초록 ▼

A fixing apparatus includes a fixing member to be heated and a pressure-contacting member for pressure contacting the fixing member. The fixing apparatus directs and conveys a recording member through a nip formed between the fixing member and pressure applying member in such a manner that a toner i

A fixing apparatus includes a fixing member to be heated and a pressure-contacting member for pressure contacting the fixing member. The fixing apparatus directs and conveys a recording member through a nip formed between the fixing member and pressure applying member in such a manner that a toner image carried on a recording member contacts the fixing member in order to be fixed thereto with heat and pressure. The fixing apparatus is configured to direct a tip margin of the recording member toward the pressure applying member across a virtual linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip. A fixing member side separation device may be separately provided from the surface of the fixing apparatus so as to separate the recording member exiting from the nip. A gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the fixing member side separation device is set smaller than the width of the tip margin.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fixing apparatus, comprising:a fixing member configured to fix a toner image on a recording member with a heater;a pressure contacting pressure contacting member configured to pressure contact the fixing member via the recording member and form a nip with the fixing member, said recording membe

1. A fixing apparatus, comprising:a fixing member configured to fix a toner image on a recording member with a heater;a pressure contacting pressure contacting member configured to pressure contact the fixing member via the recording member and form a nip with the fixing member, said recording member being conveyed through the nip in such a manner that a toner image carried on the recording member contacts the fixing member in order for the toner image to be fixed with the heat and pressure, a tip margin of said recording member being directed toward the pressure contacting member side across a linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip; anda fixing member side separation device configured to separate the recording member ejected from the nip from the fixing member, said fixing member side separation device being separately disposed from the surface of the fixing member, and a gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the fixing member side separation device being set smaller than the width of the margin in a transfer direction. 2. The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a hardness of the surface of the pressure contacting member at the nip downstream end is larger than that of the nip downstream end of the fixing member. 3. The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure applying member side separation device contacting the surface of the pressure contacting member with its tip. 4. The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a gap maintaining member configured to maintain a gap formed between the tip of the fixing member side separation device and the surface of the fixing member, said gap maintaining member being provided at respective tips of the fixing member side separation devices arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transfer direction contacting the surface of a transfer member non-passing area on the fixing member. 5. The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixing member side separation device is a single separation member type. 6. The fixing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said fixing member side separation device includes an opening for ventilation. 7. The fixing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said pressure contacting member side separation device includes an opening for ventilation. 8. The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixing member side separation device is formed from a sheet like separation member, and further comprising a tension applying member configured to bias the fixing member side separation device arranged in a direction perpendicular to the recording member transfer direction. 9. The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressure contacting member side separation device is formed from a sheet like separation member, and further comprising a tension applying member configured to bias the fixing member side separation device arranged in a direction perpendicular to the recording member transfer direction. 10. The fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said toner image is formed by toner including at least plastic, colorant, and wax. 11. An image forming apparatus, comprising:a toner image formation devices configure to form a toner image; andthe fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 1. 12. A fixing apparatus, comprising:a fixing member configured to fix a toner image on a recording member with a heater;a pressure contacting member configured to pressure contact the fixing member via the recording member and form a nip with the fixing member, said recording member being conveyed through the nip in such a manner that a toner image carried on the recording member contacts the fixing member in order for the toner image to be fixed with the heat and pressure, a tip margin of said recording member being directed along a linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstr eam end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip; anda fixing member side separation device configured to separate the recording member ejected from the nip from the fixing member, said fixing member side separation device being separately disposed from the surface of the fixing member, and a gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the fixing member side separation device being set smaller than the width of the margin in a transfer direction. 13. A fixing apparatus, comprising:a fixing member configured to fix a toner image on a recording member with a heater;a pressure contacting member configured to pressure contact the fixing member via the recording member and form a nip with the fixing member, said recording member being conveyed through the nip in such a manner that a toner image carried on the recording member contacts the fixing member in order for the toner image to be fixed with the heat and pressure, a tip margin of said recording member being directed almost along a linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip; anda pressure contacting member side separation device configured to separate the recording member ejected from the nip from the pressure contacting member, said pressure contacting member side separation device being separately disposed from the surface of the pressure contacting member, and a gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the pressure contacting member side separation device being set smaller than the width of the margin in a transfer direction. 14. The fixing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising gap maintaining members configured to maintain a gap formed between the tip of the pressure contacting member side separation device and the surface of the pressure contacting member, said gap maintaining members being provided on respective tips of the pressure contacting member side separation devices configured to contact the surface of a transfer member non-passing area on the pressure contacting member. 15. The fixing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said pressure contacting member side separation device is a single separation member type. 16. A fixing apparatus, comprising:a fixing member configured to fix a toner image on a recording member with a heater;a pressure contacting member configured to pressure contact the fixing member via the recording member and form a nip with the fixing member, said recording member being conveyed through the nip in such a manner that a toner image carried on the recording member contacts the fixing member in order for the toner image to be fixed with the heat and pressure, a tip margin of said recording member being directed along a linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip;a fixing member side separation device configured to separate the recording member ejected from the nip from the fixing member, said fixing member side separation device being separately disposed from the surface of the fixing member, and a gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the fixing member side separation device being set smaller than the width of the margin in a transfer direction, anda pressure contacting member side separation device configured to separate the recording member ejected from the nip from the pressure contacting member, said pressure contacting member side separation device being separately disposed from the surface of the pressure contacting member, and a gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the pressure contacting member side separation device being set smaller than the width of the margin in a transfer direction. 