Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus, which prevent toner from contaminating inside of the apparatus and the recording medium. The apparatus includes: an image bearing member; and a transferring member that press-contacts the image bearing member for transferring the toner image onto the recording medium. When the transferring member transfers the toner image onto the recording medium in such a state that the toner image is extended from an edge of the recording medium, the following relationship is fulfilled, 0<A<B where A: a length of an extended portion that the toner image residing on the image bearing member is extended from the edge of the recording medium; and B: a length of a distance from the edge of the recording medium to a position at which the transferring member and the image bearing member start to contact each other.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a fixing apparatus including, a first rotating member, a second rotating member which presses a sheet between the first rotating member and the second rotating member with a first pressure to fix a visualizing agent to the sheet, a separation member which separates the sheet from the first rotating member, a pressure control unit which lowers the pressure between the first rotating member and the second rotating member to a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure, and a heating mechanism which does not heat the first rotating member in a first state where the first rotating member does not rotate and the pressure between the first rotating member and the second rotating member is the second pressure, and heats the first rotating member after the first state when the a second state is set in.

Abstract: A fusing unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The fusing unit may include a heating roller, a fusing frame to which the heating roller may be mounted, a pivoting frame to mount to the fusing frame to be rotatable about the heating roller, and a plurality of pressure rollers to mount to the pivoting frame and to be elastically supported on an outer peripheral surface of the heating roller. When paper that undergoes serious curling beyond an appropriate level is used, the pressure rollers may rotate to allow paper having passed between the heating roller and the pressure rollers to move in a path rotated by an angle corresponding to a rotation angle of the pressure rollers. This exemplary embodiment may reduce paper jam.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a heater, a heat application rotation member heated by the heater, a pressure application rotation member heated by the heat application rotation member, a detector configured to detect a surface temperature of the pressure application rotation member, and a controller configured to control a rotation speed of the heat application rotation member and a rotation speed of the pressure application rotation member. The controller varies at least one of the rotation speeds depending on an amount of temperature change or temperature change ratio detected by the detector until the surface temperature of the pressure application rotation member detected by the detector reaches a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a fixing portion in which a fixing nip portion is defined between a heater and a pressure roller via an endless belt, a pressure setting portion, which sets a pressure to be exerted on the fixing nip portion, sets a first pressure during fixing, sets a second pressure lower than the first pressure when the apparatus is not used, and sets a third pressure lower than the first pressure and higher than the second pressure when a recording material is jammed.

Abstract: A heater element is provided adapted to heat a belt in a fuser assembly. The heater element comprises laterally spaced-apart features extending beyond a center section provided between the features. The features and center section are adapted to face an inner surface of the belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing roller; a support roller arranged apart from the fixing roller; an endless fixing belt wound around the fixing roller and the support roller; a pressing roller for applying a pressure force to the fixing roller while the fixing belt being sandwiched between the fixing roller and the pressing roller; a nip extending member arranged on an upstream of the fixing roller and on an inner side of the fixing belt and having a pressing surface for pressing the fixing belt; and a variable mechanism for changing a state of a pressure applied to the fixing belt by the nip extending member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member of which surface is deformable, a heating unit that heats the fixing member, a pressurizing unit having an endless member and a pressurizing member. The pressurizing member includes an elastic layer and presses the endless member against the fixing member to bring the endless member into pressure contact with the fixing member. The elastic layer has an apparent hardness (ASKER-C) which is larger than that at a point where an apparent hardness starts to change rapidly with respect to a rubber thickness in a load application direction.

Abstract: To provide a technique for preventing a temperature rise in a non-sheet passing areas in a fixing device. The fixing device includes: a heating rotational member that includes at least one roller and heats a toner transferred on a sheet; a pressing roller that nips and carries the sheet in cooperation with the heating rotational member; a heating device that heats the heating rotational member; and heat pipes arranged, on the inside of at least one of the roller of the heating rotational member and the pressing roller, in ranges on both the sides in an axial direction of the roller from positions closer to the center in the axial direction than both the ends of a minimum sheet passing range in the axial direction of the roller of the nipped and carried sheet to positions further on the outer sides in the axial direction than both the ends of a maximum sheet passing range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of preventing sheets from being crumpled due to compressive deformation of a resilient layer thereof when the sheets pass through a fixing unit, and a method for manufacturing the same. The pressure roller may include a reinforcing member that reinforces a side of the resilient layer to prevent an axial compressive deformation of the resilient layer, a reinforcing member received between the shaft and the resilient layer to increase hardness of the resilient layer, or a reinforcing member interposed between the shaft and the resilient layer to reduce the compressive deformation of the resilient layer.

