Fixing device, image forming apparatus including the fixing device, and fixing method

The present patent application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-056523 filed on Mar. 7, 2007 in the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

Example embodiments generally relate to a fixing device, an image forming apparatus including the fixing device, and a fixing method using, for example, induction heating, implemented by a fixing device incorporated in an image forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

A related-art image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction printer having two or more of copying, printing, scanning, and facsimile functions, forms a toner image on a recording medium (e.g., a recording sheet). For example, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier is visualized with toner into a toner image. The toner image is transferred from the image carrier onto a recording sheet. A fixing device applies heat and pressure to the recording sheet bearing the toner image to fix the toner image on the recording sheet by various methods. Such methods include, for example, a heating roller method, a film method, and an induction heating method.

In a fixing device using the heating roller method, a heat generating source (e.g., a halogen lamp) heats a heating roller. The heating roller opposes a pressing roller to form a fixing nip between the heating roller and the pressing roller so as to nip a recording sheet bearing a toner image therebetween. At the fixing nip, the heating roller and the pressing roller apply heat and pressure to the recording sheet bearing the toner image.

In a fixing device using the film method, a film having a thermal capacity smaller than a thermal capacity of the heating roller is used as a heating member for applying heat to a recording sheet bearing a toner image.

In one example of a fixing device using the induction heating method, an induction heating coil wound around a bobbin is provided inside a heating roller. When an electric current is applied to the induction heating coil, an eddy current is generated in the heating roller and the heating roller generates heat.

In the heating roller method, the heating roller is preheated so that the heating roller may be heated quickly. By contrast, in the induction heating method, the heating roller may be heated up to a desired temperature quickly, even when the heating roller is not preheated.

Another example of a fixing device using the induction heating method includes both an induction heater and a heating roller. The induction heater includes an induction heating coil to which a power source applies a high-frequency voltage. The heating roller includes a magnetic heat-generating layer that has a Curie point equivalent to a fixing temperature. When the power source applies a high-frequency voltage to the induction heater, the heat-generating layer generates heat.

For example, a temperature of a ferromagnet included in the heat-generating layer increases quickly until the temperature of the ferromagnet reaches the Curie point. When the temperature of the ferromagnet reaches the Curie point, the heat-generating layer loses its magnetic property. Thus, the temperature of the ferromagnet does not exceed the Curie point and is maintained at a desired temperature. The Curie point of the ferromagnet is equivalent to the fixing temperature. Therefore, the temperature of the ferromagnet is maintained at the fixing temperature.

The advantage of such an arrangement is that the heating roller may be quickly and precisely heated to a desired temperature without a complex controller, while a surface of the heating roller provides a proper release property and heat resistance.

When the heating roller includes a core and a resin layer having thicknesses and shapes different from each other, the core and the resin layer may have thermal capacities different from each other. However, an amount of ferromagnet particles contained in the heating roller may be adjusted to heat the heating roller quickly and to control the temperature of the heating roller more precisely. Moreover, ferromagnet particles lose their magnetic property when the temperature of the ferromagnet particles reaches the Curie point. Therefore, the heating roller may not attract magnetic particles contained in toner, preventing toner offset.

When the magnetic heat-generating layer has the Curie point equivalent to the fixing temperature, heat generation of the heat-generating layer may be controlled at end and center portions of the heat-generating layer in a width direction (e.g., an axial direction) of the heating roller. Alternatively, overheating of the heat-generating layer may be prevented locally.

In yet another example of a fixing device, a magnetic flux adjuster moves in a circumferential direction of a heating roller to prevent temperature increase at both end portions of the heating roller, serving as a fixing member, in a width direction of the heating roller.

However, the magnetic flux adjuster may be displaced from its proper position in the circumferential direction of the heating roller, and as a result, temperatures of the both end portions of the heating roller may not be controlled properly.

At least one embodiment may provide a fixing device that includes a magnetic flux generator, a rotating heat generation member, a magnetic flux adjuster, and a driver. The magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux. The rotating heat generation member rotates and applies heat to a recording medium bearing an image, and includes a heat-generating layer to generate heat using the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux adjuster is provided outside the rotating heat generation member, and decreases the magnetic flux applied to the heat-generating layer at least in a desired area in an axial direction of the rotating heat generation member. The driver changes the desired area by driving the magnetic flux adjuster in a direction of rotation of the rotating heat generation member.

