Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same

摘要

A fixing device includes a first roller, a second roller, an endless belt, a third roller, a heater, a cooler, and a belt tensioner. The second roller is parallel to the first roller. The endless belt is looped for rotation around the first and second rollers. The third roller is opposite the first roller via the belt. The heater is in at least one of the rollers to heat the roller to in turn heat the belt. The cooler is inside the loop of the belt between the first and second rollers to cool the belt. The first and third rollers press against each other to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. The belt tensioner is in contact with the belt to tension the belt in a transverse direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the belt.

主权项

1. A fixing device comprising:
a first roller; a second roller parallel to the first roller; an endless belt looped for rotation around the first and second rollers; a third roller opposite the first roller via the belt; a heater in at least one of the rollers to heat the roller to in turn heat the belt; a cooler inside the loop of the belt between the first and second rollers to cool the belt, the first and third rollers pressing against each other to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed under heat and pressure as the belt moves from the first roller toward the second roller in a longitudinal direction of the belt, the recording medium remaining in contact with the belt cooled by the cooler during conveyance between the first roller and the second roller, and separating from the belt as the belt passes around the second roller; and a belt tensioner in contact with the belt configured to tension the belt in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the belt, wherein
the belt tensioner comprises a pair of rotary members disposed at opposed edges of the belt outboard of a width of the recording medium accommodated in the fixing device, andeach rotary tensioner member has a rotational axis thereof angled with respect to a surface of the belt between the first roller and the second roller.