# US 8,543,044 B2 · Fixing device and image forming apparatus having sheet separation device

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- Number: US 8,543,044 B2
- Document ID: US8543044B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/070,223
- Filed: 2011-03-23
- Published: 2011-10-06
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2010-03-30
- Assignees: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Toshihiro Wazumi; Jinju Okuno; Koji Yamamoto
- Inventors: Toshihiro Wazumi; Jinju Okuno; Koji Yamamoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543044B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/2028: {with means for handling the copy material in the fixing nip, e.g. introduction guides, stripping means}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A fixing device conveying a sheet carrying a toner image under heating and pressurization at a nip section and fixing the toner image on the sheet comprising; a fixing member provided with a heating member, a pressure member pressing on the fixing member and forming the nip section which sandwiches the sheet carrying the toner image; a blower duct equipped with an outlet opening toward a vicinity of a sheet outlet of the nip section; a blower member for blowing air in a vicinity of the sheet outlet through the blower duct; and a guide device provided with a guide member for guiding the sheet ejected from the nip section arranged on an upper side of a sheet conveyance path; and, further comprising a biasing member for biasing the sheet toward the guide member, in the vicinity of the nip section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fixing device conveying a sheet carrying a toner image under heating and pressurization at a nip section and fixing the toner image on the sheet comprising:
a fixing member provided with a heating member;
a pressure member pressing on the fixing member and forming the nip section which sandwiches the sheet carrying the toner image;
a blower duct equipped with an outlet opening toward a vicinity of a sheet outlet of the nip section;
a blower member for blowing air in a vicinity of the sheet outlet through the blower duct; and
a guide device provided with a guide member for guiding the sheet ejected from the nip section arranged on an upper side of a sheet conveyance path,
wherein an exhaust gas flow moving along an exhaust gas flow path formed through the guide device between the blower duct and the sheet biases the sheet toward the guide member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fixing device of claim 1 wherein a sectional area of the exhaust gas flow path is increased in size in a direction in which the exhaust gas flow moves.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fixing device of claim 1 wherein the guide device is configured to comprise a rib.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fixing device of claim 1 wherein the guide device is configured to comprise a net.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fixing device of claim 1 wherein the guide device is configured to comprise a belt.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fixing device of claim 1 further comprising;
a separation claw arranged on a lower side of the sheet conveyance path to separate the sheet from the pressure member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device of claim 1.