At least one embodiment may provide an image forming apparatus that includes a fixing device to fix an image on a recording medium. The fixing device includes a magnetic flux generator, a rotating heat generation member, a magnetic flux adjuster, and a driver. The magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux. The rotating heat generation member rotates and applies heat to a recording medium bearing an image, and includes a heat-generating layer to generate heat using the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux adjuster is provided outside the rotating heat generation member, and decreases the magnetic flux applied to the heat-generating layer at least in a desired area in an axial direction of the rotating heat generation member. The driver changes the desired area by driving the magnetic flux adjuster in a direction of rotation of the rotating heat generation member.

At least one embodiment may provide a fixing method implemented by a fixing device incorporated in an image forming apparatus. The method includes generating a magnetic flux with a magnetic flux generator, generating heat using the magnetic flux generated with the magnetic flux generator in a heat-generating layer included in a rotating heat generation member, and providing a magnetic flux adjuster outside the rotating heat generation member. The method further includes decreasing the magnetic flux applied to the heat-generating layer at least in a desired area in an axial direction of the rotating heat generation member, changing the desired area by driving the magnetic flux adjuster in a direction of rotation of the rotating heat generation member, and applying heat from the rotating heat generation member to a recording medium bearing an image to fix the image on the recording medium.

Additional features and advantages of example embodiments will be more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the associated claims.

A more complete appreciation of example embodiments and the many attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view (according to an example embodiment) of a fixing device included in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view (according to an example embodiment) of a fixing roller included in the fixing device shown in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4A is a front view (according to an example embodiment) of one example of a magnetic flux adjuster included in the fixing device shown in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4B is a plane view (according to an example embodiment) of the magnetic flux adjuster shown in FIG. 4A ;

FIG. 4C is a perspective view (according to an example embodiment) of the magnetic flux adjuster shown in FIG. 4A ;

FIG. 5A is a front view (according to an example embodiment) of another example of a magnetic flux adjuster included in the fixing device shown in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 5B is a plane view (according to an example embodiment) of the magnetic flux adjuster shown in FIG. 5A ;

FIG. 5C is a perspective view (according to an example embodiment) of the magnetic flux adjuster shown in FIG. 5A ;

FIG. 6A is a sectional view (according to an example embodiment) of the fixing device shown in FIG. 2 illustrating a first adjustment method for adjusting a magnetic flux;

FIG. 6B is a sectional view (according to an example embodiment) of the fixing device shown in FIG. 2 illustrating a second adjustment method for adjusting a magnetic flux;

FIG. 6C is a sectional view (according to an example embodiment) of the fixing device shown in FIG. 2 when magnetic flux adjustment is not performed;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a fixing device according to another example embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a fixing device according to yet another example embodiment.

The accompanying drawings are intended to depict example embodiments and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted.

It will be understood that if an element or layer is referred to as being “on”, “against”, “connected to”, or “coupled to” another element or layer, then it can be directly on, against, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, if an element is referred to as being “directly on”, “directly connected to”, or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, then there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, term such as “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.

Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, it should be understood that these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms a “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

In describing example embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, particularly to FIG. 1 , an image forming apparatus 20 according to an example embodiment is explained.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus 20 includes image forming devices 21 C, 21 Y, 21 M, and 21 K, a writer 29 , a transfer device 22 , a bypass tray 23 , paper trays 24 A and 24 B, a registration roller pair 30 , and/or a fixing device 1 .

The image forming devices 21 C, 21 Y, 21 M, and 21 K include photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K, chargers 27 C, 27 Y, 27 M, and 27 K, development devices 26 C, 26 Y, 26 M, and 26 K, and/or cleaners 28 C, 28 Y, 28 M, and 28 K, respectively.

The image forming apparatus 20 may be a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, a multifunction printer having two or more of copying, printing, scanning, and facsimile functions, or the like. According to this non-limiting example embodiment, the image forming apparatus 20 functions as a tandem-type color printer for forming a color image on a recording medium (e.g., a recording sheet). However, the image forming apparatus 20 is not limited to the tandem-type color printer and may form a color or monochrome image with other structure.

In the image forming apparatus 20 , cyan, yellow, magenta, and black toner images formed on the photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K, respectively, are directly transferred and superimposed on a recording sheet attracted by a transfer belt serving as a transferor, so as to form a color toner image on the recording sheet.