Abstract: A fixing device, includes: a heating member that rotates in a state heated by a heating unit; a driven member that is rotated by the heating member, and that conveys a sheet in cooperation with the heating member; a biasing unit that biases the heating member and the driven member in a contacting direction; a contact area forming member that forms a contact area of the heating member and the driven member by making the heating member and the driven member come in contact with each other; a support member that supports at least one of the heating member and the driven member so as to be freely moved in a direction approaching and separated with respect to the other member; and a fulcrum that is arranged in a downstream side of the contact area in a sheet conveying direction, and that movably supports the support member.

Abstract: An image heating device includes a pressure-changing mechanism configured to change pressure applied to a heating nip. A cam of the pressure-changing mechanism acting on a pressure-applying mechanism is attached to a rotating shaft of a conveying roller that conveys recording materials. With this, an increase in the cost of the device can be regulated.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing roller, a fixing belt to receive a rotation force transferred from the pressing roller and to rotate thereby, a nip forming member which is mounted inside the fixing belt, the nip forming member including a heat transmission unit formed thereon, and a heat source, which is mounted inside the nip forming member, to simultaneously apply heat to the nip forming member and to the fixing belt through the heat transmission unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first fixing device that applies heat to a non fixed toner image and a second fixing device arranged downstream of the first fixing device, which applies pressure and fixes the non-fixed toner image onto a recording member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image forming station and a fixing unit including a heating member. The fixing unit includes a coil for generating a magnetic field for induction heating the heating member; a first core arranged to face the heating member with the coil located therebetween; a bar-shaped second core including a cut-off portion and arranged in a magnetic path between the first core and the heating member, when seen in a magnetic field generation direction by the coil, to form the magnetic path together with the first core; and a magnetic adjusting mechanism for changing the posture of the second core between a first posture for guiding a magnetic field by retracting the cut-off portion from the magnetic path and a second posture for increasing magnetic resistance by locating the cut-off portion in the magnetic path by rotating the second core about an axis thereof.

Abstract: A heat insulation roller of an image forming apparatus of the present invention arranges hollow pipes between a core roller and an outer peripheral roller and obtains a high heat insulating effect though it is light in weight and inexpensive. Further, the core roller and hollow pipes are inserted into the outer peripheral roller before pipe extension, and the outer peripheral roller is extended, and the hollow pipes are uniformly adhered and fixed between the core roller and the outer peripheral roller, and then the ends of the outer peripheral roller and hollow pipes are removed, thus the core roller can be secondarily worked easily.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus comprising first and second belts for forming a nip for heating an image on a recording material; a first pressing pad for pressing the first belt at the nip; a first roller, provided spaced from the first pressing pad with a gap therebetween, for pressing the first belt at the nip; a second pressing pad, provided opposed to the first pressing pad, for pressing the second belt at the nip; a second roller, provided opposed to the first roller and contacted to the second pressing pad, for pressing the second belt at the nip, the second roller having a friction coefficient which is smaller than that of the first roller.

Abstract: A fixing device of this invention enables variable control of power to be supplied to a heat roller side or a press roller side in accordance with the temperature of the heat roller and the press roller while each mode is carried out. The heating range of a first induction heating coil on the heat roller side and the heating range of a first halogen lamp heater on the press roller side are set differently. In a copy mode, the temperature of the heat roller and the press roller is controlled in detail, and also controlled in accordance with the size of a sheet paper. In a copy standby mode, only the power required for maintaining a set temperature is supplied.

Abstract: A fusing unit is comprised of a fusing roller and a pressing roller, having an elastic layer on their outer peripheral surface and a pressing structure for pressing the fusing roller against the pressing roller, and causes a sheet of paper with an unfixed toner image to pass through the nip portion where the fusing roller and pressing roller are put in press-contact with each other so as to fuse the toner image and fix it to the paper. This fusing unit further includes a pressure release lever for regulating the pressing action of the pressing structure when the rollers are put in press-contact with each other by the pressing structure.

