Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes: a contact member, contacting the recording material, to which a voltage to be applied; a first electroconductive member contacting the recording material downstream of the contact member with respect to a recording material feeding direction, wherein the first electroconductive member is grounded; and a second electroconductive member contacting the recording material. A distance between the contact member and the first electroconductive member is not more than a length of a longest recording material capable of being fed by the image forming apparatus. A contact resistance between the second electroconductive member and the recording material is smaller than a contact resistance between the first electroconductive member and the recording material. The first and the second electroconductive member are electrically connected in parallel to each other.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a sheet includes a cylindrical film; a heater having a first surface contacting an inner surface of the film; an opposed member forming a press-contact portion with the film therebetween; a supporting member for supporting a second surface of the heater opposite the first surface; and a heat conduction member contacting the second surface, wherein in a generatrix direction of the film, an end portion of a contact region between the heat conduction member and the second surface is at or inside an end portion of the press-contact portion. In a region from an end portion of the contact region to an outside of an end portion of the press-contact portion with respect to the direction, the supporting member includes a first region not contacting the second surface and a second region contacting the second surface outside the first region.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member than an end portion of the film.