Fusing device with rollers having different speeds, and image forming apparatus using same

Claim 2

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a first roller for heating a recording medium; a second roller pressed against said first roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; and a third roller pressed against said first roller to form a second nip portion therebetween, the recording medium passing through the first and second nip portions, wherein said first and third rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said third roller is higher than of said first roller, and wherein the following condition is satisfied: M1+M1'>M3>M1' M1: frictional force between a surface of said first roller and the recording medium in the first nip portion, M1': frictional force between the surface of said first roller and the recording medium in the second nip portion, and M3: frictional force between a surface of said third roller and the recording medium in the second nip portion.

Claim 3

The fusing device according to claim 1, wherein said change-over means is changed over according to material of the recording medium.

Claim 4

The fusing device according to claim 1, wherein said change-over means is changed over according to a size of the recording medium.

Claim 5

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a first roller for heating a recording medium; a second roller pressed against said first roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; and a third roller pressed against said first roller to form a second nip portion therebetween, the recording medium passing through the first and second nip portions, wherein said first and third rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said third roller is higher than of said first roller, and wherein said second roller is forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second roller is lower than of said first roller.

Claim 6

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a first roller for heating a recording medium; a second roller pressed against said first roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; and a third roller pressed against said first roller to form a second nip portion therebetween, the recording medium passing through the first and second nip portions, wherein said first and third rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said third roller is higher than of said first roller, and wherein said second roller is forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second roller is lower than of said first roller.

Claim 7

The fusing device according to claim 4, wherein the following condition is satisfied: V1<V3≦1.05×V1 0.95×V1≦V2≦V1 V1: peripheral speed of said first roller, V2: peripheral speed of said second roller, and V3: peripheral speed of said third roller.

Claim 8

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a first roller for heating a recording medium; a second roller pressed against said first roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; and a third roller Dressed against said first roller to form a second nip portion therebetween, the recording medium passing through the first and second nip portions, wherein said first and third rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said third roller is higher than of said first roller, and wherein a second pressure at the second nip portion is lower than a first pressure at the first nip portion.

Claim 9

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a first roller for heating a recording medium; a second roller pressed against said first roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; and a third roller Dressed against said first roller to form a second nip portion therebetween, the recording medium passing through the first and second nip portions, wherein said first and third rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said third roller is higher than of said first roller, and wherein a second pressure at the second nip portion is lower than a first pressure at the first nip portion.

Claim 10

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a first roller for heating a recording medium; a second roller pressed against said first roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; and a third roller pressed against said first roller to form a second nip portion therebetween, the recording medium passing through the first and second nip portions, wherein said first and third rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said third roller is higher than of said first roller, and wherein the following condition is satisfied: V1<V3<1.05×V1 V1: peripheral speed of said first roller, and V3: peripheral speed of said third roller.

Claim 11

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a first roller for heating a recording medium; a second roller pressed against said first roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; and a third roller pressed against said first roller to form a second nip portion therebetween, the recording medium passing through the first and second nip portions, wherein said first and third rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said third roller is higher than of said first roller, and wherein the following condition is satisfied: V1<V3<1.05×V1 V1: peripheral speed of said first roller, and V3: peripheral speed of said third roller.

Claim 12

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a heating member; pressurizing members pressed against said heating member to form a plurality of nip portions therebetween; and change-over means for changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said pressurizing members comprise a first pressurizing member to be pressed against said heating member to form a first nip portion therebetween and a second pressurizing member to be pressed against said heating member to form a second nip portion therebetween; wherein said second pressurizing member is changed over between first and second positions, and the recording medium is introduced from the first nip portion to the second nip portion when said second pressurizing member is set at the first position, and the recording medium is made to pass through only the first nip portion when said second pressurizing member is set at the second position so as to also serve as said change-over means.