Abstract: Washers are used for a pressure roll in a fusing system of an electrophotographic system that improve the functionality and durability of the pressure roll. These washers are made up of a rigid ring section having flexible (less rigid) fingers projecting from the inner periphery of the ring. This provides a more uniform pressure to be exerted in the pressure roll and, consequently, a more uniform nip for better handling and fusing.

Abstract: A fusing unit is comprised of a pair of rollers, a fusing roller and a pressing roller, having an elastic layer on their outer peripheral surface and a pressing spring for pressing the fusing roller against the pressing roller, and causes a sheet of paper with an unfixed toner image to pass through the nip portion where the fusing roller and pressing roller are put in press-contact with each other so as to fuse the toner image and fix it to the paper. This fusing device further includes a roller member regulator for regulating the press-contact state when the fusing roller and pressing roller are put in press-contact with each other by the pressing spring.

Abstract: A fixing device of the present invention is arranged so that: (i) at least both ends of a planar heat-generating member come close to or touch an outer surface of a fixing roller, said both ends being in a circumferential direction when viewed in an axial direction of the fixing roller; and (ii) the planar heat-generating member has, in the vicinity of both the ends, shapes formed gently with respect to the outer surface of the fixing roller when viewed in the axial direction. An almost whole inner surface area of the fixing belt wound around the planar heat-generating member and the fixing roller touches the planar heat-generating member or the fixing roller. The fixing belt is naturally formed, without being distorted at an area where the fixing belt touches the heating member. This allows a fixing device using a planar heat-generating belt type fixing method, which provides a short warm-up time, to be excellent in heat efficiency, consume less power, and have a fixing belt which does not slip easily.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming station and a fixing unit. The fixing unit includes a coil for generating a magnetic field for induction heating the heating member. A first core made of a magnetic material is arranged fixedly around the coil. A second core made of a magnetic material is between the first core and the heating member in a generation direction of the magnetic field to form a magnetic path in cooperation with the first core and capable of changing a posture thereof. A shield made of a nonmagnetic metal is arranged along the outer surface of the second core to shield magnetism in the magnetic field and a magnetic shielding portion for changing the posture of the second core between a first posture where the shield shields the magnetism and a second posture where the shield does not shield the magnetism.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a non-contacting thermistor (54) disposed in the vicinity of the surface of a heat roller (21) and an upper cover temperature thermistor (60) for detecting the temperature of a pressure roller (22). The calculated surface temperature (T) of the heat roller 21 is calculated based on the detected temperature (T1) detected by the non-contacting thermistor (54), the detected temperature (T2) detected by the upper cover temperature thermistor (60), the distance (L1) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the surface of the heat roller (21) and the distance (L2) from the non-contacting thermistor (54) to the upper cover (51).

Abstract: A fixing device includes a flexible fixing member that heats a toner image to fuse, a contact member fixedly disposed internal to the fixing member and comes into contact with a pressure member via the fixing member to form a nip part, a plurality of heating devices that heats the contact member, wherein the contact member always maintains the contact state with the pressure member via the fixing member, the plurality of heating devices generally remain disposed in the fixing device under an operational state for heating and are freely removable for replacement under a non-operational state for heating.

Abstract: In a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium, a fixing roller and a heating roller support a fixing belt. A pressing roller presses against the fixing roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressing roller. A tension roller presses against the fixing belt to apply tension to the fixing belt. A primary heat source heats the fixing belt, and is disposed along an outer face of the fixing belt opposite the heating roller. A secondary heat source is provided inside the tension roller to supply deficient heat not provided by the primary heat source.

Abstract: A heat fixing roll or belt having a silicone rubber layer which is formed by curing a silicone rubber composition comprising (A) 100 pbw of an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded alkenyl radicals in a molecule, (B) 20-500 pbw of a metallic silicon powder having an average particle size of up to 100 ?m, and (C) an effective amount of a curing agent. The silicone rubber layer has a high heat conductivity and long-term temperature durability.

