Patent ID: 9291970
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A fixing device comprising: a fixing unit that includes a pipe-shaped fixing member which includes an outermost layer including at least one selected from a group consisting of a hydrogenated nitrile rubber and a denatured hydrogenated nitrile rubber, and heats and pressurizes the recording medium to fix an unfixed developer image on a recording medium by bringing the outermost layer into contact with a surface of the recording medium which holds the developer image, the recording medium being transported while holding the unfixed developer image; and a heating unit that is disposed on an upstream side of the fixing unit in a transport direction of the recording medium, and heats the recording medium transported while holding the unfixed developer image, the heating unit heating by at least one heating member selected from a group consisting of a heating member that heats the recording medium in a non-contact manner, a heating member that comes in contact with a surface opposite to the surface of the recording medium which holds the developer image to heat the recording medium, and a heating member that comes in contact with the surface of the recording medium which holds the developer image with a pressurizing pressure lower than a pressurizing pressure of the fixing member to heat the recording medium, wherein a temperature of a lowest-temperature portion of the recording medium of the following (A) or (B) is equal to or greater than [a set temperature of the fixing member−30° C.] and is equal to or less than 140° C. when the following case (a) or (b) is satisfied, (a) when a member that exchanges heat with the recording medium is provided on an upstream side of the fixing unit and a downstream side of the heating unit in the transport direction of the recording medium: (A) the recording medium before coming in contact with the fixing member after the heat is exchanged by the member, (b) when a member that exchanges heat with the recording medium is not provided on an upstream side of the fixing unit and a downstream side of the heating unit in the transport direction of the recording medium: (B) the recording medium before coming in contact with the fixing member after heating by the heating unit.