US 7,509,085 B2
Image forming apparatus, fixing apparatus and toner
Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Ichikawa (Japan); Shinichi Namekata, Yokohama (Japan); Hiroyuki Shimada, Tokyo (Japan); Masanao Ehara, Saitama (Japan); Hirofumi Ogawa, Kawasaki (Japan); Tadashi Ogawa, Kawasaki (Japan); and Ippel Fujimoto, Kawasaki (Japan)
Assigned to Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/337,980.
Claims priority of application No. 2005-014948 (JP), filed on Jan. 24, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2006/0165443 A1, Jul. 27, 2006
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 399—325  [399/329] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming mechanism configured to form a visible image using toner on a recording sheet according to input image data; and
a fixing mechanism configured to fix the visible image onto the recording sheet, the fixing mechanism including:
a first roller configured to rotate;
a second roller including a first heater inside the second roller having a first rating, and configured to rotate;
a belt looped over the first and second rollers;
a third roller arranged opposite to the first roller via the belt, including a second heater inside the third roller having a rating smaller than the first rating of the first heater of the second roller, and configured to apply pressure to the belt and the first roller and to rotate in conjunction with a movement of the first roller via the belt; and
an applicator arranged at a position in contact with the third roller and configured to apply oil to a surface of the third roller.