Abstract: A fixing device and an image forming apparatus using this, in which even if permanent warping is produced on a roller member that forms a fixing nip portion, no collision sound is produced due to the collision of gears, the fixing device including: two roller members that form a nip portion in which a recording medium is pressed by pressure means and transported; and a drive gear that engages with a shaft portion of one of the two roller members and transmits driving force to that roller member. A key is formed in the drive gear and a key groove having a gap opened therein is formed in the shaft portion, and when a rotation velocity of the roller member increases, transmission of driving force from the drive gear to the shaft portion is suspended and the drive gear slides on the shaft portion.

Abstract: A pressure member contacts with a heating member 23 to form a nip part N where a recording material P is heated and pinched-conveyed, and includes a first elastic layer 24a and a second elastic layer 24b having higher thermal conductivity than that of the first elastic layer. An elastic layer is formed in combination of the first elastic layer and the second elastic layer so that the thickness of the second elastic layer at the end portion is thicker than the thickness of the second elastic layer at the center portion in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to a recording material conveyance direction. Accordingly, in the pressure member contacting with the heating member to form the nip part, it is possible to reduce a difference between a center nip width and an end-portion nip width of the nip part.

Abstract: A disclosed fixing device includes a fixing member configured to heat and melt a toner image to fix it onto a recording medium; a pressure member abutting the fixing member to form a nip into which the recording medium is fed; a separating member disposed on the downstream side in the moving direction of the fixing member in relation to the nip in a manner to oppose the fixing member, and configured to perform a separating operation to prevent the recording medium from winding around the fixing member; an electrically grounded frame supporting the fixing member, the pressure member and the separating member; and a conductive member inserted between a supporting portion of the frame and a supported portion of the separating member and having a higher electric resistance than the frame. The separating member and the frame are rendered electrically conductive to each other only via the conductive member.

Abstract: A fluororesin tube 30 of the present invention has a tensile strength of 80 N/mm2 or more in both of the circumferential direction and the axial direction. The fluororesin tube 30 is produced by winding with two or more turn of a fluororesin film 20 having a thickness T of 2.5 ?m or less (particularly 2.0 ?m or less) to form a lamination. At least an outermost layer of the tube is fused to a layer immediately thereunder and a rising height H of the fluororesin film at the end-of-winding side 21 is always 0.1 ?m or more and 2.0 ?m or less when measured at any position of the side 21. A level difference D of the end-of-winding side 21 of the fluororesin tube is preferably more than or equal to sum of the film thickness T and 0.1 ?m, and less than or equal to 3.0 ?m (particularly 2.3 ?m) when measured at any position of the side 21.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus, a roller for a fixing apparatus, and a flexible sleeve for a fixing apparatus are a roller for the fixing apparatus (1) having a rubber layer (1b) and a fluororesin tube as a surface layer (1c) covered thereon. A thickness of the fluororesin tube is 20 microns or smaller, and a crystallization degree of the fluororesin tube is 50% or smaller. Thus, in the roller for the fixing apparatus having the rubber layer on which the resin tube is covered as the surface layer, a crack does not occur in the fluororesin tube even if the fluororesin tube is made thin.

Abstract: A temperature-changing pressure roller assembly is provided and includes (a) a rotatable pressure roller including a cylindrical sleeve having an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a hollow interior to the rotatable pressure roller having a first end and a second and opposite end; (b) a vortex tube assembly for simultaneously producing a hot air stream and a cold air stream, the vortex tube assembly being connected to the hollow interior of the rotatable pressure roll; and (c) control device connected to the vortex tube assembly for selectively controlling flow of the hot air stream and the cold air stream thereof through the hollow interior of the rotatable pressure roller, thereby selectively changing a temperature of the cylindrical sleeve of the pressure roller.

Abstract: Provided is a printing device comprising a hot roller having an inside surface and an outside surface. A heating element is present within the hot roller. The inside surface has a first region, wherein the first region is coated with a first type of material. The inside surface has a second region, wherein the second region is coated with the first type of material, and wherein second region is of a different dimension than the first region. The inside surface has a third region, wherein the third region is coated with a second type of material.

