Patent ID: 9229394
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A fixing device configured to fix a developing agent image onto a recording sheet by heat, comprising: an endless belt having an inner surface and configured to rotate in a rotating direction; a nip member having a contact surface that is in contact with the inner surface of the endless belt such that the endless belt is slidable over the contact surface of the nip member; a backup member configured to: an upstream guide disposed upstream of the nip portion in the rotating direction and configured to guide the endless belt toward the nip portion; and a regulating portion disposed at one of the upstream guide and at least a portion of the nip member, at least a portion of the regulating portion disposed at a position farther from the center of the endless belt in a width direction of the endless belt than an end of the backup member in the width direction of the endless belt, wherein an end of the endless belt, an end of the nip member, and an end of the upstream guide disposed on the same side in the width direction of the endless belt protrude beyond the end of the backup member disposed on the same side in the width direction of the endless belt, wherein the upstream guide and the nip member are disposed with a first gap provided therebetween, in a conveying direction of the recording sheet, between a middle portion of the upstream guide in the width direction and a middle portion of the nip member in the width direction, and wherein the regulating portion and one of the upstream guide and the nip member are disposed with a second gap provided therebetween in the conveying direction of the recording sheet, wherein the second gap is smaller than the first gap in the conveying direction of the recording sheet.