US 11,809,109 B2
Image heating apparatus having a worm that is rotatably supported at two different positions
Rikiya Takemasa, Chiba (JP); Takeshi Kozuma, Tokyo (JP); Youichi Chikugo, Chiba (JP); Yutaro Tsuno, Tokyo (JP); and Hidekazu Tatezawa, Saitama (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/363,486.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-114840 (JP), filed on Jul. 2, 2020; and application No. 2021-101534 (JP), filed on Jun. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0004129 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/2053 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2032 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2038 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image heating apparatus comprising:
a first rotary member that heats a recording material;
a second rotary member that contacts the first rotary member and forms a nip portion together with the first rotary member, the nip portion being configured to nip and convey a recording material to fix a toner image on the recording material;
a pair of side plates configured to support the second rotary member; and
a changing mechanism configured to change a pressing force applied at the nip portion by changing a position of the second rotary member with respect to the first rotary member,
wherein the changing mechanism comprises:
a motor;
a worm that is driven by the motor and rotates;
a worm wheel that is meshed with the worm and to which a driving force from the worm is transmitted;
a cam to which the rotation of the worm wheel is transmitted so that the cam rotates;
a pair of bearings that rotatably support the worm; and
a displacement mechanism that is abutted against the cam and that is configured to displace the second rotary member with respect to the first rotary member along with a rotation of the cam,
wherein one of the side plates includes the pair of bearings.