Oblon, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a first rotary body, a second rotary body to contact the first rotary body, and a plain bearing that supports the first rotary body or the second rotary body. One rotary body of the first rotary body and the second rotary body has an outer diameter increasing, while the other rotary body has an outer diameter decreasing, in a curved line from an axial center portion to axial end portions of the first rotary body and the second rotary body at least between the first rotary body and the second rotary body. A recording medium passes between the first rotary body and the second rotary body with a circumferential component of a shear force generated between the first rotary body and the second rotary body by use of the plain bearing being in a range of from 15N to 25N.
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
G G G G G
G03G G03G G03G G03G G03G
additional inventional additional additional inventional
Daisuke Masahiro Tomohiko Tamotsu Yoshihiro Yoshiharu Minoru
Inoue Samei Fujii Ikeda Fukuhata Takahashi Toyoda