Patent ID: 7570909
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing apparatus, comprising: a fixing member and a pressing member, at least one of which is a heated member; and an external heating device which (i) heats a belt rotatably suspended by a plurality of support rollers, at least one of which includes therein a heat source and (ii) causes the belt to contact a peripheral surface of at least one of the fixing member and the pressing member to heat the heated member, the fixing member and the pressing member sandwiching and transporting a recording material so that an unfixed image on the recording material is fixed on the recording material, the fixing apparatus, further comprising a regulating member which (i) is provided outside, in an axis direction of the support roller, a facing portion of the support roller which portion faces the heated member, and (ii) contacts a side portion of the belt to regulate the position of the belt in the axis direction, the belt including a base material made of polyimide having a tensile strength of 300 MPa or more and a thickness of 50 μm to 200 μm, and a releasing layer on a surface of the base material, and in the base material, 5 to 25 parts by weight of graphite being dispersed in 100 parts by weight of polyimide.