The image forming devices 21 C, 21 Y, 21 M, and 21 K form cyan, yellow, magenta, and black toner images according to cyan, yellow, magenta, and black image data, respectively. The image forming devices 21 C, 21 Y, 21 M, and 21 K form toner images in different colors but have a common structure.

The photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K, serving as an electrostatic latent image carrier, have a drum shape and rotate clockwise in FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K may have a belt shape. The chargers 27 C, 27 Y, 27 M, and 27 K, the development devices 26 C, 26 Y, 26 M, and 26 K, and the cleaners 28 C, 28 Y, 28 M, and 28 K are arranged around the photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K in this order in a direction of rotation of the photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K, respectively.

The writer 29 emits light beams onto the photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K according to cyan, yellow, magenta, and black image data to form electrostatic latent images on the photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K, respectively. The light beams emitted by the writer 29 travel between the chargers 27 C, 27 Y, 27 M, and 27 K and the development devices 26 C, 26 Y, 26 M, and 26 K and reach the photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K, respectively.

The transfer device 22 opposes the image forming devices 21 C, 21 Y, 21 M, and 21 K. The transfer device 22 includes a transfer belt (not shown) looped over a plurality of rollers. The transfer belt serves as a transferor and rotates in a direction of rotation A. Transfer bias appliers (not shown) oppose the photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K, respectively, and apply a transfer bias to the photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K. An attraction bias applier (not shown) is disposed near the photoconductor 25 C from which the cyan toner image is transferred onto a recording sheet on the transfer belt before the yellow, magenta, and black toner images are transferred from the photoconductors 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K, respectively. The attraction bias applier may contact the transfer belt to apply an attraction bias to the transfer belt, so that the transfer belt attracts a recording sheet before the cyan toner image is transferred from the photoconductor 25 C onto the recording sheet. According to this example embodiment, the transfer device 22 is disposed obliquely in the image forming apparatus 20 , occupying a decreased space in a horizontal direction in the image forming apparatus 20 .

The bypass tray 23 and the paper trays 24 A and 24 B load recording sheets and serve as sheet suppliers for supplying the recording sheets to a transfer area in which the image forming devices 21 C, 21 Y, 21 M, and 21 K oppose the transfer device 22 . For example, a recording sheet is fed from the bypass tray 23 , the paper tray 24 A, or the paper tray 24 B toward the registration roller pair 30 . The registration roller pair 30 feeds the recording sheet to the image forming devices 21 C, 21 Y, 21 M, and 21 K at a proper time at which the cyan, yellow, magenta, and black toner images are transferred from the image forming devices 21 C, 21 Y, 21 M, and 21 K onto the recording sheet conveyed by the transfer belt in the transfer area, respectively. The fixing device 1 fixes the toner images transferred on the recording sheet.

According to this example embodiment, the fixing device 1 applies heat and pressure to the recording sheet bearing the toner images. However, the fixing device 1 may apply heat and pressure to a transfer device, which does not oppose a photoconductor via a recording medium (e.g., a recording sheet) but contacts the photoconductor. In this case, the transfer device may perform transfer and fixing operations simultaneously.

The following describes image forming operations performed by the image forming apparatus 20 having the above-described structure. In the following description, the image forming operations of the image forming device 21 C for forming a cyan toner image, which are common to the image forming devices 21 Y, 21 M, and 21 K, are explained.

A main motor (not shown) rotates the photoconductor 25 C. An AC (alternating current) bias including no DC (direct current) component applied to the charger 27 C discharges the photoconductor 25 C. Thus, a surface potential of the photoconductor 25 C is set to a reference potential of about −50 V. A DC bias, to which the AC bias is superimposed, is applied to the charger 27 C. The charger 27 C uniformly charges the photoconductor 25 C to have a potential equivalent to a DC component. Thus, the photoconductor 25 C has a surface potential of from about −500 V to about −700 V. A process controller (not shown) determines a target charging potential.

When the photoconductor 25 C is uniformly charged, a writing process is performed. For example, the writer 29 forms an electrostatic latent image according to digital image data sent from a controller (not shown). In the writer 29 , a light source (not shown) emits a laser beam in correspondence with a binary signal for laser diode output based on the digital image data per color. The laser beam irradiates the photoconductor 25 C via a cylinder lens (not shown), a polygon motor (not shown), an fθ lens (not shown), first, second, and third mirrors (not shown), and a WTL lens (not shown). A portion on the photoconductor 25 C irradiated by the laser beam has a surface potential of about −50 V. Thus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the digital image data is formed on the photoconductor 25 C.

