Patent ID: 9423735
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A fixing device, comprising: an endless belt; a nip member in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the endless belt; a backup member that nips the endless belt together with the nip member so as to form a nip together with the endless belt; and a contact member disposed opposite the backup member with the nip member therebetween, the contact member being in contact with the nip member, wherein the contact member includes: wherein a heat transfer coefficient per unit dimension between the nip member and the second portion in the axial direction is smaller than a heat transfer coefficient per unit dimension between the nip member and the first portion in the axial direction, wherein the second portion includes a contact surface that is in contact with the nip member, and the contact surface of the second portion includes a cutout, and wherein the contact member further includes a third portion that is positioned outside the width of the nip in the axial direction, and the cutout extends from an edge of a maximum sheet passing width to the third portion in the axial direction.