Abstract: The heating apparatus of a surface-heating type, includes a rotary member, an opposing member that forms a nip with respect to the rotary member, and a heating member for heating a portion of a rotary member surface other than the nip, in which temperature used for heating the rotary member by the heating member is controlled, and a heating material inserted in the nip to be nipped and conveyed therein is heated using heat of the rotary member. Accordingly, after insertion of the heating material in the nip starts, control temperature of the heating member is increased before the rotary member rotates by one revolution, thereby preventing an uneven heating phenomenon of the heating material in the first revolution and the second revolution or later, and preventing uneven gloss due to the uneven heating phenomenon in the fixing apparatus.

Abstract: A toner fuser includes a pressure roller for pressing toners on a print medium so as to fuse the toners on a print medium, and a rolling heating component for clamping the print medium with the pressure roller and heating the pressure roller. A fusing region is formed between the pressure roller and the rolling heating component. The toner fuser further includes a rolling preheating component installed on a side of the pressure roller for preheating the pressure roller and a part of the print medium not entering into the fusing region.

Abstract: A fixing device comprising a fixing roller, support rollers wrapped with a belt, bearings of the support rollers arranged at both ends thereof, pressing plates arranged between the bearings and each having a pair of tilted pressing surfaces that come in contact with the outer circumferential surfaces thereof, and pressing means for pressing the pressing plates toward the axis of the fixing roller. When pressed by the pressing means, the pressing plates press the support rollers toward the axis of the fixing roller via the tilted pressing surfaces and the outer circuferential surfaces of the bearings so that part of the region of the belt in the circumferential direction is press-contacted to part of the region on the outer circuferential surface of the fixing roller and, further, press the support rollers in a direction in which they separate away from each other to impart a tension to the belt.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus used in an image forming apparatus has a fixing member for fixing toner on paper and a pressure member making contact therewith to form in between a nip through which paper is passed. The fixing member has a support member formed of a ferromagnetic material and a heating layer formed adjacent thereto in the form of a thin layer of a non-magnetic, electrically conductive material. When a high-frequency electric current is passed through an exciting coil that is combined with the fixing member, the fixing member produces a high-frequency magnetic field, thereby produces induced eddy currents in the heating layer of the fixing member, thereby produces Joule's heat in the heating layer, and thereby heats the fixing member. A leaking magnetic flux is absorbed by the support member of the ferromagnetic member, and thus has reduced influence on metal parts located around the fixing apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism for forming a toner image on a recording medium, and a fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording medium. The fixing device including a fixing film, a pressure member, a contact member, a heating device, a holding member, and at least one of a low friction member and a thermal conductivity improving member provided between the fixing film and the contact member. The fixing film heated by the heating device via the contact member comes into contact with the recording medium. The pressure member comes into pressure contact with the fixing film. The contact member comes into pressure contact with the pressure member via the fixing film to form, between the fixing film and the pressure member, a nip portion through which the recording medium is passed. The holding member holds the contact member and the heating device.

Abstract: A fusing device fuses an image on a printing medium, and includes a belt which is provided to rotate; a heating plate which is supported to an inner surface of the belt, a pressing roller which presses the printing medium against the heating plate, and a piezoelectric member which is disposed to the heating plate and presses at least one portion of the heating plate with respect to the pressing roller if power is applied thereto.

Abstract: A pressure roller forming a nip portion for contacting to a heating member to pinch and convey and heat recording material includes: a core metal and an elastic layer containing filler, the elastic layer containing the filler including thermal conductive filler with length of not less than 0.05 mm and not more than 1 mm and with thermal conductivity ?f in the longitudinal direction in a range of ?f?500 W/(m·k) being dispersed in not less than 5 vol % and not more than 40 vol % and the elastic layer containing the filler providing thermal conductivity ?y in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to a recording material conveyance direction being ?y?2.5 W/(m·k) and ASKER-C hardness of the filler being not more than 60 degrees, wherein a solid rubber elastic layer with thermal conductivity ? in a thickness direction being not less than 0.16 W/(m·k) and not more than 0.