The development device 26 C visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 25 C with toner having a complementary color with respect to a separation color. In a development process, a DC bias of from about −300 V to about −500 V, to which an AC bias is superimposed, is applied to a development sleeve (not shown). Accordingly, the toner is adhered to the electrostatic latent image having a potential decreased by irradiation of the laser beam to form a toner image. The toner has a charge-to-mass ratio (Q/M) of from about −20 μC/g to about −30 μC/g.

The registration roller pair 30 feeds a recording sheet to the photoconductor 25 C at a registration time at which the visualized toner image is transferred onto the recording sheet. Before the recording sheet reaches the transfer belt of the transfer device 22 , the attraction bias applier, including a roller, applies an attraction bias to the transfer belt, so that the transfer belt electrostatically attracts the recording sheet. In a transfer process, the transfer bias appliers included in the transfer device 22 apply a bias having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the toner to electrostatically transfer and superimpose the toner images from the photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K onto the recording sheet electrostatically attracted and conveyed by the transfer belt at positions at which the transfer bias appliers oppose the photoconductors 25 C, 25 Y, 25 M, and 25 K. Thus, a color toner image is formed on the recording sheet. After the toner image formed on the photoconductor 25 C is transferred onto the recording sheet, the cleaner 28 C cleans a surface of the photoconductor 25 C.

A driving roller (not shown) included in the transfer device 22 separates the recording sheet bearing the color toner image from the transfer belt by using a curvature. The separated recording sheet is conveyed toward the fixing device 1 . After the fixing device 1 fixes the color toner image on the recording sheet, the recording sheet bearing the fixed toner image is output onto an internal output tray (not shown) or an external output tray (not shown) when another toner image is not to be formed on the other side of the recording sheet.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the fixing device 1 . The fixing device 1 includes a magnetic flux generator 2 , a fixing roller 3 , a pressing roller 4 , and/or drivers 5 . The magnetic flux generator 2 includes a coil 2 A, magnetic flux adjusters 2 B, a center core 2 C, and/or an arc core 2 D. The fixing roller 3 includes a heat-generating layer 3 C.

The fixing device 1 includes a pair of rollers for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet S serving as a recording medium. The magnetic flux generator 2 generates a magnetic flux. The fixing roller 3 serves as a rotating heat generation member. The pressing roller 4 serves as a rotating pressing member. The pressing roller 4 pressingly contacts the fixing roller 3 to form a fixing nip. A heat source (not shown) heats the fixing roller 3 . When a recording sheet S bearing a toner image passes through the fixing nip, the fixing roller 3 and the pressing roller 4 apply heat and pressure to the recording sheet S to fix the toner image on the recording sheet S.

An inverter (not shown), serving as an induction heating circuit, applies a high frequency current to the coil 2 A to generate a high frequency magnetic field. The magnetic field generates an eddy current in the fixing roller 3 including metal so as to increase a temperature of the fixing roller 3 . The coil 2 A is provided at a position between the arc core 2 D and the fixing roller 3 . The magnetic flux adjuster 2 B is provided at a position between the coil 2 A and the arc core 2 D. The drivers 5 drive the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B. For example, the two drivers 5 move the two magnetic flux adjusters 2 B, respectively. The magnetic flux adjusters 2 B move between the coil 2 A and the arc core 2 D in a manner that the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B contact to and separate from each other.

A distance L 1 denotes a distance between a center of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B and a center of the coil 2 A in a diametrical direction (e.g., a direction perpendicular to an axial direction) of the fixing roller 3 . A distance L 2 denotes a distance between the center of the coil 2 A and a center of the heat-generating layer 3 C in the diametrical direction (e.g., the direction perpendicular to the axial direction) of the fixing roller 3 . The distance L 2 may be greater than the distance L 1 to decrease the magnetic flux.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the fixing roller 3 and a partially enlarged sectional view of the fixing roller 3 . The fixing roller 3 further includes a core 3 A, an insulating elastic layer 3 B, and/or a surface layer 3 D.

The core 3 A may include aluminum or an alloy of aluminum. The heat-generating layer 3 C may also serve as a magnetic shunt layer. The surface layer 3 D may include a silicone rubber layer and a PFA (perfluoroalkoxy) layer.

