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 configured to adjust the fixing nip width of a fixing nip portion; a braking force generation motor configured to generate an effective braking force in the direction to hinder rotation of an upper pressure roller; and a control unit configured to perform restore control for rotating the upper pressure roller and a lower pressure roller by driving a drive motor and speed keeping control for keeping the rotational speed of the braking force generation motor no higher than a predetermined speed during the restore control in a non-fixing period in which the fixing nip width adjustment unit is controlled to decrease the fixing nip width smaller than in a fixing period and a braking force is applied to the fixing side member by the braking force generation motor.

主权项

1. A fixing apparatus comprising:
a fixing side member located to face a fixing side of a sheet on which a toner image is formed; a back side member configured to form a fixing nip portion which holds and conveys the sheet when the back side member is urged against the fixing side member; a drive motor configured to rotate the back side member; a fixing nip width adjustment unit configured to adjust the fixing nip width of the fixing nip portion; a braking force generation motor configured to generate a braking force in the direction to hinder rotation of the fixing side member; a rotational speed detection unit configured to detect the rotational speed of the braking force generation motor; and a control unit configured to perform restore control for rotating the fixing side member and the back side member by driving the drive motor and perform speed keeping control for keeping the rotational speed of the braking force generation motor detected by the rotational speed detection unit no higher than a predetermined speed during the restore control in a non-fixing period in which the fixing nip width adjustment unit is controlled to decrease the fixing nip width smaller than in a fixing period and a braking force is applied to the fixing side member by the braking force generation motor.