US 12,393,159 B2
Image forming apparatus having separation gear train, fixing gear train and adjusting gear train operated by a common motor
Shuji Ota, Okazaki (JP); and Shoichiro Nishimura, Yokkaichi (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Jan. 23, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/419,711.
Claims priority of application No. 2023-011103 (JP), filed on Jan. 27, 2023; application No. 2023-011104 (JP), filed on Jan. 27, 2023; application No. 2023-011105 (JP), filed on Jan. 27, 2023; and application No. 2023-011106 (JP), filed on Jan. 27, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0255894 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 21/18 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01); G03G 15/20 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1857 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2017 (2013.01); G03G 15/2064 (2013.01); G03G 15/6573 (2013.01); G03G 21/1647 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a first photosensitive drum;
a first development roller movable relative to the first photosensitive drum between a contact position in which the first development roller is in contact with the first photosensitive drum and a separate position in which the first development roller is separate from the first photosensitive drum;
a first separation cam configured to move the first development roller between the contact position and the separate position when receiving a driving force;
a fixing device comprising a heating portion and a pressure portion, the fixing device being configured to convey a sheet nipped between the heating portion and the pressure portion when receiving a driving force;
an adjusting cam configured to switch a nip pressure to be produced by the heating portion and the pressure portion between a first nip pressure and a second nip pressure higher than the first nip pressure when receiving a driving force;
a main motor;
a separation gear train configured to transmit a driving force of the main motor to the first separation cam;
a fixing gear train configured to transmit the driving force of the main motor received from the separation gear train to the fixing device; and
an adjusting gear train configured to transmit the driving force of the main motor received from the separation gear train to the adjusting cam
wherein the main motor is rotatable in forward and reverse directions, and
wherein the first separation cam is configured to move the first development roller from the separate position to the contact position when the motor rotates in the forward direction and move the first development roller from the contact position to the separate position when the main motor rotates in the reverse direction.