FIGS. 4A , 4 B, and 4 C illustrate an example shape of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B. FIG. 4A is a front view of the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B. FIG. 4B is a plane view of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B. FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A , the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B has a curved plate shape. A pair of magnetic flux adjusters 2 B may move between the coil 2 A and the arc core 2 D (depicted in FIG. 2 ). The drivers 5 (e.g., driving sources) depicted in FIG. 2 drive the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B to contact to and separate from each other around a center of an axis of the fixing roller 3 (depicted in FIG. 2 ). Known mechanisms may be used as the driving source.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B , one edge of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B is cut partially. The cut edges of the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B face each other to form a gap between the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B. For example, a plurality of steps X forms a gap Y (e.g., a space). Thus, positions of the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B may be properly adjusted to adjust a magnetic flux more precisely. The steps X are provided to cause the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B to have a width discontinuously varying in a longitudinal direction (e.g., an axial direction) of the fixing roller 3 (depicted in FIG. 2 ) so as to provide a desired adjustment of magnetic flux. A width of the gap Y is largest at a center portion of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B in the longitudinal direction of the fixing roller 3 , so as to provide easy adjustment of magnetic flux at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the fixing roller 3 .

FIGS. 5A , 5 B, and 5 C illustrate another example shape of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B. FIG. 5A is a front view of the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B. FIG. 5B is a plane view of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B. FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B.

The magnetic flux adjuster 2 B illustrated in FIGS. 5A , 5 B, and 5 C has a basic structure common to the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B illustrated in FIGS. 4A , 4 B, and 4 C. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5B , one edge of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B is cut in a manner that a cut portion forms a triangle in a plane view. The cut edges of the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B face each other to form a gap Z (e.g., a space) between the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B. A dimension of the gap Z continuously varies in the longitudinal direction of the fixing roller 3 (depicted in FIG. 2 ). Thus, positions of the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B may be properly adjusted to adjust a magnetic flux more precisely. Like the gap Y illustrated in FIG. 4B , a width of the gap Z is largest at a center portion of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B in the longitudinal direction of the fixing roller 3 , so as to provide easy adjustment of magnetic flux at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the fixing roller 3 .

The gap Y (depicted in FIG. 4B ) and the gap Z (depicted in FIG. 5B ) may have various shapes and structures. The width of the gaps Y and Z may be largest at any portion other than the center portion of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B. Namely, the largest and smallest widths of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B may be positioned at any portion of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B as long as the positions of the largest and smallest widths of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B are suitable for the fixing device 1 (depicted in FIG. 2 ).

Referring to FIGS. 6A , 6 B, and 6 C, the following describes operations of the fixing device 1 . According to this example embodiment, the pressing roller 4 applies pressure to the fixing roller 3 to form a nip between the pressing roller 4 and the fixing roller 3 . The pressure applied to the fixing roller 3 deforms the fixing roller 3 to have a concave shape at the nip. When a recording sheet S (depicted in FIG. 2 ) passes through the nip formed between the pressing roller 4 and the fixing roller 3 , the recording sheet S may easily separate from the pressing roller 4 and the fixing roller 3 . When the pressing roller 4 presses the fixing roller 3 , the surface layer 3 D, the heat-generating layer 3 C, and/or the insulating elastic layer 3 B (depicted in FIG. 3 ) are deformed and the core 3 A (depicted in FIG. 3 ) is not deformed.

FIG. 6A is a sectional view of the fixing device 1 illustrating a first adjustment method for adjusting a magnetic flux performed by the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B. The magnetic flux adjusters 2 B are almost entirely sandwiched between the coil 2 A and the arc core 2 D. The gap Y (depicted in FIG. 4B ) or the gap Z (depicted in FIG. 5B ) formed by the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B may provide relatively strong suppression of temperature increase at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the fixing roller 3 .

FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the fixing device 1 illustrating a second adjustment method for adjusting a magnetic flux performed by the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B. The magnetic flux adjusters 2 B are partially sandwiched between the coil 2 A and the arc core 2 D. For example, the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B in the second adjustment method protrude from a gap formed between the coil 2 A and the arc core 2 D in a circumferential direction of the fixing roller 3 farther than in the first adjustment method depicted in FIG. 6A . The magnetic flux adjusters 2 B may provide relatively weak suppression of temperature increase at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the fixing roller 3 .

FIG. 6C is a sectional view of the fixing device 1 in which the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B entirely protrude from the gap formed between the coil 2 A and the arc core 2 D. The magnetic flux adjusters 2 B do not perform magnetic flux adjustment.

