Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same

摘要

A fixing device includes a separator disposed downstream from a fixing nip formed between a fixing rotary body and a pressing rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction to separate a recording medium from the fixing rotary body. The separator includes a front disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body with a given interval therebetween and a conveyance face contiguous to the front, over which the recording medium slides. A coating layer, made of fluoroplastic, coats the front and the conveyance face of the separator. The coating layer includes a front portion corresponding to the front of the separator and produced with a plurality of recesses extending in a width direction of the separator orthogonal to the recording medium conveyance direction throughout substantially an entire width of the separator in the width direction thereof.

主权项

1. A fixing device comprising:
a fixing rotary body rotatable in a given direction of rotation; a pressing rotary body pressed against the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed; a separator disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction to separate the recording medium discharged from the fixing nip from the fixing rotary body, the separator including:
a front disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body with a given interval therebetween; anda conveyance face contiguous to the front, over which the recording medium slides; anda coating layer, made of fluoroplastic, to coat the front and the conveyance face of the separator, the coating layer including a front portion corresponding to the front of the separator and disposed opposite the recording medium, the front portion produced with a plurality of recesses extending in a width direction of the separator orthogonal to the recording medium conveyance direction throughout substantially an entire width of the separator in the width direction thereof.