Patent ID: 11940749
Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 8:
9. A fixing device comprising:
a fixing rotator;
a thermal equalizer being in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to uniform a temperature distribution in a rotation axis direction of the fixing rotator;
a pressure rotator to press the thermal equalizer via the fixing rotator to form a nip and press a recording medium passing through the nip;
a stay to receive a pressing force of the pressure rotator via the thermal equalizer;
a heater disposed inside a loop of the fixing rotator; and
a reflector to reflect radiant heat radiated by the heater toward the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, the reflector extending to a region between the thermal equalizer and a region on the stay in which the stay receives the pressing force from the pressure rotator via the thermal equalizer,
the reflector is not in contact with the stay.