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US 2003/0118382 A1Published application
Image forming device capable of changing pressing force between fixing members
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorYoshiya Tomatsu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
When fixing images onto normal sheets of paper, the pressing force between a pressing roller and a thermal roller of a fixing unit is designated by the urging force of only a first spring. On the other hand, when fixing images onto thick sheets, the pressing force is designated by the urging force of the first spring and the urging force of a second spring, which operates against the urging force of the first spring.
Claims17
An image forming device comprising:
- a fixing unit including two fixing members disposed in pressable confrontation with each other, the fixing unit fixing images onto a recording medium sandwiched between the fixing members;
- and
- a pressing force adjusting mechanism that adjusts pressing force applied between the fixing members, wherein
- the pressing force adjusting mechanism includes:
- a first urging unit that urges the fixing members to press against each other;
- a second urging unit including a first resilient member that produces urging force that reduces the pressing force between the fixing members against urging force of the first urging unit, the second urging unit being switchable between an operating mode wherein urging force of the first resilient member operates to reduce the pressing force between the fixing members and a non-operating mode wherein the urging force of the first resilient member does not operate to reduce the pressing force between the fixing members.
3 more elements
An image forming device comprising:
- a casing:
- a fixing unit including two fixing members disposed in pressable confrontation with each other, the fixing unit fixing images onto a recording medium sandwiched between the fixing members;
- a pressing force adjusting mechanism including a pressing member that selectively applies a predetermined pressing force and a smaller pressing force between the fixing members, and a switching member that switches the pressing member between a first pressing condition for applying the predetermined pressing force between the fixing members and a second pressing condition for applying the smaller pressing force between the fixing members;
- and
- a first cover that selectively opens up and covers interior of the casing, the first cover in the opened-up condition enabling the recording medium to be linearly transported from the fixing unit out of the casing, the first cover abutting against the switching member when closing from the opened-up condition, thereby switching member switching the pressing member from the second pressing condition to the first pressing condition.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.