Abstract: A fusing device to fuse an image to a printing medium, the fusing device including: a heating roller; a first pressing roller, which presses the printing medium against the heating roller; and a second pressing roller which attached to the first pressing roller, to detach the printing medium from the first pressing roller. The first and second pressing rollers are biased against the heating roller such that the first and second pressing rollers move according to a change in a position of the heating roller.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a heating unit to generate heat to fuse an image onto a printing medium, a pressurizing roller that faces and contacts the heating unit having an endless fusing film that is rotated while facing and contacting the pressurizing roller and presses the printing medium toward the heating unit, a nip forming member including a main body formed inside the fusing film to surround a heat source and contacts a portion of the fusing film to the pressurizing roller to form a nip, a plurality of opening forming portions connected to the main body and form an opening portion such that heat generated from the heat source directly arrives at the fusing film via the opening portion, and a plurality of adhering portions connected to the opening forming portions, are separated from each other, having the opening portion therebetween, and contact the fusing film, and a supporting member to support the nip forming member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a frame, a pressure arm pivotably supported on the frame, and a nip release lever supported on the pressure arm. The pressure arm can release pressure contact between a heating roller and a pressure roller. The nip release lever can move between a pressing position and a release position so as to move the pressure roller between a position at which the pressure roller applies pressure to the heating roller and a position at which the pressure roller applies no pressure. The nip release lever can be halted in the release position.

Abstract: An internal heating system for an image transfer drum is disclosed that can include a box having a plurality of sides, an open side facing the drum and a heater element. The box can have small gaps between it and the internal drum surface to maximize thermal efficiency of the internal heating system. The heater element can include first and second support structures that are disposed on a central support structure, the first support structure having an end connector at one side away from the second support structure. The heater system can also include at least two circuits, two channels and a relay switch, with the relay switch operating to switch the circuits into a series or parallel electrical configuration.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing roller; a support roller arranged apart from the fixing roller; an endless fixing belt wound around the fixing roller and the support roller; a pressing roller for applying a pressure force to the fixing roller while the fixing belt being sandwiched between the fixing roller and the pressing roller; a nip extending member arranged on an upstream of the fixing roller and on an inner side of the fixing belt and having a pressing surface for pressing the fixing belt; and a variable mechanism for changing a state of a pressure applied to the fixing belt by the nip extending member.

Abstract: Washers are used for a pressure roll in a fusing system of an electrophotographic system that improve the functionality and durability of the pressure roll. These washers are made up of a rigid ring section having flexible (less rigid) fingers projecting from the inner periphery of the ring. This provides a more uniform pressure to be exerted in the pressure roll and, consequently, a more uniform nip for better handling and fusing.

Abstract: A fusing device (23) has heat reflectors (238) and (239) positioned in consideration of the fact that convective heat loss from respective outer surfaces of the heat reflectors (238) and (239) depends on orientation of the outer surfaces. More specifically, each of the heat reflectors (238) and (239) are positioned so as to have a convective heat transfer coefficient ? of up to 0.9. The convective heat transfer coefficient ? is given by the following expression: ?=(Su+0.77Sh+0.54Sd)/(Su+Sh+Sd), were Su is a projected area of an outer surface of each of the heat reflectors on an upper horizontal plane, Sh is a projected area of the same on a vertical plane, and Sd is a projected area of the same on a lower horizontal plane.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium, and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The fixing device includes a fixing roller heated by a heating source, and a pressing unit disposed opposite the fixing roller to bias a recording medium towards the fixing roller so that the recording medium contacts the fixing roller. The pressing unit has a movable support member, a pressing member mounted at the support member to face the fixing roller, a pressing belt rotatably disposed around the support member and the pressing member and biased by the pressing member to form a nip with the fixing roller, a driving roller for rotating the pressing belt, and a resilience applying member for biasing at least one of the support member and the driving roller toward the fixing roller. Accordingly, the pressing unit basically expands the width of the fixing nip to improve the image fixing capability.

Abstract: A belt-type fixing device is provided that allows reduction in driving torque for a fixing belt without deteriorating performance of heat transfer from a heating roller to the fixing belt. The belt-type fixing device of the present invention has an endless-sheet-like fixing belt to be heated that is wound around a rotatable heating roller and around a nip forming member fixed so as to be incapable of rotating, and has a pressurizing roller that can be driven to rotate and that is in pressure contact with the nip forming member with the fixing belt interposed between. Contact part between the fixing belt and the pressurizing roller forms a fixing nip. For a tension load W [N] on the fixing belt that is driven and rotated by the pressurizing roller, and a width L [m] of the fixing belt, W/L is set in a range from 18.0 to 107.9 [N/m].