; a pressure rotating member configured to abut on the heating rotating member, be rotatable, and form a nip portion together with the heating rotating member; and a moving unit configured to move at least one of the heating rotating member and the pressure rotating member to an abutment position at which the nip portion is formed and a separation position at which the heating rotating member and the pressure rotating member are separated from each other, wherein the heating rotating member and the pressure rotating member apply heat and pressure at the nip portion to fix a toner image to the recording material, and perform image formation in one mode out of a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode, a time during which the one moves between the abutment position and the separation position in a case where the image formation is performed in the first mode is a first time, a time during which the one moves between the abutment position and the separation position in a case where the image formation is performed in the second mode is a second time, and the first time is shorter than the second time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit moves the pressure rotating member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fixing device according to claim 2, wherein a speed at which the pressure rotating member moves between the abutment position and the separation position in the case where the image formation is performed in the first mode is a first speed, a speed at which the pressure rotating member moves between the abutment position and the separation position in the case where the image formation is performed in the second mode is a second speed, and the first speed is higher than the second speed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit includes an eccentric cam, and the moving unit rotates the eccentric cam to move the one to the abutment position and to the separation position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature detection portion configured to detect an environmental temperature, wherein, in the case where the image formation is performed in the first mode, a time during which the one moves between the abutment position and the separation position when the temperature detected by the temperature detection portion is a predetermined threshold or higher is the first time, and a time during which the one moves between the abutment position and the separation position when the temperature detected by the temperature detection portion is lower than the predetermined threshold is a third time, the first time being shorter than the third time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fixing device according to claim 5, wherein the second time is shorter than the third time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein a time during which the one moves between the abutment position and the separation position when a job is interrupted in the case where the image formation is performed in the first mode is the first time, and a time during which the one moves between the abutment position and the separation position when the job is interrupted in the case where the image formation is performed in the second mode is the second time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the first mode is a mode in which a time during which the job is interrupted is shortened. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the second mode is a mode in which an operating sound of the moving unit is set to be silent. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus comprising: the fixing device according to claim 1; and an operation portion configured to be operable by an operator, wherein one mode is selectable from a plurality of modes including the first mode and the second mode by the operation portion.