The magnetic flux adjusters 2 B may move between positions illustrated in FIG. 6A and positions illustrated in FIG. 6C to adjust an effect applied to the fixing roller 3 by a magnetic flux to a desired level. When the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B are shifted to improper positions, the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B may be moved to proper positions in a circumferential direction, providing easy adjustment of the positions of the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B. Namely, since the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B are disposed outside the fixing roller 3 , the positions of the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B may be adjusted with a precision higher than a precision provided by magnetic flux adjusters disposed inside the fixing roller 3 . Thus, a temperature of the fixing roller 3 may be controlled more precisely at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the fixing roller 3 . Namely, the fixing device 1 may control the temperature of both end portions in the axial direction of the fixing roller 3 serving as a rotating heat generation member more precisely. Further, the coil 2 A serving as a magnetic flux generator may be positioned close to the fixing roller 3 serving as a rotating heat generation member, increasing a heat generation efficiency of the fixing device 1 .

Even when each of the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B includes the plurality of steps X illustrated in FIG. 4B or slopes illustrated in FIG. 5B to form a space between the opposing magnetic flux adjusters 2 B, the positions of the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B may be adjusted more precisely.

As illustrated in FIG. 6A , the distance L 1 from the center of the magnetic flux adjuster 2 B to the center of the coil 2 A in the diametrical direction of the fixing roller 3 is shorter than the distance L 2 from the center of the coil 2 A to the center of the heat-generating layer 3 C in the diametrical direction of the fixing roller 3 , reducing magnetic fluxes.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a fixing device 1 A according to another example embodiment. The fixing device 1 A includes a fixing belt 40 , a fixing roller 41 , a heating roller 42 , a rotating pressing member 43 , and/or a tension roller 44 . The other elements of the fixing device 1 A are common to the fixing device 1 depicted in FIG. 2 .

The fixing belt 40 serves as a rotating heat generation member and is looped over the fixing roller 41 and the heating roller 42 . The rotating pressing member 43 opposes the fixing roller 41 via the fixing belt 40 to form a nip between the fixing belt 40 and the rotating pressing member 43 . When a recording sheet S bearing a toner image passes through the nip, the fixing belt 40 and the rotating pressing member 43 apply heat and pressure to the recording sheet S to fix the toner image on the recording sheet S. The magnetic flux generator 2 is disposed near the heating roller 42 . The fixing belt 40 includes at least a heat-generating layer (e.g., the heat-generating layer 3 C depicted in FIG. 3 ). The fixing belt 40 may include layers common to the layers (e.g., the core 3 A, the insulating elastic layer 3 B, the heat-generating layer 3 C, and the surface layer 3 D) illustrated in FIG. 3 . The heating roller 42 includes a core including aluminum or an alloy of aluminum. The tension roller 44 applies tension to the fixing belt 40 . The fixing device 1 A having the above-described structure may also include structural elements for adjusting a magnetic flux and may perform adjustment of magnetic flux common to the fixing device 1 .

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a fixing device 1 B according to yet another example embodiment. The fixing device 1 B is a modification of the fixing device 1 A illustrated in FIG. 7 and includes the elements common to the fixing device 1 A. In the fixing device 1 B, the fixing roller 42 is provided inside the rotating pressing member 43 and the magnetic flux generator 2 is provided near the fixing roller 41 .

According to the above-described example embodiments, the fixing roller 3 (depicted in FIG. 2 ) or the fixing belt 40 (depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8 ) serves as a rotating heat generation member. However, the heating roller 42 (depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8 ) may serve as a rotating heat generation member. In this case, the fixing belt 40 may be looped over the heating roller 42 and a rotating fixing member.

According to the above-described example embodiments, a magnetic flux adjuster (e.g., the magnetic flux adjusters 2 B depicted in FIGS. 2 , 7 , and 8 ) is provided outside a rotating heat generation member (e.g., the fixing roller 3 depicted in FIG. 2 or the fixing belt 40 depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8 ). Therefore, a position of the magnetic flux adjuster may be adjusted more precisely. Accordingly, a temperature of end portions of the rotating heat generation member in an axial direction of the rotating heat generation member may be controlled more precisely.

The present invention has been described above with reference to specific example embodiments. Nonetheless, the present invention is not limited to the details of example embodiments described above, but various modifications and improvements are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the associated claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative example embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present invention.