Patent ID: 8326201
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing apparatus for heat-fixing an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material, said fixing apparatus comprising: a rotatable roller; an endless belt contacted to said roller; a pressing member contacted to an inner surface of said endless belt and cooperating with said roller to nip said endless belt, wherein the recording material on which the unfixed toner image is formed is heated while being nipped and fed by a nip between said roller and said endless belt, wherein such a surface of said pressing member as is opposed to the inner surface of said endless belt is curved substantially in the same direction as a curved surface of said roller, wherein the nip includes a first nip region in which said endless belt is not pressed by said pressing member and said endless belt is contacted to said roller by an elastic force of said endless belt which is in a slack state, and a second nip region in which said endless belt is contacted to said roller by pressing of said pressing member, wherein the nip starts with the first nip region with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material, and wherein the second nip region is continuous with the first nip region.