Fixing device and image forming apparatus

摘要

A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body to come into contact with a toner image on a recording medium and a pressing rotary body separably pressed against the fixing rotary body to press the recording medium against the fixing rotary body. A cooler, disposed opposite the pressing rotary body to cool the pressing rotary body, includes a fan to move air to the pressing rotary body and at least one inlet duct interposed between the fan and the pressing rotary body to supply air from the fan to the pressing rotary body. The at least one inlet duct selectively cools the pressing rotary body in a variable axial span in an axial direction thereof.

主权项

1. A fixing device comprising:
a fixing rotary body to directly come into contact with a toner image on a recording medium; a pressing rotary body separably pressed against the fixing rotary body to press the recording medium against the fixing rotary body; a pressurization assembly contacting the pressing rotary body and movable to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body and isolate the pressing rotary body from the fixing rotary body; and a cooler disposed opposite the pressing rotary body to cool the pressing rotary body, the cooler including:
a fan to move air to the pressing rotary body;at least one inlet duct interposed between the fan and the pressing rotary body to supply air from the fan to the pressing rotary body, the at least one inlet duct selectively cooling the pressing rotary body in a variable axial span in an axial direction thereof, and the at least one inlet duct including:
a lateral end inlet duct disposed opposite a lateral end of the pressing rotary body in the axial direction thereof, anda center inlet duct disposed opposite a center of the pressing rotary body in the axial direction thereof;a shutter disposed in each of the lateral end inlet duct and the center inlet duct and selectively revolvable to open and close the lateral end inlet duct and the center inlet duct, each shutter being driven to rotate independently;a link shutter connected to the pressurization assembly; anda link shutter shaft about which the link shutter pivots in accordance with movement of the pressurization assembly to open and close the at least one inlet duct.