Fixing apparatus for fixing images formed on sheet and image forming apparatus provided with this fixing apparatus

摘要

A fixing apparatus comprises a fixing nip width adjustment unit (68) configured to adjust the fixing nip width "d" of a fixing nip portion (NP); a braking force generation motor (M1) configured to generate an effective braking force in the direction to hinder rotation of an upper pressure roller (63); and a control unit (100) configured to perform restore control for rotating the upper pressure roller (63) and a lower pressure roller by driving a drive motor (M3) and speed keeping control for keeping the rotational speed of the braking force generation motor (M1) no higher than a predetermined speed during the restore control in a non-fixing period in which the fixing nip width adjustment unit (68) is controlled to decrease the fixing nip width "d" smaller than in a fixing period and a braking force is applied to the upper pressure roller (63) by the braking force generation motor (M1).