Fixing device using induction heating

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to a fixing device using the induction heating, which is used for fixing an image, such as a toner image, on a fixed material, such as a paper, in an image forming system, such as an electrophotography system, an electrostatic process copying machine or a laser printer.

#2. Related Background Art

#The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given herebelow and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiments of the invention. However, the drawings are not intended to imply limitation of the invention to a specific embodiment, but are for explanation and understanding only.

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the whole construction of a preferred embodiment of a fixing device according to the present invention;

#Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the whole construction of a fixing device 1 for fixing a toner image serving as an image on a fixed material (a paper) in an electrostatic process copying machine or the like. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a principal part (a heating roller 2 and a pressure roller 3) of the fixing device 1 with a paper P. FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the positions of the two rollers.

#The fixing device 1 is designed to melt and fix a toner on the paper P serving as a fixed material by causing the paper P, which is arranged on the right side in FIG. 1, to pass through a portion (nip portion) between the upper high-temperature heating roller (fixing roller) 2 and the lower pressure roller (press roller) 3, which pressingly contact each other, from the right to the left.