Patent ID: 9727008
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: G03G

Claim:
1. A fixing device which fixes an image on a recording medium, the fixing device comprising: an endless fixing rotary member formed into a loop to come into contact with the image carried on the recording medium; an opposed rotary member to contact the fixing rotary member; a nip forming member inside the loop formed by the fixing rotary member to be in contact with the opposed rotary member via the fixing rotary member to form, between the fixing rotary member and the opposed rotary member, a nip portion to which the recording medium is fed in a feeding direction, the nip forming member including a downstream portion extending downstream in the feeding direction from a center of the nip portion and an upstream portion extending upstream in the feeding direction from the center of the nip portion and longer than the downstream portion; a support member to support the nip forming member; and a heating source to heat the fixing rotary member, wherein a gap extending parallel to the feeding direction between an edge, which is perpendicular to the feeding direction, of an upstream end portion of the nip forming member and an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotary member is less than a gap extending parallel to the feeding direction between an edge, which is perpendicular to the feeding direction, of a downstream end portion of the nip forming member and the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotary member.