Claim 13

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a heating member; pressurizing members pressed against said heating member to form a plurality of nip portions therebetween; and change-over means for changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said pressurizing members comprise a first pressurizing member to be pressed against said heating member to form a first nip portion therebetween and a second pressurizing member to be pressed against said heating member to form a second nip portion therebetween; wherein said second pressurizing member is changed over between first and second positions, and the recording medium is introduced from the first nip portion to the second nip portion when said second pressurizing member is set at the first position, and the recording medium is made to pass through only the first nip portion when said second pressurizing member is set at the second position so as to also serve as said change-over means.

Claim 14

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a heating member; pressurizing members pressed against said heating member to form a plurality of nip portions therebetween; and change-over means for changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said change-over means is changed over according to whether the toner image formed on the recording medium is of mono-color or multi-color.

Claim 15

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a heating member; pressurizing members pressed against said heating member to form a plurality of nip portions therebetween; and change-over means for changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said change-over means is changed over according to whether the toner image formed on the recording medium is of mono-color or multi-color.

Claim 16

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a heating member; pressurizing members pressed against said heating member to form a plurality of nip portions therebetween; and change-over means for changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said change-over means is changed over according to glossiness of an image that has been fused.

Claim 17

A fusing device for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium, comprising: a heating member; pressurizing members pressed against said heating member to form a plurality of nip portions therebetween; and change-over means for changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said change-over means is changed over according to glossiness of an image that has been fused.

Claim 18

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein the following condition is satisfied: M1+M1'>M3>M1' M1: frictional force between a surface of said heating roller and the recording medium in the first nip portion, M1': frictional force between the surface of said heating roller and the recording medium in the second nip portion, and M3: frictional force between a surface of said first pressurizing roller and the recording medium in the second nip portion.

Claim 19

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein the following condition is satisfied: M1+M1'>M3>M1' M1: frictional force between a surface of said heating roller and the recording medium in the first nip portion, M1': frictional force between the surface of said heating roller and the recording medium in the second nip portion, and M3: frictional force between a surface of said first pressurizing roller and the recording medium in the second nip portion.

Claim 20

The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said change-over means comprises a movable guide being set at first and second positions; and the recording medium is guided from the first to the second nip portion by said movable guide when it is set at the first position, and the recording medium is made to pass through only the first nip portion when said movable guide is set at the second position.

Claim 21

The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said change-over means is changed over according to material of the recording medium.

Claim 22

The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said change-over means is changed over according to a size of the recording medium.

Claim 23

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein said first pressurizing roller is forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said first pressurizing roller is lower than of said heating roller.

Claim 24

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein said first pressurizing roller is forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said first pressurizing roller is lower than of said heating roller.

Claim 25

The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the following condition is satisfied: V1<V3≦1.05×V1 0.95×V1≦V2≦V1 V1: peripheral speed of said heating roller, V2: peripheral speed of said first pressurizing roller, and V3: peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller.

Claim 26

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein a second pressure at the second nip portion is lower than a first pressure at the first nip portion.

Claim 27

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein a second pressure at the second nip portion is lower than a first pressure at the first nip portion.

Claim 28

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein the following condition is satisfied: V1<V3≦1.05×V1 V1: peripheral speed of said heating roller, and V3: peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller.

Claim 29

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein the following condition is satisfied: V1<V3≦1.05×V1 V1: peripheral speed of said heating roller, and V3: peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller.

Claim 30

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein said change-over means is changed over according to whether the toner image formed on the recording medium is of mono-color or multi-color.

Claim 31

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein said change-over means is changed over according to whether the toner image formed on the recording medium is of mono-color or multi-color.

Claim 32

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein said change-over means is changed over according to glossiness of an image that has been fused.

Claim 33

An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating roller for heating a recording medium; a first pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a first nip portion therebetween; a second pressurizing roller pressed against said heating roller to form a second nip portion therebetween; and change-over means being disposed between said first and second pressurizing rollers in a recording medium path, said change-over means changing over the number of the nip portions through which the recording medium passes, wherein said heating and second pressurizing rollers are forcibly driven so that a peripheral speed of said second pressurizing roller is higher than of said heating roller, and wherein said change-over means is changed over according to glossiness of an image that has been fused.