BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1(
a) and FIG. 1(b) are explanatory drawings each of which illustrates a fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(a) illustrates a state in which support rollers are in a first position. FIG. 1(b) illustrates a state in which the support rollers are in a second position.
FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement of an image forming apparatus including the fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement of the fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4(
a) is a top view illustrating an arrangement of a belt release/contact operating device provided on the fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4(b) is a cross sectional view of the belt release/contact operating device.
FIGS. 5(
a) to 5(c) are explanatory drawings each of which illustrates a state in which an endless belt of the fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is suspended. FIG. 5(a) illustrates a case where the support rollers are in the first position. FIG. 5(b) illustrates a case where an arm is moved by 1.5 mm from the first position. FIG. 5(c) illustrates a case where the arm is moved by 3.5 mm from the first position.
FIG. 6(
a) illustrates a state in which the belt does not run upon a regulating member even though the support rollers are in the second position in the fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6(b) illustrates a state in which the belt runs upon the regulating member when the support rollers are in the second position in the fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 7(
a) to 7(c) are explanatory drawings each of which illustrates a state in which the endless belt and the fixing roller are in contact with each other in the fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7(a) illustrates a case where the support rollers are in the first position. FIG. 7(b) illustrates a case where the arm is moved by less than 4 mm from the first position. FIG. 7(c) illustrates a case where the arm is moved by not less than 4 mm from the first position.
FIGS. 8(
a) to 8(c) are explanatory drawings each of which illustrates an arrangement in which a center distance between the support rollers of the fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is variable. FIG. 8(a) illustrates a case where the support rollers are in the first position. FIG. 8(b) illustrates a case where the support rollers are in the second position. FIG. 8(c) illustrates a vicinity of a bearing of each support roller.
FIGS. 9(
a) and 9(b) are explanatory drawings each of which illustrates an arrangement of a fixing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9(a) illustrates a case where support rollers are in the first position. FIG. 9(b) illustrates a case where the support rollers are in the second position.
FIGS. 10(
a) to 10(d) are explanatory drawings each of which illustrates an arrangement of a conventional external heating device in which a regulating member for regulating a side position of a belt is provided on each of belt suspending rollers. FIG. 10(a) illustrates a state in which the belt suspending rollers are in contact with a fixing roller. Each of FIGS. 10(b) and 10(c) illustrates a state in which the belt suspending rollers are separated from the fixing roller. Further, FIG. 10(d) illustrates an arrangement in which a distance between the regulating member and the fixing roller is increased in the conventional external heating device.