17. The fixing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a JIS-A hardness of the surface of the fixing member at the downstream end is substantially the same to that at the downstream end of the pressure contacting member. 18. A fixing apparatus, comprising:a fixing member configured to fix a toner image on a recording member with a heater;a pressure contacting member configured to pressure contact the fixing member via the recording member and form a nip with the fixing member, said recording member being conveyed through the nip in such a manner that a toner image carried on the recording member contacts the fixing member in order for the toner image to be fixed with the heat and pressure, a tip margin of said recording member being directed toward the fixing member side across a linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip; anda pressure member side separation device configured to separate the recording member ejected from the nip from the pressure contacting member, said pressure member side separation device being separately disposed from the surface of the pressure contacting member, and a gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the pressure member side separation device being set smaller than the width of the margin in a transfer direction. 19. The fixing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a hardness of the surface of the fixing member at the downstream end is higher than that of the pressure contacting member at the downstream end. 20. The fixing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a fixing member side separation device contacting the surface of the fixing member with its tip. 21. A fixing apparatus, comprising:a rotational fixing device including a roller section having a ring like elastic layer;a release layer formed either by a ring like layer integrally formed on an outer circumferential surface of the roller section or an endless belt separately wound around the roller section;a heat source configured to generate heat;a pressure applying device configured to pressure contact the rotational fixing device via a recording sheet having a non fixed toner image with its endless pressure applying surface, said non-fixed toner image being fixed in a nip formed between the rotational fixing device and the pressure applying device; anda separation sheet configured to separate the recording sheet carrying the toner image from the release layer, said separation sheet being disposed in the vicinity of an exit of the nip, and said separation sheet is attached to the release layer and separated from the release layer by a prescribed gap while maintaining a curvature substantially along the outer diameter shape of the release layer configured to engage and rotate together with the roller section. 22. The fixing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said rotational fixing device is formed from a fixing roller having a core metal, a heater disposed within the core metal, and at least elastic and release layers overlaid on the outer circumferential surface of the core metal. 23. An image forming apparatus, comprising:a toner image formation device configured to form a toner image with an electro-photographic system; andthe fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 22. 24. The fixing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said rotational fixing device comprises:a roller section having a core metal;an elastic layer wound around the core metal;a heating roller oppositely arranged to the roller section said heating roller including a heater; andan endless belt wound around the rollers. 25. The fixing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said pressure applying device includes a pressure applying roller having elastic and release layers. 26. The fixing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a gap between the tip of the separation sheet and the exit of the nip is either substantially the same or less than a tip margin of the recording sheet. 27. The fixing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a ridge, facing in the vicinity of the release layer, of the separation sheet is sharpl y tapered. 28. The fixing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein a surface roughness of the ridge facing the release layer is less than 0.2 μm (Ra). 29. A fixing apparatus, comprising:a heat roller including a heater;a fixing roller including a core metal and an elastic layer coated on the circumferential surface of the core metal and configured to fix a toner image carried on a recording member;a fixing belt wound around the heating and fixing rollers, said fixing belt including a release layer;a pressure roller configured to pressure contact the fixing roller via the fixing belt, said pressure roller having a core metal and elastic and release layers on the circumferential surface of the core metal, said pressure roller forming a nip configured to apply heat and pressure so as to fix the toner image to the recording member with the fixing roller; anda separation sheet configured to separate the recording sheet from the fixing roller, said separation sheet being disposed in the vicinity of an exit of the nip and is approximated to the fixing roller with a prescribed gap while maintaining a prescribed curvature substantially along the outer shape of the fixing roller. 30. A fixing apparatus, comprising:fixing means for fixing a toner image on a recording member with heating means;pressure contacting means for pressure contacting the fixing means via the recording member, said pressure contacting means forming a nip with the fixing means, said recording member being conveyed through the nip in such a manner that a toner image carried on the recording member contacts the fixing means in order for the toner image to be fixed with the heat and pressure, a tip margin of said recording member being directed along a linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip;fixing member side separating means for separating the recording member ejected from the nip from the fixing means, said fixing means side separating means being separately disposed from the surface of the fixing means, and a gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the fixing means side separating means being set smaller than the width of the margin in a transfer direction, andpressure contacting means side separating means for separating the recording member ejected from the nip from the pressure contacting means, said pressure contacting means side separating means being separately disposed from the surface of the pressure contacting means, and a gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the pressure contacting means side separating means being set smaller than the width of the margin in a transfer direction. 31. A fixing method, comprising the steps of:providing a fixing member configured to fix a toner image on a recording member with a heater;providing a pressure contacting member configured to pressure contact the fixing member via the recording member and form a nip with the fixing member, said recording member being conveyed through the nip in such a manner that a toner image carried on the recording member contacts the fixing member in order for the toner image to be fixed with the heat and pressure, a tip margin of said recording member being directed along a linear extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip when only the tip margin exits from the nip;providing a fixing member side separation device configured to separate the recording member ejected from the nip from the fixing member, said fixing member side separation device being separately disposed from the surface of the fixing member, and a gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the fixing member side separation device being set smaller than the width of the margin in a transfer direction, andproviding a pressure contacting member side separation device configured to separate the recording member ejected from the nip from the pressu re contacting member, said pressure contacting member side separation device being separately disposed from the surface of the pressure contacting member, and a gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of the pressure contacting member side separation device being set smaller than the width of the margin in a transfer direction.