Patent ID: 9568869
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: G03G

Claim:
1. A fixing device comprising: a fixing belt formed into a loop rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation; a pressure roller disposed opposite the fixing belt, the pressure roller including: a fixing pad disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt and separably pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed; a biasing member to bias the fixing pad and the fixing belt against the pressure roller; and a stopper to restrict motion of the fixing pad biased by the biasing member, the stopper to contact the fixing pad while the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip, wherein the stopper includes a bearing disposed at each lateral end of the pressure roller in an axial direction thereof to rotatably support the pressure roller, the fixing pad being urged towards the pressure roller, and wherein a width of the fixing pad is at least as wide as a width of a space between the bearings so that the urging of the fixing pad is resisted by each of the bearings.