Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same

摘要

A fixing device includes a fixing unit and a gloss equalizing unit. The fixing unit is disposed in a media conveyance path to fix a toner image on a recording medium conveyed therethrough. The fixing unit includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, and a media stripper. The fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is pressed against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween. The media stripper is held in contact with the pressure member to allow the recording medium to separate from the pressure member. The gloss equalizing unit is disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path. The gloss equalizing unit includes a pair of first and second rotary glossing rollers, at least one of which is heated and at least one of which is pressed against the other to form a gloss equalizing nip therebetween.

主权项

1. A fixing device comprising:
a fixing unit disposed in a media conveyance path to fix a toner image on a recording medium conveyed therethrough, the recording medium having a first side thereof printed firstly and a second side thereof printed subsequently during duplex printing, the fixing unit including:
a rotary fuser member subjected to heating;a rotary pressure member pressed against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween through which the recording medium is passed under heat and pressure along the media conveyance path as the fuser and pressure members rotate together; anda media stripper held in contact with the pressure member to allow the recording medium to separate from the pressure member upon exiting the fixing nip; a gloss equalizing unit disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path to equalize gloss on the first side of the recording medium after printing on the second side; and a media diverting unit disposed between the fixing unit and the gloss equalizing unit, the media diverting unit including guide plates, wherein the guide plates of the media diverting unit include exactly two guide plates, wherein at least one of the guide plates is positionable to establish a guide path along an inwardly curved guide surface of the at least one of the guide plates, and wherein the guide plates of the media diverting unit are disposed to form three different conveyance paths.