Patent ID: 9372456
Filing Date: 2016-06-21
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A fixing apparatus that fixes an image on a recording material, the fixing apparatus comprising: a tubular film; a nip forming member that contacts an inner surface of the film; and a roller that forms a nip portion together with the nip forming member via the film, the roller having a region where a diameter of the roller gradually increases in a direction from a central portion to each of end portions of the roller with respect to a generatrix direction of the film, wherein the nip portion is an area where the film and the roller are in contact with each other and where the recording material is conveyed, wherein the nip forming member has a protruding portion, protruding toward the roller and extending in the generatrix direction, that is provided on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side in the nip portion in a conveying direction of the recording material, and wherein end portions of the protruding portion in the generatrix direction are positioned at a larger distance from a center of the nip portion in the conveying direction than a central portion of the protruding portion in the generatrix direction.