US 11,809,107 B2
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
Tetsuo Tokuda, Tokyo (JP); Akiyasu Amita, Kanagawa (JP); Fumihiro Hirose, Kanagawa (JP); and Daisuke Arai, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Tetsuo Tokuda, Tokyo (JP); Akiyasu Amita, Kanagawa (JP); Fumihiro Hirose, Kanagawa (JP); and Daisuke Arai, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Sep. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/901,873.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-176296 (JP), filed on Oct. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0136994 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/2039 (2013.01) 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fixing device comprising:
a heater;
a fixing rotator having an outer circumferential surface to be heated by the heater and come into contact with a sheet to fix an image onto the sheet, the outer circumferential surface having a first area to come into contact with both a first sheet having a first sheet width and a second sheet having a second sheet width narrower than the first sheet width and a second area to come into contact with the first sheet and not to come into contact with the second sheet;
a first temperature sensor configured to detect a first temperature of the first area;
a second temperature sensor configured to detect a second temperature of the second area;
a contact rotator configured to come into contact with both the first area and the second area and rotate at one of at least two relative velocities with respect to the fixing rotator; and
circuitry configured to:
set the one of the at least two relative velocities based on the first temperature and the second temperature;
set the one of the at least two relative velocities including a first relative velocity and a second relative velocity that is slower than the first relative velocity based on a temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature;
set the first relative velocity based on the temperature difference being less than a predetermined value and rotate the contact rotator at the first relative velocity;
set the second relative velocity based on the temperature difference being equal to or higher than the predetermined value and rotate the contact rotator at the second relative velocity; and
set the second relative velocity to be zero and cause the contact rotator to rotate with rotation of the fixing rotator.