Patent ID: 9703241
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: G03G

Claim:
1. A fixing device comprising: an endless fusing belt having an inner surface and an outer surface and defining an internal space; a nip member extending through the internal space and having a surface facing the inner surface; and a backup member configured to nip the fusing belt in cooperation with the nip member to provide a nip region between the backup member and the fusing belt, the backup member being configured to convey a recording sheet in a sheet conveying direction with the recording sheet nipped between the backup member and the fusing belt, the surface of the nip member including an upstream region, a center region, and a downstream region arrayed in this order in the sheet conveying direction, the center region being configured to contact the fusing belt through a lubricant, the upstream region and the downstream region being spaced apart from the fusing belt, the surface of the nip member having the center region and a remaining region other than the center region, the remaining region including the upstream region and the downstream region, the remaining region in its entirety being out of contact with the fusing belt, at least one of the upstream region and the downstream region having a retaining portion configured to provide a lubricant retaining force greater than that of the center region, the retaining portion being provided at a position spaced apart from the nip region and out of contact with the fusing belt, the retaining portion being provided at a position spaced apart by an interval from the center region.